Spoil your bae with these 10 student friendly date night spots in bournemouth

Is there a particular someone you want to get hot and heavy with this weekend, but you’re drawing a cold blank as to where to go? Well, fear no more. These are 10 student and budget friendly ideas, which’ll help you and your beau make magic. And I do mean romantic magic, you dirty minded fool.

1. Farm date

Starting my piece on a nice note (for once)… I think it is about time we connect with nature, don’t you? Why not show your date a softer, outdoor-sy side of yourself and get your feet mucky at a local farm. My personal favourite is Gulliver’s Farm Shop and Kitchen, in West Moors. This is a short drive away from Bournemouth Town Centre, and is totally worth it.

On a real, this farm is awesome. It is an organic, biodynamic farm which promotes sustainability. This farm, often referred to as Sturts Farm, is a registered charity and housing association. So, even if your date turns to manure, know that your pennies were well spent giving back to a great community.

Insider tip: Check out their Facebook for open days, live music events and more.

2. Pottery cafe

The All Fired Up pottery cafe is the perfect place to go if you want to express your inner creativity, splat some paint on your partner’s head or undergo a well-needed stress relieving painting session! When I went, my girlfriend was doing my head in but the situation was imminently diffused when I found some cute yellow paint. It’s the little things. I cannot recommend this place enough if you’re worried yourself or your babes might be a little bit argumentative or grouchy.

3. Boom Battle Bar

Am I self-promoting another piece I have written? You’re damn right I am. Boom Battle Bar is an underrated place for date nights in Bournemouth. You can legit throw axes at a wall, then get drunk and hit up karaoke. Why the heck people aren’t rushing this place until it’s as full as my stomach after a Toby Carvery, I don’t know. Rammed full mate.

I won’t babble on too much about Boom because if you actually care about your date, you’ll just take three minutes to read this piece on whether your date would actually survive the apocalypse based on their Boom Battle Bar performance.

4. Mr Mulligans

Ah, Mulligans. The literal go-to place for a date in Bournemouth. I cannot drag it too much as my first date with my current bae was indeed playing mini golf at said place. While hitting a small ball around a random course is all fun, especially with a side of a Malibu Slushpuppy, you should really try something else.

Mulligans has awesome electric darts, which are 50 per cent off on weekdays. With this discount, it becomes a total bargain for an hour or so. When you’re finished and the petty loser starts their tantrum, you can waddle over to the bar and then to the pool table to find out who the number one champion really is.

5. Just fancy a bev’ (or 12?)

I’m a university student, of course I know all of the best drink spots in town. So, for simplicity sake, I’m literally going to list them.

• Sixty Million Postcards: Insider tip, they have a great music drag bingo every Thursday!
• Turtle Bay: Obvs
• Aruba
• Brewdog: My personal favourite, as the second Sunday of every month they have a paw-tactic dog party. How ruff-ing cute is that?
• Be At One
• The Dancing Jug: There is one in the town centre and in Charminster, both a short walk away from student accommodation

The list goes on and on and on. You can quite literally walk into Bournemouth, look left, look right and you’ll find at least five places to get either an alcoholic or non-alcoholic bev. Just get those walking shoes on babe, and see where the night takes you!

6. Bottomless brunch

Want to find out all of your date’s deepest, darkest secrets? Or, see how pretty they look with vomit dripping from their chin at 4pm on a random Tuesday? Well, get your tight ass to bottomless brunch then! The place to be for all things bevs, food and alcoholic infused giggles. All the the information on Bournemouth bottomless brunches that you could ever need can be found here.

7. Live shows

Take your date to see a live show! Live theatre or musical productions are always memorable, so… let’s be sneaky and make sure we are included in that memory too. Remember kings, queens and other members of royalty, if you’re there for the big moments they can’t forget you. Stay toxic, xoxo.

All jokes aside, The Pavilion and The lighthouse are the hub for all things musical theatre and acting. The BIC also caters to this and live music acts, comedians and so forth. Another lesser known venture is the O2 in Boscombe, which holds many live music acts too, but be careful you don’t accidentally book a rave.

8. Drag shows

Why not support some local LGBTQIA+ artists and hit up a drag show? You might be lucky enough to get every slither of self confidence you had left stripped from you, via a roast from a fierce queen. So, if you’re planning on hitting up a drag event because you feel super supportive of a community which gives so much, be sure to bring your “big boy pants” because if everything goes well, you’ll have no dignity when you leave.

Though, this is also the perfect test to see if your date actually fancies you or not. Why? Because, if you can fancy an idiot who is getting picked on for wearing the wrong striped shirt, you can for sure go on a second date with them too.

9. Grubs up!

If you’re keeping it pretty standard, I’m assuming this will involve food. Well, sometimes it is good to play it safe. Here are some scrumptious places to eat in Bournemouth:

• 7Bone: Here you’ll mainly find burgers (with veggie/vegan options too!), but can you really go wrong?
• Flamingo: Expect a American/Spanish tapas inspired menu in Winton, just five to 10 minutes from the town centre
• Luxor Restaurant, in Charminster: Expect Lebanese cuisine just five minutes from the town centre
• Flirt Cafe and Bar, LGBTQIA+ hub in The Triangle
• Bellaggio: Expect Italian cuisine in Winton, just five to 10 minutes from the town centre

Going for food makes for the perfect excuse for a beach walk afterwards too. This is completely free and a wholesome way to wrap up a date.

10. Arcade/ fun fair

Are you more of the competitive type? This one is for you. If you want to put your date to shame, set the standards from the get go and instantly decide who wears the trousers, hit the arcade and find out who wins at Mario Cart. The perfect, affordable date. I recommended Bournemouth Pier Amusements (the location is clued in the name).

There are also fun fairs throughout the year, usually held on the beach or in nearby towns. Keep your eyes peeled on posters plastered on street lights, to be sure not to miss out on a game of hook a duck.

If you have managed to swipe right and chat enough game to find yourself looking at this guide, then do not fear because I think you’re doing pretty well pal. As a certified dater who has managed to bag the prettiest girl you’ll find (*I did not get paid by her to say this), please at the very least take my final words of wisdom…

Get out of your own way, and friggin’ go for it baby! Flowers are always a good idea and if you’re on a student budget, Lidl have some great bunches. You’re welcome.

Related articles recommended by this author:

• A visit from the Queens: RuPaul’s Drag Race is coming to Bournemouth this May

• These are all the Winton charity shops ranked by a self-proclaimed thrifting expert

• Would your Valentine’s date survive the apocalypse? Boom Battle Bar edition