Here’s the exterior of the Moon in the Square pub from when I visited last November. I’m currently back here again, so I felt the need to write something about it. I’m always keen to surprise and delight my two loyal blog readers….
As I usually do for pubs in the JD Wetherspoon chain, I’ve taken the history of the venue from their own website:
“This is one of several Wetherspoon pubs with ‘moon’ in their name, linking them with the ideal pub described by George Orwell. He called his fictitious pub ‘Moon Under Water’. This one stands on the site of Victoria Villa and Library – the home and business premises of TJ Hankinson, who was Bournemouth’s first mayor, elected in 1890. Around that time, the buildings were replaced by King’s drapery store which traded here for several decades.”
And, courtesy of the JD Wetherspoon website, here’s the link to the area to Tony Hancock.
The interior of the pub, which was all clean, tidy and organised. It’s about half full on a Friday afternoon and it’s the tail end of the JD Wetherspoon beer festival. I still haven’t found the cucumber beer from Adnams…… They did though have seven real ales available, all reasonably priced.
I went for half a pint of the Dark from Exmoor Ales which cost just £1.08. It was a malty and rich beer, even slightly decadent.
Also, as usual, I felt the need to have a look at the reviews for the pub, which is rated highly for the chain.
“Fully booked up. Streams people. Often over crowded. 3 nights out of 4 couldn’t eat here on our stay”
It feels unfair to rate the venue 1 out of 5 for that.
“Beer is tasteless, I had thatchers gold cider and it was tasting flat.”
They sell over 50 beers across keg, cask and can so it’s hard to understand how it’s tasteless. Unless they ordered Bud Light, but it’s meant to taste like that.
“***** is an absolute jobsworth. Because he’s got an ear piece in thinks he’s something important, runs away and hides in the kitchen, sends his bar staff out to deal with issues and hides 🤣. Nice pub, cheap and cheerful but jobsworth management”
This sounds like a former staff member who is annoyed at the manager in question…. And, as I know from Norwich Beer Festival, anyone with an ear piece is important.
“Refused to serve us at outside table, they seem to think dogs are unacceptable but smokers are OK! No dog sitting quietly ever caused lung cancer 😡”
An angry dog owner is never far away….
“We were kicked out by bar staff me wife dog out side drinking said drink up dogs not allowed”
There’s a Brewdog opposite which loves dogs to be fair….
“Terrible service, the person at the bar didnt even know how to use the till!”
God forbid they have a member of staff being trained…
“absolutely dreadful wasn’t allowed to drink my pint for some reason which i had every right to drink and paid for with my hard earnt money”
I suspect that there was a reason.
“Was locked in mens cubicle as door locks malfunctioned and used my mobile phone to call bar for help. Staff arrived with screw driver to hand to me as lock wouldn’t undo from outside of door so removed screws on lock and door fell open. All door locks on public toilets should have opening device”
This feels like a proper, valid complaint. At least it added some exciting drama to this customer’s day.
Anyway, I’ve digressed and got distracted once again. I’ve been to this pub a few times and it does get busy in the evenings, but the service always seems friendly and sort of efficient. And there’s a decent amount of real ale available, although unfortunately neither this pub nor the other nearby JD Wetherspoon have made the Good Beer Guide….
