The High Street, Castle Street and Church Street all meet outside of the
George Inn, needless perhaps to say Church Street is the road that runs
up to the Priory, you can't miss it, many of the oldest buildings in the
town are in this area. As you make your way to the Priory, you simply can
not visit Christchurch and not do so, you will pass some of the best places
to eat.
On the right hand side of the road at the junction with Wick Lane is CR's
a coffee shop, ice cream parlor and cafe'. Whilst you are here look a few
feet into Wick Lane, on the same side of the road as CR's and hidden in
the courtyard under the arch is the old bus terminus. On your left a little
further up Church Street one of the authors favorite Italian restaurants,
Pinocohio's, so full of atmosphere and on every visit only the best food.
You can not book and will often have to queue to get in but believe me
its worth the wait. Almost opposite is a newly opened Italian Delicatessen
providing a true taste of Italy for your lunch and supper.
Beyond Pinocohio's is the Soho Bar offering coffee, alcohol and food, an
up market continental restaurant. On the other side of the road, the Copper
Skillet, the building dating back to 1905, I can remember this restaurant
as a child, suppling good quality food for all the family it is the restaurant
of longevity and a good place to eat at any time of day. Next to Soho is
the Fish Works, if you like fish restaurants, and I certainly do, this
is one of 2 in the area that are exceptional, try it you will never find
better anywhere in the Country. The last restaurant is Splinters, again
an up market restaurant to which everyone has to pay a visit, the food
is superb and not to be missed. The last commercial premises before you
reach the Priory is Ye Old Eight Bells a gift shop that is full of jars of sweets, collectables, gifts, crafts
and haberdashery goods. The building dates back to 1450 and was until 1907
a pub popular with smugglers, now filled in a network of tunnels left the
pub reaching as far as Mudeford to aid the towns smugglers in their evasion
of the Excise who resided in Bridge Street.
The terminus mentioned above is visible beyond the entrance to private premises and is sometimes behind locked gates. Trolley buses ran between Christchurch and Bournemouth until 1936 when they were replaced by trams, I remember the trams and used them with my parents when I was a boy. The turn table is reported to be the only remaining original one in the Country and is complete and I understand in working order.
