please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Made a mistake in my post from a few hours ago. I was drinking Jurassic Knob not Badger. First pint very good, on the next visit the pint much less so.
|
Popped in here a couple of times on a recent stay in Corfe Castle.
A very old pub with a garden that effectively backs right on the castle. From the outside, the pub looks quite large but the bar area itself is a bit 'cramped'.
On first visit, had a very good pint of Badger. Second visit the barrel must have been heading toward the end and not so good!
Food looked okay but didn't try any. Staff friendly and efficient.
Perfectly fine place but nothing really exceptional - also saw the licensee being rather abrupt with his staff which I never like to see.
|
Still does a real cider, Muddy Scamp. but not as good as the Lulworth Skipper they had last time I visited.
|
A very tasty dry real cider was on sale today, Lulworth Skipper (named after a rare butterfly species found nearby).
|
Refurbished since the last time I visited, doing a roaring lunchtime trade due to the steam gala. Food orientated, but prices of food & beer are very clearly geared towards the tourists. All ales were £4.00 - Ringwood Best, Otter Bitter and Bath Gem were on offer. Quite cramped as one dinner found out when a passing camera deposited his cone of kettle crisps all over the floor.
|
Beer and food in decline!!
|
Palmers Copper Ale and Doom Bar were on sale on Saturday but the beer garden was not the best in the village so we didn't stay.
|
Located on a junction with the main road and the town square, the bar is located in the centre with the lounge extending on both sides. There was a good selection of real ales including Palmer Copper Kettle that was rather expensive as was the food. Seating was comfortable and the lounge well laid out.
|
Three hand pumps but only one beer on, Black Sheep Bitter.
|
4pm pint. One other in pub. short fat lady behind bar eating chips. Licked her fingers clean then asked me what i would like! i should have said for her to wash her hands but i didnt. I asked "what time do you serve food till" then left. Returned a few days later was served by someone else. Grumpy! Beer was poor, far too cold. Doom Bar!
|
We found the food was pretty good. A seafood risotto was generously loaded with mussels and scallops as well as the usual white fish, prawns, etc and was really tasty. Good fish and chips too. Not cheap, mind. Three ales available; a shame one had to be the ubiquitous Doom Bar. Staff OK. But oh dear the decor is horrendous. Truly ghastly, and not even in a so-bad-it's-actually-good way. There was also no heating on an unseasonally chilly day. If they can only get the surroundings right and bring them up to the same standard as the food, they might deserve the strong trade they get by virtue of their location in a tourist trap.
|
Visited pub on a quiet Thusday. I have never seen this landlady who is in lots of the reviews but the barman was saying what a kind person she was and how well she treated her staff. I had a pint of Tornado steam engine beer and a generous portion of pork chops and chips. Barman said that people had complained about prices and staff being unfriendly but fish & chips were about the same price as they are in Swanage. I have been visiting pub for 40 years and managers and staff have come and gone. Present staff seem ok to me.
|
A pretty mediocre tourist trap I'm afraid
|
Busy pub in picturesque setting. Serves real ale and scrumpy. Food rather expensive. Normally friendly service. Possibly now under same management as the Bankes Hotel opposite. Pub kitchen not as good as National Trust Tea Room and Model Village.
|
what can be said about this pub...well let me start,firstly the decor it is without doubt an eyesore who in their right mind's would paint solid oak beams a putrid moss green????? which brings me swiftly onto the ahem landlady,what an odious creature she is,a bony wiry thing that wanders around in a self important way very unhelpful and when asked about the villages history she simply had no idea,a totally vile rude foreigner that has turned a quaint english village pub into a seedy looking bordello....the beer was average but so very over priced as was the food,it says that the food is locally sourced..from brakes????? all in all a very disapointing time was had in this pub the only saviour in this is its location,Corfe Castle is a jewel in this country of ours enjoy the village and its surroundings but my advice would be to steer well clear of this awful pub and its landlady!!!!!!!
|
It's a nice looking pub, the beer was good but the food was a little disappointing, despite an interesting menu, �9 for veg burger and chips was overpriced for what it was. I guess you're paying for the prime location near the castle, which makes it busy. Friendlier bar-staff at least would encourage more business.
|
Great Beer Great Food
|
we know Corfe Castle and it's pubs well - most spare weekends spent there in the last 10 yrs. The Greyhound, well, it may be the most photographed pub, but only because the castle is behind it. totally agree with 'imdownthepub' about the staff and food. Tend to give it a swerve now,as it's yet another pub rapidly turning into a creche......
|
Busy pub on the main square - outside seating at the front and a segmented garden at rear with great views of the castle and steam railway. Food a bit hit and miss - depends on what you order. Fish was good. Good selection of ales - Sharpes Doom Bar (seems to be taking over the world!!), Ringwood Best and Keltek Golden Harvest on my visit - all excellent!! Plus local Olivers cider. The first choice when in Corfe, if you can get a seat.
|
Ok pub - not all that friendly staff - average food and ale was a bit pricey. Ok but not special in any way.
odbod - 25 Aug 2010 15:31 |
Lady of the Lake on as one of four handpump ales - very nice pint. The food was good too. It was lovely sitting in the garden in the sunshine with great views of the castle. We would go back!
|
Fairly standard touristy pub, their catchline is - The most photographed pub in the country. Well prove it then, but it is a bit of a put off in my view. The lazy barman pulled both pints at the same time, just banging away at the pumps with each hand rather than easing it into the glasses, very poor, and then didn't know anything about the Festival they were holding at the weekend when asked. The garden is a treat though seating you right next to the Castle. Not great impressions about the pub though unfortunately and where we would have been nailed on for the Festival, now we won't bother.
|
Wife and I stayed in Corfe last week (Morton�s Hotel Fantastic!)
The Greyhound is by far the best pub in the village.
Great to see staff smiling, laughing, keen to serve. Always checking we were happy and if we needed anything else.
Happy to help with places to visit.
We only saw the landlady once, but there was a brunette flying round making sure all was running smoothly. Staff seemed to eagerly jump to her every instruction. Great to watch.
Beer �3:10, larger even more, sprits alot more.... But really not bad prices as we�re from West London.
We did have to wait awhile for our food Sunday lunch but brunette did approach us and explain that we hadn't been forgotten. So we didn't have to ask.
Obviously the kitchen is cooking 1 food order at a time (crazy)
We were asked to fill in a comment from (win a meal a month for a year)????? We were happy to do this but was it just a ploy to get our email?
Also told to take a look at their web site as they have a number of beer and food festivals. A little pushy on marketing side of things.
All and all a great pub! Great beer Garden!
We plan to go back.
|
Interesting village square pub with the castle ruins just outside the back door. I believe they have a haunted room.
Food was good although there was a delay between ordering and consuming.
Friendly staff who were more than happy to bring beers to the table.
Ok pint of Doombar.
|
Returned with family post Fox (see that entry) doom bar ok, excelant welcome, nicelyserved at bar but then... an hours wait for food. we only chose 5 starter dishes and only 4 turned up! Luckily we were in no hurry! Bigger groups around us waited even longer. Food was adequate. Nicely presented. Disappointing to see Brakes delivering - what is wrong with local suppliers? Or am I being unfair to Brakes? Would we go back? I wouldn't hurry. Sorry.
|
Twaites ok �2.80
Doom Bar - not sparkling taste wise �3.10!!!!!!!!!!
Tooooooooooooooo expensive
|
Popped my nose round the door the other evening. You can tell summer's now over because there were hardly any customers. A couple sitting at a table looking rather sadly into their plates of whatever. No-one who looked like a "local" and the atmosphere was somewhat akin to a down at the heel mortuary!!! Mind you, I'm not surprised that the locals don't go in there, what with the nutter landlady, overpriced ale and cider and a chef who looks as if he's he's been "decoking" a leaky motorcycle engine in kitchen whilst cooking the altogether disgusting concoctions he and the the unfortunate staff describe as "delicious food cooked by Andy". Anyway, I decided not to stay and my mates and I went to look at the other 'pubs again in the village, including the Bankes Arms and Fox - which I have been a bit negative about in previous reports. Must say, however, that theyr'e much improved which is more than I can say about the the poor old Greyhound. At least there was laughter, good conversation and enjoyment amongst the customers and the beer was actually good. Indeed, the beer at the Fox was 30p a pint cheaper than in the Greyhound. One day things might change for the better at the Greyhound, but I think the only way that will ever happen is when the landlady decides to call it a day, decides that the 'pub life is not for her and bogs off back to wherever she came from - obviously a place where real English 'pubs don't exist - and takes "Andy" ( her scrap car dismantler cum cook) with her because, unfortunately thanks to the EU, if he's still there the unfortunate successors will have to keep him on for at least 6 months during which time his standard of cooking and egregious demeanour will probably continue to destroy what is left of the goodwill of the business.
|
Has Westons Organic real cider & I have found staff friendly. They could make a slight effort and have a Dorset real cider rather than bring a fairly bland one from Herefordshire.
|
We ate here twice this week and really liked it. Walked through beer garden to have a our drinks on the bridge to the Castle as the sun went down. Found the food pretty good on the whole, though on the first night it took a while to arrive, and then my venison burger was missing the advertised chutney, but that was a minor quibble and the second night's meals were excellent. Didn't find it too expensive, but then we live in SW London so maybe we're used to overpaying. Will definitely go back next time we're in the area.
|
Tried it again after its poor showing in my last comments. No improvements at all. Stroppy little barmaid - strange lopsided hairstyle, but I suppose it takes all sorts. Expensive second rate food, landlady still running around like chicken without head. Elderly barmaid who was the only light in the darkness (Not sure, but she did have the air of having been a pub landlady) - was this lady brought in to show how it should be done? Anyway, this pub really is AWWWWWFULLLLL!!! and I don't think I'll visit again. Does the landlady (I don't think there's a landlord) of this establishment ever look at pub reviews? If she doesn't , she ought to. But, maybe she doesn't care though. After all, this 'pub is in a tourist trap and, let's face it, if you don't like it you can lump it - there're plenty more tourists to take your place. Maybe mor people should read the postings and stay away - that might just improve things. Lastly, praise for the young lad with holes in his ears and the middle aged (landlady-type) barmaid previously mentioned - they were welcoming and efficient, unlike the rest of this pretty grim highly photographed pub (the castle's behind it so of course its photographed).
|
Like Chick I was the victim of the "suit yourself" beer festival. Arrived just after 8pm on the bank holiday Monday to be told it had just closed because it had started raining. Lightweights. GIven the choice of Doom Bar or Doom Bar, I instead took my custom to the eccentric delights of the Fox.
|
Nice looking pub in a lovely setting with decent beer, stroppy staff & expensive food. I was going to eat there but when I saw the tiny portions for �9+ at lunch time I went to the shop and got a snack instead. Do pub companies think that if they have pubs in a tourist area they don't need to try too hard? They must put their most incompetent managers in them as they think people will go there anyway. Sloppy.
ofrex - 27 May 2009 23:47 |
Went to the beer festival at lunchtime on the first day - it didn't start til 6pm but there was no indication of that on the posters. The chap I took to be the landlord seemed to take it as a personal affront when I asked when it opened. He just said it would open when it was ready to open and I had to get the information inside from a barmaid. Hostile atmosphere from some staff - seem to dislike tourists which is unfortunate with them being slap bang in the middle of a tourist area.
chick - 27 May 2009 23:31 |
Not at all impressed by the service or the food. Beer was good though, if a little overpriced - but that's pretty usual in this part of Dorset and in Enterprise Inns or Punch Taverns pubs. It's supposed to be a pub but it's not really. No atmosphere and the staff seem keener on chatting to their friends or reading the paper on the other bar. Food overpriced for what it is. The landlady (I think she was anyway - South African or New Zealander) did not seem in control and kept chivvying her staff - she must be awful to work with. Locals were standing at the bar - as in most pubs - but far some reason the management have put eating tables right beside one part which seems to act as a corridor between one part of the bar and the other. I dont like looking at people's backsides or being in a thoroughfare when trying to eat! Landlady very brusque and unhelpful, or blaming staff when things went wrong. When we arrived, there was noone serving behind the bar and no-one around to take any order. One local said this was usual. Really understaffed. This is a pub in a busy tourist trap. We checked out the prices of food and decided to go elsewhere in the end after having a couple of pints. How a family with kids can afford them if theyre on holiday I don't know. Anyway, we eventually arrived at a small pub along the main road - The Castle Inn - I think. What a difference!! We returned there several times. Sorry Greyhound, you lost out there. Its all very wel,l being "the most photographed pub in Britain", but my I, my wife and family aren't interested in that - we just want good drink, good food (it doesn't have to be an attempt at Le Manoir de Quatre Saisons as your management and chef try but fail miserably to do), good genuinely friendly service with bon viveur, comfort, good conversation, no ubiquitous wall hung silent TV (what's the point?), and an atmosphere which gives a welcoming feeling and not one similar to the checkouts at Tesco. Could do better, as teachers used to say on school reports.
|
Well 'Behindbars' I said I WAS local in my posts didn't I! ...And The Greyhound is a good pub, or I would hardly keep going back there for drinking and/or eating - now would I?
|
Interesting reading piratecaptain's comments about the venison casserole caught in Arne. I did not realise that casserole was one of God's creatures put on the earth for all to enjoy. Maybe he was talking about catching chlamydia from a dogging site which was in Arne. Who Knows ? I once caught a Sabre Tooth tiger in Epping Forest, but did i brag about it ? no !!!
(the bugger was a bit of a handful, i must admit)
All I can say piratecaptain, or is it Captain Pugwash is that you must be local, or you must work there.
|
I have recentely checked out this website and to be quite honest i cannot believe that an owner of an establishment would put a glowing review of their pub. i was there last week and the food and service was dire and on reflection, The pub looked shabby and tired from the onset (first impressions last) It seems to me that the staff and locals are trying to praise this place when it is just another boozer which has something to look at beyond the scenery. Try the Sandford instead !!! Better food at lower prices and a better class of service
|
Well worth a visit - AGAIN...
some pubs really go that extra mile... and this one certainly does.
We had a great meal, good service, new menu, reduced prices and great value for money...
I was quite surprised to read a few critical reviews, however, Since my last visit, the kitchen has had a shake up and this is definitley a pub worth visiting.
Looking forward to the sausage festival 1111
jacci - 25 Feb 2009 17:49 |
Fantastic!
We had to post a comment.
We booked at the Greyhound with a party of 6.
When we arrived the table was laid and looked terrific!
The waitress made us feel at home and gave us the wine list. We orderd the Fleurie Ropiteau, a delicious red wine and by the end of the night we had got completey carried away drinking three bottles. We were offerd water too.... perfect!
FOOD...
I'm finding it very hard to find the words to discribe the wonderful food. Worthy of the short wait, obviously freshly prepared, hot plates = hot food.
Rare Rib Eye Steak 10/10
Slow Braised Sholder of lamb 11/10
Overn Roasted Butternut Squash 10/10
Purbeck Pheasant Breast 10/10
Jameson's Whisky Chicken 9/10
Homemade Salmon and Handdock Fish Cakes 10/10
Highly recommended!!!!
|
Fantastic!
We had to post a comment.
We booked at the Greyhound with a party of 6.
When we arrived the table was laid and looked almost reasonable. Unfortunatetly we were on the wrong planet and altered our course for the planet Zog. It was much better there and we had a ball.
Beam me up Scotty!
|
I recently ate the vension casserole which was caught in Arne, not far from here (this was excellent) and tonight the Sausages and mash, which, much to my surprise, was not the run-of-the-mill usual sausages & mash, but a lovely meal with roast veg as well and a gorgeous mash too. Fantastic! I'm coming back here, as I do - as I'm local and it's good!
|
When around and about, it is the done thing to just find a place to eat and take a chance. My friend summed up both our opinions of the food when he commented that there are places in London with awards who couldn't serve up food as nice as this. The atmosphere is friendly, the staff willing to share talk and a selection of drinks that, while not the largest I've seen, are certainl tuned to have something to please all but the most picky. The place certainly has a homely but quirky personality that sits well with me. If there was one thing that irked me, it was that the seating has a lack of leg room in places ... but ... if I'm in the area again, this pub will be top of my list.
|
I'm fairly local to this pub and I'm rather astonished at the number of bad reviews - have they gone to a different pub?! I eat there now and again and it's always very good; that's not to say things never go wrong, but when (on the odd occasion) they do, it's always been put right to my complete satisfaction. Tasty beers and lovely ciders too! Live music is good there and there's always a good atmosphere - which is why I keep going back. I'd recommend it to a visitor every time. And in fact, quite often do.
|
Never have I had such a laugh as when I dropped into the greyhound inn at Corfe Castle last Monday night
I discovered the �quiz and curry night�- a strange combination yet one which certainly works.
Thrown out are the normal loving quiz arrangements and instead a much more impromptu question and answer session took place with answers being shouted out!!!!!
The banter and good natural arguing made the night, with much laughter from all the participants......
Now the food, it was lovely my husband had the curry and a pint which was lovely and good value, I had the mussels which were so good I needed to order more bread to soak the sauce they were cooked in, overall a really inviting and comfortable pub, food and service was fantastic, staff smiling, prompt to serve and professional..............
|
We visited The Greyhound Last weekend,As a frequent pub goer,we were very impressed by the standard of food and service in this very busy establishment. Our party consisted of twelve, we all ordered specials and one or two items off the main menu. The lamb, Beef and Chicken dishes were really fantastice, so I HONESTLY CANNOT COMPLAIN.The bar had three award winning real Ales, even the 2008 Champion Beer Of Britain, Altons Pride. Sometimes we find with pubs like this, that during summer holidays and bank holidays, the sheere quantity of orders that small pubs have to deal with in tourist hot spots can have an effect on the whole visit.
For me, hats off to the team and keep up the good work..
Jack Cleevedale
jacci - 10 Sep 2008 18:04 |
Appalling
Possibly the least rewarding visit to a pub EVER the food is dreadful the exciting menu descriptions don�t bare any resemblance the deep fried rubbish you will be presented with.
Totally over priced. To add to this the decor is stark and unfriendly and the staff are unprofessional. Don�t both with this place it�s a hole in every respect.
I note with amusement this is the second damning review of the food centred around the �Platter of Sausages�
|
Recently visited the pub which I've been to many times over the years & ordered 2 meals. I ordered the so-called Platter, with a trio of sausages -but what came out was nothing close to a platter! A square plate with about 9 chips & only 2 sausages which were badly cooked & full of fat trapped inside the skins! A pathetic meal for well over 8 quid. My partner ordered a Thai curry which didn't taste remotely Thai! Even a cheap Thai paste would have been better! Their claim on their website about food being their passion is a joke! I don't know what happened to the 'watchful eye' of head chef Andy Watts on this occasion???
I would normally complain but we were both tired from a long journey! Only redeeming feature is the beautiful view of historic castle!
|
My friends and I visited this beautiful pub while in the area on a weekend break.
The visit was spoiled when we were treating really badly by one particular member of staff who tried to charge us 40p per glass of tap water and then proceeded to state that if I didn't like it I could go drink from the bathroom. Later on my friends asked another member of staff for a glass of tap water and when we asked her what the charge was, she insisted there was no charge.
It might just be the case that there is one rude member of staff and I would recommend some staff training.
However I will not be recommending this pub nor will I go there again.
What a shame as it is a lovely pub. Message to the pubs management: pull your socks up, your client's deserve better treatment!
|
Mainly a family pub during the summer holidays but attracts the ounger (i.e. under 50) crowd out of season. Lovely views from garden. Food is OK
|
Didn't eat at this pub - luckily reading the other reviews - but went to the beer festival over the May bank holiday weekend. It was sunny (gasp!) and we sat outside drinking some of the tasty local beers on offer. It was a bit busy at times but the two barmaids coped well and with good grace. Would recommend the beerfest but can't comment on usual run of the pub. It's in a lovely position with Corfe Castle in the background. Worth a trip, if you're in the area, for the setting alone.
|
Not so much a pub as a (overpriced) restaurant.
|
Couldn't agree more. The service at this pub is a disgrace. My girlfriend and I waited over an hour and a half for our food to be told they were out of stock.
We complained about the appalling eating conditions we had to dine in (another story altogether... lets just say home fireworks, children, smoke and ash in your food is their ideal of appropriate dining) and was abused and embarrassed by the manager in front of an entire crowd.
Will never return...
Meanwhile the pub across the road was really nice.
|
This Pub is disappointing - the staff need training in customer care and product knowledge - the kitchen brigade should get their act together and produce and send out completed orders together instead of over seven minute period as was the case with our table of three.
VERY EXPENSIVE - AVOID
|
WHAT A RIP OFF - POOR SERVICE AND SLOW DELIVERY
We went to the Greyhound on Boxing day as it looked so inviting.
We got inside and found a table then went to the bar to order a drink and some lunch. the girl behind the bar took or money then started to serve someone else. when we asked if we could be served our drinks now she said 'oh yeah!'. The glass of wine was fine, but apparently the beer we'd ordered would be brought over when the barrel had been changed. This never happened and after three trips to the bar we were offered another beer - the barmaid didn't know what it was but apparently from the same brewery....
The food took a while to arrive, but eventually two of the three meals we'd ordered came. The fish and chips came with a few of yesterday's roast potatoes and some raw chips.
When we asked about the third dish (mussels) we were told they were on their way. They eventually arrived when the other two meals were finished (always a nice touch)- a small portion, not the large portion we'd paid for and rather than apologising the waiter said the kitchen was just really busy. The side salad came after even the mussels had been finished.Lucky i wanted salad for dessert..
The three dishes were each north of ten pounds. We don't mind paying this amount if the food and service warrant it. Sadly at the greyhound neither were up to scratch by a mile
|
if you are Thinking of going to this pub think again as there is a better pub just a cross the road with friendly staff and a very Qualified chef which knows what he is doing and 2 friendly mangers so i think you go to the Banks Arms Hotel so
|
Great friendly pub with excellent food and wine choice would highly recommend it to anyone in the area.
|
Went there with my bike club. Nice little quirky pub right next to the castle. The beer garden has the best view you could wish for. There was a beer festival whilst we were there & there were more than enough beers to sample for us.
|
Check out the Raspberry Bottled Beer!
Beautiful Pub
anonymous - 21 Jun 2006 13:02 |
Yeah, good choiuce for a really good pub lunch. We finishes a shprt walk in May and popped in, had a great selection of real ales , acouple of superb scrumpy cidersand possibly the best chicken pie I have eaten. My wife had a chefs special and she almost ate the plate.
keep it up, its working
see you back soon!!
anonymous - 27 May 2006 13:32 |
Visited this old pub in the height of winter. Loads of choices on the menu, settled for home made steak pie with Local Blue Vinney and mushrooms, cooked to perfection, Wife had the Asparagus and Wild mushroon rissotto, Good selection of ales and really friendly staff. Really good to see a pub thatis uses local fresh ingredients and no microwaves,
Brilliant will be back
anonymous - 9 Feb 2006 12:40 |
We had a wonderfull meal at The Greyhound, enjoyed a delicious sunday carvery, with vegetables cooked to perfection in wonderull sauces, cask Marquee award for real ales, very good affordable wine list. My partner had scallops whichwere superb. Top marks to the kitchen and the vbrilliant bar staff,
anonymous - 9 Feb 2006 12:38 |
nice food, friendly staff worth a visit
anonymous - 9 Sep 2005 14:10 |
Ok, had to shelter from the rain before catching the steam train back to Swanage so had one in the Greyhound, it being the only pub that was open, it seemed.
A good range of ales, like most pubs I went to on Purbeck, but the atmos was a bit odd, maybe it was the customers they had in, or something.
|
