If you enjoy reading please consider “buying me a pint”, this will help to cover my hosting and image hosting and help to ensure further trips can go ahead!
BUY ME A PINT
If you enjoy reading please consider “buying me a pint”, this will help to cover my hosting and image hosting and help to ensure further trips can go ahead!
BUY ME A PINT
Last day down this way of the country and headed out to Bournemouth. A bus route starting from Parkstone, and working through Branksome, Winton, Bournemouth, Southbourne and Christchurch areas visiting 11 Micropubs and Brewery Taps. A final call in Southampton to Unity Brewing Co and their relaunched tap room.
Bournemouth Tickets
After heading up on the train from Southampton Central, I first got off at Bournemouth to head down to the beach to go down on the West Cliff Lift before heading back on the train to Parkstone. The bus ticket I got with “morebus” is £4.60 for a dayrider and will cover all of the pubs I will visit today with frequent services.
The Butchers Dog
A short walk from Parkstone Railway Station brings me to the Ashley Cross area, where there are a number of pubs and eateries located. “The Butchers Dog” is one of them. Nice warm welcome from Harry here and great chatting to him.
A great selection of beers here with a choice of 2 cask beers and 16 keg beers with a large range of styles. After sampling a couple of beers I went with “Fuzz”, a hazy IPA from Baron Brewing in Hertfordshire.
A great secluded beer garden at the back of the pub aswell which sees the sun most of the day.
Knight Life Taphouse
A 5 minute walk back through town up to “Knight Life Taphouse”, this opened in December 2021, the building being a former bank. The brewery itself is located in Bournemouth. Great welcome from Glen and Jamie and the rest of the team in here.
A range of their own beers were being served, and love the idea of the spray cans instead of pump clips on the bar. Such a unique feature. 12 beers on with 9 being their own. I started with “Blossom Drop”, a tasty New England Pale Ale, followed by their Blueberry Doughnut Sour “Indigo Tears”
As the building used to be a bank, the vault is still at the back of the bar, with a newly installed gin distillery.
The M1 bus goes from outside this bar to take me up to my next calling point.
The Barking Cat
The next Micropub “The Barking Cat” has won a number of CAMRA Awards and is owned by Mark and his eldest son Michael. His son Tom was also behind the bar. The Micropub has a Chinese next door so customers can order into the pub (they have a door between the two)
A fantastic range of 8 cask beers and 12 keg beers are available on the bar. The cask beers were a range from local breweries and breweries from further afield. I went with “Herkules” from Hattie Browns Brewery in Swanage. 4 ciders were on handpulls aswell.
Got on the 15 bus a few doors up from here to the next bar.
The Micro Moose
The first Micropub after getting off the bus is “The Micro Moose”. This is run by Canadian Pam, a Canadian themed Micropub. A really friendly welcome in here.
4 real ales available here alongside a number of ciders listed on the wall. I went with “Fiddlehead” from Hattie Brown’s Brewery.
Silverback Alehouse
A 5 minute walk down the main street from The Micro Moose brings me to my next Micropub “Silverback Alehouse”. A long and narrow Micropub with at table service rather than heading to the bar. Nice welcome in here from Leo and had a good chat with him and Gareth (one of their regulars)
A choice of 5 cask beers on here all gravity served rather than through a handpull. The casks can be seen behind the bar area in a glass room. I went with “Sundown” from Triple FFF Brewery who are based in Alton, Hampshire.
Headed out from here on the 5a bus, changing at Cemetery Junction/Gladys Court onto the 20 bus.
All Hail Ale
A short walk from the bus stop to “All Hail Ale”, a Micropub and Bottle Shop converted from a former restaurant. Lovely welcome from owner Peter. A lovely bar layout with the bottle shop part towards the back.
A great lineup of 5 cask beers and 10 keg beers to choose from. Some local and some from further afield. I went with a beer from recently closed brewery Fallen Acorn. “Teadious” a Darjeeling, Kiwi and Orange Ice Tea Sour. Lovely and refreshing.
Poole Hill Brewery / Southbourne Ales
A short 5 minute walk back towards Bournemouth Centre brings me to “Poole Hill Brewery” and the home of Southbourne Ales. A large building incorporating both a bar and the brewery. A great welcome from brewer and owner Jennifer.
4 of their own cask beers were available on the bar today to select from. I went with “Paddler”, a light session pale ale. Really easy drinking and tasty.
Big thankyou to Jennifer who showed me around the brewery setup they have here. They also run Brewery Tours if you are ever in the area and fancy visiting.
A interesting use of car hub caps aswell in the toilets.
From here I was heading towards Southbourne. The m2 bus goes from the opposite side of the road from Poole Hill Brewery.
The Firkin Shed
The first Micropub to open in the area was “The Firkin Shed”, a brisk 10 minute walk from Bournemouth Railway Station. This was the one I didnt have time to fit in today but ive visited twice in the past and has been excellent both times.
Way Outback Brewing Co
After getting off the bus, a few minutes walk brought me to the “Way Outback Brewing Co”. A busy bar with a pub on one side of the road and brewery/pub on the other (the pub used for events).
Lots of choices on here with all beers brewed in house. 14 keg beers to choose from, aswell as takeaway cans and fresh pizza. I went with “Game Changer”, a hazy juicy session pale ale. Bumped into local John in here, who I saw again later in Tuckton Tap. Great chatting to you.
Wight Bear
Another short walk down the main street brings me to a Micropub I’ve visited a number of years ago “Wight Bear”. This Micropub first opened in 2015. Great chatting with Sarah and some of the regulars in here who had been following my week.
Really busy in here today. 10 leg lines, a number of cask ales (although they had sold out of cask today) and a large range of ciders. A street food setup in a small room at the back aswell today. I went with “Lumina” from Siren Craft. A refreshing session pale.
Boarded the number 1 bus from the opposite side of the road to Tuckton.
Tuckton Tap
“Tuckton Tap” opened in May 3019 and acts as a brewery tap for “Drop the Anchor Brewery” who are located in Hinton Admiral. A taproom which prides itself on local spirits (aswell as the beer). A warm welcome from Mel (and Martin for the bus information).
A selection of 7 cask beers from the brewery ranging from traditional to pale to dark. I went with “Distant Sun” a 3.8% Pale. Really tasty.
Last bus from around the corner from the Tuckton Tap to Christchurch was the 1b.
Saxon Bar
A revisit here as I dropped in on Monday (see that blog for more details). Great to meet owner Lee today. I went with “Betula” a hazy, hoppy and tropical pale from Vibrant Forest, also tried the “Sabro IPA” from Brewers Folly Brewery.
Unity Brewing Co
My last call of the day was back in Southampton (after getting the train back from Christchurch). Having gone into administration a few months back it was bought back and tonight is the public reopening of the tap room.
A really busy venue with music and a large outside area. The brewery being inside towards the back with the bar on the right hand side.
A big selection of their own brewed beers alongside a selection of guest beers. I went with “Only The Sea”, a Hazy Spelt IPA at 5.8%.
Micropub Adventures 
It’s been great following your adventures down south. You should have got a Plusbus for Bournemouth though – only £4
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Managed to call in at the Tuckton Tap House last year.
Rather than go down the popular IPA/Pale Ale flavour profile I enjoyed a whisky I’d never encountered before!
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Keep up the good work Scott. Cheers.
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