The Cumberland Hotel Bournemouth

You're perched on East Overcliff Drive with the best seat in Boscombe – possibly all of Bournemouth – watching the sun set over the bay while nursing a properly made gin and tonic. The Cumberland's bar has that effortless seaside hotel charm that doesn't try too hard, where you'll find as many locals as guests settling in for the evening. The cocktail list punches well above its weight for a hotel bar, and the staff actually know what they're doing behind the stick. Whether you're wrapping up a day on Boscombe beach or looking for somewhere civilised to start your night before hitting the Triangle, this spot delivers without the tourist-trap nonsense that plagues too many seafront venues.