CORFE MULLEN.

This pub has plenty of history, the site was listed in the Doomsday Book and a pub has stood here since 1426. It now sits on a fast and busy main road going between Dorchester and Wimborne. A face lift a few years ago gave it a naff name - something to do with wet fish - but it did extend the pub and now it has more space. Reverting to a more sensible name, this multi-roomed pub with many nooks and crannies has low beams predominating (tall people beware) and there are wattle and daub partitions everywhere. The inside walls of the pub are covered with olde worlde objects (especially fish oriented) and there is a mummified cat, but you need to ask a knowledgeable member of staff about it. Seating is a mixture of dark wood tables and chairs on uneven stone flag floors in the main. This gives it a very olde worlde rustic air, but the prices remain very modern. This visit in 2004 found both wine and beer as expensive as London (£3+ for wine and £2.50 for the guest ale). Prices for food were what you would expect them to be for a gastro type pub. Interesting choices of food were available (including choice of roasts), with fish predominating. Alas there was only one choice of vegetarian meal while meat eaters could choose both from the main menu and the changing specials. Access for the disabled is not really possible, due to the uneven flag floors and narrow entrances. There is access via the large beer garden (with rose trellis) at the rear, but not to the bar area. The bar is an 'L' shape and the space behind it is very spacious. All the beers are served by gravity under insulated jackets against the kitchen wall. Beers on at the time were: Ringwood Best Bitter, 49er and Young's Special. Camping is available. There is no music.

This rather excellent pub (don't be put off by the Whitbread logo on the pub sign) is set within 14 acres of farmland not far from Wimborne and Poole. From the outside it has the look of an old cottage and this is reflected in the cosy nature of the interior. Not an easy pub to get into as the Old Wareham Road is a fast road with cars whizzing past almost constantly. You enter at the side and down a step so not good for the disabled, but there is access to the rear which should accommodate OK. The bar is to the right and in front as you enter and is a 'U' shape. A wood and brick construction there is a glasses overhang and plenty of hand pumps available, usually serving up to three real ales plus two from the nationals. All beers were served with or without the sparkler and seemed to be well kept. Open all day, every day the clientele changes throughout the day which makes the Holme Bush a friendly place and one where you can go to gossip or just watch the locals mingle. You will find real fires about the rooms, of which there are three distinct areas. All have old pictures of Corfe Mullen on the walls along with other themes, a little chintzy, but not garishly so. A new extension has been built to accommodate all the eating that goes on here. It has been kept in keeping with the rest of the pub and so has flag/tiled floors and old heavy hewn wood furniture that is surprisingly comfortable. Seating tends to be at tables and chairs for the eating customers, for whom the Holme Bush is a popular venue. If you want to eat here from the varied and tasty homemade menu, you had better book in advance or just get there very early. The turnover of food customers is quick, so you might be lucky at any time. Food is served both lunchtime and evening with special roasts on Sunday, though not a lot for vegetarians by way of a roast alternative, but they have plenty of choice at other times. For the summer there is a beer garden to the rear away from the road which should be safe for the kids. There is also a small function room available for hire. An excellent pub well worth the stop.

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