please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Pub has been brought by Greene King, currently closed for refurbishment, re-opening in early December
|
Excellent bar and bistro style restaurant. It is not pretentious or snobby, but does attract a nice crowd who have money to spend - nothing wrong with that. The comment about going to the Bermuda Triangle instead is silly - that is also a good pub, but aimed at a completely different market. The Cow keeps it's beer very well with a good choice. The food is excellent - not cheap but good value. Varied menu, well cooked and presented.
|
Nice pint of Everards Sunchaser was quaffed here outside on a scorching may sunday.Really nicely furbished, nice outside seating area, ideal for station, and a landlord who knows what he is doing, 8/10
|
good to see more of the up and coming ashley cross, great food and competent bar staff. HOWEVER despite trying again and again, i cannot find a day/time that the place is not frequented by snobs who did nothing but give me bad looks (how dare i opt for a scotch on the rocks and not a white wine spritzer!) and I fail to trust bar stuff who go into other pubs in the area and add their own alcohol to a straight coke in the ladies (thus the low rating, i apologise and retract that statement if she is no longer employed).
otherwise a nice clean pub with good range of spirits and excellent restaurant.
|
snobby and pretentious....go to the bermuda triangle instead...saying that though ive only heard good things about the food...
|
OK SaxAtTheCowPub,
I made a mistake and my earlier comments re. the Morning Advertiser were incorrect. Reading on here that you'd won pub of the year prompted my search for the Morning Advertiser because, frankly, I just couldn't believe it!! I'm not in the licensing trade and I've never heard of the Morning Advertiser.
So, good for you. Your hard work, tears, effort and money have secured a 'pub oscar'.
However, I do stand behind my other comment. I've been once and hated it. The majority of other reviewers on here don't think The Cow is that great either. Do you think you'll be winning the BeerInTheEvening pub of the year with 6.5/10?
So, I would respectfully suggest that instead of getting personal (and besides, my Dads bigger than your Dad) you keep at it and try to improve things.
|
The beer is really excellent!
The food was gorgeous - I am a fussy vegetarian!
Right next to the station - no need to drive from Poole.
Ski night coming up soon.
|
Minesapint63 clearly has no idea what he is talking about. The Morning Advertiser is THE national trade press for pubs. It is ciculated to 36,000 pubs in England and Wales. To be crowned National Freehouse and National pub of the year is the pub trades Oscars. I attended the award ceremony, in London with 800 other industry professionals and The Cow came away with the top honours. These awards are something to truly be proud of. Given the fact that I bought the near derelict Parkstone Hotel from a national brewer, sunk my life savings into this business and turned it into Pub of the year four years later is remarkable. This idiot who is slagging off my achievements has clearly never achieved anything in his sad little life, I pity him!
|
True, this pub did win Pub of the Year - but it's the Morning Advertiser Pub of the year award - which makes it pretty meaningless.
It's like having the TV Quick award for Best Neurosurgeon!
I've been here once and hated it.
|
Visited again recently and was unimpressed frankly.
Absolutely heaving so some punters must love it. Service was OK, but I couldn't get within 4 feet of the bar....
Only had Broadside on draught, which makes a change, but only for the 1st pint (if you've ever tried an evening on it, you'll know what I mean)
|
Won Pub of the Year the other day. A decent place to drink, but seems to suffer something of an identity crisis between a sports bar and a pub lounge. The beer is well kept and the ales taste spot on, as indicated by their Cask Marque status. Haven't had the chance to sample the food, since I can't justify �7 for a bacon sandwich, but I've heard it's absolutely excellent.
The staff are friendly, and it's lovely to see a pub that plays the rugby, and which isn't Walkabout. Its location on the train station means that it's a simple task to get right into town if you tire of it as well. In terms of the clientele, the moneyed young and the middle aged seem to be standard fare here, although people seem to always be having a good time.
Overall I'm unsure. It seems to tick the right boxes, but there's something off about it that I can't quite put my finger on (it could be the drink prices bordering on the absurd for a pub, though, and the uncomfortable amounts of people on the weekends for such a small place). It certainly didn't deserve Pub of the Year, although it's a nice, friendly, non-threatening place I like to have a drink in occasionally. Well done to Dave Sachs et al for turning it around.
|
The cow has a great atmosphere for a modern-style pub - it doesn't seem to attract the 18 year old lager drinking crowd - it's got more of an appeal to the 25 to 35 crowd. The food (although not the cheapest) is superb and they usually have seasonal real ales (Ringwood Best Boondoggle at the moment). Definitely one of my faves.
|
went there the other day, overpriced and bad food. beer served in warm glass. barmaid never smiled
anonymous - 27 May 2006 09:15 |
Went for a birthday meal in the bistro. The quality of the food and service was exceptional. Had a thoroughly good evening in the relaxed atmosphere. The tables are not crammed in, which offers the privacy so often lacking. The only drawback was having to wade through the revellers from the pub side to get to the loo...(the facilities are shared between the two). Sadly the loo reflected a busy friday night and was dirty, messy and lacking in the the basics...one does not expect to drip dry having spent nearly �100 on a meal out. However, would most certainly visit again.
|
Top marks to the team who refurbished this pub from the Parkstone into the Cow. Really has a unique, trend setting, feel about it. Ideal starting point for a night out.
|
A roomy pub with cowskin covered poofs and sofas. Seems like there is not enough seating most evenings.
This pub used to be called The Parkstone Hotel and has been totally transformed from the kind of pub most people were afraid to go into into a classic but modern pub serving real ales and good food.
|
I have to say that the Sunday roast was the best roast I have ever had out, you will pay a little more at nearly a tenner but worth every penny. The plate was hot, well presented, the beef cooked perfectly and the veg just right, staff friendly etc, so if your the type of person who enjoys your food and expects top notch if you eat out then you won't be disappointed and I don't recommend often!
Ringo - 27 Oct 2005 11:39 |
A classy bistro type place i,ve heard from people who have been there.Its just a shame its at the expense of the Parky which was one of the best boozers in Poole.
|
the cow pub opened in august 2003 with a60cover bistro and a private dining room it is gaining an extremely good reputation for food .it's difficult to get a table for dinner its so busy
sophie mulvet - 13 May 2004 21:42 |
This pub closed down in 2003, has re-opened as more of a brasserie than a pub and is now called "the Cow".
anonymous - 17 Feb 2004 12:14 |
1 think its called the cow now.
anonymous - 17 Jan 2004 20:14 |
