Barley Mow, Broomhill, Wimborne

This part-thatched rural pub is still operated by Hall and Woodhouse, and the restaurant business is still the prime money-earner. It is popular with families, while the dog-friendly front saloon bar is mainly used by locals. There is free WiFi, a good sized car park and a sign indicating that horses are welcome. There is a pleasant private garden at the back, a raised decked terrace has tables and chairs, and it leads to a pleasant lawn area. The previously well-run kitchen has taken a bit of a dive since the last review, though: the staff appeared unsure of what to do, while there was a lot of unpleasant shouting going on (in a non-English accent) from within the kitchen. Three ales on, I had a pint of First Call which was in good condition. Worth coming to for lunch or a quick pint.

With a relatively remote setting on the outskirts of Colehill, the Barley Mow is a smartly refurbished Hall and Woodhouse pub, clearly targeting those looking for food as much as their local drinkers. The pub is a nice thatched building, seemingly greatly extended over the years from what I suspect was once a much simpler layout. There are two front doors, leading into either the main bar to the right or the restaurant to the left. We popped in for their Sunday roast, so I only got a very brief glimpse of the bar, which appeared to be very smartly set up with comfortable furnishings and crisp décor. Instead we moved through to the dining side with a bare boarded bar area to the front with more of their appealing seating options opposite, possibly best used as overspill from the main bar. The modern looking servery can be accessed here and there is a huge bookcase to one side full of old books and leaflets for local events and attractions. The room extends to the rear and turns left into a newer part of the building, although aged timbers have been used to great effect here to create a nice authentic feel. A few old pictures line the walls, there are bits of exposed brickwork, again creating a more traditional look, and a tidy fireplace stands on one wall. Windows to the rear give a good view out over the extensive lawned garden with a vast decked area full of modern garden furniture. Our visit randomly coincided with the landlord’s final day in charge, so the place was packed and most of the Sunday roasts had gone, resulting in me trying a rather filling and satisfying steak pie instead. Three Badger ales were available on the bar – First Call, Tanglefoot and Twilight Tawny. I gave the latter – a porter – a try and thought it was a pretty decent pint by H&W standards. The staff were all very friendly and helpful and I would hope that the new incumbents retain what appeared to be a well drilled team. I enjoyed this visit a lot more than I’d expected thanks to the winning combination of good beer, food and staff. A period of change is in the offing for this place but the new landlord will inherit a pub that does a lot of things right and I wish them all the best in building on that success.

Official site of the Barley Mow Inn, contains menu and wine list - www.barleymowinn.co.uk

Official site of the Barley Mow Inn, contains menu and wine list - www.barleymowinn.co.uk

Little has changed since my earlier review, the pub, as reported by admin, then reopened. Generally I stand by my earlier comments, yet I feel that the pub has lost something. Some sparkle maybe, character perhaps. I leave my earlier rating in place, it's early days yet.

Mark as closed and reopened

This is a typical example of a small London boozer with an additional bar upstairs that I did not visit. I found the barman to be nice enough and my Guinness was well served. Butcombe, Greene king IPA, Deuchars and Pride were all available during my visit, but the Bombardier was off. I wouldn't make a point of visiting here again, but would have no problem with a quick pint if passing.

Fairly large, out of the way Badger dining pub with a large and easibly usable car park. Despite the emphasis on food the Barley Mow welcomes those just in for a pint or two. The real ale is inevitably Badger only, three or four pumps with a fair selection from the brewery's range and the quality is usually first class. For a pub that is undoubtdly food lead, the menu is uninspiring and the food itself bland, uninteresting. Price-wise, for both food and drink it is typical of the area. Despite my somewhat negative remarks, I like the Barley Mow, I really do, it is clean, friendly, efficient, I give it six stars, but it could be so much better. [Admin edit: Pub has been closed since this review and is due to reopen on 26 February 2010]