The Dorset Arms, Hartfield

The Dorset is a large 16th century farmhouse that is part of the Earl De La Warr’s Buckhurst Estate. The farmhouse became a pub in the 18th century and it now serves as a local pub, restaurant and hotel. My visit was late on a recent Saturday afternoon when I decided to walk up the right-hand side of the pub to have a look at the enormous rear garden that includes picnic tables and a large covered area with bar seating and a pizza oven. I walked back into the pub through the rear entrance where I got a bit lost as I stumbled through a couple of dining/function rooms on my way back to the front of the pub. The carpeted right-hand side with all tables set for dining was empty, but the smaller wooden floored bar area to the left had three or four older gents in who I took to be locals. Padded bench seating is found in the front left window and tables run up past a fireplace on the left-hand wall to a dartboard on the rear wall. The counter supports four hand pumps, but one was unused and the other three were all badged with Harvey’s Best. Premium and craft keg were available and this is the first pub where I’ve noted Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone lager being available on draught. The service was polite, but this is a very sedate dry led pub that I wouldn’t visit just for a drink again.