The Brewhouse, Poole

long thin pub with games at the rear and hard seating at front and outside space on the high street

A long single room with the servery to your right as you walk in, it seems to have been done up like a beach bar within a pub, rather quirky. On the bar are five handpumps, four from Milkstreet an a guest of Animal London Porter. The Clientele seemed mostly made up of locals. I thought it decent here.

As noted below, this is a shop conversion and seemed to be pushed as one of Poole’s better boozers for the discerning drinker by the local CAMRA branch but I have to admit to being fairly unimpressed. Five pumps, four on; Plain IPA, Wold Top Anglers (pump tired), and two from Milk Street (who own the pub) - Mermaid (warm and lacklustre) and Zig-Zag. A fairly plain interior along a long, narrow strip. To the rear are two pool tables, darts and pinball. The whole place is pretty scruffy and unkempt. As noted elsewhere, the punters are a loud and robust bunch. A let-down, really. I’d try it again and hope I caught it on its worst day of the year.

Narrow bar in a converted High Street shop, with limited seating and basic alehouse-style decor. Two pool tables towards the rear, and some small patio tables out the front. Owned by the Milk Street Brewery, with three of the own beers - including Mermaid (£3.10) - plus a couple of guest ales available from the five handpumps. Local Camra awards noted, and worth a visit if in the area.

A shop conversion, previously known as The Cockleshell after the famous Commando raids, currently owned by Milk Street Brewery and has a well-deserved GBG entry. There is a small patio at the back and several tables and chairs in the High Street at the front. The single long bar has 2 pool tables and a dartboard at the back while dominos was being played by a quartet of locals in the front. The rest of the bar has wooden furniture, wooden floors and decorative timbers. There is a wagon wheel fixed to the ceiling and dried hops draped around. The pub is dog friendly and there is a good, if robust, pub spirit from convivial staff and customers, and Kylie (obviously) on the jukebox. There were 3 ales on. I had the Mermaid, which was in excellent condition. One of the best pubs in Poole centre, well worth a visit.

A long and narrow High St pub with the main bar and seating towards the front and a games area to the rear. Beamed ceiling with hops wound around the beams and along the top of the bar, a cartwheel is suspended from another beam. Dimple mugs hang from hooks along the gantry and beer clips and mats are on display. Seating consists of a few regular tables and stools plus a drinking ledge in the bar area, décor includes various CAMRA awards and a large framed photo of the Millenium Stadium signed by the AFC Bournemouth team after a play-off final victory at the ground. The games area at the back is up a few steps, there are two seemingly well used pool tables, a pinball table and a dartboard plus a fruit machine. No seating up here, just a ledge to plonk your glass down on. Four handpumps, two from Milk Street, Beer! and Mermaid as well as HB Clark Classic Blonde and Liverpool Organic Honey Blond. Beers were good quality and service was quick and friendly. I didn't see any signs of food on either of my two visits here. The TV was on muted on one occasion showing Racing UK. There is a small outdoor courtyard at the rear plus a few tables to the front overlooking the pedestrianized street. I liked it here, decent and different beer, the customer base is local and down to earth which in my view makes for a good atmosphere.