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Image posted by E TA
Submitted on Saturday, 8th May 2021
With picture contributions to 775 other pubs
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Detail Pages
Compasses Inn, Chicksgrove, Salisbury
Salisbury
SP3 6NB
Served areas
Compasses Inn
We are opening our doors again on Saturday, July 4th. We are very excited to welcome you back. We have been working… https://t.co/8rsUCFKMNO
11:16 AM Jul 1st 2020 from Instagram
Reviews of Compasses Inn (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Compasses Inn
Approached by single track lanes, I arrived here instantly thinking I would like it. The ancient thatched building looks really pretty and stepping inside revealed an L-shaped bar, carpeted at one end with a flagstone floor and an inglenook fireplace at the other end. Dried hops above the fireplace and bar help give a nice feel. There is a piano at the carpeted end with board games on it, whilst the stone walls have various agricultural instruments on them. To the rear is a small, but popular garden area overlooking fields with sheep.
As Ian before me has said, the focus here is very much on food. Each table was equipped with salt, pepper and flowers. For my lunchtime visit, I was the only non-diner. Listening to the barman, it may be different in the evening. Indeed, a beer and cider festival advertised for June 21st would suggest that there is a customer base here that likes to drink. Dog treats on the bar would also suggest that dogs are welcome. Although none were present.
To the front of the pub, there are some further picnic tables and benches. None of these were in use on a Thursday lunchtime. The car park is opposite, across the lane.
Butcombe Original is the regular cask ale here. A guest beer was Otter Oak IPA. A third handpull was in use for Cranborne Chase Medium Cider, with a fourth one unused. I opted for the cider and was charged £3.40 for a half. £6.80 for a pint is almost central London pricing and seemed a bit of a rip off to me, given this is simply a local cider produced not too far away in Dorset.
The Compasses is a fantastic looking pub, both inside and out. In terms of architecture and atmosphere, I really liked it. However, it seems that they do rely heavily on the food trade and perhaps they keep meal prices lower by marking up the beers and ciders. Either way, I did feel particularly ripped off. Whilst it was nice to see a real cider, the beer selection also appeared to be a little limited. Why were there no Wiltshire beers? Most other pubs I visited stocked at least one from the county. So, what could easily have been the highlight of a day in Wiltshire ended up falling a little short.
On 20th June 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3204 recommendations about 3202 pubs]
Ian Mapp left this review about Compasses Inn
You've really got to want to get there. Single track roads, grass growing up the middle and a number of blind bends greet you from the main road. But it is worth it. A number of benches outside and inside the thatched cottages, its low ceilings and a very traditional farm house feel.
Everyone is here for food - with good home made produce. Two ales on - Butcombe and a never seen before Doonicans from Nuttycombe brewery.
Opens at 6pm on midweek evenings.
On 11th September 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1655 recommendations about 1632 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Compasses Inn
A quaint village pub in a thatched cottage with 13thCentury roots. It's reached down a series of narrow country lanes, but is nonetheless popular and if you want to eat, you probably need to book beforehand. There is a lawned seating area and a few benches by the door at the front, and there is a muddy, rutted carpark opposite which is problematic for low-slung sports cars in places. At the back is a lager lawned garden, part of which is currently under a large marquee and has been floored with gravel. Inside, there is a single bar which is made from 2 knocked-through rooms. The floor is irregular, stone one side, carpeted the other. There is an inglenook fireplace, plenty of structural timbers on display, and a low ceiling - all very atmospheric and cosy. Food is pub grub plus, not cheap but priced about right for the area and good quality - I had freshly cooked fish and chips, which was well presented and thoroughly enjoyable. Ales on were Otter Amber, Keystone and Butcombe; my pint of Otter was in excellent condition. They also do B&B. A superb village pub which, if it weren't so remote, I'd visit more often.
On 11th May 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3581 recommendations about 3545 pubs]
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- Official site of the Compasses Inn, contains menu and wine list - www.thecompassesinn.com
- Facebook - Compasses Inn
- Twitter - Compasses Inn
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Compasses Inn - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : Yes last updated 11 May 2021 by E TA
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 08 May 2021 by E TA
- Beer Festivals : Yes last updated 20 June 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 08 May 2021 by E TA
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 08 May 2021 by E TA
- Car Park : Yes last updated 08 May 2021 by E TA
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 08 May 2021 by E TA
- Darts : No last updated 20 June 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 08 May 2021 by E TA
- Function Room : No last updated 11 May 2021 by E TA
- Hot Food : Yes - Anglo-Asian. - last updated 11 September 2024 by Tris C
- Jukebox : No last updated 08 May 2021 by E TA
- Karaoke : No last updated 08 May 2021 by E TA
- Live Music : Yes last updated 11 May 2021 by E TA
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 20 June 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Micropub : No last updated 08 May 2021 by E TA
- Pinball : No last updated 08 May 2021 by E TA
- Pool Table : No last updated 11 May 2021 by E TA
- Quiz Night : Yes - Last Monday of the month - last updated 11 May 2021 by E TA
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 12 September 2013 by David McNally
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 11 September 2024 by Tris C
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 08 May 2021 by E TA
- WiFi : Yes last updated 20 June 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
