Bridport Arms, Bridport

I was the last to review and it looks like the place had closed down in between the 8 years of my visit. I remember nothing of my last visit, so obviously left no lasting memory. Very much open now - may have been a recent refit, as scaffold still present and the main signs not yet put back in place. Twin thatched cottages - with hotel rooms. Quite dark inside, with a central "meeting" desk proclaiming this was card only and to wait to be seated. We only popped in for a drink and the same observations as last time.... how much! A pint of 200 and half a cider was north of £9. Spent my entire visit trying to determine a) where the cask mark certificate might be and b) how much was my pint. My last review left a depressing indication.

Facebook page of Bridport Arms - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Bridport Arms - www.facebook.com

Great location - dog friendly and a lovely wood burner down the bottom part of the pub. Palmers range on but was surprised at the prices - £4.15 for the 200. This seemed expensive to me.

This large thatched inn backing onto the beach was unsurprisingly busy on our August bank holiday weekend visit, mainly with families. It has several rooms, with the bar in the middle, and nautical pictures on the walls. Some framed old banknotes and a display case of coins are next to the side entrance, which leads to a small patio area. By a slightly cruel trick of geography, the front of the pub and the patio both mainly overlook the car park which separates the pub from the harbour, and none of the pub areas seem to offer beach views or access. The five hand pumps between them serve Palmers’ Copper Ale and Best, a tad disappointing as I’d expect a pub of this size to provide a wider range, and a tad expensive at £3.70 for a Best. Service was quite enthusiastic and efficient, however, despite the business of the place. Food is served all day, with various menus including Sunday, afternoons, dinner, and the seafood specials board. A Sunday roast costs £11.95. This pub does its thing well at this time of year – catering to the tourist masses – though I think like the other pubs in West Bay this makes it a less comfortable place to go for a drink.