please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Re-opened in 2020 and looks and feels like the hotel bar it is. My pint of Copper Street's 871 lost it's condition fairly quickly; didn't try the Piddle or the Otter Amber. Wine seemed to be the choice of drink here.
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Looks like it used to be an impressive building. But it's currently closed down and derelict. A ghost walk meets outside the entrance though!
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Stayed one night recently - very comfortable and clean with good service. One end of the bar now has comfy settees whilst the other end is set out for dining. Food was very good. Only one beer on hand pump available but it was fine. Car park at rear and in the centre of Dorchester. Would definitely stay here again.
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We stayed here over the past weekend, lovely hotel (well I would say that, they upgraded us without being asked!), very nice, polite staff. However, the beer, although excellent quality, was very pricey as was the food but as the Blue Raddle is only just round the corner I would definitely stay here again.
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As noted, unrecognisable from the GBG description. It is clearly
food-orientated, although I managed to find one table that wasn't set for dining. Two interesting ales were on offer. Can't complain about the service, although I was almost the only customer at that point. Elderly diners then began to filter in. Although this is the very opposite of a "rough pub", the atmosphere was stll offputtingly sepulchral. If the dark panelling
and "waiting for God" clientelle weren't enough, the piped
music included a rendition "Ave Maria".
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The Good Beer Guide listing for this place is a tad baffling. It is, as the name suggests, a hotel bar, with the traditional glacial service that seems to come with it. Tribute and two Palmers beers were available at the �3.30 mark, in addition to the standard lagers. There was nothing particularly offensive about this bar, but there's better in the area.
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Had the full range of Dorset Piddle beers. The hotel served them fine, but I found all 3 beers somewhat bland. However, a comfortable hotel bar.
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Correction to my review of 19 March - Dorset Gold is brewed by Palmers.
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Agree it is a hotel (part of the Best Western chain), and there is always the risk of the staff being the usual jobsworth-types that hotel chains seem to attract. However, the lad behind the bar was efficient and knew details about each of the four real ales on offer. There was 6X plus Ringwood Best, Dorset Brewing Co's Dorset Gold and, a real rarity down here, Highgate Irish Whiskey Ale. Had a pint of the last of those, and it was very acceptable.
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Now practically a hotel not really a pub at all. Totally non smoking throughout aswell as empty and devoid of all life.Very well decorated though.
anonymous - 14 Jan 2007 19:45 |
A bit smoky and unfriendly. Sadly I missed the decent ale - it was flat Bass when I visited.
anonymous - 30 Nov 2006 21:36 |
Have to disagree about the staff on this one. The place was packed with old fogies from the hotel eating so someone coming in just for a drink was very low priority. Got my order wrong but remembering two drinks can be quite difficult at times.
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This is an upmarket hotel bar with very friendly and attentive staff. They have a good selection of well kept bitters including, on my last visit, a wonderful Timothy Taylor Golden Best. Fully No Smoking throughout. Recommended for people wanting a quiet drink and chat in pleasant surroundings.
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