Victoria Cross

You're walking along Ashley Road in one of Poole's most lived-in stretches, and the Victoria Cross pulls you in with the kind of unpretentious welcome that's become rarer round here. It's the sort of place where locals actually drink—not Instagram locals, actual locals—and that matters. The pub does decent pub food without trying to be clever about it, and there's clearly thought gone into the drinks selection. It's got that comfortable, slightly worn-in feeling that makes you want to stay longer than you planned, order another round, and actually have a conversation at the bar.