After much deliberation I decided to stay in Bournemouth and headed for Southbourne clifftop. Was treated to a spectacular light show, largely from IC lightning, and then got pummelled by torrential rain and reasonably large hail (sounded like really big hail from inside the car)!
Then went up to Picket Post just off the A31 near Burley and saw lots of CGs, mainly from the cells pushing inland to the east of me.
All in all, a great night, but the sparsity of CGs in the Channel and the quietness of the thunder, even when lightning was overhead and constant, left me a little unfulfilled, which I realise is nuts considering the lack of storms here for what seems like an age. From a personal perspective, I much preferred the storms of 2014 & 2015, but last night was pretty amazing nonetheless!