The Brewers Arms, Dorchester

A large village pub which has been opened out to form spacious, airy L-shaped bar with long restaurant area at one end. There is a gravel car park from which you enter the pub via a big garden with covered cabins down one side. There is an outside bar in the garden, though it wasn't open when we visited. The interior has an open fireplace, dartboard, a projector and screen, tiled floors and plenty of seating for diners and drinkers. The staff were helpful and friendly, the others customers were a mixed bag. There seemed to be almost as many dogs as humans, which is a good thing in many ways given the proliferation of grockles in this area; the only idiot on this occasion was one that managed to block the car park by failing properly to park its campervan. Ales were gravity fed from barrels on the bar. Salcombe Seahorse had just gone off, leaving Drumloop from Exmoor and Palmer's Copper, both in very good condition. There was a bank of the usual mega stuff including Guinness, Staropramen and Thatcher's plus one or two I didn't note. There was also a cocktail fountain on the bar. Food was good standard pub grub, and it was certainly popular with locals, families and a large group of elderly revellers. It's not too far from the A35 so worth dropping if you're passing that way.

Quite a large pub in the village of Martinstown. From the car park, you pass through a small outdoor area with heated huts. But this wasn't the weather to try those! Inside, we were greeted warmly by the staff and fellow customers also seemed friendly. Considering the pub was about to shut for the afternoon at 3pm shortly after our arrival, I was expecting staff to be a little peturbed. But far from it. Real ales are served by gravity from casks. Palmer's Copper is the regular ale. Guests were Copper Street 871 & Exmoor Exile Wicked Wolf. I was slightly concerned that the 871 cask was well tipped and presumably nearing the end of the barrel. Nevertheless, my fears were soon allayed when I was offered a sample. It was in good condition. So I ordered a half. Food is clearly a big draw for customers here. But there is still a good mix of drinkers and diners. Probably the best pub we visited in Dorset on this visit.

Official site of The Brewers Arms, contains menu - www.thebrewersarms.com

Official site of The Brewers Arms, contains menu - www.thebrewersarms.com