The Greyhound, Blandford Forum

Returning to this village pub for the first time in about five years, I was amazed to find the place completely unrecognisable from the cosy rural pub I remembered. The pub used to have a two floor layout, with an upstairs dining room which has now been lost. Instead, the ground floor area has roughly doubled in size, with the original bar area now comprising the restaurant and a lounge bar occupying the former cellar and backroom space. You enter into a new glass roofed porch from which you can turn left into the restaurant area which is comprised of two rooms. The first is a nice, self contained space with arguably the only remaining trace of the pub's former look. The second room seems to be more contrived, with plain walls covered with large mirrors which confuse the layout somewhat. The new lounge bar side of the pub has a simple servery to the left and lots of mixed seating including a fair amount of typical, comfy lounge chairs and sofas. A bloke was playing some jazz saxophone when we arrived on a Sunday lunchtime, providing a rather bland soundtrack to a rather bland room. The room extends to the rear where a bright, conservatory style space looks out over the beer garden which has also been extended as part of the refurbishment. The pub operates as a free house and is apparently run by a real ale fan, but there were just two ales available on this visit - St Austell Tribute and Flack Manor Double Drop. A real cider was also on handpull with the final pump remaining unclipped. I gave the Tribute a try and thought it was good enough for a second pint. Given that the pub has had such an ostentatious gastro makeover, it made sense to try the Sunday roast which we found very good, although a quick look at the specials board suggested that some dishes are pretty pricey. I know that some of the locals have stopped drinking here, feeling that the pub has lost all the warmth and character that define village pubs, pandering instead to day trippers looking for somewhere to eat. It's a sentiment I can empathise with, but that's not to say that the place doesn't have its good points, and you could certainly do a lot worse, but for me, rather than progress, this feels like a step in the wrong direction.

A large roadside pub which has been modernised and purged of all rural charm. There is a carpark at the rear, though to get to it was difficult due to an above-average number of morons blocking the narrow gravel path. There is also a large garden at the back which makes for a pleasant place to eat. Half the pub has been turned into a restaurant with some exposed brickwork – which may or may not be original – on display. The remainder forms a long lounge bar – green, carpeted and dull - reminiscent of the sort of place where one waits for flights in a regional airport. The muzak was also boring. Service was slow, but the staff were very friendly and pleasant to talk to. Four pumps on the bar, with three ales. I had a pint of Palmers Copper Ale which was in OK condition but possibly a little over-cooled. Free wifi was available. Try as I might I really couldn't bring myself to like this pub, but that doesn't mean there was anything wrong with it. It's fine for a pint or two, and although the general ambiance is that of a care home, it would be OK to stop for lunch if passing.