Intense is a small, casual café-bistro on Poole Road in Branksome, on the Poole side of the Bournemouth conurbation, better known to regulars and delivery apps as Intense UK Bistro. Independently run, it's built its name on all-day breakfasts and brunch rather than anything more formal.
Food with a fusion edge
The menu leans into hearty, crowd-pleasing plates: full English and continental breakfasts, brunch classics and a run of burgers with an international, playful streak, the Flamenco Burger with chorizo is the dish reviewers mention most, alongside kebabs and other cooked-to-order options. It's the kind of place suited to a filling breakfast before a walk along Poole Road, or a casual bite rather than a special-occasion sit-down. As with any independent café, dishes and specials change, so it's worth checking current options before you visit.
Practical details
Reported hours have the bistro closed on Mondays, open Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday for breakfast and brunch service until early afternoon, and running later, into the evening, from Thursday to Saturday. It's said to be family-friendly with a kids' menu, has a wheelchair-accessible entrance, and welcomes dogs both inside and in any outside seating. Takeaway and delivery are available alongside eating in.
Intense sits among a wider spread of independent cafés and restaurants along Poole Road and through Branksome, browse the rest of our food & drink guide for more nearby options, or see our things to do guide for ways to fill the rest of a day in this part of Poole. As always with smaller independents, it's worth confirming current hours and menu directly with the venue before visiting.