Bear's Bar & Venue is a rock and alternative fixture on Holdenhurst Road, just east of Bournemouth town centre, a three-floor bar built for a proper night out rather than a quiet drink. Above ground it's a lively bar with a pool table; below ground, the Bear Cave basement is one of the town's better-known small live music venues.
Bear Cave
Down in the basement, the Bear Cave is where the venue's reputation is built. With a capacity of around 150, it's an intimate, high-energy space for touring bands and local acts alike, running a genuinely broad mix of genres, indie rock, punk, blues and electronic all get a look-in across the calendar. Upstairs, the main bar seats a larger crowd and has its own stage and DJ nights, so there's usually something happening on more than one floor at once.
Food and games
Food comes from in-house kitchen Dead Tasty Toasties, serving snacks and toasted sandwiches to go with the beers, wines, cocktails and coffee at the bar. There's a pool table for casual games, and regular Dungeons & Dragons nights for the tabletop crowd. The first-floor games and media room can also be booked for private hire, so it doubles as a spot for parties and functions.
Good to know
The bar opens daily from around midday, staying open later, into the small hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, when there's a gig or club night on downstairs. Regular nights are generally free to get into, but bigger touring acts in the Bear Cave tend to be ticketed, so it's worth checking the venue's Facebook page or gig-listing sites like Skiddle and Songkick before heading down.
It's a solid pick for anyone after live music or a late one rather than a straightforward meal out, pair it with the rest of our food & drink guide for something to eat first, or browse things to do for more ways to fill an evening in Bournemouth.