Shah of Persia by Marstons Inns

We went to celebrate my mother's 90th birthday, but the visit was a real letdown. The staff were lovely, yet the pub felt shabby and cold, the toilets looked uncared for, and there was no hot water from the washbasin taps. The coffee mugs also smelled a bit grubby. The food was mixed. The lasagne and gammon were okay, but not especially tasty. One person ordered the Sunday roast and found the beef so overdone he couldn't cut it. It looked like it might have been left from the week before. He switched to sausage and mash, but the sausages looked so anaemic he couldn't finish even one. Two family members stayed overnight and were disappointed too. Their room was clean, but had no hot water or bedroom heating, and the shower was broken. The TV only had one channel and could only be turned on or off at the wall, even after staff gave them new remote batteries. Such a shame, as this used to be a great pub.

The bus stop right outside makes it easy to get to Poole centre one way and Bournemouth the other, and the location worked well for me. This was the cheapest option I found for a night in Poole, with plenty of parking spaces and free parking. Check-in was quick after I filled in my details through an emailed link. The staff were friendly and helpful, and my clean room had everything I needed. It was quiet, so I slept well. I got another link to choose a checkout time, then just left the keys in a box on my way out. I’d happily stay here again.

We come here often and it never lets us down. The staff are always welcoming, and there’s a nice range of food. You can settle at the bar for a relaxed meal, drink, and catch-up, or use the restaurant area for a family outing or a more formal occasion or party.

We both enjoyed our mains, the mixed grill and cowboy burger, and the portions were big enough to leave us full. I liked the food choices and the service was quick. It was pretty quiet, with plenty of seats, and the staff were friendly. I was too full to finish my lovely apple crumble.