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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Old Blue
Submitted on Sunday, 27th May 2012
With picture contributions to 265 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (4 more images)
Detail Pages
Sailors Return, Dorchester
Chaldon Herring
Postal town: Dorchester
DT2 8DN
Served areas
Reviews of Sailors Return (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Sailors Return
The Sailor's Return is situated in quite a remote area well off the main road.
The main bar is quite spacious, but beyond that the pub spreads out through a warren of different rooms and spaces used for diners.
We'd contemplated booking a table here to eat. But the menu looked a bit too adventurous for us, especially my 9 year old.
Palmer's Copper & Otter Ale are the beers here. I opted for a further guest beer, which was Cerne Abbas Blonde. Although I'd rather hoped that they might have a real cider on offer. The barmaid said that they cannot turn cider over during the winter months, so don't stock it.
Nice pub in a lovely location, but not all that I was hoping for.
On 13th December 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Blue left this review about Sailors Return
Delightful thatched pub in the middle of nowhere, cavernous interior with polished flagstone floors, maritime memorabilia and plenty of nooks and crannies. We weren’t quite sure what to expect here, having read that the previous owners were fined £6,000 earlier this year, after their 22-year-old barmaid-acting-manager failed to do anything about a serious mouse infestation. New owners have re-opened it, and seem to be doing a very good job.
On the drinks side, the three hand pumps are supplemented by two ales carried from the cellar, allowing five real ales to feature in their selection: Palmers Dorset Gold and Copper Ale, Ringwood Best and Fortyniner, and ‘Sailors Return Ale’ which is a Brains 3.4% brew. There were also five real ciders and perrys available from boxes behind the bar. Beer quality was good. We also ate here, and thought the food was excellent.
We very much liked this place: it was really welcoming and ticked almost all of our boxes. Would happily come here again
On 2nd June 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 271 recommendations about 270 pubs]
No known official website for this pub.
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Sailors Return - 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.
- Car Park : Yes last updated 13 December 2021 by Blue Scrumpy
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 13 December 2021 by Blue Scrumpy
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 13 December 2021 by Blue Scrumpy
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 02 June 2012 by hondo .
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 02 June 2012 by hondo .
- Real Cider : Yes - Summer only - last updated 13 December 2021 by Blue Scrumpy
