please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Touring the country regularly, Dorset is my favourite county for pubs. But this visit was largely disappointing, until I reached the Kings Arms. Finally a pub that offered a warm welcome with friendly staff and customers. It was quiet on our Saturday afternoon visit, with only a couple of customers and a few staff. Sharp's Doom Bar is the regular ale. The 3 changing ales were Cerne Abbas Ale, Palmer's Copper & Cotleigh New Harvest. After two dry pubs for real cider, I also hit lucky with Dorset Orchards First Press. This is everything that a good village pub should be.
|
This pub is now called The Lime Tree and we called last week for lunch and it was superb. Very friendly and cheerful staff, very good value excellent quality food and a selection of real ales. We can thoroughly recommend this pub and will definitely be back.
|
We enjoyed a lovely lunchtime meal here and appreciated the friendly welcome. Excellent well kept Exmoor Gold so didn't try the others on offer. Wiil go back.
|
Pub been re-named, extended and refurbished sympathetically since my last review. Beer quality still tops. Always a good choice and regularly changed. A regular port of call for us out cycling. Staff always pleasant and locals friendly. Had a Sunday lunch with family recently, (plated) meals of good value and quality. Restaurant could do with some soft furnishings or more wall-coverings to keep reflected noise down though, and it did feel a little over-crowded. (minor complaints) Will continue to visit as will friends.
|
Quite amusing mistake on the website where it states " Formally 'The Kings Arms' "!
Come on A & A!
It's "FORMERLY"!
|
Lovely country village pub, a heart-warming welcome from the staff. A good selection of local beers available. The garden is pleasant with a view of the village and a recently added play area for children. The skittle alley is a lovely old building and regularly used. There is a nice food menu with a good range of choice at reasonable prices (takeaway too). The Sunday Lunch is often at a reduced rate and is good value (maybe slightly bigger portions, would be a good idea to ensure a return when full price).
The dreaded TV is long gone, thank goodness! The atmosphere in the pub is friendly, but something is missing..... It is such a shame that the beautiful old beams have been painted over and the d�cor is sparse, to give a more homely and traditional feel I think a bit of warmth is needed, maybe an open fire and some warmer colours injected into the bar area.
All in all this is a typical village pub, friendly and traditional with good food and drink at reasonable prices, definitely worth a drive to Thornford.
|
Very excellent village pub well worth its entry in the 2012 Good Beer Guide. We had Butcombe Bitter but Yeovil ales were also available (3 pumps in use). The bar is pleasant fresh and airy with a lsightly modern feel to it (not all beams and brasses) while there is a separate dining area next door. Very friendly licensees so we stayed for a second pint!! Food menu looked interesting but we had to move on so another visit beckons to try their cooking.
We had a local friend drive us to the pub butt you can get to the village by train so that might be the option next time. Well worth a visit.
|
Ann and Andy have built a great atmosphere pub since taking over the Kings Arms. The key to their success both with locals and visitors is their natural hospitality which is shown the moment a guest walks in. The beer - there is always a great choice of real ales (usually at least 4) and a selection for lager drinkers. The beer is kept very well, support being extended to smaller regional breweries from around the country. Ann's cooking and service is superb. Excellent fish and chips, ham off the bone, super free range eggs (sometimes duck eggs). The food is generally very good, wholesome and plenty of it. Skittle alley is well used but sited a little way from the bar so the noise level is never intrusive.
All in all Ann & Andy run a great pub; they deserve the success they are enjoying. And I -in common with others - enjoy my visits to the Kings Arms greatly!
|
Congratulations to Andy and Ann, they are in the 2012 Good Beer Guide.
|
I agree with the last two posts, particularly the TV comment!
Andy and Ann were very welcoming and chatted to us while we had a drink.
We also tried the food, and I'm pleased to report that we both chose the beer-battered cod, etc., and Ann proceeded to pour some beer to make the batter, then we heard sounds of battery(?), and shortly thereafter we were presented with large fillets with chips & so on.
I can honestly say I have never had such excellent fish and chips other than that supplied by my grandmother in my father's fish and chip shop!
They are obviously happy here, and I can see in the future that this will be a venue pub, not just for food, but for beer-drinkers too. I had Otter, which is the standard ale here, but there were two other choices.
Keep an eye on this pub. It's going to get really popular!
|
Andy the tough looking landlord is a real nice bloke and his wife Ann charming. Quality ales superbly looked after and a loyal local clientele. Hidden Brewery went belly-up so now ales can be from Yeovil or Otter ((I would guess that is liable to change as this is actually a free house now although it is part of the Digby Estate) Garden areas now looking really nice. Sizable skittle alley and several local regular teams. Only thing I don't like is the TV in the bar. Not needed, not wanted! Can get busy and all being well the pub is to be extended; see what happens when you look after a pub and your patrons? All power to them; they deserve the success and I'll drink to that.
|
As you enter this pleasant local village pub you are greeted by either the landlord Andrew or the landlady Ann.
The varied range of guest ales are selected with much care in order to give the customer a range of tastes from all parts of the country.
A good range of food is freshly prepared, and served in either the Bar or the Restaurant.
There is a well organised and livley skittles league during the winter months.
There is also a livley and diverse customer range, so conversation and "discussions" are always welcome.
|
Not only does Andrew supply a wide variety of local and not so local ales, all perfectly stored and served with a warm and friendly attitude (he is a northener after all), but Ann serves up a good range of food from various regions of the country as well as Continental and Far Eastern fayre.
Skittles and Quiz evenings are popular with both local and visiting customers.
|
Recently (Oct 2007) taken over by the Hidden Brewery. nicely and simply re-furbished (freshly painted)....light airy bar, wooden floor, straight-forward bar furniture.
Hidden Quest 4.3% very good until it ran out...replacement not quite ready, suggests a beer ordering process not quite in line with increasing demand yet.
Food this past Sunday lunch-time was only average.
A good start since the re-opening though, further improvements can make this into a very good, thriving local....worth the drive over from N of Yeovil.
|
A small village pub wellused by locals
anonymous - 15 Feb 2004 11:34 |
