The Cricketers, Springbourne, Bournemouth

Much larger and grander than you would expect from a backstreet pub, with the explanation being that a cricket ground was once nearby. It also has the distinction of being Bournemouth's oldest pub (dating back to 1847). Retains two bars, but the hall-like lounge on the left-hand side - formerly a boxing gym - is the stand-out feature. Very traditional furniture and decor throughout. Three real ales on handpump: Milk Street Amarillo, Wickwar Falling Star and Butcombe Heathcliff (£3.90).

A wonderfully well-preserved early Victorian town pub with a small car park at the front and a covered smoking area to the side, plus a somewhat decrepit van which looks like someone’s restoration project. It was formerly owned by Ushers. On entering, the bar to the right is a bit tired and is full of clutter including bicycles and various packing cases, while the bar to the left is much more welcoming; both bars are well described below. There is also a raised area at the end of the bar, which used to be a boxing gym. There are various etched and stained glass windows inside and out, while the floor is mostly hard-wearing carpet. The overall effect is of a homely local, helped by the pleasant background music from the jukebox and bowls of water for the dogs. The regulars were a friendly bunch, while the Scottish barmaid was very welcoming and jovial. Food seems to be limited to cold Scotch eggs from a basket on the counter. There were 4 handpumps on the bar: one had a reversed clip, one was selling Pride, which seems to be a regular beer, plus two with guests on. I had a pint of Brains which was in perfect condition, very enjoyable, served at the right temperature. Its beer quality certainly merits its GBG entry. It is a pub to which I shall definitely return for another innings and would include in a crawl, possibly tying in with the Firkin Shed around the corner.

Excellent, comfortable back street boozer run by the excellent Sheila!Always 2 interesting unusual for the area guest ales on in the oldest Bournemouth pub.(ps from here,try also newly opened Firkin Shed back up on the main drag(Holdenhurst Rd)-6 real ales on gravity)

The Cricketers Arms is a large street corner brick built pub in a residential side street on the edge of the Boscombe district of Bournemouth and reasonably close to AFC Bournemouth’s football ground. It’s a Victorian pub, dating back to 1847 and the oldest pub in Bournemouth, as the friendly landlady proudly confirmed to me. Many original features remain – particularly the external windows which tell us that the pub previously had a Bottle and Jug, Public Bar, Private Bar and Smoking Room. Even now it still retains a number of different adjoining areas. Note also some attractive leaded frosted coloured windows. The area with the bar counter is relatively small and compact, but, up several stairs is a much larger function room style drinking area which is carpeted and comfortably furnished. There’s a high ceiling and an ornate fireplace with a polished mahogany surround. A large skylight adds a bit of light. The walls are decorated with a number of framed banknote sets. There’s a display cabinet with old beer bottles and jugs and another cabinet with a few token items of cricketing memorabilia ( eg – cricket pads ). An old sign tells us that this room used to be a boxing gym named after local resident, Freddie Mills. I didn’t see anything telling me who he was, but he was in fact the world light heavyweight champion from 1948 to 1950. He became a friend of the Krays after retiring and was found shot dead in Soho in 1965, although the official version is that it was suicide. Round the other side is the public bar which is part carpeted, part wood floored and contains a piano, juke box, dartboard and pool table. An original wood surround entrance can be used to access this bar directly from the street. The pub is still badged as an Ushers pub. Three handpumps were advertising London Pride, Doom Bar ( replaced during my visit by Caledonian Amber Nectar ) and Mordue’s Radgie Gadgie, which was served direct from the barrel. The Radgie Gadgie was a fine tasting, strongish, fruity pint - £ 3.20p. It was Champion Strong Bitter of Britain in 1998.The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular – one of only four in Bournemouth in the latest edition. My recent Saturday lunchtime visit, before the Bournemouth v SWFC game, found the pub quite busy. There’s other pubs closer to the ground, but this appears to be where the discerning supporters make for and a good atmosphere prevailed with supporters of both clubs drinking together amicably. I shall make a point of calling in here next season if I go to Bournemouth. It’s reasonably close to the station and you should try and seek it out, irrespective of whether you’re here for the football or not.

Reputedly the oldest pub in Bournemouth, dating back to 1847 and originally known as the Cricketers Hotel. The pub takes its name from the long since gone cricket ground which used to be opposite the pub in the area just beyond the railway line. The pub has strong connections with the boxing world champion Freddie Mills, who lived nearby and used to train in a building behind the pub as well as being a regular customer. The pub nowadays has a two room interior. The main entrance takes you straight to the bar and a small area of limited seating. To the left there is a raised seating area which used to be the function room and was at one time in the 1970's used as a boxing gym named after Freddie Mills. The gym's sign still hangs in the room today. There is plenty of seating here, mostly standard tables and chairs with a few padded benches. Old banknote collections have been framed and hung on the walls alongside the inevitable cricket memorabilia. A large, ornate Victorian era fireplace provides a focal point for the room which also has a high ceiling with skylight and some smart glasswork, including some rather precariously just above the dartboard. On the other side of the pub is the public bar which has its own entrance, flanked on either side by two large pillars. An old Bottle and Jug doorway remains on this side of the pub as well, although it is no longer in use. The public bar is carpeted with a small, curved section of bar counter, and upright piano, juke box, TV screen showing golf and some standard tables and chairs. At the rear of the room there is a separate area housing a pool table. Only three beers were available on my visit, but there was a relatively interesting selection of Fuller's London Pride, Caledonian Nectar (£3.20) and Lancaster Kingmaker. The Caledonian was well kept and the barmaid was very pleasant and friendly, as was the pub dog who enjoyed a boisterous game of fetch, despite seemingly being blind. This is a really nice pub and one that not too many people seem to know about. It's pretty close to the station, so it's always a good option to have if you miss your train, but it also strikes me as the sort of place you'd be happy to call your local.