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The Cricketers, Springbourne, Bournemouth
Springbourne
Bournemouth
BH1 4RN
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Delboy 20 left this review about The Cricketers
Classic local pub not far from the football ground. Pride and Landlord on when I called in. The Landlord was a good pint. Happy to have stopped by.
On 27th December 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Cricketers
The Cricketers remains a superb town pub which has continued to thrive and survive the COVID era so far. Well described below, it continues to be welcoming, friendly and even sociable within the constraints imposed - they certainly stick to the rules, yet do so in a way that works for customers and staff alike. Two ales on - we had Wye Valley's Butty Bach, which was in perfect condition. Very much a venue of choice when in the area and worth tying in with a visit to the Firkin Shed just up the road.
On 15th October 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3285 recommendations about 3250 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Cricketers
Old backstreet pub, bigger than an average local, walkable from station but away from tourist areas, good beer and service
On 28th July 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Cricketers
A splendid Victorian pub tucked away in the backstreets. As mentioned below, the front room seems little used however the main bar in the centre opens out into a splendid beamed hall with a high roof light (although I am sure there is a more technical term for it. The interior is comfortably furnished with a range of various bric-a-brac decorating the walls. Some interesting beers on offer: I sampled the Dartmoor Dragon's Breath which was in fine condition (note Cask Marque listing). Well worth the trip out of town, and it has a car park.
On 10th December 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Cricketers
A quick revisit here found four ales on, and my Whitstable Red IPA was in good nick. Boisterous but good-natured locals in both bars, with the live football being shown. A really good local’s local.
November 2014
A large two room pub a good 15 mins walk out from town (10 from BR) in a residential area but well-worthwhile. The interior (well-described below) also retains a central lobby bar and many traditional 1920’s(?) features including feature fireplaces and stained glass inlays. Framed banknotes and cricket ephemera in wall mounted cabinets. A gentle, amiable atmosphere within. Four ales on; Pride, Dartmoor Jail Ale, Adnams Old Ale (good shape), and a 7.4% monster which I forgot to record. Scotch eggs behind the bar, with a quiz night advertised. Better than the Goat this one, even if it’s the ‘wrong way’ from everywhere else. Rated 8
On 19th May 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Cricketers
Much larger and grander than you would expect from a backstreet pub, with the explanation being that a cricket ground was once nearby. It also has the distinction of being Bournemouth's oldest pub (dating back to 1847). Retains two bars, but the hall-like lounge on the left-hand side - formerly a boxing gym - is the stand-out feature. Very traditional furniture and decor throughout. Three real ales on handpump: Milk Street Amarillo, Wickwar Falling Star and Butcombe Heathcliff (£3.90).
On 16th April 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Cricketers
A wonderfully well-preserved early Victorian town pub with a small car park at the front and a covered smoking area to the side, plus a somewhat decrepit van which looks like someone’s restoration project. It was formerly owned by Ushers. On entering, the bar to the right is a bit tired and is full of clutter including bicycles and various packing cases, while the bar to the left is much more welcoming; both bars are well described below. There is also a raised area at the end of the bar, which used to be a boxing gym. There are various etched and stained glass windows inside and out, while the floor is mostly hard-wearing carpet. The overall effect is of a homely local, helped by the pleasant background music from the jukebox and bowls of water for the dogs. The regulars were a friendly bunch, while the Scottish barmaid was very welcoming and jovial. Food seems to be limited to cold Scotch eggs from a basket on the counter. There were 4 handpumps on the bar: one had a reversed clip, one was selling Pride, which seems to be a regular beer, plus two with guests on. I had a pint of Brains which was in perfect condition, very enjoyable, served at the right temperature. Its beer quality certainly merits its GBG entry. It is a pub to which I shall definitely return for another innings and would include in a crawl, possibly tying in with the Firkin Shed around the corner.
On 14th February 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3285 recommendations about 3250 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
frank mclaughlin left this review about The Cricketers
Excellent, comfortable back street boozer run by the excellent Sheila!Always 2 interesting unusual for the area guest ales on in the oldest Bournemouth pub.(ps from here,try also newly opened Firkin Shed back up on the main drag(Holdenhurst Rd)-6 real ales on gravity)
On 9th March 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 2 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Cricketers Arms
The Cricketers Arms is a large street corner brick built pub in a residential side street on the edge of the Boscombe district of Bournemouth and reasonably close to AFC Bournemouth’s football ground.
It’s a Victorian pub, dating back to 1847 and the oldest pub in Bournemouth, as the friendly landlady proudly confirmed to me. Many original features remain – particularly the external windows which tell us that the pub previously had a Bottle and Jug, Public Bar, Private Bar and Smoking Room. Even now it still retains a number of different adjoining areas. Note also some attractive leaded frosted coloured windows.
The area with the bar counter is relatively small and compact, but, up several stairs is a much larger function room style drinking area which is carpeted and comfortably furnished. There’s a high ceiling and an ornate fireplace with a polished mahogany surround. A large skylight adds a bit of light. The walls are decorated with a number of framed banknote sets. There’s a display cabinet with old beer bottles and jugs and another cabinet with a few token items of cricketing memorabilia ( eg – cricket pads ). An old sign tells us that this room used to be a boxing gym named after local resident, Freddie Mills. I didn’t see anything telling me who he was, but he was in fact the world light heavyweight champion from 1948 to 1950. He became a friend of the Krays after retiring and was found shot dead in Soho in 1965, although the official version is that it was suicide.
Round the other side is the public bar which is part carpeted, part wood floored and contains a piano, juke box, dartboard and pool table. An original wood surround entrance can be used to access this bar directly from the street.
The pub is still badged as an Ushers pub. Three handpumps were advertising London Pride, Doom Bar ( replaced during my visit by Caledonian Amber Nectar ) and Mordue’s Radgie Gadgie, which was served direct from the barrel. The Radgie Gadgie was a fine tasting, strongish, fruity pint - £ 3.20p. It was Champion Strong Bitter of Britain in 1998.The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular – one of only four in Bournemouth in the latest edition.
My recent Saturday lunchtime visit, before the Bournemouth v SWFC game, found the pub quite busy. There’s other pubs closer to the ground, but this appears to be where the discerning supporters make for and a good atmosphere prevailed with supporters of both clubs drinking together amicably.
I shall make a point of calling in here next season if I go to Bournemouth. It’s reasonably close to the station and you should try and seek it out, irrespective of whether you’re here for the football or not.
On 17th August 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Cricketers Arms
Reputedly the oldest pub in Bournemouth, dating back to 1847 and originally known as the Cricketers Hotel. The pub takes its name from the long since gone cricket ground which used to be opposite the pub in the area just beyond the railway line. The pub has strong connections with the boxing world champion Freddie Mills, who lived nearby and used to train in a building behind the pub as well as being a regular customer.
The pub nowadays has a two room interior. The main entrance takes you straight to the bar and a small area of limited seating. To the left there is a raised seating area which used to be the function room and was at one time in the 1970's used as a boxing gym named after Freddie Mills. The gym's sign still hangs in the room today. There is plenty of seating here, mostly standard tables and chairs with a few padded benches. Old banknote collections have been framed and hung on the walls alongside the inevitable cricket memorabilia. A large, ornate Victorian era fireplace provides a focal point for the room which also has a high ceiling with skylight and some smart glasswork, including some rather precariously just above the dartboard. On the other side of the pub is the public bar which has its own entrance, flanked on either side by two large pillars. An old Bottle and Jug doorway remains on this side of the pub as well, although it is no longer in use. The public bar is carpeted with a small, curved section of bar counter, and upright piano, juke box, TV screen showing golf and some standard tables and chairs. At the rear of the room there is a separate area housing a pool table.
Only three beers were available on my visit, but there was a relatively interesting selection of Fuller's London Pride, Caledonian Nectar (£3.20) and Lancaster Kingmaker. The Caledonian was well kept and the barmaid was very pleasant and friendly, as was the pub dog who enjoyed a boisterous game of fetch, despite seemingly being blind.
This is a really nice pub and one that not too many people seem to know about. It's pretty close to the station, so it's always a good option to have if you miss your train, but it also strikes me as the sort of place you'd be happy to call your local.
On 30th July 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]