please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Nice, small pub in this commercial suburb of Bournemouth. But this is a Marstons pub. So the range is limited to their own beers and breweries they have swallowed up. The selection was Ringwood Best, Forty Niner & Boon Doggle, Banks's Bitter & Marstons Old Empire. There is a nice atmosphere in here, with no music, TVs, fruit machines or any other distractions - just simple conversation.
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Have to say that our Ringwood best was fine and the pub OK - not much else in the area so you "pays your money and you takes your choice" as they say!!
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Average beer at overinflated prices and the whole pub smelt of piss. Sadly, not going back in a hurry.
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Another visit recently.. you can't fault the atmosphere in this place, though for a Saturday night it was quite empty.
Sadly, the beer quality is worse than ever with Old Thumper down from 5.6% to 5.1% and tasting terrible. I don't believe this is the fault of the staff at the pub - you can't keep a beer badly to make it taste like that. Ringwood beer is simply bad, cheaply made beer these days.
I noticed the rather cynical new pump clips trying to promote the brewery as a craft-brewer. Poppycock!
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Ah, vindicated. I knew you'd agree with me!
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I've watched this pub go REALLY downhill the last 5 or 6 years. The beer is not kept properly by the landlord (though one or two of the staff still do what they can), it's dirty, grubby and the toilets stink - even first thing in the morning, through lack of proper cleaning and attention. It is also now very expensive (used to be the cheapest pub in the area), and the landlord is a moody bugger liable to ignore you, throw a wobbly or, once in a blue moon, act like he's your best mate.
Marston's haven't helped matters - no real guest beers and playing with the Ringwood recipies ie Old Thumper has just gone down to 5.1% and no bugger wants it!!!!
I've given up on the place. Plus point: the beer is still better (somehow) than the other two pubs in Westbourne. The only saving grace is some of the more knowledgeable staff.
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mark888 the reason your thumper is a bit hit and miss now is because it isnt looked after properly any more!the landlord is to tight to buy the proper equipment to close it at night so it loses its condition.all the experienced staff have left due to frustration with the landlord,who is ruining this pub.john your in the hospitality business so try being hospitable to people.try saying hello and thankyou and goodbye to the people who earn you money.stop being petty and annoying regulars.stop acting like a traffic warden wih a chip on each shoulder.get your act together man!
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I'm glad to see this pub has not changed into a trendy wine bar, nor has it brought in irritating background music. The no-music policy is one of the reasons we continue to go. The atmosphere is excellent and there is still a good mix of young and old in this place. The staff are great too.
However, it just is not as good as it used to be for the one simple reason that Ringwood beer has gone badly downhill since Marstons bought the brewery. I've been drinking Old Thumper since it was 6% back in the 80s. It was never quite as good on being reduce to 5.6% but still excellent. However, although there have been no further changes in strength, it now seems bland and tasteless like most beers from the large brewers. Marstons may well claim that the recipe hasn't changed, but I don't believe it.
I suggest that Marstons allow one guest beer from outside the Marstons group: it would keep those who are disappointed by the ale here still coming - the ale should be from a small local brewery (Stonehenge ales, Sunny Republic, Corfe Castle Brewery etc. etc.) and should be a reasonable strength: not the cheapest 3.5% offering. They should also remove the giant lager pumps from the bar and replace them with something a bit more discrete and in keeping with the pub.
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Bit surprised to see such high ratings though it is a reasonable pub in an area where such is lacking. Like riothmusV post below I'm happy about some pubs being especially real boozers like this to be kid free and there was a better atmosphere here as a result - customers reading papers, playing chess, actually talking to each other - wow - not the most amazing choice of ales but what I had (Ringwood) was fine
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great pub,thumper is always excellent,good cheap food and nice quiet live music on a wednesday night.dorsetknob you picked an apt name!!if you think the thumper is bad then you know sfa about beer.
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The Old Thumper is always lifeless and flat - the head always disappears after a minute.......try one and see!
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great pub, no noise, dogs are allowed in, and best of all no children spoiling the atmos (sorry parents, but there simply HAS to be somewhere for us to go where children do not act/think they have the god-given right to be there and run riot). Fantastic quality Ringwood Ales, beautifully kept. A regular on our RealAle quest, we cycle from Corfe Castle, and it's well worth it, please give it a go!
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Fantastic pub, staff always friendly and remember your drink. Lovely atmosphere and you always get a good pint!
ec123 - 13 Sep 2010 16:33 |
A very good real ale pub with a regular change of guest beer. Well kept and usually a full pint, though certain bar staff have to be constantly reminded.
Chairs are put on tables straight after last orders. A very abrupt manager who can't wait to get you out dead on time and is probably in the wrong job. He would make an ideal traffic warden! My rating is for the Pub, not the current management.
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Nice beer and reasonably friendly atmosphere but consistently short measures
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what a pub!best kept beer for 3o miles.great staff.a proper ale pub.try it
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the smoking ban has really turned this pub into a gem. Really nice atmosphere and very friendly bar staff coupled with good beer make it a really great place to go. Nice to see people in there with dogs too, all adds to the atmos. Keep it up.
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Pleased to see that the pub is as good as it used to be before the Marstons take-over. However, the guest ale is nowhere near as eclectic as it used to be.
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Check out this pubs facebook group
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Good pub....usual Ringwood range on offer and a guest ale(sadly nowadays seems to often be a Marstons beer) however, beer well kept and nice relaxed atmosphere if not overly freindly.. 8/10
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First visit last night.
Not disappointed. The Old Thumper was excellent. Will definately be returning.
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Great news! The current landlord has been offered the lease to continue running it as it is.
anonymous - 21 Nov 2007 12:06 |
As a regular, I have nothing but praise for the way in which John manages the Porterhouse. He and his team are excellent, I hope he takes the tenancy and gets better guest ales than those he is currently obligued to take on.
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Yes, this is being leased out as a Marstons tenancy. John, the current landlord is very keen to take it on, so hopefully, it should continue to be business as usual.
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Of particular concern, reading Marston's website, is their assertion that the Porterhouse "is not fulfilling it's full potential" citing the Liverpool Victoria offices nearby. So one of the few decent locals pubs this town has could become yet another trendy wine bar. I have emailed Marston's basically asking them to either leave the Porterhouse as is or sell it to a small local brewer (eg Hop Back).
anonymous - 29 Sep 2007 12:42 |
The influence of Marstons is about to make its mark. They have decided to lease out the pub, albeit with a tie to their beer. The current landlord, who is the manager rather than tenant/lessee, will probably move on. This could be a worrying development.
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A good no-frills type boozer, a variety of Ringwood ales all well kept. Worth a visit.
alexw - 14 Sep 2007 19:13 |
Unfortunately Ringwood brewery has just been acquired by Marstons so I fear for the future of one of my favourite beers and of one of the few proper pubs Bmth has!
anonymous - 13 Jul 2007 17:55 |
Probably the best pub in the area of Bournemouth and Poole in terms of real ale. Only criticism is that it can get quite smoky.
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Abolutely excellent pub. Beer superb, staff superb, atmosphere superb. On or around the best in the whole town.
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Just been awarded local CAMRA pub of the season
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The best pub in the area for real ale drinkers.The Ringwood best is just that bit better than in other pubs. No distracting music just the sound of conversation. A real gem.
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The Ringwood beer at this pub is something special. It's a shame the pub isn't a little bigger and has a little more character, but that doesn't matter much, because the beer is so good here. They really do take care of the ales.
pub quiz is 9pm on Tuesday.
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What an improvement since the old landlord, Tony went! This pub must be one of the finest in the area and is a gem of a real ale pub. The staff are friendly, real beer buffs and get to know what you drink after a few visits. As it's a Ringwood Brewery pub the full range of Ringwood is available along with a frequently changed guest ale. All the ales are meticulously kept and the OLD THUMPER is wonderful. It's good to see a real traditional oak panneled interior and the absence of TV's, music and fruit machines mean you feel the friendly atmosphere as soon as you walk in. Food is back on the menu with an extensive bar snack menu and a daily special. If there has to be any improvement at all, more comfortable chairs might be an idea. This pub is quite rightly accredited with the Cask Mark and several CAMRA awards. All in all it's A1+
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Excellent pint of Old Thumper
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There was a large "dumping" of vomit outside the front door the other day - such a shame.
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Very compact and (in my opinion) full of crusty and dull CAMRA types. A great Pub though with wonderful Old Thumper and good guest ales - Wobbly Bob 6% was available this week. The seating arrangements are a little basic. You have to negociate a space at the bar in between the "chosen few" on their bar stools in order to purchase a drink. The staff are excellent.
The smoking ban should introduce a fresh and diverse new collection of visitors.
Look out for the roosting Wagtails as you leave if you visit early evening.
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Great pub, landlord a bit dry, but as funny as u like.
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One of few proper pubs in Bmth, good beer, good service. Although theres no hot food served here do try the meat pies - they are huge!
anonymous - 27 Jun 2005 14:37 |
Excellent pub with superb beer and good, but limited food. Can be very smokey as it is small so good for one pint only before leaving coughing and smelling. Roll on the smoking ban and then this will have a "10".
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Im usually a lager drinker but i switch to real ale in this place. The smell hits you as soon as you walk in and its got to be tried.
joe - 9 Apr 2004 12:35 |
Great beer Nice atmosphere shame the landlord is a bit of a dreary fella. Could do with a smile when you walk in the door.
Otherwise great
jamie - 25 Oct 2003 13:14 |
Can't go wrong for a decent pint of Ringwood's beers in here.
A very nice pub; one of the best in Bournemouth.
Rob - 12 Sep 2003 08:39 |
Excellent little pub, nice atmosphere - good ales. For real-pub-lovers only. Nice range of malt whiskys aswell.
Kevin - 26 Aug 2003 17:12 |
One of the very few Ringwood tied houses. Excellent ale, Ringwood Best, Old Thumper, 49er etc. Going back a few years this place didn't sell spirits but that changed some time ago.
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