Number 3 Richmond Hill has long been a hotspot to socialise and party in Bournemouth. Formerly Lola Lo’s and before that The Consortium, this prime venue just off Bournemouth Square has been extensively revamped and refitted to become Be At One, the latest in this national network of classy cocktail bars.
Home-grown talent
Be At One was actually the brainchild of three friends who wanted to build a dedicated brand of cocktail bars almost 20 years ago now. Today, there are 33 sites up and down the country serving up an impressive menu of over 150 cocktails ranging from the classic, to the indulgent, to the virtuous.
The twelve, hand-picked, full-time staff for the Bournemouth branch have earned their stripes in London, where they received extensive training to know each and every cocktail on the list (and have a few original ideas up their sleeves) inside and out.
Virtuous or sinful?
If you’re conscious about your health that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a Be At One cocktail. Some of the drinks are made with healthier ingredients, lower alcohol content and unrefined sugar. Why not try the Svenska Detox, a combination of spinach, kale, pineapple, lime, agave syrup and Absolut Citron? Or the Almond Mocha, with Kahlua, almond butter, raw chocolate powder, almond milk and palm sugar syrup – ideal if you are lactose intolerant or vegan.
Tempting the other end of the scale are Be At One’s legendary ice cream cocktails, featuring your favourite chocolate bars such as the Buenot – a medley of Mozart white chocolate liqueur, Kahlua Salted Caramel, vanilla ice cream and white Kinder Bueno. Or the Rhys’ Pieces, with the popular peanut butter cups, bourbon and vanilla ice cream.
Fly by the flavour wheel
If you’re a bit bamboozled by the selection, simply grab a menu and use the magnificent full-page flavour wheel to choose a cocktail based on the type of drink, the flavours and spirits you enjoy. Or go on the website for incredible detail about each one, including how to recreate a favourite at home. You can also click ‘Random’ and the website will generate a cocktail for you to try if you’re feeling daring.
Download the Be At One app for even more fun – each branch has its own ‘Appi Hour’ each day from Sunday to Thursday, which you can personalise on your smartphone. There’s also a ‘Be Appventurous’ daily £5 cocktail offer, you can credit your cocktail account and grab your own exclusive deals all year ‘round.
Master mixologists
If the bartenders make it all look a little easy, why not try your hand at some mixology with a cocktail masterclass. This lively 90-minute session includes cocktail making, shaking and tasting and is ideal for a work do, hen party or just for a laugh. If you’d prefer to watch the masters at work, Be At One regularly hosts Bartender Challengers to keep the team sharp and their cocktail skills up to scratch with local heats and live finals in a thrilling front bar performance!
Be At One Bournemouth opens early August 2017.
