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NEO RESTAURANT
The much-anticipated addition to Bournemouth’s dining scene is already creating
a buzz around town, writes Nick Marshall
fter a 10 year planning dispute with Bournemouth
Council, Neo is finally able to welcome diners. But
you wouldn’t know it’s only just opened – the staff are
confident in their surroundings and the smart early evening
crowd in the downstairs bar look like regulars. On such a
sunny evening, the best spot for a pre-dinner loosener is
on the terrace overlooking the pier and gardens, although
Neo’s glass-fronted rotunda design means you’re bathed in
light throughout.
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The restaurant
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Clearly a lot of thought has gone into
creating an airy, modern setting that evokes
Grand Café elegance – something pitched
between the familiarity of a brasserie and
the full-on finesse of a high-end restaurant.
The décor is clean and sharp, the staff
impossibly charming and professional, but
the atmosphere relaxed. You can turn up
in shorts or a suit, sit down to a romantic
dinner or grab a round of after-work beers
with your colleagues, and you’ll fit in either
way. In