Wetherspoons finally set to open in "the snootiest town in Britain"

3:00pm Monday 18th February 2013 in News

Wetherspoons finally set to open in "the snootiest town in Britain" Wetherspoons finally set to open in "the snootiest town in Britain"

IT sparked one of the biggest planning battles the upmarket Hampshire town had ever seen.

An application to open a Wetherspoon cut-price pub in the historic heart of Lymington caused a storm of protest – and an even bigger avalanche of support.

Permission for the controversial scheme was finally granted in 2011 – almost a year to the day after the first application was rejected.

Now the 47 staff are busy putting the final touches to the two-storey pub and restaurant, which opens at 8am tomorrow.

The Six Bells is named after a pub that used to stand next door and became known as the headquarters of the bell ringers from the neighbouring St Thomas’s Church.

For the past 173 years the building has housed the C Ford & Co shop – later Palfrey & Kemp.

The Wetherspoon chain has spent £1.4m on converting the former furnishings store into Lymington’s newest eatery. But the C Ford & Co sign is displayed above the tables and a glass cabinet contains some of the ledgers from the 1950s.

Many of the walls are adorned with old photographs of Lymington, including aerial shots of the river.

The seating area near the main entrance is dominated by a large painting of well-known Lymingtonians including Ben Ainslie, the most successful sailor in Olympic history.

Seven angled mirrors at the top of the stairs enable customers to view the neighbouring church, part of which dates from 1250.

The new watering hole will be open from 8am to 11pm Sunday to Thursday and 8am until midnight on Friday and Saturday, with food being served until 10pm each day.

Lymington was dubbed “the snootiest town in Britain” after the first application to open a Wetherspoon outlet was rejected by district councillors in 2010.

Members voted against the scheme after objectors claimed that rowdy customers would upset pensioners living in nearby Monmouth House and mourners attending funerals at the church.

But Wetherspoon hit back, saying the chain had won numerous awards for the way it ran its 760 pubs.

Wetherspoon’s second application sparked more than 970 letters of objection.

However, the district council also received a 1,000-name petition and 110 letters from people supporting the proposal.

Members went against the advice of planning officers and approved the revised scheme.

Comments(41)

O'Reilly says...
4:11pm Mon 18 Feb 13

The Six Bells....LOL.

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kazzy70 says...
4:45pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Like they didnt want the 99p shop they have now in the old Woolworth shop but they where queing to get in it when it 1st openned. The 6 Bells does look nice but im not from Lymington

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CoogarUK.com says...
6:07pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Uh oh, be careful or M'Lady will be striking Lymington off her list!

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MrPitiful says...
6:23pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Limminton locals ain't ever lived if they ain't had a beer 'n' burger wiv us great unwashed!

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Lord Spring says...
6:31pm Mon 18 Feb 13

MrPitiful wrote:
Limminton locals ain't ever lived if they ain't had a beer 'n' burger wiv us great unwashed!
You must be down in Somerset

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harrythered says...
8:02pm Mon 18 Feb 13

The local nimbies all moaned when Wetherspoon opened in Wimborne, said there would be riots in the streets from lager filled louts. One year on the pub has done a fantastic job in the town. Great beer inc guest ales, good food (inc farm assured beef!!), really friendly atmosphere for all age groups and even the local chess club have moved there on a monday night - some troublemakers eh.
Can't wait to visit the Lymington pub and hopefully another nail in the coffin for that over priced Hall and Woodhouse rubbish.

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stevobath says...
8:15pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Lord Spring wrote:
MrPitiful wrote:
Limminton locals ain't ever lived if they ain't had a beer 'n' burger wiv us great unwashed!
You must be down in Somerset
Are you deaf or just never heard an Somerset accent?


This kind of language would be more appropriate to Essex/London.

Suggest you visit deepest Somerset & take a listen to the accent

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raynad says...
8:56pm Mon 18 Feb 13

stevobath wrote:
Lord Spring wrote:
MrPitiful wrote: Limminton locals ain't ever lived if they ain't had a beer 'n' burger wiv us great unwashed!
You must be down in Somerset
Are you deaf or just never heard an Somerset accent? This kind of language would be more appropriate to Essex/London. Suggest you visit deepest Somerset & take a listen to the accent
Thats reet, you tell em my lover!

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Lord Spring says...
10:37pm Mon 18 Feb 13

raynad wrote:
stevobath wrote:
Lord Spring wrote:
MrPitiful wrote: Limminton locals ain't ever lived if they ain't had a beer 'n' burger wiv us great unwashed!
You must be down in Somerset
Are you deaf or just never heard an Somerset accent? This kind of language would be more appropriate to Essex/London. Suggest you visit deepest Somerset & take a listen to the accent
Thats reet, you tell em my lover!
Limington is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated 5 miles north of Yeovil in the South Somerset district.

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BIGTONE says...
10:53pm Mon 18 Feb 13

You just wait and see.
The zimmer frames and walking sticks will be gagging to get in and have a sesh.

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raynad says...
11:00pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Lord Spring wrote:
raynad wrote:
stevobath wrote:
Lord Spring wrote:
MrPitiful wrote: Limminton locals ain't ever lived if they ain't had a beer 'n' burger wiv us great unwashed!
You must be down in Somerset
Are you deaf or just never heard an Somerset accent? This kind of language would be more appropriate to Essex/London. Suggest you visit deepest Somerset & take a listen to the accent
Thats reet, you tell em my lover!
Limington is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated 5 miles north of Yeovil in the South Somerset district.
I biz geographied....(In a Somerset accent)

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molehill59 says...
7:08am Tue 19 Feb 13

Hall and Woodhouse Badger beer is lovely. Just because there is a Wetherspoons in Wimborne does not mean that people have abandoned their locals..just means there is another place for us to have coffee and other drinks.
There is space for both. Just wish they allowed our dog to go in when we want a coffee, otherwise we would go in during the day, but we can't.

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gerbil112 says...
8:20am Tue 19 Feb 13

molehill59 wrote:
Hall and Woodhouse Badger beer is lovely. Just because there is a Wetherspoons in Wimborne does not mean that people have abandoned their locals..just means there is another place for us to have coffee and other drinks. There is space for both. Just wish they allowed our dog to go in when we want a coffee, otherwise we would go in during the day, but we can't.
I had a problem with The Quay pub in Poole some time ago. It seems that Wetherspoons have a No-Dog policy (except assistance dogs). I was brought up in the Licensed Trade in Poole and to be told I couldn't even bring the dog in to order food and drinks and subsequently sit outside was a bit surprising to say the least.
.
Their reply to my email was simply to state that it was "Company Policy". I did point out that my dog was better behaved than most of the kids in there, but to no avail!

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Bliggo says...
9:05am Tue 19 Feb 13

Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.

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Local fan says...
9:20am Tue 19 Feb 13

Well done Lymington, there are many excellent Wetherspoons across the country and I'm sure yours is one. Most are great value for food and the real ale is fantastic, indeed many get into CAMRA's "Good Beer Guide". I doubt the local pubs will suffer from the competition, restaurants won't either as most are in a different priced marketplace, especially in Lymington!

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scrumpyjack says...
9:29am Tue 19 Feb 13

Bliggo wrote:
Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.
And we're glad you go to Witherspoon pubs because we don't want their scabby clientele running round where we are supposed to be eating/relaxing.

The Sir Percy Florence, The Lord Wimborne, The Mary Shelly, The Parkstone and Heatherland? Anyone? Nah not for me either.

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Lord Spring says...
10:24am Tue 19 Feb 13

scrumpyjack wrote:
Bliggo wrote:
Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.
And we're glad you go to Witherspoon pubs because we don't want their scabby clientele running round where we are supposed to be eating/relaxing.

The Sir Percy Florence, The Lord Wimborne, The Mary Shelly, The Parkstone and Heatherland? Anyone? Nah not for me either.
Quite right I would only go in a Lloyds No 1.

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harrythered says...
11:43am Tue 19 Feb 13

scrumpyjack wrote:
Bliggo wrote:
Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.
And we're glad you go to Witherspoon pubs because we don't want their scabby clientele running round where we are supposed to be eating/relaxing.

The Sir Percy Florence, The Lord Wimborne, The Mary Shelly, The Parkstone and Heatherland? Anyone? Nah not for me either.
You can't even spell the name Wetherspoon correctly.

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apm1954 says...
12:15pm Tue 19 Feb 13

snoot? its near the docks

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scrumpyjack says...
1:11pm Tue 19 Feb 13

harrythered wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
Bliggo wrote:
Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.
And we're glad you go to Witherspoon pubs because we don't want their scabby clientele running round where we are supposed to be eating/relaxing.

The Sir Percy Florence, The Lord Wimborne, The Mary Shelly, The Parkstone and Heatherland? Anyone? Nah not for me either.
You can't even spell the name Wetherspoon correctly.
Oh and don't I rue the fact I can't.

Some cheap, budget chain serving pints from the early a.m. to the feckless classes.

My, I haven't lived.

I can spell gastro and quality though.

Report this post »

harrythered says...
1:26pm Tue 19 Feb 13

scrumpyjack wrote:
harrythered wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
Bliggo wrote:
Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.
And we're glad you go to Witherspoon pubs because we don't want their scabby clientele running round where we are supposed to be eating/relaxing.

The Sir Percy Florence, The Lord Wimborne, The Mary Shelly, The Parkstone and Heatherland? Anyone? Nah not for me either.
You can't even spell the name Wetherspoon correctly.
Oh and don't I rue the fact I can't.

Some cheap, budget chain serving pints from the early a.m. to the feckless classes.

My, I haven't lived.

I can spell gastro and quality though.
Gastro, mmm, isn't that the word that means over priced pretentious rubbish served to gullible people who think they are connoiseurs.
Anything labelled as a gastro pub is certainly worth avoiding.

Report this post »

scrumpyjack says...
1:49pm Tue 19 Feb 13

harrythered wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
harrythered wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
Bliggo wrote:
Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.
And we're glad you go to Witherspoon pubs because we don't want their scabby clientele running round where we are supposed to be eating/relaxing.

The Sir Percy Florence, The Lord Wimborne, The Mary Shelly, The Parkstone and Heatherland? Anyone? Nah not for me either.
You can't even spell the name Wetherspoon correctly.
Oh and don't I rue the fact I can't.

Some cheap, budget chain serving pints from the early a.m. to the feckless classes.

My, I haven't lived.

I can spell gastro and quality though.
Gastro, mmm, isn't that the word that means over priced pretentious rubbish served to gullible people who think they are connoiseurs.
Anything labelled as a gastro pub is certainly worth avoiding.
Thank you.

You stay in there eating your "two meals for £5" 'beef' lasagnes and pies and I will stick to the homemade local produce cooked by an actual chef rather than by a greasy fat bloke with NVQ Grade 1 certificate who’s a dab hand with a microwave.

Horses for courses (so to speak).

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scrumpyjack says...
1:50pm Tue 19 Feb 13

harrythered wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
harrythered wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
Bliggo wrote:
Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.
And we're glad you go to Witherspoon pubs because we don't want their scabby clientele running round where we are supposed to be eating/relaxing.

The Sir Percy Florence, The Lord Wimborne, The Mary Shelly, The Parkstone and Heatherland? Anyone? Nah not for me either.
You can't even spell the name Wetherspoon correctly.
Oh and don't I rue the fact I can't.

Some cheap, budget chain serving pints from the early a.m. to the feckless classes.

My, I haven't lived.

I can spell gastro and quality though.
Gastro, mmm, isn't that the word that means over priced pretentious rubbish served to gullible people who think they are connoiseurs.
Anything labelled as a gastro pub is certainly worth avoiding.
Oh and I forgot to ask whether you'd heard of inverted snobbery?

Report this post »

harrythered says...
1:55pm Tue 19 Feb 13

scrumpyjack wrote:
harrythered wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
harrythered wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
Bliggo wrote:
Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.
And we're glad you go to Witherspoon pubs because we don't want their scabby clientele running round where we are supposed to be eating/relaxing.

The Sir Percy Florence, The Lord Wimborne, The Mary Shelly, The Parkstone and Heatherland? Anyone? Nah not for me either.
You can't even spell the name Wetherspoon correctly.
Oh and don't I rue the fact I can't.

Some cheap, budget chain serving pints from the early a.m. to the feckless classes.

My, I haven't lived.

I can spell gastro and quality though.
Gastro, mmm, isn't that the word that means over priced pretentious rubbish served to gullible people who think they are connoiseurs.
Anything labelled as a gastro pub is certainly worth avoiding.
Oh and I forgot to ask whether you'd heard of inverted snobbery?
Thank you, I haven't laughed so much for ages.

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downmoor-ch63 says...
2:56pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Whetherspoons or Whitherspoons, I couldnt care less, the Beers are good, and plenty of different Ales, I would have thought to tickle anyones palate, the service is also good, Clean Toilets, and the price of food and ales,excellent in these austere times.

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Ste-V-e says...
4:30pm Tue 19 Feb 13

harrythered wrote:
The local nimbies all moaned when Wetherspoon opened in Wimborne, said there would be riots in the streets from lager filled louts. One year on the pub has done a fantastic job in the town. Great beer inc guest ales, good food (inc farm assured beef!!), really friendly atmosphere for all age groups and even the local chess club have moved there on a monday night - some troublemakers eh.
Can't wait to visit the Lymington pub and hopefully another nail in the coffin for that over priced Hall and Woodhouse rubbish.
Spot on, and I say that as a former chef at the Hall & Woodhouse Kings Head Hotel in Wimborne! Wetherspoons is fantastic at attracting all ages, friendly atmosphere, very well kept pubs (especially considering the turnover of customers) and the food represents good value for money. I'm sure revenues have gone down for some other pubs in Wimborne but they are still going strong, from what I've heard at the Cricketers Arms, Kings Head, Bell, Rising Sun..

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Arthur Maureen says...
4:31pm Tue 19 Feb 13

scrumpyjack wrote:
Bliggo wrote:
Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.
And we're glad you go to Witherspoon pubs because we don't want their scabby clientele running round where we are supposed to be eating/relaxing.

The Sir Percy Florence, The Lord Wimborne, The Mary Shelly, The Parkstone and Heatherland? Anyone? Nah not for me either.
Scrappyjack you'll find the Parkstone is actually called the Churchill and is a Green King pub... just saying

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O'Reilly says...
4:42pm Tue 19 Feb 13

BIGTONE wrote:
You just wait and see.
The zimmer frames and walking sticks will be gagging to get in and have a sesh.
Look out for the 2 o'clock rush when 2 for 1 deals kick off......

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scrumpyjack says...
4:46pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Arthur Maureen wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
Bliggo wrote:
Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.
And we're glad you go to Witherspoon pubs because we don't want their scabby clientele running round where we are supposed to be eating/relaxing.

The Sir Percy Florence, The Lord Wimborne, The Mary Shelly, The Parkstone and Heatherland? Anyone? Nah not for me either.
Scrappyjack you'll find the Parkstone is actually called the Churchill and is a Green King pub... just saying
You might want to tell Green King as Wetherspoons are claiming its theirs.

Report this post »

scrumpyjack says...
5:00pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Arthur Maureen wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
Bliggo wrote:
Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.
And we're glad you go to Witherspoon pubs because we don't want their scabby clientele running round where we are supposed to be eating/relaxing.

The Sir Percy Florence, The Lord Wimborne, The Mary Shelly, The Parkstone and Heatherland? Anyone? Nah not for me either.
Scrappyjack you'll find the Parkstone is actually called the Churchill and is a Green King pub... just saying
The Parkstone and Heatherland is in Winton and is the one I meant, not a pub called The Churchill in another part of Bournemouth.

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Lord Spring says...
5:01pm Tue 19 Feb 13

scrumpyjack wrote:
Arthur Maureen wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
Bliggo wrote:
Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.
And we're glad you go to Witherspoon pubs because we don't want their scabby clientele running round where we are supposed to be eating/relaxing.

The Sir Percy Florence, The Lord Wimborne, The Mary Shelly, The Parkstone and Heatherland? Anyone? Nah not for me either.
Scrappyjack you'll find the Parkstone is actually called the Churchill and is a Green King pub... just saying
You might want to tell Green King as Wetherspoons are claiming its theirs.
I suppose we would have to give directions by churches as it would be no good giving some people directions by pubs as they would get lost The Parkstone and Heatherlands is in Winton and is a Wetherspoons and named after the local Co-op Society

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MrPitiful says...
6:27pm Tue 19 Feb 13

An' its Limminton in the Noo Forest, not flippin' Liminton in Somerset.

Ya kmow, where all the posh people wiv Beemers & beige jumpers over their shoulders live innit?

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Arthur Maureen says...
8:43pm Tue 19 Feb 13

scrumpyjack wrote:
Arthur Maureen wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
Bliggo wrote:
Good. I don't want a scabby dog running around where I'm supposed to be eating/relaxing.
And we're glad you go to Witherspoon pubs because we don't want their scabby clientele running round where we are supposed to be eating/relaxing.

The Sir Percy Florence, The Lord Wimborne, The Mary Shelly, The Parkstone and Heatherland? Anyone? Nah not for me either.
Scrappyjack you'll find the Parkstone is actually called the Churchill and is a Green King pub... just saying
The Parkstone and Heatherland is in Winton and is the one I meant, not a pub called The Churchill in another part of Bournemouth.
Thank goodness that is cleared up

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mj34 says...
8:52pm Tue 19 Feb 13

same old story, a few stuck up people ,nothing better t do and try t mess it up4 everyone , GOOD LUCK WEATHERSPOONS !!!

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ryanuk86 says...
11:38pm Tue 19 Feb 13

gerbil112 wrote:
molehill59 wrote:
Hall and Woodhouse Badger beer is lovely. Just because there is a Wetherspoons in Wimborne does not mean that people have abandoned their locals..just means there is another place for us to have coffee and other drinks. There is space for both. Just wish they allowed our dog to go in when we want a coffee, otherwise we would go in during the day, but we can't.
I had a problem with The Quay pub in Poole some time ago. It seems that Wetherspoons have a No-Dog policy (except assistance dogs). I was brought up in the Licensed Trade in Poole and to be told I couldn't even bring the dog in to order food and drinks and subsequently sit outside was a bit surprising to say the least.
.
Their reply to my email was simply to state that it was "Company Policy". I did point out that my dog was better behaved than most of the kids in there, but to no avail!
This is the policy of most pubs and pretty much every major retailer in the country. Animals can't and shouldn't be around peoples food or drink. Even a well-behaved dog in a pub.. it doesn't look good to other customers, it's basic food hygiene. You can always leave the dog outside with someone else or tie it to one of those ring things that they most probably provide! Not really an issue.

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mikeba says...
7:26am Wed 20 Feb 13

Good luck to Wetherspoons ... good value food and drinks in these times of deep recession. First place I look for when off caravanning ... lock the Postcode in my Satnav, and then a hearty breakfast or good lunch can be found. You can go to the "gastro" pub if you want but lets be honest .. you won`t get the same value for money ... you will get the same food and drink tarted up and the price doubled!!!

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scrumpyjack says...
9:12am Wed 20 Feb 13

'you will get the same food and drink tarted up and the price doubled!!!'

If you want believe that then who are we to put you right? Enjoy.

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mikeba says...
9:52am Wed 20 Feb 13

scrumpyjack wrote:
'you will get the same food and drink tarted up and the price doubled!!!'

If you want believe that then who are we to put you right? Enjoy.
Certainly do believe that ... having been and seen on both sides of the counter in pub, club and restaurant situations since 1985... best stick to your Scrumpy Jack

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scrumpyjack says...
9:54am Wed 20 Feb 13

mikeba wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
'you will get the same food and drink tarted up and the price doubled!!!'

If you want believe that then who are we to put you right? Enjoy.
Certainly do believe that ... having been and seen on both sides of the counter in pub, club and restaurant situations since 1985... best stick to your Scrumpy Jack
I will indeed. Everything tastes great after enough of that, even her indoors' cooking.

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grazzer says...
11:06am Wed 20 Feb 13

The Churchill is not a pub in another part of Bournemouth-it is actually in Parkstone which is another part of Poole

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scrumpyjack says...
3:11pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Let it go. We've decided to agree it doesn't really matter. They're both rough as a'holes.

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