A French-style brasserie set in the old press room of the Bournemouth Daily Echo, The Print Room serves delectable food in a stunningly decorated restaurant that oozes sophistication from every crevice.

The Venue
The history of this building means that once it was full of busy news reporters rushing to and fro to make sure The Echo provided Bournemouth with its daily dose of news.

Now, it is an opulent restaurant that is possibly the classiest eatery Bournemouth has to offer. The 1930s architecture lends itself well to the decor, with high ceilings and large windows letting in endless amounts of light that reflects beautifully off the two rows of classic chandeliers.

A long, mirrored cocktail bar sits on one side, with the repeated pattern of the black and white chequered floor making the floor space seem even larger than it is.

There are some tables set out in typical restaurant style, but there are also dark wood panelled booths with benches and a table nestled in between to give you an intimate and private dining area. There’s even your very own exposed light bulb fixture encased in glass hanging above. The overall look is timelessly classic and elegant.

The People
To fit in with the attractive and modern brasserie, the clientele are smartly turned out. There is very little formality as there is a light casual buzz to the Print Room, yet there’s definitely a bit of cash floating around.

Young professionals, older distinguished couples and stylish families grace the tables at the Print Room, while slick staff, wearing all black uniforms, serve them attentively.

The luxurious qualities of the restaurant combined with the effortless intimacy means this is a perfect place for a romantic meal.

The Food
At any time of the day, the Print Room offers something to tantalise your taste buds. For breakfast, classic dishes such as eggs benedict, kippers and a Dorset grill are offered for £3 to £10 each.

For a light lunch there are multiple egg dishes, pastas, salads and sandwiches to enjoy, and a traditional afternoon tea for £9 per person is also sensational. In the evening, the menu is extensive.

For starters there are a mixture of hot and cold dishes for £5 to £8.50, including soup, langoustine martini with lemon mayonnaise, tomato salsa and brown bread, and chicken and pistachio terrine with avocado.

Mains go from £7 to £70 and they're divided into categories of fish, shellfish, vegetarian, meat, pasta and eggs, therefore, there should surely be something for everyone. In case you're wondering what £70 will buy you, it's sevruga caviar with buckwheat blinis, sour cream, shallot, quails egg and Belvedere vodka.

And, finally, for dessert (£5 to £7.50) you can enjoy anything from cheesecake to cheese.

To start, the pan-seared scallops (£8.50) are an excellent light option. The scallops are perfectly cooked with crisp golden brown edges and moist sweet flesh. The freshness and natural flavour of the scallops comes through well, and contrasts with the saltiness of the pancetta nicely. Simple, chopped ripe tomatoes and shallots accompany it, adding fresh sharpness that brings out the mellow taste of the scallops.

For main, the organic pork sausages are a real treat (£8.50) and a proper taste of the countryside. The sausages have a fantastic meaty texture with a delicate herb flavour and pleasing consistency. The mash is creamy and delicate, with a slight pang of spring onion.

The apple sauce has a delicious sweet and sour flavour that adds a fresh fruity note to the dish. The overall dish is packed full of flavour and is utterly delicious.

For dessert, a heavenly way to finish the meal is to wait 15 minutes for a chocolate fondant. As soon as you cut it open, the smell of chocolate bewitches you and the inside sauce oozes out slowly. The delicious rich chocolate flavour is not too sweet but extremely moreish and it’s mellowed by the light pistachio ice cream.

The Drinks
The list of wine is bafflingly long, offering almost every possible grape, region and price. The wines by the glass are around £6.50 to £9 and are mostly Old World wines to suit a more classic palate.

By the bottle, the wines are separated into countries with most emphasis put on French and Italian, but there are also choices from Germany, Spain, South Africa, New Zealand, California, Australia and Chile. Prices vary from £18 to a mind boggling £600, so choose carefully.

There are also exceptional cocktails with premium spirits and fresh ingredients for £4.50 to £7.50 encompassing all the possible classics. The beers available include Staropramen, Bitburger, Erdinger and Peroni for £3.50.

The Last Word
The Print Room claims to be reviving the age of elegance. It has succeeded exceptionally well and adds something truly wonderful to Bournemouth’s restaurant scene.

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