The Owls Nest, Ferndown

A very pleasant GBG-listed freehouse on a busy road which offers a CAMRA discount. There is a small car park and a tiny outside seating area at the back which, it appears, doubles as a very large ashtray. Inside, the single bar is decorated with dark timber, some fake-structural, and various wooden wheels which gives it a bit of a feel of a Bavarian bierhaus. The bar is carpeted, there is WiFi available and they serve restaurant-style food. There was a tv screen, but this was switched off. It all seems to work well, though, and the atmosphere is pleasant and welcoming. The landlord was very friendly, the clientele were quite amiable and the food was reasonable value for money. The real strength of this pub is its beer, though. Three ales and 2 ciders on draft – I had a pint of Flack’s Catcher which was in first class condition, and I would have liked to stay for more. Well worth seeking out, especially as it’s on one of the main routes into Bournemouth, and makes an excellent addition to a crawl, especially if paired with the Horns Inn just up the road.