Ilchester Arms Hotel, Weymouth

Facebook page of Ilchester Arms Hotel - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Ilchester Arms Hotel - www.facebook.com

A former coaching inn with 16th Century roots. Entry to the car park at the rear is through the old equestrian gate at the side. The car park is gravel, slightly hazardous for motorcyclists. The garden is also gravel, has a few tables and chairs but otherwise is disappointingly dull and unkempt, much like the exterior of the pub itself. The main bar is Z-shaped, the bar counter at the centre. The two arms of the main bar have stone floors and structural timbers on display, and an original chimney breast, though the main source of warmth is a more modern gas fire. There are a few bar stools at the corner of the bar counter, while the front part of the bar is mainly laid to table for diners. There is a smaller dining area with a piano the other end of the bar, and there is a pleasant conservatory at the rear, again mainly used for dining. They offer home cooked pub grub at reasonable prices, including Sunday lunches. Most of the customers were grockles, including a group of 30 ramblers who came in thankfully just after we’d got our drinks. There were a couple of locals in, but one wonders if they will still come here when the other pub in the village, The Swan, reopens after its extensive refurbishment. No real ale, just three dry pumps on the bar as, apparently, they’d just run out and were waiting for a delivery. That left a choice between Neck Oil, Inch’s Cider, Guinness, Cruzcampo, Thatcher’s Gold, Amstel and Moretti. OK to drop in if passing, but not a destination of choice other than for accommodation.

Official site of Ilchester Arms Hotel - www.theilchesterarms.com

Official site of Ilchester Arms Hotel - www.theilchesterarms.com