Butcher's Dog, Poole

Official site of Butcher's Dog - www.butchersdogdorset.com

Official site of Butcher's Dog - www.butchersdogdorset.com

More of a small alehouse than a micro-pub, it has a basic square-ish bar with limited furniture and nautical decor. Also has a narrow front terrace and rear beer garden (with a wooden shelter under construction when I visited). As a Bournemouth Brewing house, there were two of its beers on plus four guests in a variety of styles (e.g. Bingham's Macchiato Stout, £3.80) from six of eight handpumps. Also had a selection of at least six draught ciders.

In a reversal of the trend, 2 houses have been joined and knocked through to form a new pub in a superb location next to the Brickmakers Arms and directly opposite The Bermuda Triangle creating a very fruitful destination for those interested in ale. There is a small wooden deck at the front with bench seating from which to watch the funerals and weddings in the church over the road, and there is a quiet but incongruous garden at the back. The single large bar has been created by knocking through the four main groundfloor rooms, the upper story now supported by a central column with four concealed beams radiating from it. There is a single small lavatory which may be just about adequate on a busy night. There is a jukebox, which was really quite tolerable, and WiFi. Basic pub grub is available, simple and good value for money. There were 6 ales on pump and 5 real ciders available during this first visit. I had a pint of Bad Seed Session Ale, which was in perfect condition. The staff were very pleasant and welcoming, while the clientele were a decent mature bunch. An excellent new venture, a sister pub to the Smugglers' Run in nearby Parkstone, and a really good place to drink decent beer in uncluttered surroundings. I shall certainly be back.