The Olive Branch, Wimborne

Part of H&W idea to go all up market. Fails on every score with pretencious menu, customers who are mostly posers and completely over priced drinks and food. If this place were in Surrey it would be understandable - not so in a sleepy market town in East Dorset. Come here if you are a red faced boss trying to 'impress' your secretary. Avoid if you want good beer (well, fairly priced good beer - it's actually kept well), conversation and atmosphere. Nice big beer garden though so not all bad.

12 Aug 2011 10:55

The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers

All other reviews spot on. Cannot praise this place enough for staying true to its roots and not getting caught up in the frantic desire to be all things to all people. It sells beer straight from the barrel - always in great condition and generally at least three to try. Vast selection of different local ciders too. Popular with walkers, climbers and local campers during holiday periods. Regular live music too. Sometimes attracts a more bohemian clientele who may or may not have a vested interest in quiche or ethnic peace bicycle maintenance but don't let their large hair or colourful clothes put you off. And yes, there really are chickens roaming the garden and an on site fossil museum to browse while boozing. Ales last night included Copper and Dorset Gold (smashing) and one called Inntrigue (also delicious).

11 Aug 2011 09:12

The Battle Axes, Wraxall

Amazing! Visited on a Sunday after a heavy Saturday night. Fantastic staff (especially the girl behind the bar with the red coloured hair) who couldn't do enough for us - walked us all the way through the enormous pub to show us to the garden. Food was superb, large selection of well kept beers. We sat outside (to enable smoking of fags whilst reading the Sunday Times) and the waitresses came out four or five times to take our order, deliver the (excellent) food, see if everything was ok and then if we needed any more drinks! I was considering proposing to one of them at one point. Busy inside but every member of staff was smiling and helpful. Cannot recommend highly enough. Flatcappers - please renovate a pub near me!

10 Aug 2011 10:37