Anvil Inn, Blandford Forum

Hall & Woodhouse has bought the Anvil Inn, Pimperne. The pub closed a year ago, and the brewery said the target opening date is Easter

The Anvil is a roadside thatched inn in a small village about 2 miles outside Blandford. The pub is right on the A354 and so is easy to find. It has a restaurant, single large bar and B&B accommodation. The decor is fairly plastic, modern but with fake beams and old farm implements fixed around the place to give it a "country" feel, and the entrance is not very welcoming. The pub clearly aims at the tourist trade as its food is very ordinary and its beer is 15-20% more expensive than other pubs nearby. I had a pint of Sixpenny Brewery's Old Original which was OK but not good enough to justify the high price. The staff were friendly enough though. OK to stop for lunch as it has a large car park and is easy to find, but I wouldn't bother coming out here just for a pint.