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The Goat & Tricycle, Bournemouth
Bournemouth
BH2 5PF
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
peter ashworth left this review about The Goat & Tricycle
This is an excellent pub and a lot larger than the outer facade suggests.there were 11 cask beer pumps on the go and all clipped, with a great deal from the Butcombe Brewery.The pint of Hair of the Goat that I sampled was spot on.The pub also has large beer garden on the left hand side of the pub.
Although just a bit tricky to find it would be well worth the visit in the end.
On 17th September 2026
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2494 recommendations about 2442 pubs]
David Walton left this review about The Goat & Tricycle
Visited 12/08/26
Cask here was an amazing (for the area) eleven hand pumps, all dispensing and providing four Butcombe quaffs (the Original, the Rare Breed, Gold and the Hair of the Goat pale ale), the Ale from the Liberation Brewing Co - a pale ale, the Park Bottom IPA from Stone Daisy Brewing, London Pride, the Legend from Dartmouth, the Hobgoblin Ruby, the Sunset from Lilley's and the Stan's Big Apple from Thatchers. Listed upcoming cask offerings were the Otter Ale and the Seahorse from Salcombe. In comparison a small keg range of Amstel, Thatchers Gold and Juicy Apple, Moretti, and the Underfall lager and the Tall Trees pale ale both from Butcombe.
Traditional back street venue an outlet for Butcombe. The bar counter is on the left-hand wall relative to the entrance point. There is a leather banquette serving several regular tables on the wall opposite the bar counter and there is a large, tall table just inside the entrance. Up a couple of steps to the far end of the bar counter is a larger seating area, a mix of regular tables served by regular chairs, stools, and banquettes. A small beer garden out the rear was super popular on my teatime visit. Looks like there are a lot of themed evenings here, I think their beer range would be sufficient draw and easiest the best of my trek around Bournemouth central venues, even allowing for the couple of JDW's.
On 31st August 2026
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1975 recommendations about 1937 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about The Goat & Tricycle
Great looking pub with an impressive exterior. The ale choice was equally impressive with 9 beers on when I called. The couple we tried were in good nick. Well worth a visit.
On 27th December 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1991 recommendations about 1839 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Goat & Tricycle
The Goat & Tricycle has re-appeared in the latest (2023) Good Beer Guide, after a 9-year absence, which I found a little strange. At some point in the last 5 years, ownership has changed from Wadworth to Butcombe.
The ale range has reduced slightly from 9 to 8. Butcombe Original, Gold & Adam Henson's Rare Breed are regulars, along with Liberation Ale & IPA. Additional beers on this occasion were all from Butcombe - Hair of the Goat, Haka & Bristol Basin NYC. There are now 2 Thatcher's ciders - Stan's Big Apple & Cheddar Valley.
The pub still has an unchanged traditional interior and food is also served. The tiled frontage is also very impressive, albeit hidden away along a side street.
On 10th November 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3596 recommendations about 3594 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Goat & Tricycle
Now seems to be a Butcombe pub, the eleven pumps had six butcombe beers plus two from Butcombe owned Liberation, a guest in Titanic Plum Porter as well as a couple of Ciders, I had a couple of pints here, as I ate as well, Butcombe Hair Of The Goat and Haka, both were ok and the lasagne was decent, but I was a little underwhelmed in what I expected to be pub of the day. I would have another look in the future though.
On 30th March 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2409 recommendations about 2372 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Goat & Tricycle
Bournemouth’s only true nationally-known pub, so a pilgrimage here was clearly the highlight of the crawl as listed. However it was a bit of a let-down in all honesty. The interior is fair enough, a V-shaped pub with a raised level off to the left (presumably reflecting the fact that this is two obviously separate properties - both were pubs - knocked together). Hefty amounts of wood panelling in the right hand bar and a pool table in the raised area. Ten pumps at the bar carrying six Wadworth ales (the usual stagers plus a brewers creation). Not being a fan of Waddies (all that sulphur gives one the heebie-geebies next day), I needed a guest. However there were only two on (despite the beer board claiming four…) and one of those was Greene Twatting King…so I went for the only palatable option which was York Terrier which drank well enough. In addition there was Westons cider. Is it a good pub? Yes. Is it a nationally-significant pub? In 2004 it may have been but in 2014, I’d suggest not. Perhaps they’re resting on their laurels…or Wadworth are charging a ludicrous amount to supply decent guests. With the Four Horsemen down the road now open, it’s got some proper competition.
On 25th November 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6341 recommendations about 6319 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Goat & Tricycle
This iconic GBG regular is already well described by JB below. I would add only that also has free wifi and offers food which is reasonably priced. There is currently a drive to appeal to the Office Party Set, but I put this down to a seasonal whim rather than a fundamental disadvantage, and it does appear to have gained a gaming machine or two. On this visit I found the staff charming, pleasant and helpful, the other customers civilised and amicable and the food good. There were 8 ales on, while the remaining two pumps had their labels turned round. The 8 included 4 from Wadworth and two from GK. I plumped for a guest, York Brewery's Yorkshire Terrier which was an outstanding pint, perfect in every respect. This is in many ways an excellent town pub and one to which I shall certainly return
On 21st November 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3839 recommendations about 3797 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Kent Sadler left this review about The Goat & Tricycle
Very disappointing first visit, aged 56 and asked to leave as I had my 17 year old, coke drinking, son with me. Whilst I respect the publican's decision on whom he serves, to be asked to leave, after being served, hurts. I will not be returning even when my son is 18! Message to publican – You should clearly advertise that adults under 18 are not welcome, even if with aged parents.
On 15th June 2014
- rating: 1
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Goat & Tricycle
Excellent place combined from two adjacent buildings (both former pubs) of very different architectural styles. Various seating areas around a 'U'-shaped bar. Traditional furniture and decor, with background music at a sensible level. Ten handpumps altogether, with five beers from Wadworth plus guest such as Thwaites Nutty Black (£3.50). Well worth seeking out.
On 1st April 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 9226 recommendations about 9226 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Goat & Tricycle
Slightly to the west of the town centre, in an area of Bournemouth known as The Triangle, is The Goat and Tricycle, a pub that, most noticeably from the outside, was once two separate pubs.
Externally, the former pub on the left has a fine green tiled exterior with frosted glass whereas the right hand pub has a more ordinary and unremarkable look.
The right hand part – formerly The Pembroke Shades – houses the bar counter. The interior has a darkish woody feel with wood panelling dominating. There’s some padded bench seating. A couple of high settles and wooden screens effectively break up part of the area into separate drinking booths. Note the fine collection of walking sticks on the ceiling. By the door area is a large picture depicting the eponymous goat riding a tricycle.
Up several steps towards the rear of the room is the entrance to the former Pembroke Arms. Here there’s several sofas and long wooden tables, ideally suited for large groups. Here, a display unit has a collection of brass plates that have probably come from disused canal buildings / locks. A separate area at the front of the pub has a pool table and a TV screen. There’s a few old photographs of Bournemouth but, rather disappointingly, there’s no photographs or memorabilia relating to the two former separate pubs. There’s a partly covered paved courtyard for outside drinking.
It’s on the real ale front that the pub scores highly and, seemingly with much justification, it proudly promotes itself as “Bournemouth’s Best Real Ale Pub” and “Bournemouth’s hidden gem”.
It’s a Wadworths house with 11 pumps and evidently an adventurous guest beer policy. On my recent early Friday evening visit, 6 Wadworths beers were on – Henry’s IPA, 6X, Farmers Glory, Horizon, Bishops Tipple and Strong in the Arm. Guests included Castle Rock Elsie Mo’s, Butcombe Bitter and Jennings Cocker Hoop. Both the Farmers Glory and the Henry’s IPA were on good form, the former notably being advertised on posters as being only £ 2.85p throughout the month of August. The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular and has won numerous awards, as evidenced by the framed certificates on display.
Although situated in an area of Bournemouth close to many hotels and guest houses, pleasingly, the large number of hen and stag parties that I saw staggering around during the evening didn’t seem to find their way to this pub.
It seems to be generally accepted that Bournemouth is a poor town for real ale pubs and the relatively low number of Bournemouth pubs listed in the annual CAMRA Good Beer Guide over the years, when compared with, say, Poole or Brighton, would appear to bear this out. Bournemouth has only four pubs listed – one of which, The Royal Oak in Kinson, is about three miles out of town.
You should definitely make the effort to seek this one out when in Bournemouth – don’t let the daft name put you off
On 16th August 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]