Hive Beach Cafe — Restaurant in England

I really loved my first impromptu visit here 7 years ago. We decided to re-visit for my birthday as a family meal. From what I recall at our original visit, things have changed and expanded a bit since Covid etc and it’s good to see there are takeaway options and an outside terrace option. We spent over £300 on a meal for 2 adults and 2 teenage children which included drinks and desserts. I did feel this was excessive even though we ordered some amazing seafood dishes. If I could improve the experience it would be to have more options on the dinner menu as there weren’t that many and it seemed all were very pricey. I think a lot more attention is needed to address allergies and food intolerances and staff training needs to be more robust here. I have an intolerance to some fruits due to an inflamed bladder lining so I explained to the waitress I can’t do lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange. I also said I am sick if I eat mussels but I’m good with all other seafood and all other fruit. She told me they don’t serve mussels in their dishes. Later, they double checked if the single raspberry placed in my cocktail was ok. It was. However, they didn’t pay any attention or give any warning to the large wedges of lemon served on a seafood platter we’d ordered and I was quite shocked to also find mussels among the platter. I didn’t bother saying anything at the time as I just avoided the areas near the lemon wedges and my husband ate the mussels and I chose other parts of the platter. My intolerances are not that serious and I do it to avoid pain and any sickness. However, some people have serious adversities and I was just surprised this happened. I think I expect somewhere that charges over £300 for dinner to look after me for 100% of the experience. If I had brought this up I think it might have spoiled my birthday dinner out but how would they have backtracked from doing this if I had? Overall, it was a lovely meal and we enjoyed the atmosphere and...

I've been coming here for the last five years and have seen it slide steadily downhill over the past two or three, to the point now where, were it not for the view of the beach and the sea, it would simply go out of business as a consequence of the haphazard service and over-priced, very average food offering. Sadly, the last visit on a sunny Saturday evening a few days ago will be my last, as the increasingly cynical exploitation of its clientele has reached a new low. The removal of mushy peas to accompany its staple fish and chips was the start - obviously you could still have them at an additional, disproportionate cost. However, on Saturday my partner ordered the spicy squid, which she has had at least twice so far this year, only to find when it arrived that the portion of chips which had always previously accompanied it was absent. On querying this, she was told that the menu had been amended two days beforehand (coinciding somewhat coincidentally with the start of the school holidays) and, yes, the chips were no longer included with the squid. My very modestly sized hake, served with about twelve dismal, overcooked oven chips, was very poor value - a real shame as this used to be a reliable default choice. No overpriced, unimaginative desserts to follow, thank you, and certainly no tip for the waiter who told us he was too busy to take an order for chips to go with the squid. The Hive needs to take a good look at itself - many locals such as us will now leave it to the hapless grockles to be fleeced but certainly won't be back in the quieter months - you'll find us up the road in the Three Horseshoes having much better food, served with warm smiles at very...

We walked over from highlands end campsite today and built up a great appetite and then had a lovely lunch, me, the better half and bob the dog. We’re both veggie so ordered the halloumi sandwich to share with chips and slaw and drinks to takeaway and sat outside ( alcoholic drinks- it is holiday after all -cheers !! 🥂) So far on holiday we have had chips in west bay and bridport but these were our favourites. The beer was from the piddle brewery which of course had us giggling - when you’re sat outside in the sun having a great time (and not at work) words like piddle seem hugely funny (to us …..?!) the beer was great too, reports on the house white also very favourable. It was very busy for a Tuesday lunch and there is another restaurant in the group in west bay called watchhouse cafe which also looks good and they do Sunday lunch (veggie option) 2 courses £20 which seems very good value in these times we are in - look forward to trying it next time.

Added. June 2025 pictures - this amazing salad was the veggie option, a plate full of delicious ingredients. I couldn’t see anything vegan on the menu - not being negative to the restaurant in any way but just for general info - the salad had feta on. Also it was really busy , we hadn’t booked and got the last table for walk ins, booking recommended . If you want to get a bus to/from Bridport I’m pretty sure ( maybe double check) it’s the x52 or x53 Jurassic coaster , the stop is in burton bradstock, then a fairly short walk to hive beach. Walk/bus bus/walk bus/bus walk/walk always worth a visit to hive beach (it’s national trust if you...