The Bricklayers Arms, Poole

Here's my tuppence worth - mostly negative, but I'm afraid that's how I feel !

Best thing about it is the real fire, the two comfortable armchairs next to it and the beer. Shame about the featureless, bland extension; also the loss of the nice garden at the back. The latter has been sold off (of course) and some nasty houses have been built there, leaving only a small, paved-over area to sit in.

If you stay in the front of the pub where you can't see the extension you can imagine it's still a nice place to be, if a little devoid of atmosphere and decent music for most of the time.

It feels to me as if the owner has 'sold the soul' of the pub for a quick buck, and has done the cheapest makeover possible. The Conservation Area cottages next door, owned by the pub, were allowed to fall down, and have now been demolished and replaced by one modern house. Not even the old bricks were utilised.

One of the worst things about this pub are the lavatories - the smell. There is one lobby door leading to the doors for both Ladies and Gents and you need to hold your breath as you enter the lobby area. As a woman I try not to use them, but if I have to I hold my breath from the moment I go into the lobby until I get into the Ladies. The smell must be unbearable in the Gents.

The washbasins are ridiculous - 'gee whizz' basins that lack any functionality - there is no room for your hands between the basin and the bottom of the tap so the water drenches you if you're not careful.

I'm sorry, I didn't want to be so negative but this pub has been ruined. Bring back landlords Geoff and Ruth from 'the old days.' Now they really knew how to run a pub, it had a great atmosphere and people kept coming back. I now prefer the BT, over the road.

8 Dec 2012 14:02

The Poole Arms, Poole

Dear Bob

Thank you for your response, but you have misquoted me entirely. We visited the Poole Arms (and as I said before it's quite nice inside, unspoilt etc. - I have no gripe with that) and whilst my friend stood at the bar and looked to see what he wanted to drink I decided to use the Ladies - quite normal behaviour I suspect. When I returned I found my friend had decided he didn't want the beer that was on offer. Now that's not to say that what was on offer wasn't good, not at all; he simply fancied something else instead, so we left. This is, I'm sure, something that many people can identify with occasionally doing, but you decided to accost me on the way out with, "This isn't a public toilet you know!". I explained that we'd had every intention of buying a drink from you... until my friend decided he wanted a different brand, but you shouted at me, "Oh, no you didn't, you had no intention of buying anything!" Quite unecessary rudeness on your part I'd say. Have you never visited anywhwere only for someone in your party to subsequently decide they want to eat/drink somewhere else instead?

I mentioned to you that over the years I'd drunk in the Poole Arms quite a number of times, but that you might be of the opinion that I was some holidaymaker you felt you could be rude to because you'd never see me again. I also said that as a local (I've lived in and around Poole for over forty years), I would be telling any visiting friends to avoid your pub. As for your quote of what I said, "I'm a local, I'm entitled!" - sorry but that's blatantly untrue.

I agree with you: I don't believe that anyone is entitled to walk in off the street and use pub facilities as they please and that's certainly not what our intention was. Yes, I took offence to the way you verbally attacked me and accused me of lying, hence the reason I would advise others to avoid your pub in the future.

Your words, "...a couple of spoiled fools who like to get their own way,..." and "...I have come across many people like you..." I rest my case as to your rudeness. 30 years in the trade clearly hasn't brought customer liaison skills has it, Bob?

Lindsey & family, aka Local Resident

9 Apr 2007 21:20

The Poole Arms, Poole

Luckily this has missed out on the usual brewery makeover that ruins many a good pub and makes it bland and featureless. That said, it's certainly not lacking in atmosphere either, as if you're after rudeness from the staff I cannot recommend the Poole Arms highly enough!

During my visit - just one of many over the years - someone who should know better had clearly consumed a large bowl of lemons, leaving him so bitter and twisted that I thought he was going to pop! I'm local, but won't ever visit this pub again and certainly won't recommend it to anyone. A course in customer relations needs to be implemented - FAST. AVOID.

23 Jan 2006 20:58