Key West, Bournemouth

A large circular bar at the end of Bournemouth Pier, more a café than a pub. There is plenty of outside seating for when the weather allows. About 80% of the circumference wall is glazed, giving fantastic views out into the Channel. On a clear day you can see as far as Studland to the West and The Needles to the East. Seating is all tables and chairs, no comfy seats at all, and the mainstay of their business is eats and coffees. The bar has a handpump on it, but it was dry during this visit. There were some bottled IPAs, but nothing of great interest. A nice place to come as part of the seaside experience, but not a venue for ale lovers.

Yes the map point is correct - Key West is the bar at the end of the pier (check the satellite map!). A spacious, swanky modern bar that is quite pleasing on the eye and a far cry from the tatty Victorian sheds that tend to be found at the end of most piers. Its circular shape offers panoramic views and the shallow rotunda is quite eyecatching. There is also plenty of seating outside where you can watch the waves and the seagulls to your heart's content. Unfortunately, no Real Ales on offer so I didn't actually bother having a drink here (hence no rating left) but you could always just get an ice cream.