Ashley Cross

Ashley Cross - Poole's Vibrant Urban Village

Nestled in the heart of Poole, Ashley Cross is a dynamic urban hub and a true hidden gem. This charming neighbourhood boasts a vibrant and diverse dining scene, positioning it as a food lover's paradise where culinary delights truly come to life. With its thriving social scene and charming village-like atmosphere, Ashley Cross offers a unique appeal that makes it a year-round destination, perfect for those seeking dining, nightlife, and community events regardless of the season.

Discover & Indulge

Culinary Delights

Ashley Cross is a culinary paradise, offering a vibrant and diverse dining scene with an impressive range of international cuisines. You can explore everything from Pan-Asian delights, such as those found at Drgnfly, to authentic Italian, Indian, and Thai flavours. For those seeking lighter or healthier options, there are establishments focused on nourishing fare.

Beyond full-service restaurants, the area also features delicatessens offering gourmet produce and specialty items, alongside delightful patisseries and bakeries perfect for sweet treats and freshly baked goods. Numerous inviting coffee shops provide the ideal spot for a caffeine fix or a relaxed break.

Social Hub & Nightlife

Ashley Cross is renowned for its many bars and pubs that fuel its thriving social scene. You'll find an abundance of entertainment options, ensuring you'll never be bored. The area offers a variety of venues, from laid-back cafes that transform into lively cocktail bars, such as The Dancing Moose known for its creative concoctions and great music, to traditional pubs offering an array of ever-changing real ales and live music, like The Bermuda Triangle with its unique "secret bar hidden behind a bookcase". You might also discover all-day dining spots like Flamingo Café Bar, situated by the Green with an al fresco decked area. Many spots host daily or weekly specials, including hearty breakfast options, bottomless brunches, and themed food nights, ensuring there's always something exciting happening.

Green Spaces & Recreation

Ashley Cross Green is a central feature, highlighted as a beloved 3-acre public park and an urban village green setting with a continental vibe. Key features include its Victorian fountain and pétanque pitches and a children's play area. It is licensed for outdoor events and serves as a backdrop to numerous events throughout the year including the ever-popular 'Grooves on the Green', underscoring its role as a vibrant community hub.

Nearby, Poole Park offers another significant green oasis. It spans 110 acres of gardens, lakes, trails, and woods to explore, providing a wide range of activities such as tennis, crazy golf, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, rowing, and children's playgrounds. The presence of a waterside restaurant and ice cream parlour within Poole Park also adds to its appeal.

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Shopping & Local Businesses

This lively neighbourhood is brimming with boutique shops, trendy bistros, fashionable bars, and inviting coffee shops. While Ashley Cross itself is home to a diverse range of local businesses, the nearby Ashley Road serves as a main commercial thoroughfare in Upper Parkstone, offering a wider array of shops including larger supermarkets like Waitrose and Morrisons. Commercial Road, on the other hand, is the main artery through Ashley Cross, providing convenient access to its vibrant heart.

For those seeking unique finds, the newly opened Finisterre store offers outdoor clothing and accessories. You can also explore WN Interiors & Shop, a design studio and homeware store situated in a charming historic building just off the green, offering carefully chosen homewares and interior design support. For extreme sports enthusiasts, Surface2Air Sports is a premier destination, specialising in equipment for activities like kitesurfing and paddleboarding, with a physical store located on Station Road.

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Practical Information for Visitors

Accessibility & Transport

• Parking: Visitors to Ashley Cross have several parking options, including free street parking and chargeable parking. The Commercial Road car park on Curzon Road is conveniently located and offers 2 hours parking for £1.70.
• Public Transport: Ashley Cross is well-served by an extensive network of bus routes, including M1, M2, N1, 401, 416, 419, 441, 449, 736, 20, 418, and 443. Parkstone railway station, located in Lower Parkstone near Parkstone Park, is on the South West Main Line, providing train access to the area.[19, 17]

Historical & Community Insights

Ashley Cross's history is rooted in its origins as part of Lower Parkstone, which originally encompassed areas like Lilliput and Sandbanks. Much of Upper Parkstone, including Ashley Cross, developed during the Victorian era, characterised by shops along Ashley Road and houses in adjacent roads.

The "Upper Parkstone Estate" from 1831 led to the evolution of "Alexandra Park" (now Ashley Cross Green) as a public open space between 1885 and 1915. A unique historical detail includes the presence of older "cottage-style dwellings" known as "Lady Wimborne" houses, yellow-brick cottages with steep gables built by the Canford Estate. The area fosters a rich tapestry of community life created by its diverse range of residents.