The Bear Cross in Bournemouth

Went in for dinner on a Friday night. Unfortunately my meal was barely edible but even though I hadn’t eaten all day I still only managed half of it. My partners slow cooked beef was good but my steak pie was overcooked to the point that the moisture had been sucked out of the meat and pastry resulting in tough, stringy beef and a dry, hard crust. The potatoes and gravy were tasty but the accompanying swede, carrots and broccoli were woefully overcooked and literally disintegrated to the point I had to scoop them onto the fork. Highly disappointing meal.

i loved this place going to come here more often. perfect for a meal with friends or family.

Great food, substituded parts, no problem. Crowd of 8, Kevin could not have been more helpful, brilliant member of the team. So good with starter and small main, coukd not eat a dessert 😥 We will be back!!

We had our 40th wedding anniversary here, what a amazing buffet they do, everyone committed on how lovely the food was, even kept going back for more. Free tea & Coffee with buffet. The staff are very friendly & helpful. Will definitely be going back. 👏👏👏

We were a party of 5 celebrating a 75th Birthday. Food, service, ambience - super. What more can you ask? They offer a great menu which is inclusive for vegetarians and vegans. The staff are exceptional.

Have visited this pub many times but this was the first time under new management. Our waiter was Kevin who was very pleasant and after only 2 weeks at this restaurant he was already very proficient. The dining room team need to work more as a team, they seemed to be hurrying around and on this occasion we did have to wait awhile for our drinks. This said I expect they are all quite new and in time will be better. The food was as good as ever and choice and price excellent. If you are in the area then try this pub as it is well worth it. We will be back. Keep up the good work Kev your a star.

FOOD WAS FANTASTIC AND VERY NICE JUST HOW WE WANTED IT 😋 WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PUB TO ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTED A NICE MEAL 😊👍👍

Staff nice, no where outside for non smokers, but I used to be addicted to 40 a day and I was allowed to poison everyone in the pub, so we're making progress Food average, but ok Quiet for a Summer Saturday night, I'd give it 5 years max before it's a new block of flats, so get there quick x

Really nice place to have a meal will definitely go again 🙂🍽

Came at 745pm for a Roast Dinner but they were out of all roasts but they did accommodate my little girl with mash chicken Yorkshire pudding and gravy . Unfortunately the chicken was very dried up and she couldn’t eat it but they did find a spoonful of mash extra to give her . Our food was lovely .. not big portions just the right size for me . One of the members of staff that served us was very accommodating and friendly . We are on holiday here . Gutted we didn’t get our roasts but we should have come earlier… enjoyed the sun and ate late . We would certainly come back here and recommend this place . I think my daughters chicken must have been what was left over from the Sunday lunches sadly so very dry . I had lamb chops and my husband had peppered pork

One of my most favourite restaurants in this local area. Lovely staff, very efficiently managed by Becky, and Tom. Perfect menu, with smaller appetite options and plenty of veg. Thanks for feeding us so well.

The steak pie is the best in Dorset no question about it! Usually good service but be sure to book ahead as most of the time they are busy due to the good food. Only downside is most of their clientele are very elderly so does smell of care home slightly. However I must Insist the food is special especially their homemade steak pie! A must try if your in the area

Staff very professional. Food very good

It was a very nice meal. The service was amazing; very friendly staff.

Brilliant meal again.Thanks to the chef for another lovely meal out.Service was great despite how busy it was, can’t believe how many people were in there on a Wednesday lunchtime! Will be back soon x

Today’s lunch was an essay in mediocrity. The fish in the fish and chips looked like it had been found in Tutankhamen’s tomb and then refried a couple of times before serving, then try to find any fish in the middle. It speaks a lot if a pub can screw up fish and chips. The other meals were, well, totally mediocre. Service by one waitress was charmless with plates plonked on the tables unceremoniously in front of us. The interior of the pub could do with a refurb, too.

Great food,plenty of gluten free choices., friendly staff. Small portions available for the elderly

The vegetables were fresh that accompanied the food.

Great Gluten Free Sunday Lunch as always, we go here every time we visit Poole, never had a GF lunch like it, you get Yorkshire pudding and cauliflower cheese!! Most restaurants take it away if your GF, even though it has changed hands still the same great food and staff.

Visited with friends for coffee and cake

Good food, extremely slow service from the staff who seem.more interested in chatting at the bar rather than taking orders or payment. Waited 15 minutes after being given the bill for someone to actually payment on a not busy Monday lunchtime....

I have eaten here in the past but not since new owners, I had some chips and a Guinness ordered at the bar and sat outside as it was a sunny day. Outside is nice but as it's right by a roundabout it can be noisy, but great if you're a people watcher or like to see activity around you. Chips were as expected and no complaints. I would eat and drink here again. They have an on site car park, not massively big but I've always managed to park

This was only my second time visiting the Bear Cross despite only living near by, we went for a birthday meal and found the meal very enjoyable, everything was cooked perfectly, the service was excellent, will try and go back again.

Lovely food. First time back with new owners. Would have liked to seen a change in menu as this has been the same one for years. Kevin our waiter was lovely and very friendly.

Had a lovely meal, friendly staff and loved the fairy lights in the restaurant! Very reasonable prices too.

Tasty food at a reasonable price. Friendly staff.

Didn't eat here have heard good things though from a friend who worked here recently who's a world class chef. Prices a bit pricey seems to be an older crowd we were there at 2.30 til 6

Great place to watch the football, shame about the game.

We were a group of builders looking for a Friday morning breakfast. Upon entry we all thought our hi Viz attire was wrong for the occasion but the Bear cross staff welcomed us in and the food was top notch. Probably the best breakfast I've had apart from my wife's. Just incase she reads this. Thanks Bear cross, hope we can get back soon.

We had a beef roast dinner and was very happy. Meat was served and cooked perfectly. I am a fussy big eater and this was perfect. Thank you. I would come again

Really lovely breakfast and very pleasant staff.

Lovely meal and a great evening.

Not the first time I have been here. Excellent food and service. Highly recommended 👌

Excellent service in a friendly pub/restaurant. Food amazing as always .

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit here with relatives. There was an excellent range of delicious home cooked food. We ate from the smaller appetite menu which was very good value.

Nice spacious eating areas with plenty of parking. Extensive menu and great food. Service was attentive and efficient.

Really nice atmosphere to talk with the family. Lovely friendly service, and excellent food. Accommodated all 13 of us at one table.

This is a great place to bring family friends and loved ones. There is ample parking available within the area. There is also disable parking available here onsite. The food and service is excellent especially off peak times. Booking is better especially if you want to be on at peak times. There is good selection of wines, beer, cider and spirit's. Food is great and one could choose between light bites of main dish too. Highly recommended to everyone who want to have a great time with family friends and loved ones. Thank you and have a great day 👍🌞

We always have amazing meals , but when we came fo my Husbsnds Birthday 18/2. We where very disapointed, the menu has changed, food not cooked to the usual standard and service very lacking it was only 6.30 and not many tables booked. We particulary come as has a great GF menu.So sad.

Good place to stop if you're looking for somewhere to eat. Food and service excellent. Will definitely stop there next time we're in the area.

Really nice meal. Service very good.

Let's start with the venue. Nice and cosy maybe to cosy with the radiators on full. Decor was good, very ambient. Service was really good, couldn't do enough. Now the food is really nice. But there was not a good balance of value for money. Braised minted lamb steak was amazing but the mash potato and Veg was the size my 4 year old eats. 8oz burger and chips was excellent. Kids pasta was very small and both my kids were still hungry.

Great place for breakfast, coffee, coffee and cake, lunch and evening meals and drinks. The team/staff are very friendly and helpful and you can pay with card or cash. The atmosphere lost a star from me because I don't like grey painted walls, but that's me. We will return soon.

First visit with the new owners and really pleased nothing has changed same staff and food was exceptionally good pleased to see the same amount of choices on the menu. Still my favorite place to visit.

Small plates for small appetites. This stage 4 cancer patient LOVED IT. Lovely chicken dish and first meal I was able to finish for MONTHS!!!!

Nice place to eat one of the better chain pubs food reasonable and delicious

Normally this place is very good. Pricey but good quality and normally lovely staff, which i dont normally mind paying a little extra for. Unfortunately the whole team were let down by one staff member. I'm not giving any descriptions but clearly I'm not the first customer to have faced the raith of Resting B%#* Face judging by other reviews. A very rude individual. Not a credit to your team. Suggest a change of career as a parking enforcement officer, prison gaurd or SS officer at Belson!

Whet there on a Sunday evening. Nice pleasant atmosphere, not busy. The food was nice would visit again

1st visit since a bad experience a few months ago. However, staff were friendly and food was cooked just as I'd requested. Portion sizes and quality are excellent. We weren't rushed and service was great. Highly recommend. We will be back!

Food is OK, good service. Wouldn't go back but my Mum likes ig.

Lovely cosy place to enjoy a good meal at a reasonable price. Friendly and efficient service. Never disappointed.

The food was great the cocktails were amazing and the DJ made it an excellent atmosphere highly recommend it definitely going again won't forget

Was really impressed with the quality of the food given the price, and they had a great selection of gluten-free options.

We love this restaurant, the service is always excellent, and food good and value for money. We had the Christmas menu, and although good, wasn't great. A mark lost because the main course, while good, could and should have been great. Roast potatoes were soft, tasty but no crunch at all. And for us one pig in blanket was stingy. And lastly, the veg was delicious, wonderfully cooked. However, we didn't really enjoy mange tout, and chunks of Sweden as the choice of veg for a traditional Christmas roast. So no horror story, just not quite to our taste this time.

Went for a Christmas meal, very good as always

Loved the food have been a few times now very friendly

Visited with my elderly mum and son and daughter and my young grand daughter, staff were excellent and food was lovely and hot. Will be back again.

Absolutely fabulous meal, excellent value for money. Definately go back.🎅

Had a really lovely Christmas meal with my wife and eight of our friends, I would most definitely recommend

Food was fantastic, best brulee i have eaten

Christmas dinner pretty average.

Lovely lunch, good sized portions, a nice place for a Sunday roast.

Had a good meal but it wasn't served hot enough for my liking . The place was heaving with Christmas parties so I chose not to ask for my meal to be reheated as the staff were so busy . The staff were doing a very good job under the circumstances. I would go back again .

Perfect. Problem with the fish but resolved so well. Lovely food, staff and atmosphere.

Lovely Christmas meal for our group. Thank you

Love this pub always made to feel welcome.

Great food, served hot, polite and helpful staff.

Fantastic Christmas Lunch and wonderful service. Had a great time.

Great atmosphere. We were with good company and the food was great tasting!! Anyone who hasn't been should at least try it.

Had a really fab Sunday roast here with a group of friends. The food was cooked perfectly and all of us were full. They have a great system for large groups so no need to worry about working out bills. Service was excellent. Really they should have only hit 4.5 stars because there was no cheesecake dessert option but as the coffee merengue was soooo lovely I’ve met them off ! Only one observation to note - it’s gets ridiculously warm in there so make sure you wear layers so you can peel them off !

Lovely food and really friendly, helpful staff.

Lovely atmosphere, friendly service and good food. I especially liked that the menu offered "Mains" and the same but a slightly smaller version called "Light bites" which was perfect for lunch. I would definitely recommend.

Great place, had lunch, really gorgeous flavours and the cake was devine! Definately recommend!

The food is very good, and the vegetables are all hot and do not show signs of being cooked by Chef Mike! My only real complaint is that the roast potatoes though nice?, have been left under heat and that you are unable to cut into them. Also I had the pork and the crackling is a tooth breaker!

Very busy pub that is clearly very popular, especially on a Sunday lunchtime! Wide menu choice, so having the Sunday roast beef was the most obvious way to go. The portions were good, for both the mains and the sides. A very pleasant meal, the food was good, but wouldn't describe it as a gastro pub experience. It certainly was not a bad experience and the staff were lovely. A solid 4/5 and very good value for money overall.

Excellent food. Slow to give the bill as change over of staff. Good value. Good choice for small appetite

Visited here for a family meal and have a fabulous meal. I had the peppercorn pork and ginger meringue. The food was very tasty and the service was great. It's a really good idea that most of the main courses can be ordered as a large or small portion. I found the restaurant itself a bit bare and cold.

Recommend the braised lamb chops- so tender!

Quite good value for money. Food was great quality with sensible portion sizes and good flavours. The place is quite open plan which may not appeal to all but noise level for a Saturday evening was quite low. Overall excellent experience.

Used to be our favourite place for lunch. Food is still excellent but the service yesterday was poor (busy Sunday). After arriving for lunch at 3pm, prebooked no one gave us a menu. After 15 mins I had to go to the bar and request it, could not catch the eye of staff. No one asked us "how was your meal" no water offered. Long wait again after finishing first course. Eventually a lady in a nice dress said would you like the dessert menu. We said "Yes" after which she disappeared, never to be seen again. After 15 mins I went to the bar again and requested the desert menu. Good vegan options!

Busy Sunday luncheon but good food and service at a reasonable cost

Went here though heavy traffic due to road closures but well worth it lovely welcome as soon as in door by a young lady so sorry we didn’t get your name my husband had the pork on the special menu I had Cajun chicken both very tasty and reasonably priced will return when this way again.

Lovely friendly place...Great menu choice for vegan vegetarian gluten free etc...we were there for a birthday celebration

Absolutely brilliant, nice decor, food wonderful,place was absolutely rammed with bookings at 12 o’clock.Roast pork with all the trimmings and a nice pint of cider what could be better 👍👍😊

We had a lovely lunch for my mums birthday. Great food.

We live in Spain and took my mother here and was excellent lovely service lovely hot food all good

Very nice place to eat, spacious and the small appetite version is cheaper but still substantial.

I had the the most lovely piece of lemon cake I have ever tasted together with a cup of tea. Will go there again.

I enjoyed my food , roast potatoes were crispy. A few others potatoes were under cooked . Think the swede needed cooking more . Pudding was lovely and another person , enjoyed their pudding too.

Amazing menu and lots of choice. Food was very tasty and there was an option of a smaller portion. Staff were very friendly and attentive. We will definitely be back.

Fabulous love eating at the Bear Cross

This a great pub for dining - with a variety of price options including a great selection of good value small plate meals. Very popular and very busy! Ya need to book! 😁

My wife and son are allergic to dairy but myself and my other son are not. We normally have to go to vegan restaurants or a normal restaurant but they only have a very small menu to choose from, but not at The Bear Cross pub! The dairy-free menu was massive and had proper dishes and not just poor substitutes. Some of the decor is a little tired, but that certainly didn't have any impact on the food. My wife had chicken with a (dairy free) creamy sauce and I had a steak pie. My boys both had more standard for kids options and chips. My son was delighted to have the dairy-free ice cream option instead of the usual sorbet. The portions were huge for all.

Great food, great value for money. Exceptional staff. Don't get here as often as we should but in all the years we have been in for a meal never had a bad experience.

We came for a hen do and the staff couldn't have been more helpful. Gave us our own tab numbers so there wasn't any messing around when paying. When our activity got moved, they very kindly gave us an alternative option. Couldn't have been kinder and gave us excellentservice. Food was very good.

Quality food,well presented.Helpful staff.Quick service

I stopped here whilst out cycling as I saw folks outside having breakfast. It looked so good I gave in to temptation and treated myself. So glad I did, it was amazing. I chose the Baby Bear, the smaller breakfast, it was still a very generous portion. All the food was cooked to perfection and very good quality too. Many places now try and get away with cheap sausages and fatty bacon... not here! Pot of tea for one was big too 🙂 Easily equal to two big mugs. I liked the way it was all presented when the food came to the table. Even the butter had it's own little dish, which provided somewhere to put the tea bag after brewing! Lovely building that feels a bit posh on the inside which adds a touch of class to the day. Well done to all the helpful and friendly staff.

Had a nice meet up with a friend. Good selection of cake, including gluten free to go with my coffee.

Lovely food at such good prices. Great managers and staff. One of the best for value and quality. Always feel comfortable

Amazing fresh food really tasty and good choice of food on the menu. Service was fantastic very quick and very attentive. Will definitely be coming back here again.