Jolly Sailor, Poole

The layout of this quayside pub seems to have changed since I used to drink in here in the late 90's, but I can't quite put my finger on what's different layout-wise. One thing that I don't remember is the dancefloor and disco lights in the area opposite the bar. This came as something of a surprise on our recent Saturday night visit and it seemed like the pub was trying to compete with the big bars such as Dundee’s, rather than the more traditional pubs nearby. I'm sure things are different during the day, but this didn't strike me as a nice spot for a drink and so we stood at the bar and polished our pints off fairly quickly. The entrance takes you into an opened out front section with a fair bit of seating, which narrows past the bar at the rear, before opening out again in what is essentially a second room at the back of the pub, where the pool table resides. The pub has certainly lost some of its traditional feel, with high leather banquette seating and glitter balls in evidence. It's a Greene King pub and there was Old Speckled Hen on handpull, with Greene King IPA available via what appeared to be a handpull but in fact was a keg dispenser. The barman called it IPA Northern and explained that it was a device to ensure a creamy pint with a tight head. My mate, ever the sucker for a gimmick, loved it, but I decided to try the Hen, which wasn't really up to much. The barman was nice enough and topped up one of the pints that came out short. I didn't really think much of this place, but I'm sure that in the daytime it will be as attractive an option as many of the other Quayside pubs thanks to its bench seating outside.

A pleasant enough pub in a prime position on the quay. It's a fair size inside with a pool table out the back, and a few tables out the front to take advantage of the view. Staff seem friendly and helpful. Menu is standard pub grub, presumably trying to compete with the Wetherspoon's a few doors up as it's very similar. The barmaid warned me that there may be a wait for the food of between 15 - 30 minutes and offered to check with the kitchen to get a more precise time if I would like. You can't really say fairer than that, and in the event it only took about 15 minutes anyway. On the downside the lettuce served with the burger was well past it's best being all brown on the edges (I feel obliged to deduct a point for this as it's really inexcusable), and the beer choice was rather uninspiring, namely Greene King IPA, Speckled Hen and St. Edmunds. Also Strongbow cider on tap.