A PREMIUM pub offering your favourite dishes, done to an excellent standard and dished up with friendly service – what more could you ask for.

The Avocent, formerly known as The Cow, is situated in the heart of Ashley Cross in Poole and is based in a beautiful Victorian building.

My partner and I arrived at the perfect time on a sunny Friday evening, where the atmosphere was still building, and we were able to sneak in our first drinks.

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Not one for adventure, my partner opted for the classic mojito while I could not resist the Tropical Rum Spritz.

Garnished to perfection and filled to the brim, there were certainly no complaints with the drinks.

Next, we chose the sharing starter of baked camembert with roast garlic, rosemary, hot honey and warm sourdough.

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You may think, like me, that you have had camembert a hundred times before and that it surely cannot be that unique, but you would be wrong.  

The sourdough was warm and crisp, paired with the sweet and cheesy camembert, it was certainly the star of the show.

Despite the dish being intended to be a sharing starter, I would happily devour one alone as my main course.

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After that strong start we moved onto our mains, a scotch flat iron steak and the dry-aged double cheeseburger.

All I can say to prepare you for the cheeseburger is you better be hungry.

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Perhaps my eyes were a bit too big for my belly, but I gave it my best shot, with two large burger patties, plenty of American cheese, pickles, lettuce and smothered in burger sauce.

And when the waiter asked if I wanted to add bacon on top of the already mountain of a burger, I could not say no.

However, I did have a second drink to help wash it down, and the Bumbu Rum Punch was a treat in itself.

After our delicious meals we had to practically roll ourselves home, I think it may be impossible to leave The Avocet hungry.