Bricklayers Arms, Poole

This pub has a very cosy atmosphere: there is a log-fire and a quaint bar area. I strongly recomend the armchairs in front of the fireplace. Bring a book and relax. Staff is friendly. I haven't seen the garden but the extension is not so nice. There is a good choice of real ale. I had Doombar which was fresh. As I did not have to sit in the extension my overall experience was excellent.

This pleasant Victorian pub has a village feel to it as you approach, although this is slightly marred by the wooden terracing next to the entrance. Inside is a single, narrow L-shaped bar which has been elongated with a single-story extension at the back. The carpeted front bar is cosy and traditional, gentile almost, with leather Chesterfields and a period fireplace, while the back is a stark contrast and has the air of a modern office block. Free wifi is available. The rear garden is also modern and is formed from brick and concrete. The atmosphere is calm, pleasant and welcoming. The staff are jolly and the clientele civilised. Four ales on – I had Summer Lightning which was in excellent condition, most enjoyable. I would be delighted to come back to this GBG regular anytime and would definitely include on a crawl.

This pub is an elongated L-shape, the smaller front part having the bar. This area is a bit like an old parlour, carpeted, a fireplace with a vase of lilies on top and a stack of logs to the side, high shelving with various jugs and jars. There is an ottoman box, lower walls are wainscoted painted mid-blue. A bookcase has amongst other volumes a set of Encyclopedia Britannica. The small bar has an exposed brick front with herringbone panels, small chef figures stand on a shelf on the gantry. Around the corner the side extends back some considerable way, most of this is a more recent add-on which is in contrast to the bar area. Bright and airy and lit by a large roof lantern, the floor here is boarded, décor includes framed beach scenes. There are a couple of TVs in this area, one was on showing Wimbledon tennis to no one in particular as the only occupant appeared to be the manager doing some paperwork. The other four punters were all sat in the front. Beyond the rear area is a pleasant garden, alternative seating is available to the frontage. The beer choice was reasonable, the quality good, this is a GBG 2014 entry. Ringwood BB and Fortyniner, Doom Bar and Hop Back Summer Lightning. There were no signs of food or menus on a Saturday lunchtime. This is a pleasant Parkstone pub, a recommended double up with the splendid Bermuda Triangle Freehouse across the road.

Just off the busy A35 and only a five minute walk from Parkstone station, the Bricklayers Arms is a well regarded, back street free house. The pub has an L-shaped layout which has been extended towards the rear in a more modern section. You enter into a traditional bar area with the servery opposite the front door. The room is carpeted and there are plenty of standard tables and comfortable padded chairs to take your pick from. The walls have half panels which have been painted blue, which looks better than it sounds, and are decorated with various art prints, photos, knot displays and the like whilst a series of shelves hold jugs, bottles and books. Despite the pleasant weather outside on my Saturday lunchtime visit, the fireplace to the right of the bar was lit and had surprisingly managed to attract a couple of customers. The room extends at the back into a skylit space with the same blue panels, some gaudy mirrors and chandeliers and a couple of flat screen TVs which were turned off in favour of some fairly loud music. A garden can be found to the rear of the pub and there are a few benches out the front which overlook St Peter’s church over the road, which gave a few customers the chance to watch a wedding party emerge during my visit. The pub has been a Good Beer Guide regular for some time now and I certainly wasn’t disappointed with my pint of Hopback Summer Lightning. The other options were fairly typical of East Dorset, comprising Ringwood Best and Fortyniner and Sharp’s Doom Bar. This is a pretty good back street pub with a mix of traditional and modern, although probably not modern enough by far for the uber-trendy wannabes of Ashley Cross. I enjoyed my flying visit here and would consider popping in again, especially as the excellent Bermuda Triangle is just over the road.

Nice pub overlooking an old churchyard with decking outside to sit and idle away a few hours whist drinking a pint or 3. Serving Hopback beers and a few others, well worth a visit and if there is no beer you fancy... go across the road to the Bermuda triangle, you won't be disappointed.