Why Poole Quay is Dorset's own "Saint-Tropez or Côte d'Azur"

But one area that often gets overlooked is Poole Quay. The Quay used to be a busy shipping port but since the 1970s it has become more of a visitor attraction.

Now it’s the birthplace of mullion-pound Sunseeker yachts, the Old Town, pubs, restaurants and giftshops.

Poole Quay is also home to Lord Baden-Powell’s sculpture, is the gateway to Brownsea Island and, of course, is a great place to go crabbing.

Nico Da Vinci, owner of Da Vinci’s Ristorante on the seafront, described what makes Poole Quay so great.

“Poole Quay is the go-to place in Dorset because we have lots of boats that people use on the weekend and it is a very traditional area. Lots of families come here.

“The beautiful thing is there have been quite a lot of changes which make Poole Quay an important place.

"During the summertime, it’s like being in Saint-Tropez or Côte d'Azur or Portofino. People come here to dine then have a walk on a lovely evening.

“Poole Quay hasn’t always had the recognition it deserves but since the lockdown more people have been coming here.”

Owner of Dorset Gifts Jamie Bothwell has been here for 22 years after leaving the police force in London and would not go anywhere else.

“You can look out on one of the biggest harbours in the world, you can have a beer whilst sitting along the edge of the sea.

“We’ve got a lot of listed buildings around here within such a small space. When you walk into the Old Town, it’s history. There is a lot of conservation. There are a lot of Grade II listed buildings, like my shop. There is just a really good vibe.

“I had a business taking American travel agents to the best places in the British Isles. And when I came home to my cottage just down the road, I always went for a drive down the Quay. When I looked out over the harbour, I’d look at it and think ‘this is as good as anything’. And that’s the truth.”

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Carl Smith, the landlord at Poole Arms, the Quay’s oldest pub dating back to 1635, the area is “full of good, independent pubs, restaurants and businesses.”

He added: “Most other seaside towns are filled up with chains, but the Quay is different. There are lots of events always happening, such as fireworks in the summer. Especially when the road is closed in the summer, there is a metropolitan feel to it.

“It doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, especially since the council merged to become BCP it’s always been about Bournemouth. A councillor asked last year ‘why would anyone want to come to Poole?’, well, people do come to Poole. If you want chains, you can go anywhere else in the country.”