The Lord Wimborne, Poole

What a crap place!
Attracts the worst that Poole has to offer. OK, so the prices are low, but so are the standards.
The place is filled with lager swilling DSS, single mums with prams, etc.
Its loud and dirty inside, so try sitting on the tables outside: They're covered in seagull crap. Only went here once (never again). Whilst sitting outside, a young couple plus baby sat on the next table - The kid was sick all over the table and the parents just moved to the next table to finish their chips. Nice.

14 Apr 2008 15:07

Spotted Cow, Poole

Two "Spoons" in Poole - this is the better one.
A limited selection of chilled real ales (cheap, though) for a Wetherspoons.
Don't order food if you're going to catch a bus! The grub is the usual Wetherspoons fare, but I've waited for an hour on two occasions for my order to arrive...
Not great.

14 Apr 2008 14:53

Bankes Arms Hotel and Country Inn, Studland

Ideal walker's pub. VERY popular and busy.
Purbeck ales are good, but the bar staff seem to let all four handpumps run dry, seriously limiting the choice. This might have changed now that the owners have decided to go back to employing Australians, rather than Eastern Europeans.
The pub is "nice" inside, but it needs cleaning up - Lots of wooden fittings and fixtures need repairing. I guess that the pub is too busy to refurbish, which is a pity as it is getting really shabby.
Ordering food is a pain: the blackboard is located next to the front door, so you can't read it with the queue of people lined up trying to order food. Most people assume that you're trying to push in, so they huddle together so you can't see the board!
You get shunted out of the way whilst waiting to place an order at the bar by all of the red sock brigade trying to force their way in - which is not a pleasant experience.
The food is expensive and the quality can be poor, depending on the dish.
Not a bad place overall, but lacking in certain key areas. Try it out of season.

14 Apr 2008 14:41