The Stalbridge Arms, Sturminster Newton

An impressive Georgian house whose grounds have been diminished through the building of ghastly bungalows and a Murco garage, leaving only a small but tidy area of terrace garden at the back and a carpark at the side. The ground floor of the building has been knocked through to form a central bar counter with a dining room at one side, a bar at the back and a games room cum skittle alley - though it primarily hosts a pool table - on the other side. The décor is awful, a memorial to the worst atrocities of 1960s cultural vandalism, with brown wallpaper, boarded over chimney breasts and revolting carpets and tatty around the edges. There was no WiFi, but there was BT Sports. The locals were far from welcoming, while the barman was brusque. There was a lot of shouting going on, mostly between the barman’s wife and their teenage offspring. Basic pub food was available along with a reasonable looking Sunday roast. Two ales on, Doombar and Pride, both OK but not brilliant. I’d leave this one to the locals.