The Commodore sits on Southbourne Overcliff Drive, perched on the clifftop above Southbourne beach with a clear outlook across the sea toward the Isle of Purbeck. It’s a Greene King pub that doubles as a small inn, which sets it apart from most of the bars along this stretch of the Southbourne cliff top: alongside the bar and dining room there are 15 en-suite bedrooms, making it as much a base for a coastal stay as a stop for a pint.
The pub
Inside, it has the feel of a well-kept, traditional cliffside pub rather than a flashy chain outlet — comfortable, food-led, and geared toward both locals popping in for a drink and visitors staying the night. The bar is Cask Marque accredited, a genuine independent quality mark for cask ale, and it stocks Greene King’s own beers alongside other craft options. A beer garden gives an outdoor spot to make the most of the clifftop setting when the weather allows.
Drinks and food
The kitchen runs a traditional British pub menu rather than anything experimental: fish and chips, sea bass and lamb shanks sit alongside burgers, steaks and lighter bites, with options for common dietary requirements. Breakfast is also served, largely for guests staying in the rooms upstairs, and it’s worth checking food-service times directly since these can shift with the season even though the pub itself is listed as open daily from 8am to 11pm.
Where it is
Southbourne Overcliff Drive runs along the top of the cliffs east of central Bournemouth and Boscombe, and The Commodore is one of a small cluster of pubs along here rather than a lone outpost — other bars sit within easy walking distance. From the pub it’s a short walk down to the promenade and Southbourne beach itself, and the clifftop path continues east toward Hengistbury Head for anyone after a longer coastal walk after lunch. There’s an on-site car park, useful given how far this end of the seafront sits from central Bournemouth’s pay-and-display zones.
Good to know
The pub is dog friendly, though it’s by prior arrangement with the pub directly rather than an unconditional policy, so it’s worth a quick call if you’re travelling with a dog and want to check where they’re welcome. It’s also listed as family friendly and as having disabled facilities and wheelchair access. Given the mix of overnight guests and passing trade, booking ahead for food is sensible at busier times, particularly through the summer season when the clifftop draws more visitors.
