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ONE PUB ONLY?
Goat and Tricycle
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND?
Cricketers and then Porterhouse.
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
The Cricketers
CHANGES FROM GUIDE
Portman Hotel - Home fans only
|  |  Cricketers Arms
41 Windham Rd. BH1 4RN T 01202 551589
G Sheila Doherty
F Sunday roasts only 12 to 4
CP SK JB P D
O 11 to 11 Mon.-Thu, 12 to 12 Fri - Sat, 12 to 10.30 Sun
The “Cricks” is one of those pubs that should be really famous yet has managed to keep some anonymity that I am reluctant to blow. It is a back - street boozer that has some very curious features and attitudes. From the outside it suggests nothing extra - ordinary and then you enter to four great separate bars all with something special. The main bar or “private bar” is where I found the locals in full flow, engaging in banter with Sheila and very funny it was too. The star attraction is the lounge; apparently this vaulted stable was once the boxing gym for none other than Freddie Mills. Then there are the posters that will keep many an aged rocker engrossed. The beer rotates regularly and was truly excellent. You might find a quiet space as there are numerous nooks and crannies. To do so, however, would be to miss out on the craic. Shelia is a marvellous host, a true friend it seems to her regulars as well as the new venturers who do discover that the 15 min. walk to the ground is easy, so too the stroll to the station. And then to add to the quirkiness I was introduced to President Bush. He was about to lose his space in the toy collection to a Ninja Turtle. Well what could be more appropriate? I had at last found a good back - street boozer in Bournemouth and one contented beer hunter found it very hard to leave for the cold early evening air.
BWV 6.1.06: Fuller’s London Pride, Hardys and Hanson Rocking Rudolph, Titanic White Star | |  Goat and Tricycle
27 - 29 West Hill Rd, BH2 5PF T 01202 314220 W www.goatandtricycle.co.uk
G
F Freshly prepared home-made food to order 12 to 2, 6 to 9 Mon to Thu. 6 to 8.30 Fri.
SP TV BM D
O 12 to 3, 5 to 11 Mon - Thu, 12 to 11.30 Fri. - Sat. 12 to 3, 7 to 11 Sun.
This is a split - level pub that adds an impressive quality range of local brews. Locals recommend “the courtyard, all hanging baskets and sunshine.” Others suggest “it is the only real ale pub left in town (Lindsay of Bournemouth), a relief from the disco pubs taking over the town.” They go on to comment that “it is the closest pub to the ground (2 miles or so).” It is very handy to local hotels, yet close enough to the town centre for other entertainment. I would not travel far from here as the atmosphere was very relaxed, comfortable and the choice of ale very tempting.. You can see why it “was East Dorset Pub of the Year having friendly helpful staff” (Gemma.) I was assured the food was indeed freshly prepared and therefore, we now have a top quality real ale pub in a rather beer - bereft town centre.
UPDATE: There are plans for a refit in the next year. Further awards include Meridian area cask real ale Pub of the year. The conference room and gallery may become more of a feature.
BWV 6.1.06: Exmoor Fox, Greene King Abbot, Fireside, Badger Festive Pheasant, Theakston’s Best, Wadworth 6X, Bishop’s Tipple, Henry’s IPA, JCB | |  The Porterhouse
113 Poole Rd. Westbourne. BH4 9BG T 01202 768586 W www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/pubs/pudDetails.aspx?pid=2
G Jonathon Blackie
F Rolls and sandwiches all day.
MP P
O 11 to 11, 12 to 10.30 Sun
I was really hoping to find a town - centre ale house this year but every time I talked to the locals they kept on directing me to the Porterhouse. Westbourne, a suburban village is accessible by the M1/M2 buses and many of the yellow buses so I was rewarded by a great early morning beer in this quality Ringwood ale house.
I arrived the week before new managers arrived so things might change but I doubt the locals will let that happen. The single bar is a wooden floor adult games room. Reading material lines the walls, as do board games. By 11.45 the first crib games were starting and space at the bar was limited to locals. The talk was relaxed and the welcome very helpful. Indeed the final recommendation came directly from one such good old boy. I hid my nose in the Sudoku as others glimpsed page three of the Guardian. The pub was spotless, highly cherished and perfectly local to the High Street. A mobile went off despite the poster that discouraging its use. Chatting to Alice and her bloke, I gathered that the footie routine involved locals going to nearby big screens and returning afterwards for a real ale session. Other regular visitors are those who attend conferences and have a CAMRA member in their number. The Porterhouse is a great local, well worth combining with a visit to the Goat.
BWV 6.1.06: Kelham Island Pale Rider, Ringwood Best, Fortyniner, Old Thumper, Porter, Thatcher’s’ Farmers Tipple Cider | |  Queens Park Hotel
482 Holdenhurst Road, BH9 8AR T 01202 720096
G Alan and Chris Newton
F Everything from rolls to steaks from 10 but just rolls on matchdays.
CP SK JB P D
O 10 to 12, 10 to 1 a.m. Fri. - Sat 12 to 12.Sun.
This is the “world famous” Queens Park, made famous by recommendations to this guide but also in the flag seen throughout the Barmy Army globe. “No longer a hotel, it is very friendly place.” This is a pub in the old style. Catering for traditional pub users it has large rooms set aside for pub games, food, chatting and watching Sky TV. While real ale isn’t the raison d’etre, the beer on offer was surprisingly good for a pub so close to the ground. This place is always crowded on matchdays and people often spill into the back courtyard and car park. My visit coincided with an England international friendly match on the TV, boring match, yet great entertainment as locals came in and later left wishing they had arrived earlier than the game had started. I left them to their supping and made a promise to come back on a matchday, to relive the good lunchtime sessions held here in the past. Only two minutes from the ground and is really the only pub within five minutes of the stadium. Home supporters often use the club bars.
UPDATE: Apart from extending opening hours, nothing has changed much other than away fans being directed to the left hand bar, home to the right.
BWV 6.1.06: Ringwood Bitter
BWV 9.2.05: Ringwood Bitter | | 
DEAN COURT | | 
LOCAL BREWERY
138 Christchurch Road,
Ringwood,
Hants,
BH24 3AP
Telephone: +44(0)1425 471177
www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk | | WETHERSPOONS
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The Parkstone and Heatherlands 433-457 Wimborne Road Winton Bournemouth BH9 2AN Opening Times: Mon-Sun 9am-11pm
Sir Percy Florence Shelley 673-675 Christchurch Road Boscombe BH7 6AA Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
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