please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The last time I was in I saw a few rich folk as well. Just thought I would mention that in case people got the wrong idea about the clientele here.
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Usual spoons aimed at benefit claimants
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Usual spoons aimed at benefit claimants
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Fairly typical Wetherspoons pub not too far from Bournemouth railway station. It was reasonably busy with all tables taken yesterday lunchtime. 8 ales and 2 ciders were on - Ringwood Forty Niner & Old Thumper, Marstons Burton Bitter, Dorset Brewing Company Smokin' Rock, Sharps Doom Bar, Wickwar Cotswold Way, Vibrant Forest Cydonia, Greene King Abbot, Hogans Hazy Daisy & Westons Old Rosie with Rhubarb. Better than I had expected.
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The picture is obviously old as it is now a Wetherspoons and has their usual offerings. It was beer festival time when we went so we had a couple of tasters which were fine. Nothing much else to say about it really.
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Went in here several times during our weekend visit.A small pub for a spoons but ales were pretty good. We took over it one morning dressed as smurfs which attracted a lot of attention. Everyone seemed friendly enough. Nowt fancy but ok for a pint
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The Gander may have been 'Spit and Sawdust' as RAINBOW07 says but at least it had character and there was not another pub like it in the Bournemouth area, not something you can say about the Creeke. However, those days are gone and it's all corporate crap these days so it's not possible that we'll ever see the likes of The Gander re-emerging on this premises or any other in Bournemouth.
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A popular pub. Clean and comfortable, well priced beers sometimes poorly pulled. Yes it may be another spoons, but better than some rip off joints that are in Bournemouth. Good hardworking staff and obliging. Perhaps the people who complain about it should stay in the past, were they belong. This is the future of pubs. Recommended. And yes I remember pubs in the 60s most were awfull.
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I disagree! The Gander on the Green was a lil bit Spit and Sawdust if ya get me...Spoons have once again done an amazing job of turning a pub around! The upsatairs bar no longer has pool tables, but then none of the wetherspoons i have ever been into have, but they have added a patio area at the back conversion of the top bar and it looks amazing. At the weekends the pub gets busy with the Stags and Hens which is interesting to watch!
There was a reason for the Metropole going under....Good job spoons took it over if you ask me as there is not a lot else on that stretch that is invinting! I love the mini festivals they put on like the beer and wine fest and the selection of real ales are huge with an option to suggest your own from 'east west'. Well worth a try, service is quick and friendly and pub is now CLEAN!
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Exactly the same as every other Wetherspoons/Lloyds in the whole country. There are already far too many in the Bournemouth area, why do we need more? Sadly this generic bland place has replaced one of my favourite places to go. Bring back The Gander! It had life and character and dirty music, or at least The Metropole with it's live music, arts exhibitions and jamming sessions. What a waste of a great location. In a few years every street will be filled with nothing but Wetherspoons and Tescos and everything and everyone will look the same. Sad times.
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Bring back the Gander on the Green please! This once great establishment has been ruined firstly by "Karma" then by the "Metropole".
The "Christopher Creeke" has driven the nail in the coffin!
anonymous - 19 Dec 2010 23:43 |
Nice friendly spoons pub on 2 floors.With a good selection of real ales.Good quick service. For those on a budget pints are 15p- 25p cheaper than The Moon in The Square.
As it is a Lloyds No. 1 bar music does tend to get quite loud at times.
Can get busy at weekends with students from the nearby college.
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Will be re-opening as the "Christopher Creeke" (Lloyd's No1) 21st August.
anonymous - 16 Aug 2009 10:14 |
Rumour has it (from more than one source) that Wetherspoon have bought the lease and will be reopening this bar as a Lloyds No1.
anonymous - 27 Jun 2009 12:26 |
The Metropole (formerly Karma and before that the Gander on the Green) has now closed along with the 'new' Gander upstairs. Sad to see the demise of a once great pub, the 'old' Gander was really was an institution locally.
anonymous - 22 Jun 2009 17:26 |
Now all you Gander Fans - It's still there - Upstairs. Live Bands regularly. Downstairs - is GOOD -No better than that. Can still sit in the sun on the nice outside decking with FREE Wireless Access. Different themes different nights but Revolving Door on Tuesday night - Local artists get up on the stage and do their bit - Eggcellent. And also watch Enrique another night doing his Salsa.... wowie. So much better than the Karma ever was this has gone from a 0 to a 9 in my estimation. Good Luck to the new boys on this one.
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All those Gander fans will be happy. The Karma Bar is Bankrupt, gone, closed and ripped apart. New Bar, new owners - Opening soon as the METROPOLE. The old Gander is still upstairs and open.
anonymous - 25 May 2006 19:00 |
An open spaced modern pub come wine bar designed mainly to attract female customers (and thus male customers). Bouncers welcome because it is near the Lansdowne. Range of beers and lagers limited and slightly expensive. Lots of foreign staff behind the bar, mainly attractive barmaids. They have installed some touch screen computers on some tables. Good pub to sit in during the summer and watch the world go by.
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If you can ignore the really awful outside (dirty picnic tables), inside you will find a surprisingly nice and relaxing wine-bar type pub. No real ales, but if you are a lager drinker and want to avoid some of the dodgy places try it. A (free?) discount card will get you around 10% off. So far so good ... we'll see how it develops and hope it doesn't get too poncy.
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Door staff!?! Never needed door staff when it was the Gander, the only trouble was caused by chavs (or 'clubbers and bimbos') looking to start a fight, who were generally escorted firmly to the door by the clientele. Still not impressed, didn't have much time to look but does this now mean there are no rock or 'alternative' pubs left in Bournemouth? Terrible.
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Well I like it so stuff you lot so nice to sit in the sun before partying later in the evening. Pleasant staff and reasonable prices. Even the door staff are not looking for a fight in here like they do in the Litten. Ask about the discount card.
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a travisty. The gander has now been turned in to a run of the mill bistroesque haunt for the clubbers and bimbo's that bournemouth attracts.
It almost makes me cry to think of it...in fact im to sad to write anymore, those who used to drink there will understand :0(
booty - 20 May 2005 17:03 |
Whats going on with the Gander someone please?
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Karma? I think not. A sad day. It'll be like when Bacchus closed and became just another poncey bar, still glad I left Bournemouth!
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It is still being refurbished but a sign has appeared outside saying that it will be re-opening as Karma bar and brasserie. I would like to thing that this is a wind up but I'm sure it isn't
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Is the Gander still being refurbished, or is it now totally closed? Not looking promising last time it was passed...
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i ran this pub a couple of years ago when jan left, had a great time met lots of really cool people, gave it my heart and soul! hope it survives the current refurbishment and stays a home from home for real people...i miss it lots. Dave. ([email protected])
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went down there last night and was surprised to see things are back to normal after those last freaks who owned it in 2003 they've even got beer to sell behind good band hot rod jesus i think 11/10
simon - 12 Sep 2004 12:23 |
good pub go there most days, nice grog, just a bit expensive. Scotty has done a good job so far.Just hope it still keeps the older vibe!
dom upchuck - 16 Jun 2004 23:54 |
one of my faves, look out for my band playing there in the not too distant future - Section 68!!
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Been going there for donkeys years - my local! Recently changed hands and Scotty the landlord seems to be getting things back on an even keel. New 2am licence weekends. Live music, mostly rock/metal. Good bikers pub. Very friendly and no violence. Spit and sawdust, just the way I like it :-)
Chrissy - 13 Jun 2004 10:34 |
ooops! My only gripe would be the carpet and the curtains upstairs - makes it look like an indian restaurant! We did complain when they first did it up but no joy!
rebecca - 4 Jan 2004 21:26 |
This is my true home! Spent most of my life in this pub between 1996-2001! Havent been in for a while but it has always been known for it's excellent music and friendly (if not a little strange) customers and staff.
If its not rocking enough there try "Samsons" up by the train station, this is where most of the old time Gander goers now go!
rebecca - 4 Jan 2004 21:24 |
Saturday night live rocks!! Live bands playing as they should- loud!!!!! paying to get into a pub is a bit harsh though. drinks not too expensive.
Kim - 17 Nov 2003 19:17 |
its a great pub! they used to play some real good music on saturdays, but its got kind of boring on a saturday now. friendly bar-people... friendly pub. find a lot of mettalers/goths and all the rest there. very welcome place.
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it's allright. a bit loud maybe. and the music ... it's just noise to me!
jonathan - 23 Sep 2003 12:18 |
Spread the word. The Gander is surely the only place goosie would have hung out. It rocks my world. I dont shag boys by the way london boy, but if thats your thing, dont be disheartened, theres a nice place down the road for that. V attractive. Lush.
Bill - 11 Jul 2003 16:00 |
the gander is my fave pub, seen loadsa really good live bands there and they have a good jukebox upstairs and down
Jo - 13 Jun 2003 15:55 |
On its way back now under new management,after a couple of years in the douldrums after Jan retired to Spain.great music best band is Pronghorn.......well worth seeing
ian - 19 May 2003 14:31 |
I have been a devottee of the Gander for the longest time...it is my new adopted homeland
Chester - 10 Feb 2003 16:47 |
Quite agree with comments made by Radish on 26 Jul 02. The 'so called' greasy bikers that inhabit the place might appear somewhat menacing at first but they never cause any bother. This pub has admirably refused to move with the times, it looks much as it did when I first started drinking in the late 70s. You dos struggle to get a decent pint however.
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This pub is so friendly it hurts. It's almost good enough to want to move to Bournemouth for.
Loz - 8 Aug 2002 20:27 |
Used to be my regular whilst living in B'mouth - local pub guide used to say "Don't worry about the greasy bikes outside, worry about the greasy bikers inside" - no idea what they were talking about, only saw 2 fights in 7 years, & they were caused by smart/casual types!
Radish - 26 Jul 2002 15:23 |
Glad to see the Gander has come back to life and in better shape than ever. Happily the Gander is within easy staggering distance of my abode. Probably the best live music venue in Bournemouth. Nothing boring at the Gander. Be there!
Roj Agogo - 30 Apr 2002 16:10 |
