The Harry Paye, Poole

Previously known as The Old Harry, a dismal den full of Poole's less salubrious punters, this Marston's pub on Poole's pedestrianised High Street has undergone a something of an image change. My memories of this place differ greatly from the large drinking barn that is presented today. The interior is open plan with stacks of space for vertical drinking, including a sizeable dancefloor which is also used for live music. Tables and chairs are mostly towards the front of the room, with a small cluster beyond the far end of the bar as well. The pub seems to be trying to provide entertainment in a variety of forms, but ultimately it is in direct competition with the Yates's pub opposite, as those are the only pubs of their type in this part of town. To that end, there are lots of drinks offers promoted - mostly for lagers and spirits - and they have a cheap food menu, no doubt with the same pre-cooked rubbish that you could get in the Yates's. By all accounts, the pub gets packed on Friday and Saturday nights, but I popped in on Christmas Eve and it was fairly quiet customer wise, although the excessively loud music meant that in reality it was anything but quiet. Only one ale was available - the ubiquitous Ringwood Best - which was admittedly in good shape and a steal at £2.10 a pint. Essentially this is a drab pub-by-numbers in the week which transforms into a heaving, cheap booze emporium at the weekends. It will no doubt appeal to a lot of people and continue to do well, but it left me hankering for the days of the Old Harry, which surely can't be a good thing.