Real ale is the whole point of the Goat and Tricycle. Eleven handpumps line the bar of this traditional town-centre pub, most of them pouring Butcombe and Liberation beers with a pair of rotating guests alongside, and the cellar is looked after well enough to have earned a steady reputation among CAMRA members. The building carries some of that character too: the left-hand half, with its green-tiled frontage, is the former Pembroke Arms and is Grade II listed.
The pub
It is traditional in the honest sense — no theme, no gastro makeover, just a warm, low-key room built for conversation and a considered pint. Dogs are welcome, and a part-covered courtyard gives you somewhere to sit outside whatever the sky is doing. There is a function room and the odd bit of live music, but the atmosphere is quiet-afternoon rather than late-night, and it rewards taking your time over the range. Sitting just off the main pedestrianised drag keeps it calmer than the town-centre bars a street away, which is much of the appeal for anyone who has come specifically for the beer.
The drink and food
The cask list rotates constantly. Butcombe Original and Gold and the Liberation ales form the backbone, with guest beers drawn from breweries such as Dark Star, Hop Back and Otter, and real cider on the bar for anyone off the beer. Food is served at lunchtime and in the early evening on weekdays — pub cooking rather than a full menu — so if you are planning to eat, check the current serving times before you head over.
Where it is
The pub is on West Hill Road, on the western edge of the town centre near Poole Hill, a few minutes from the Bournemouth International Centre and the top of the Lower Gardens. It sits within easy reach of the town-centre food and drink, and Poole Hill Brewery is close by if you want to line up a second stop.
Good to know
Hours run through the day and later at the weekend, but the pub keeps its own current times, which are worth confirming before a special trip. There is no sea view and no kitchen theatre here — the draw is the beer and the room around it, which is exactly the point. If you want a proper meal nearby, West Beach down on the seafront is a short walk away.
