Ye Olde George Inn, Christchurch

I last tried visiting this pub back in 2016 and found it closed. Their website suggests that they open at 9am daily apart from a Sunday. However, they were still closed when we initially walked past some time between 11am and midday on a Saturday. So, the published opening times are clearly incorrect. Nevertheless, we returned after midday to find it open. The front door leads into a front bar, whilst a passageway to the side leads into a courtyard where the larger rear bar can be accessed. The courtyard itself was quite popular with outdoor drinkers when we arrived and there also appeared to be a further drinking area in a separate building at the back of the courtyard. 3 cask ales were on - Sharp's Solar Wave, Flack Manor Flack's Double Drop & DBC Durdle Door. An out-of-date list of ciders was hidden behind something at the back of the bar, but I spotted a box from Lilley's (possible Tropical Cider) & Weston's Cloudy Vintage. Service was brusque, but at least a CAMRA discount was offered. The rear bar appears to be the main room. It was quite dark inside, but was fairly quiet with just one group of elderly blokes gathered, with most others choosing to sit in the sunshine outdoors. More of a traditional pub than other places we visited in Christchurch, but service left a lot to be desired and they seem to have very unreliable opening times.

Cask beer choice was poor when we visited, Two from Sharps (the inevitable Doom Bar and Solar Wave). I left half of my Solar Wave as it was in very poor condition. Baring this the pub has a good atmosphere and seemed very popular. It seems that the emphasis is on food these days and the burgers we had were good.