The Dolphin, Springbourne - pub details
Address: 316 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 8AY [map] [gmap]
Tel: 01202 399337
Bournemouth (0.5 miles), Pokesdown (1.4 miles), Branksome (3 miles)
Pub suggested by John on 2 May 2003
NB: Information about this pub is incomplete as it has not been visited by a member of the beerintheevening.com team and is not currently registered.
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> Current user rating: 2.8/10 (rated by 6 users)
> Local guides: Bournemouth pub guide, Dorset pub guide
other pubs nearby:
Cricketers Arms, Springbourne (0.1 miles), Samsons Bar, Springbourne (0.2 miles), Brunswick Hotel, Bournemouth (0.5 miles), Lynton Court, Bournemouth (0.5 miles), RoomSix Vodka Bar and Grill, Bournemouth (0.6 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of the Dolphin, Springbourne
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 7 shown - see all reviews
| This place has a poor reputation which was further compounded on 24 February 2008 when a man was fatally injured in a fight just outside the pub - one of two murders in Holdenhurst Road on that same day. stanley_C - 25 Feb 2008 23:34 |
| Since moving to Springbourne 9 years ago I have visited The Dolphin regularly and although the last landlady who ran the pub for two years fell ill and three temporary managers came and went whilst she was ill, it has undoubtedly lost its bad reputation of old. The locals are very friendly and welcoming, and you get the feeling that there is a real community spirit. I have only seen the odd ‘scuffle’ amongst youngsters on their way into town at the weekend, which has been dealt with very well by the landlord. Food is served from 12-3 daily and is extremely good value for money, tasty and good portions too. Children are welcome under supervision, there is a good selection of entertainment at the weekends and since the licensing laws now allow bands in smaller venues there have been some excellent live music bands playing at the weekends. The toilets are clean and presentable and in good working order (including normal doors), and a disabled toilet has recently been installed. I have found the bar staff and landlord to be very friendly and helpful. The only down side is that the undercover smoking area outside could be bigger and food could be available in the evenings. InDaHut - 18 Jan 2008 14:46 |
| Although it was made 4 years old, much of johnkn7's comment is still accurate today. The Dolphin had a major refurb in the 1980's, and when Shotz redecorated in 2003, it must have been the first refurb in history where the place was worse afterwards, than it was before. The paint job is so bad that now half of it has flaked off, the resulting decor is a confused-looking disaster. The problem with the Dolphin is the location. It's easy to attract the "wrong" crowd in Springbourne and the Dolphin does this admirably. The pub has got through 5 landlords in the last 4 years, with all but one failing to control the thugs and drug dealers that frequent this place. The absense of locks on the toilet doors, and the fact that the top half of them is missing "saloon style" is the result of Landlord John's overzealous crusade against the drug problem. Most of the clientelle are relatively harmless drop-out types, but although a fight can be expected most Saturday nights, it's rare for anyone to get maimed or killed. A real turning point was the refurb in 2003, when children were barred and the remenants of the family-pub atmosphere vanished shortly afterwards. On the plus side, the pub is roomy, and being on a corner is fairly bright with a decked area outside. The leftside is quieter with ample seating and the right side being louder, with pool tables and a significantly younger feel. The beer is quite good and the bar staff quite friendly with a good sense or humour, which no doubt they need in order to work here. Rated 4/10 Kronen_Bourg - 2 Oct 2007 21:41 |
| horrible rude staff. didnt even stay for a drink popiellajones - 10 May 2007 11:01 |
| Absolutely awful, sorry but it is! Rank infact! anonymous - 27 Mar 2005 22:37 |
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