Tucked inside Iford Golf Centre (long known locally as Christchurch Golf Club) on Riverside Avenue, The Kitchen Club is a restaurant that happens to sit on a golf course rather than a golf-only canteen. You don’t need clubs, a tee time, or membership to get a table - it’s set up as a proper public dining option that draws in walkers, families and event guests as much as golfers between rounds.
The food
The kitchen is built around a wood-fired oven, so pizza made with fresh, locally sourced toppings is the obvious order, but the menu stretches well beyond that. Expect a full English breakfast for anyone arriving early, heartier options like a Philly cheesesteak sandwich, and a Sunday roast at the weekend. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diners are catered for as standard rather than as an afterthought, which suits a venue that’s trying to serve everyone from a four-ball finishing a round to a family in for lunch.
The setting
Part of the appeal here is watching the food happen: the kitchen is open-plan, with the wood-fired oven visible from the dining area, and tables both inside and on the outdoor seating look out over the golf course fairways. It’s a deliberately relaxed, family-oriented space that hosts everything from birthday get-togethers to corporate outings, and there’s occasional live music to go with it. Ordering is often done by QR code, which also lets food be brought straight out to golfers on the course itself - a small detail that marks this out as a genuine golf-club restaurant rather than a standalone eatery that just happens to have taken a lease nearby. It also sits right next to Mighty Adventures crazy golf, so a food stop pairs easily with a casual game.
Where it is
Riverside Avenue runs along the Stour valley on the inland edge of the Southbourne area, away from the seafront cafes and chine walks the neighbourhood is best known for. It’s a useful stop if you’re exploring Southbourne and want a break with a view of greenery and fairways rather than the sea - a short drive or walk connects it back to Southbourne’s beach and clifftop paths.
Good to know
The restaurant generally opens Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday to Sunday from 8am to 5pm, with the kitchen’s last food orders about an hour before closing - though, as with most golf club venues, hours can flex around club events, so it’s worth ringing ahead. Mains run in the region of £10-£20. The site is wheelchair accessible, has free wifi, on-site parking, and highchairs for younger visitors, making it a reasonably easy option for a mixed group rather than just a golfers’ clubhouse.
