Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Avocet, Poole
Parkstone
Poole
BH14 8UD
Pub Type
Greene KingReviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Cow
Originally The Railway, this Victorian station hotel is immediately adjacent to Parkstone Station. The pub has a very small carpark, so visiting is best done on foot or by train. There is a small outside seating area with tables and chairs; this is on the side away from the railway so sorry, train-spotters, you have to use the windows. The ground floor walls have had their doorways enlarged to form a single circular bar with the main stairs and bar counter in the middle. There are various architectural features on display, some original, some contrived, including fireplaces open on two sides, a mix of flagstone and timber floors and a wrought iron spiral staircase. Furniture is from a variety of styles, there is WiFi available, and there is a gaming machine which looks out of place. Live music is sometimes hosted. Food is available, it’s cheap and formulaic but it does the job. The staff look young and spotty, but they’re actually quite friendly and helpful. The locals are a decent bunch, and there is a bit of a village feel to it. Despite being owned by GK, there are 5 ales available, 4 of them guests. I had an excellent pint of Plain Ales’s Innspiration, which really hit the spot. An excellent opportunity to break a rail journey, a good place to drop in and chew the cud, and it’s somewhere I’d be happy to spend an evening.
On 7th July 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3251 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Cow
GK station pub with a modern interior but decent enough - wood flooring, fake coal fire, exposed brick and pastel shade walls…that kind of thing. Five ales at the bar with three from Greene King (IPA, Abbott, Golden Hen) with two more interesting ones in Bateman’s Colonel’s Whiskers and Goddards Scrumdiggity which both drank well. We were also offered unprompted tasters which was good service. Outside area looked decent for a summer’s day. Better than expected, wouldn’t be averse to a revisit.
On 26th November 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Cow
Last year, the Central Hotel in Parkstone reopened as a gastro pub called The Ox, strangely mirroring what had previously happened to this place which swapped its sensible former name (The Parkstone Hotel) for something a bit more bovine. The pub has an ideal location, directly next to Parkstone train station in the heart of trendy Ashley Cross, with an interior of some size reflecting its previous incarnation as a hotel. The Greene King team have given the place the full refurb treatment but it hasn’t been totally lost to the foodies as it remains a half decent spot for a drink as well. The general theme of the decor is bare floorboards, pastel shaded walls and some plain exposed brickwork. If you enter from the station car park, you’ll find yourself in the main bar area where some nice banquettes run under the windows and old photos and adverts hang from the walls. There is a small stone fireplace at one end of the room and a TV screen was showing muted news coverage with some music playing over it. On the other side of the bar, things seemed a bit more formally arranged and ideal for diners, although funnily enough, plenty of people were enjoying food throughout the pub, leaving this space empty. A quick look at the menu suggested an upmarket take on a standard Greene King menu, which fits in well with the neighbourhood. The sun was out on my visit and a few people were sat outside in a pleasant seating area, although the majority had found their way to the first floor balcony which overlooks the train tracks and catches the sun nicely in the afternoon. There is also a function room upstairs which I’ve been in many years ago, but didn’t check out on this visit.
On the bar there were the expected Greene King regulars of IPA, Abbot and ‘Cow’, which appeared to be rebadged H&H Bitter, plus guests of Milestone St George’s Legend and Old Dairy Gold Top. I plumped for the latter which I found to be a bit past its best unfortunately.
This isn’t a bad pub and it seems popular with the locals so it must be doing something right. However, I’ve always felt it lacks that spark to make me want to come back and I usually end up here at the behest of others. Probably best for food or for a swift one before getting a train, but if in the area, head to the Bermuda Triangle instead.
On 1st June 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Strachan left this review about The Cow
Friendly local, good range of beers and wines. Excellent bar food and restaurant. Nice decor.
On 19th February 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]