The Woodpecker, Blandford Forum

Appealing roadside pub in a small village attracting both local residents and the passing trade. Partly opened-out at some stage to leave the main seating / dining area by the entrance, a central bar area and further small seating area beyond - all refurbished in a slightly more modern style than one might expect. Also has picnic tables along the frontage (which must be noisy from the traffic) and to one side. Four handpumps on the counter, offering Flack's Double Drop, Butcombe Union, Summer Lightning and Sixpenny IPA (£1.80, half).

Located on the busy A350, this is a classic roadside pub, formerly known as the Drax Arms, after a local family whose large estate is just a short drive away. Following a short period of closure, the pub has reinvented itself as a friendly freehouse called The Woodpecker. The pub has a single room layout, but with three clearly defined areas running from left to right. You enter into a nice seating area with a fireplace acting as a focal point on one wall and a decent amount of seating. There is a bar billiards table in the front corner and a few other traditional pub games and board games can be found stacked nearby. From here you pass into the main bar area with the servery running along the back wall with some banquette and standard seating opposite in a nice, cosy area. Moving into the right hand part of the pub, there is a dedicated seating area in a small raised section with limited space. I usually head out for a Sunday roast whenever I'm back in Dorset with my family so I've sampled a good many from pubs across the county, but the roast we enjoyed here surpassed just about all those that have preceded it and at £9 is pretty good value for money too. The staff seemed like a really friendly bunch, encouraging us to return on a Friday or Saturday evening, when they ensure us a good crowd is guaranteed, although there were plenty in enjoying their lunches during our stay. In summer months, a sizeable outdoor area is available including benches with large umbrellas which were handy to shelter under before making our way back to the car. The pub won the East Dorset CAMRA Rural Pub of the Year award earlier this year, and four relatively local ales were available at the bar to back this up. The options on our visit were Butcombe Gold, Palmers Dorset Gold, Hop Back Summer Lightning and Flack Manor Double Drop. I tried the Palmers and Hop Back beers and found both were in excellent condition. A selection of CAMRA literature was available in the window sills of the first two sections of the pub. This is a really great village pub and well worth a look whether you live locally or are just passing by. I thought the place was very welcoming and that there was a nice ambiance, despite the predominance of diners during our visit, and I will do my best to make a return visit sooner rather than later.

Formerly The Drax Arms, after a local family of that name, The Woodpecker is now the only pub remaining in Spetisbury. It's an early Victorian building, the two front bars having been knocked into a single large, yet still cosy room. It is mostly carpeted and has a mix of furniture which makes it feel homely. It's been refurbished in a modern style, though the dried hops around the walls give a nod to old traditions and a country pub air, while the coffee machine and bar billiard table form an unlikely alliance. There is a small seating area at the front, but being on a main road it is very noisy. There is a car park at the back. Clean, well-behaved dogs and children are tolerated, while the staff and locals are all very welcoming. There were 4 ales on - Flack's Double Drop was in excellent condition. This pub is well worth a visit and a good place to spend the evening or a lazy afternoon.