Alpine Lodge Bournemouth: the Christmas market bar

Alpine Lodge Bournemouth is the two-storey bar in the middle of the Christmas market in Bournemouth Square, open from 12 November 2026 for the season. Downstairs is a cosy Christmas bar; upstairs is the Après Bar, with DJs on Fridays and Saturdays and a balcony over the market, according to the organisers' Alpine Lodge page. You can walk in or book a table, a booth or a converted ski gondola outside.

The lodge is run as part of Christmas in Bournemouth by Alpine Christmas Markets, and it stands beside the stage in the Square, so the free carols and Santa's evening story happen at its door.

What is downstairs?

The ground floor is the Christmas bar: steins of beer, festive cocktails and mulled wine, the organisers say. It is the floor for a quick drink between market stalls, a step in from the Square.

What is the Après Bar upstairs?

The upper floor is billed as the "Après Bar", a nod to the ski-resort habit of a drink after the slopes. The organisers list:

• DJs every Friday and Saturday
• quiz nights, karaoke, bingo and live music
• mirrorballs and booth seating
• a balcony with views over the market and the Festive Trail

Which nights carry the quiz, karaoke or bingo is not set out in what we have read. If one of them is the reason for your visit, check the lodge page for the week.

Can you book a table?

Yes, though you do not have to. The organisers say there is plenty of walk-in space, and list these as bookable:

• tables
• booths
• the ski gondolas outside, converted into private booths
• the Après Hütte

A group of friends on a December Saturday is the case for booking; a weekday afternoon drink is not. Booking prices are not in what we have read; the lodge page is the place to check.

What are the opening hours?

The lodge opens at 11am. Its own page lists 11am to 11pm Sunday to Thursday and 11am to midnight on Friday and Saturday. The organisers' FAQ says 11am to 11pm daily. Until the two agree, treat the Friday and Saturday late hour as likely but check before planning a late night. The season runs from 12 November 2026 to 3 January 2027; the market stalls around the lodge close on 31 December.

Snow from the balcony

The lodge balcony is one of the two places the artificial snow falls from. The organisers list Monday to Thursday at 5pm, and Friday to Sunday at 2pm, 5pm and 7pm, with more times possibly added. The snow times page has the current list.

Food

The lodge is a bar, and the food comes from the market traders around it. The organisers name a hog roast and hot chocolates among the market's offer; our market guide covers the stalls and their hours. For a sit-down meal before or after, the Bournemouth Guide's where locals eat lists restaurants within a short walk of the Square.

Booking a party?

The lodge also takes Christmas parties, from tables of 6 to 10 up to private hire for 50 to 100 people. We cover that in our Christmas party venue piece.

Before you go

It is cashless, card and contactless only, like the rest of the market. The wider event is outdoors and runs in most weather, the organisers say. The Bournemouth Guide's market listing and our Christmas itinerary help fit the lodge into a longer evening.

Getting back

Flexiestays' hotels on the West Cliff are about ten minutes on foot from the Square, uphill on the way back. Self check-in means a late arrival after the lodge closes is not a problem, and booking short stays direct on flexiestays.com costs less than the big platforms.