The Anchor, Seatown

Given its location in splendid isolation next to a huge capsite this pub could be crap and still make loads of money! Fortunately it isn't.
The food and service are always excellent and the beer well kept.
The decor is dire and considering the turnover of the pub is an apalling abuse by Palmers the owners.
The best time to go is late season when all of the fair weather chalet owners have disappeared. You can sit in front of a log fire and eat the freshest seafood, then go for a walk along the beach and watch all the mad fisherman who never seem to catch anything but fresh air and a nice view.

25 Sep 2011 19:10

The Crown Inn, Puncknowle

This pub is a bit of a paradox. If you steel yourself to see beyond the haughty double act behind the bar who think anyone not living in the village is unworthy you can actually have a very good meal. This is their loss because not many locals seem to use the pub either.
The kitchen and table staff are always pleasant and attentive and the food is always excellent and worth the slightly higher price.
Regrettably like many of the other reviewers we will often arrrive on a Friday night at the camp site next door and walk 2 miles in the dark to the White Horse at Litton Cheney for a bit of civil service.
Very sad.

25 Sep 2011 19:01

White Horse Inn, Litton Cheney

Don't be put off by the drab exterior.
The staff and the locals are always friendly. The food is good value, creative and always very tasty. The beer is superbly kept.
We will visit again and again.
Thank you

25 Sep 2011 18:42

The Poole Arms, Poole

If you like fresh fish (rarely anything else on the menu) and don't want to spend a fortune (which you can in Poole) this is always an excellent place to eat.
We have always been well fed, well watered and politely treated.
A good honest pub in a world of plastic clones.
Well done.

25 Sep 2011 18:37

Fox Inn, Ansty

Very disapointing considering the many reviews we had read.
Firstly, having secured a table in the restaurant we had to pay for our drinks at the bar in advance and were not trusted to add them to the bill.
Despite boasts of seasonal produce and a specials board neither were in evidence. The menu for the month was presented on a laminated sheet of paper, the only hint of variation being the 'pie of the day'. Three attempts eventually identified the main ingredient of said pie as beef. The remainder of the 'imaginative menu' (their words, not mine) was straight from the early eighties.
Lost for inspiration I ordered the pie and was duly presented with the ultimate cullinary sin, a frozen puff pastry slice on top of a stew. The pastry had shared no relationship with the contents of the 'pie' during the cooking process and was not even cooked through properly. We didn't stop for puds.
Shame, this used to be a pub of legend to which people would gleefully travel from afar and happily queue to be fed.

25 Sep 2011 18:07