IT can claim to be the oldest pub on Poole Quay, having first served refreshment to the working people of the area in 1635.

The Poole Arms is also one of the most distinctive pubs you could find.

It is clad in green tiles and bears the Poole coat of arms. Inside, there are pews and wood-panelled walls, along with pictures depicting Poole as it was in bygone times.

Befitting such a historic building, the pub is family-operated and offers an individual menu, with locally caught fish a speciality.

“We’ve been here for coming up to 18 years,” says licensee Michelle Smith.

“My mum and dad took the pub over 18 years ago.

“They retired about six years ago. We lost my mum the year before last but Dad is still part of the furniture. It’s a family-run pub.”

The pub is “very seafood-orientated”, she says, with its chefs cooking fresh, locally caught fish from Tim Greenslade and Cove on the Quay in Poole and from Hutchings Bros in Christchurch.

The menu of starters currently includes king prawns in garlic for £9.95, gambas pil pil for £9.50, salt and chilli squid for £7.50, Cornish sardines at £7.95 and moules mariniere for £8.95 or £14.95.

Main courses include home-made fish pie for £12.95, smoke haddock pot for £13.95, seafood casserole for £17.95, pan-fried sea bass fillets for £18.95 and a fresh fish of the day.

Alternatively, there is a menu of ploughman’s lunches from £7.95 to £10.95 and a selection of sandwiches.

The licensees are tenants of Enterprise Inns and are known for their real ales, having been listed in Good Beer Guides. The selection of cask ales changes regularly.

There is an extensive wine list from Templar Wines and there is a wide selection of gins.

In recent times, owner Enterprise Inns has spent £210,000 on restoring the historic pub – a painstaking job when dealing with a listed, 17th century building.

It’s a small pub, with 10-11 tables offered in its single room, so dogs and children are not allowed.

There is bench seating at the front of the pub so customers can watch the activities on the quay.

The pub is ideally placed for visitors to take advantage of the host of events that take place on Poole Quay throughout the year.

Those events include the Dream Machines Bike Night in the summer, Quay for My Car, Poole Harbour Festival and Poole Seafood Festival, or the bath race which takes place on New Year’s Day.

Almost four centuries after it opened its doors, the landmark pub remains at the centre of life on the quay.

  • The Poole Arms is at 19 The Quay and can be found at poolearms.co.uk or on Facebook (@PooleArms).

Booking is advisable. Call 01202 673450.