ONE NIGHT OUT IN WIMBORNE

Previously I wrote of the joys of the pub crawl and Winchester was the location. This time, much closer to home and in our own region, we ventured to Wimborne. A good bus service from Poole made Saturday night a perfect time to venture onto the Wimborne Flyer.

Walking from the Square, our first port of call was The Rising Sun, a comfortable and roomy Badger inn with wood panelled rooms and an L-shaped bar. Two ales were on offer, Firsty Ferret and First Gold, both served rather cold and lacking in flavour: a shame! Just two minutes away is The Bell. A traditional looking pub with the original Strongs of Romsey etched windows, this pub has an airy feel, aided by the two room set up with their own bars. It is clearly thriving and serves two real ales, Ringwood Nest and Bombardier; this pint was much more like it.

Our third stop was the White Hart by the old corn market. A 17th century inn very comfortably furnished with a separate public bar. An Eldridge Pope house, they serve the new Southern Glory ale brewed for the chain (but by whom?) at 3.7%. It is a rather caramel flavoured beer and I’m afraid that the barrel that night must have been getting old as we all detected a faint hint of vinegar creeping in.

Five minutes stroll took us to the Green Man on Victoria Road, a Grade II listed small bustling pub with lots of small rooms and nik-naks hanging everywhere. Owned by Wadworth, they sell IPA, 6X and the current seasonal, Malt & Hops a beer made with autumnal green hops; all were very enjoyable though £2.70 for Malt & Hops seemed a little excessive.

Next, and just over the River Allen is The Crown and Anchor, a regular in the Good Beer Guide serving some of the best Badger ale in the area but equally popular for its good food this pub comes highly recommended.
With time running out before the bus home there was just enough time for a swift half in The Kings Head Hotel in the Square. A Greene King house so the choice was IPA or Abbot Ale, surely a weak and strong version of the same beer! There are a number of pubs we didn't have time to visit: The Cricketers Arms, Olive Branch, Oddfellows Arms, a tiny little pub that was too packed as we passed, The Albion, Pudding and Pye and Coach and Horses—maybe next time!

We found Wimborne a lovely little town, quaint and interesting, with some friendly pubs serving some good beer, we recommend a visit. Robin Garrett