The Ibberton, Blandford Forum

This traditional country pub sits on the main junction in a farming hamlet. It's well off the beaten track and easy to miss unless you know it's there as it looks like any other village house from the main road. There is a large car park at the rear and a very small covered terrace for smokers by the main door. It appears to be mainly from the seventeenth Century, with thick oak doors and original architectural features. The public rooms consist of the bar, an anteroom and a larger dining room. The bar has old flagstones, exposed brickwork and is dominated by a large inglenook with a more modern woodburner in. The anteroom and dining room have heavy duty carpets and a mix of plastered and wood panelled walls. Tables are laid for dining, a level above pub snacks but reasonably priced. The staff are a bit stand-offish but the locals are friendly enough, and dogs are welcome. There are some interesting wines on offer, and two ales on draft. I had a pint of Palmer's Copper Ale which was in reasonably good condition. It's quaint, and it's a bit too remote to include in a crawl but I'd be happy to come back for a quiet pint or a pleasant meal.