The Libertine, Bournemouth

Official site of The Libertine - thelibertine-westbourne.com

Official site of The Libertine - thelibertine-westbourne.com

Large, 'L'-shaped pub / restaurant attractively modernised in a light, semi-modern style. Mix of furniture in the various seating and dining areas, plus a fair number of tables out on the front / side patio area. The two long hooped keg founts are what immediately catches the eye, but there are five handpumps at the far end of the bar-back. Four of these were operational when I visited, offering two DBC beers - Flashman's Clout and Yachtsman - plus Cocky from Piddle and Ringwood Forty Niner.

Previously the Hogs Head, this large pub occupies two adjacent houses and has a good sized outside dining area at the front referred to as The Forge restaurant. The main bar area is informally sub-divided into various nooks and snugs, the floors are of some architectural interest and there is what appears to be a redundant chimney breast as a main structural element, compensating for the walls that have been removed to open out the rooms. On the bar is a long bank of foreign beers, mostly megakeg, while there are four pumps on the wall behind the bar, three of which are dispensing real ale. I had a pint of Flack’s Double Drop, which was in very good condition and enjoyed whilst sitting on one of the milk churns being used as bar stools. The pub was quite noisy, the majority of the customers being students and neo-professional twenty-somethings with too much loose change. The pub is dog friendly and has free WiFi. The food was a mixed bag: pizzas were good value for money, while the steaks were ridiculously over-priced for what was delivered. The wine selection was pretty average. It’s a reasonable place to spend some free time.