Poole Arms, Poole

Still one of our favourite pubs in Poole, this lovely tile fronted pub has remained much the same and unsploit for many Yeats unlike many other pubs along the quayside. Just two ales, both from Ringwood brewery but both well kept. The menu has a heavy slant on seafood.

The Poole Arms has a wonderful exterior thanks to the green tiled facade with the Poole Coat of Arms displayed high up the wall. It is the oldest pub on the Quay and certainly retains the most traditional feel of the Quayside pubs thanks to the fact that it doesn't seem to have been altered as much as many of its neighbours. There is a single room interior with dark beams and a simple, nautical themed decor. Seating is fairly standard and fills the room up nicely, with the servery arranged along the rear wall. They do have one or two benches outside as well, although they tend to get snapped up pretty quickly. One drawback is the location of the gents’ toilet, which requires you to exit the building and then walk down a narrow, dark alleyway beside the pub in order to find it. The pub used to be well known for its seafood and there were a few diners amongst the Saturday evening clientele, who incidentally were notably older than the customers in the other Quay pubs we visited, although I didn’t get the chance to view the menu. Ringwood beer can usually be found here, with Best and Fortyniner available on my last visit - an uninspiring choice but thankfully quality is usually assured. The barmaid who served us was very friendly and the pub seems very welcoming, although I'm sure any drunken revellers stumbling in from the nearby bars would be given short shrift. Certainly not the liveliest pub on the Quay, but a nice spot for a quiet pint or a bite to eat in pleasant surroundings and a friendly environment. A more interesting beer selection would make this more of an essential port of call.

Fine pub on the quay with the standard range of ringwood beers.Very good food menufish consisting of steamed fish only.Toilets very iffy,up an alley at the side of the pub