BITE user comments - michael_winner
Comments by michael_winner
The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers
All other reviews spot on. Cannot praise this place enough for staying true to its roots and not getting caught up in the frantic desire to be all things to all people. It sells beer straight from the barrel - always in great condition and generally at least three to try. Vast selection of different local ciders too. Popular with walkers, climbers and local campers during holiday periods. Regular live music too. Sometimes attracts a more bohemian clientele who may or may not have a vested interest in quiche or ethnic peace bicycle maintenance but don't let their large hair or colourful clothes put you off. And yes, there really are chickens roaming the garden and an on site fossil museum to browse while boozing. Ales last night included Copper and Dorset Gold (smashing) and one called Inntrigue (also delicious).
11 Aug 2011 09:12
Amazing! Visited on a Sunday after a heavy Saturday night. Fantastic staff (especially the girl behind the bar with the red coloured hair) who couldn't do enough for us - walked us all the way through the enormous pub to show us to the garden. Food was superb, large selection of well kept beers. We sat outside (to enable smoking of fags whilst reading the Sunday Times) and the waitresses came out four or five times to take our order, deliver the (excellent) food, see if everything was ok and then if we needed any more drinks! I was considering proposing to one of them at one point. Busy inside but every member of staff was smiling and helpful. Cannot recommend highly enough. Flatcappers - please renovate a pub near me!
10 Aug 2011 10:37
Been visiting the Angel for food for a number of years now and have never, ever had a bad experience. It's always good value, service is swift and generally smiley and the beer is well kept too. Nothing to complain about.
9 Aug 2011 15:57
Er...to correct the review below from savapub, beer is Badger - not Ringwood - as it's a Hall and Woodhouse pub. Not a bad place, lovely vista's out the front over the peaceful woodland burial ground. Massive underdeveloped garden out the back. Bet this is turned into a campsite before too long. Beer always nice and well kept if a little pricey - but then that's what a brewery tie does for you.
5 Aug 2011 10:47
Can be a bit of a youth club on Friday evenings but at least it's lively - unlike many other pubs in Wimborne which closely resemble morgues. That said, the nippers are more often than not polite although they do need a bit of training in bar etiquette. Barging in and ordering complicated, lengthy rounds will not be tollerated, thank you. Beer is always fine here - Ringwood Best, 49er and Old Thumper; sometimes a guest beer too. Staff generally very helpfull and friendly. Great beer garden - very large and lots of tables with an undercover smoking area. In all, it's probably the best pub in Wimborne. Just need to keep the teenagers under control.
1 Aug 2011 12:50
Drovers Inn, Gussage all Saints
Popped in on a Sunday afternoon breaking up a bike ride. Lovely pint of Ringwood Boondoggle. Lots of people still eating at 4pm. Young chap behind the bar seemingly unhurried despite people waiting to order and pay. Oh well, it's his Sunday too I suppose. Nice atmosphere, hazy summer afternoon in the garden. Could have happily drunk 3 or 4 more delicious pints (all Ringwood; think it was Thatchers cider) but may well have fallen off my bike or had collar felt by local plod.
1 Aug 2011 12:18
The Crown and Anchor, Wimborne
Pub has now been sold by Hall and Woodhouse and will be developed into offices.
16 Jun 2011 16:59
"Yah, like, I've got these dreds cos, I'm, like, sticking to the man with my hair. I might, like go travelling again next year, depends if I can get any more allowance out of my folks." - Typical conversation overheard in The Old Duke. Full of trustfarians and Nathan Barleys, mingled with great jazz and ace cider. Weird mix. Man.
16 Jul 2009 20:16
Oh dear. Average food. Beer not too bad. Service excellent. But such a waste of a location! Lovely country lane, easy to get to from the A31, tree lined garden, gorgeous thatched roof. I've lived near this pub for years and never seen anyone make any effort with the huge amount of space at their disposal. A massive beer garden suitable for all sorts of summer events but never utilised. Maybe the small horse in the field with the tree would complain. Why not a live band on a small stage one summer's evening? Or maybe a kids day with a bouncy castle? A barbeque even?! NOTHING!! EVER!! It's not like the pub trade doesn't need the custom. Maybe there's a licence issue. Oh well. It will, and always does, remain average.
16 Jul 2009 20:09
Fine pub, excellent beer, great staff. Only off-putting thing was the picture of the odd looking beardy bloke behind the dart board. Couldn't hit me double with him leering at me.
16 Jul 2009 20:02
How do they do it? Beer is always excellent, food of a consistently high standard and bar staff some of the most charming and hard working I've ever seen - particularly over the folk festival. When other pubs are feeling the pinch, the Hart goes from strength to strength by getting the important things right every time. No stupid theme nights, no crappy Karaoke or arsewitted DJ's, good live music every now and again and the best beer garden in Wimborne. Unlikely to meet any pointy haired fighty blokes in here either which is always a bonus. Top marks, White Hart.
16 Jul 2009 19:59
Just returned very disappointed from a dinner here, a pub that has served us so well over the past few years. What went wrong tonight then? On every previous visit the food has been outstanding, the beer excellent and the service courteous and attentive. No problems with the service or the beer tonight, but the food was diabolical. Crab cakes that looked like they came from an Iceland freezer bag, a burger that was simply a pile of fried minced beef - no seasoning, no flavour, no shape. YUK! And the fish crumble had as much flavour as an insole and a similar texture. Was it the chef's night off? Come on Stocks, not good enough!
16 Jul 2009 19:50
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The Olive Branch, Wimborne
Part of H&W idea to go all up market. Fails on every score with pretencious menu, customers who are mostly posers and completely over priced drinks and food. If this place were in Surrey it would be understandable - not so in a sleepy market town in East Dorset. Come here if you are a red faced boss trying to 'impress' your secretary. Avoid if you want good beer (well, fairly priced good beer - it's actually kept well), conversation and atmosphere. Nice big beer garden though so not all bad.
12 Aug 2011 10:55