With colourful décor, friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere, the venue offers drinks galore, a great food menu and a garden space that is set to become a licensed wedding venue following a big investment.
The pub hosts live music five nights a week, including the region’s longest-running open mic night every Wednesday, acoustic acts on Tuesdays, and new bands on Thursdays. Acts like Mischa and Blackwall County have gone on to play major festivals and venues, including the O2 Bournemouth. The pub is a shareholder in Music Venue Properties and is applying for an Arts Council grant to upgrade its sound system.
Community ethos
Beyond music, the pub runs charity events like ‘Increase the Peace’: a multicultural festival featuring music, children’s activities and the Human Library, where guests chat with people from diverse backgrounds. Poetry nights, food charity collaborations and foraging walks led by a Michelin-trained chef further highlight its community ethos.
The pub’s sustainability efforts include composting food waste, growing herbs on-site and using chemical-free cleaning solutions. It stocks locally sourced drinks, including Boscombe Brewing Company beers, Conker Gin, and Black Cow Vodka, and flavours its own rums.
Inclusivity ensured
The pub continues to thrive. It supports local businesses by hiring tradespeople who are also customers and offers training in conflict resolution and service standards. Staff diversity and accessibility features, including ramps and an accessible toilet, ensure inclusivity.
Marketing is a mix of physical posters, social media reels and collaborations with Pier Magazine and Hope FM. The pub also works with university students on media projects and plays a key role in local planning, having helped secure a £23m housing grant for Boscombe.
