Coffee shops on the Promenade

Weymouth's Georgian Esplanade curves gently around the sweep of the bay, and along its length sits a string of independent coffee shops, ice-cream parlours and small cafés that have become part of the seaside ritual. From a window seat or pavement table visitors can look out across the wide promenade to the soft, pale sand and the sheltered waters that have drawn holidaymakers since King George III began bathing here in the 1780s.

The offering ranges from traditional tea rooms serving Dorset cream teas to contemporary speciality coffee bars roasting their own beans. Many spots cluster near the King's Statue and the Jubilee Clock, where the promenade is at its busiest, while quieter cafés further along towards Greenhill suit those after a slower pace. Pastries, crab sandwiches and locally made ice cream are usually on the menu, and most places welcome dogs on the outdoor terraces.

The promenade itself is flat and easy to walk, lined with sandcastle competitions in summer, Punch and Judy shows, donkey rides and the colourful Edwardian shelters that give Weymouth its distinct character. A coffee here is as much about the view and the salty air as it is about what's in the cup.