The Fishermans Haunt, Christchurch

Recently re-discovered this after some years. It's got a nice atmosphere, friendly staff, and we had a lovely meal on both occasions. I don't think it was always a Fullers pub, and I'd have been back sooner if I had realised I lived that close to a pint of London Pride!

As someone else has pointed out, you can take your dog as well, and that's a big bonus these days.

9 Dec 2008 13:57

The White Buck, Burley

Great pub for a Sunday lunch, especially after a good walk. It's the kind of place you can dress up for or turn up in jodhpurs and boots. Better still, you can take the dog.

Coming from Bournemouth, where there are so few pubs that do their own cookingm, it's always a treat to come here, especially for the local fish dishes

9 Dec 2008 13:50

The Bear Cross, Kinson

kimmykitten is not a genuine poster. he/she is retaliating to a post I made about the Angel at Longham.

I imagine kimmykitten is an employee of that establishment, possibly even the landlord himself as the vitriolic tone is very familiar.

The Bear Cross is now our regular and we continue to get good service and wonderful food.

I have also noticed that people are comfortable to come in just for a pint and the bar has all the atmosphere of a good traditional local.

9 Dec 2008 13:45

The Bear Cross, Kinson

Pub was a chav pub until just over a year ago when the managers of the Angel, up the road, took over the licence and refurbished it.

We've had many meals there since and never been disappointed. Everything is well cooked, well presented and well balanced.

The landlady and her staff are attentive and we have never experienced anything to support the negative comments made previously.

There is a regular clientele who come just for a pint and sit at the bar. They are made welcome too and the pub is the closest I've found for many years to the long-gone traditional local.

With regard to previous comments, it is not a chav pub, it is not aimed at nor exclusively visited by older diners, the staff are not miserable, surly and ignorant, and it's a matter of relief to me that the smoker won't be visiting. Running the gauntlet of the outside smokers area is almost as bad as sharing the bar with them!

5 Aug 2008 13:38

The Angel Inn, Longham

We were occasional regulars until last week. It's what we call a 'Formula Food' pub - no chef, just a student with some basic preparation skills. There aren't many places in or close to Bournemouth that do offer proper food, but we didn't mind the occasional visit.

Last week, though, we had some bad service. My husband ordered ham, egg and 'hand cut' chips, and I had chicken caesar salad. The 'chips' turned out to be a pile of very greasy wedges, and my dish was smothered in far too much dressing.

My husband left most of the potatoes, and told the manager he was only willing to pay half (of his meal - not the whole bill). He was probably being a little unreasonable but these weren't chips and there were far too many of them.

I would describe my husband as assertive but the manager said he was rude and he would happily take nothing if we did not come back.

We were amazed at such an over-reaction, but went to settle the rest of the bill anyway, only to find it was cleared. This guy wrote off over �30 for the sake of �4, and future business as well. Still I can't imagine he'll be there in a year's time.

This pub went downhill a little over a year ago when the managers moved on to run their own pub. For those who don't know it, they are down the road a mile at the Bear Cross and the food is better than ever. You often have to book though, which is why we weren't there last week!

And to be fair to Hall and Woodhouse, we stopped at the Half Moon in Shaftesbury on Saturday, and the same Chicken Caesar salad was served with just the right amount of dressing

5 Aug 2008 11:34