A large Irish themed pub with fantastically priced food, a diverse range of wines and beers and, more importantly, some brilliant entertainment.

The Venue
O’Neills Bournemouth is in the hub of the student area of the Lansdowne at the very top of Old Christchurch Road. Its bright blue exterior sets it apart from other buildings and its huge beer garden with undercover decking, rocking chairs and heat lamps is unmissable.

The inside is divided into top and bottom bars, with the lower area being the larger of the two. O’Neills has an abundance of high tables perfect for large groups who are both sitting and standing and has a selection of booths and sofas.

The floor is traditional varnished wood and the walls are covered with a plethora of different photos of Ireland and famous Irish sports men and musicians. The bottom bar has slightly dimmer lighting creating a cosy intimacy both during the day and night, whereas the top bar is very much a sun trap when the weather is right.

The People
This pub seems to appeal to three different types of people - the old boys who like their bitters, the professionals from the surrounding offices who come in for lunch and after-work drinks and the students who just can’t say no to the cheap food and friendly staff.

The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. It appeals to stag-dos and couples alike. Staff are nothing less than approachable and very chatty and O’Neills really is a pub for everyone.

For live music lovers, there's usually a rock band on a Friday and Saturday night, open mic on Tuesdays and on alternate Sundays there's a Guitar Hero competition. During university term time the Guitar Hero nights run every Sunday.

The Food
If you're hungry and on a budget, O’Neills is one of the best pubs to visit. It serves breakfast from 10am and the full menu is available from noon. The Taste of Ireland menu is a huge hit, with six full dishes at only £2.95 each. Dishes include traditional Irish cuisine such as Irish pork sausages and colcannon and more popular favourites such as the cheese and bacon burger with chips.

There's light bites such as quiches, ciabattas and salads as well as more hearty meals and pub classics including the likes of steaks and Guinness battered fish and chips. The dishes are perfect for quick lunchtime snacks, with the creamy chicken and mushroom crock-pot being one highly recommended dish for anyone who appreciates the taste of home cooking and speedy pub service.

And the desserts are not be missed, the huge chocolate fudge cake is easily enough for two people and is a moist and creamy cake with an abundance of chocolate sauce and served with two scoops of fresh vanilla ice cream, totally decadent and completely delicious, for only £2.95!

The Drink
O’Neills bar reflects its clientele to a tee. It’s the only place outside of Ireland (other than other O’Neills pubs) where you can get a pint of true Irish bitter Smithwicks, alongside the other bitters including Caffrey’s and Tetley’s for under £3.

In true Irish fashion there is a large number of ciders available on draught, including Magners and Bulmers, with the pub providing oversized glasses so you can enjoy a pint of Magners over ice without losing any of the cider, perfect for enjoying in one of the rocking chairs in the beer garden.

The lagers are reasonably priced, all between £2.20 and £3.20, with the obvious favourites being Carling, Heineken, and Stella and the more continental tastes of Peroni and Tuborg.

There's a huge selection of wines available from the plumy fruity red Private Penfolds Release alongside the crispy, summer flavours of the Blossom Hill white wine available, with the house wine being under £10 a bottle.

The Last Word
A friendly, popular Irish pub with passionate and friendly staff serving cheap, tasty food, and a selection of good beer and cider. It also has a brilliant beer garden and on a weekend it's an experience not to be missed.

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