The Branksome, Bournemouth

Visited 12/08/26 No cask. Keg offering of Brixton Reliance Pale Ale, Hobgoblin Gold, John Smiths, Guinness, Fosters, Neck Oil, Murphy’s Irish Stout, Cruz, Inch’s, berries & cherries Old Mount cider and Moretti. Sounds like from former name that this was a craft beer destination but now a very average mainstream keg beer offering. Bare boarded with the lower level just inside the entrance a series of regular tables along the glass frontage. Up a couple of steps to the bar area which is in the rear left-hand corner on a small ceramic tile skirt. There are a few tall stools at the bar counter. Some tall tables between a couple of glossy tiled pillars facing the bar counter and a couple of booth tables looking over the lower level. There is a narrow seating area along the right-hand wall with a leather banquette serving a few regular tables. A few screens were tuned into a footy talk show absent sound with that provided by a very poppy soundtrack. A garden out the rear wasn’t checked out on this visit as it was cool inside and ridiculously hot outside.

Official site of The Branksome - branksomebournemouth.co.uk

Official site of The Branksome - branksomebournemouth.co.uk

Split level pub which is/was part of the Brewhouse & Kitchen chain, which appears to be closing branches all over. Now it is called the Branksome Craft House and still stocks some Brewhouse & Kitchen (under the name Brewhouse) beers from their Poole branch. Despite its noticeable external appearance, the pub is quite modern inside and is split level with seating overlooking Commercial Road at the front and a higher level to the rear, which contains the bar against the left-hand wall. I seem to recall TVs showing snooker. Beers are all keg these days. With a few beers off, the selection was Brewhouse Nitro Stout, Double-Barrelled Kitchen Disco, Azvex Generic Hardcore Shirts & Lowrise Hazy Pale. With craft beers on taps at the front of the bar, lagers and ciders appeared to be mainly from some further taps on the rear wall. A board to the side of the bar appeared to list some but not all of the available beers. There's a few other decent pubs to visit in this area but I wouldn't go out of my way for a re-visit to this one.