Very pleasant atmosphere, very warm and welcoming staff. Great food…read more Starters we ate the scallops and black pudding scotch egg. Delicious.

great pub ,extensive menu, excellent range of beers, situated in alovely quiet part of dorsetread more

What a hidden gem of a pub, recently reopened after many years. It has been fully refurbished with…read moretouches of rustic wood and is a very comfortable, warm pub with a lively atmosphere, down a Dorset lane. All home cooked food, quickly prepared and brought to your table. There is a menu of light meals but more substantial offerings are on a blackboard above the bar, such as: roast pork with vegetables, Boeuf Bourguignon with vegetables or cauli/broccoli cheese crumble with/without new potatoes to name a few. There's also a special puddings menu. Delicious coffee is served with Pringle type mint chocolates. Prices are very reasonable. Upstairs is a complete surprise, with lots of comfy chairs and books to browse. This floor leads onto a large decked, roofed area which would be ideal in the summer of a leisurely evening drink. The loos are great too! Well behaved dogs allowed and are even given a few chews as a reward. Highly recommended.

The Square and Compass is such a gem if you're looking for an authentic pub experience in the…read moreEnglish countryside! The views alone are worth the visit, but the unique character of the place makes it even better. From the beer garden in the back to the small museum of fossils and local artifacts, it really has a one-of-a-kind charm. One thing I loved was the quirky "Woodhenge" sculpture in the parking lot--made from tree trunks, it's been standing since 2015 despite the local council initially wanting it taken down. It's still there as of my recent visit, and it's a fun little sight that adds even more personality to the place. The menu is limited, but that's part of the charm! I had the sausage roll, and it was sooo good! The warm, flaky crust and flavorful sausage made for the perfect pub snack. We sat inside since it was a warm day, and the locals couldn't have been friendlier. My friend and I (a pair of Americans) were welcomed like old friends, which made the whole experience even more special. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area--especially if you want to enjoy the local history, great beer, and a fantastic countryside view.

A couple of friends and I once went for a hike along the South West Coast Path in Dorset. It took…read moreus a couple of hours and was really nice: good weather, beautiful sea views, rolling pastures, and a great pub at the end. That pub turned out to be the Square and Compass. When we arrived it was warm and sunny, and most people were sitting on the dozens of outside tables, rocks, or just on the grass, enoying the sunshine. Oddly, a large number of chickens were strolling through the assembled patrons, but no one - drinker nor chicken - seemed to mind. There was a band playing some Beatles covers, too, though they finished shortly after we arrived. This is a proper country pub, long, low and very old wood and stone. They keep kegs of real ale and cider in a pump room here, so you order at the hatch. Check the Dinosaur Room while you're there. I won't say any more, since it deserves to be a surprise. I can't imagine a more relaxed, laid-back, country pub. The only downside was that although we'd planned to take a local bus back to Swanage, where our car was parked, those services don't run on Sundays. The day was so nice we decided to walk back anyway (along the road, though, a much shorter trip than the coastal path). EDIT: I was back again today, and despite the weather being crap - or maybe because of it - this pub was even better. We walked down to the ocean, to watch the surf pound the cliffs by the old quarry. We wedged into one of the tiny rooms and ate pasties and drank Ringwood ale. We gazed in wonder at the bizarre little fossil-and-beach-item museum at the back.

The food was amazing!! Best food I've had in England thus far!! At first I was skeptical bc of the…read moreno-waitress style but once the food came it was amazing!

This is a great little English country pub. The welcome is friendly, the food is imaginative and…read morewell cooked whilst the beer is cold and refreshing. What more could you ask for?

I've never been to The Half Moon before so I didn't have any expectations. I learnt from the…read morelandlord that the place had changed manager three times over the last three years and he was hoping to break that trend. He's brought a new team of chefs in with him, so I'm told. Those chefs certainly seem to be earning their money as they turned out excellent gastro pub style food. Not quite fine dining but not far off. Looking at the menu I could have chosen any of the starters or mains. I went for the goats cheese "mousse" for starters and fish from the specials board for mains. The portion of goats cheese I had was very generous (some places only give you a small amount because of cost I guess) although I felt it was a bit heavy to be a mousse. It was really nice all the same. The fish was perfectly cooked and the pommes anna was a perfect accompaniment. The pub's decor probably didn't quite match the quality of the food and I think some people will be surprised how good the food it. The was a really good range on the menu from unusual items (I'd never had samphire before) to regular items such as burgers and fish and chips. I'd definitely return and have already recommended it to friends. Check it out yelpers.

A great place to eat just outside of Taunton. I've been on an evening as well as on a Sunday for…read morelunch. They seem to be good for families, although I don't have kids and nor do I particularly like them.. So that's probably a negative for me. The evening menu was great, quite pubby with the fish and chips, burger and steak, but they threw in some nicer things like scallops with cauliflower and bacon, plaice with caper butter and something else that I didn't order... It's not too pricey, so well worth a trip if you're in Somerset. As for Sunday, it was refreshing to see a pub that actually knows what a decent Sunday lunch is. It had non-standard veg going on, like beetroot and spinach. The potatoes weren't greasy and old like we're all used to in pubs. The yorkies were awesome too. I'll go again for sure.

I love this place. The food is fantastic and the place is very clean. They also use local produce…read more It gets very busy so I recommend that you book first.

If you're looking for a place to go and have an atmosphere and great service at an amazing price…read morehere you are!! We came from America and we continue to come every night because we know the food will be amazing, and the service even better! If you go you have to make sure you get the most amazing and attentive and sweet waitress ever Jaz! And Nick's food will just melt in your mouth. 100,000,000% will recommend to anyone who will listen. Go eat here!! you won't regret it I promise you.

We were recomended to come here so we gave it a go. Lovely pub from the outside. Very pretty on the…read moreinside too. The dining area is very spacious. The staff was super friendly and service was good. Not rushed. The food was very very tasty. Portions are quite big so a main meal is probably enough. It looks like everything is homemade.....certainly the steak and ale pie! For an animal lover the best part is also to be greated by the pub cat Smokey: super friendly and full of cuddles

Driving along the main road my partner noticed a sign for The Smugglers Inn. We decided it was time…read morefor a drink. A short drive down a country lane to Osmington Mills brought us to this 13th Century hostelry. 'Pay and display' car park (reimbursed by the Inn if you spend an equivalent amount or more) and a short downhill steps leading to the entrance. If you are over 5ft 9in then remember bend because, as the sign says 'duck or grouse'. Nice selection of real ales and the usual libations. Plenty of seating inside and, even more outside. Great, friendly, service but it does get crowded on those wonderful sunny Dorset days. Food looked really good and appetising at a very reasonable cost. If you are in the area a definite visit.

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/13/13903/Smugglers_Inn/Osmington_Mills…read more The name gives this attractive pub - nestled in the rolling hills, literally a stone's throw from the sea - a frisson of outlaw-danger. Out in the wilds of Dorset, it's easy to imagine the nocturnal nefarious behaviour of yesteryear. Still, the pub's worth the drive to, and there's the opportunity of a coastal walk along the cliffs too, to build up an appetite for lunch over a couple of glasses.

Stopped in to The Greyhound after visiting Corfe Castle. My son and I needed some energy before…read morehiking back to the vacation home we were letting. It's a cozy pub with indoor and outdoor seating in the back garden. Food is good and they have a kids menu with plenty of options. I had the caprese panini with a pickled salad that was excellent. Paired well with the local cider as well. Service was quick and friendly. I'd go back if I was in the area.

On the square in the middle of Corfe village is this great, old, pub. Full of fantastic real ales…read moreand normal beers. Good food and very friendly,fast, service. If you are lucky, and the weather is fine, wander through the bars to the rear of this hostelry to their magnificent open patio area at the back for good views, while supping, of the castle. After a few pints you will be wondering how the hell those knights, in their heavy armour, ever managed to scale the hill lol. Great pub with a great view of the castle.