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on the Pub Forum
Image posted by E TA
Submitted on Sunday, 30th June 2019
With picture contributions to 769 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Rivers Arms, Dorchester
Cheselbourne
Postal town: Dorchester
DT2 7NW
Served areas
Reviews of The Rivers Arms (Average Rating: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Rivers Arms
The Rivers Arms is situated in the quite large village of Cheselbourne, but is the only pub in the village. We arrived to another pub that looked shut. A sign outside said that they didn't open until 5:30 on a Saturday, but everything we'd looked at online had said midday. We tried the door, to find that locked too. Although a young girl was playing in the front conservatory.
A quick call didn't help, as it went to voicemail. So we headed off towards Dorchester hoping to return much later in the day. As it happened, my wife also sent them a message and received a quick reply before we'd got too far down the lane. They were indeed open and had somehow forgotten to unlock the door.
The landlord was most apologetic and welcomed us in. We proceeded to the cosy bar with a roaring fire. The real ale on was Fine Tuned Langport Bitter and was enjoyable. Real cider is no longer served.
Chatting to the landlord, it turned out that he was originally from North London and had taken on the pub fairly recently. He was very friendly and chatty. We didn't get chance to explore the lounge bar, but I wish the present owners every success. Hopefully you will find the door unlocked when you visit!
On 6th March 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Rivers Arms
This unusual village pub was closed for 10 years while previous owners tried repeatedly – and thankfully failed – to get planning permission to turn it into housing. The site is on a slope which provides excellent views over the neighbouring countryside. At the top of the slope are some chalet-style huts for B&B as well as limited parking. There is more parking on the road level at the front. You enter the pub through a convservatory, then into the ground floor bar which is cosy and has a rustic feel. There is a lounge area upstairs which has a woodburner and leads to a timber covered terrace. It’s all new, the current owners having taken the opportunity completely to reorganise the interior which had been gutted in preparation for conversion. The food is freshly cooked, interesting and ranges from baguettes to Sunday roasts and curries. Two ales on, Yeovil Stargazer and Old Golden Hen, in very good condition. An excellent base for a break in rural Dorset which is off the beaten track and largely grockle-free.
On 5th July 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3516 recommendations about 3480 pubs]
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- Official site of The Rivers Arms - theriversarms.co.uk
- Facebook - SAVED The Rivers Arms
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Rivers Arms - whatpub.com
Dorchester South, 8.15 miles, 2 hr 37 min walk (show)
Dorchester West, 8.46 miles, 2 hr 43 min walk (show)
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 16 March 2019 by E TA
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 01 July 2019 by E TA
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 01 July 2019 by E TA
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 03 June 2019 by Alan Hurdle
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 01 July 2019 by E TA
- Car Park : Yes last updated 03 June 2019 by Alan Hurdle
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 03 June 2019 by Alan Hurdle
- Darts : Yes last updated 01 July 2019 by E TA
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 01 July 2019 by E TA
- Function Room : No last updated 01 July 2019 by E TA
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 16 March 2019 by E TA
- Jukebox : No last updated 01 July 2019 by E TA
- Karaoke : No last updated 01 July 2019 by E TA
- Live Music : No last updated 01 July 2019 by E TA
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 01 July 2019 by E TA
- Micropub : No last updated 16 March 2019 by E TA
- Pinball : No last updated 01 July 2019 by E TA
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 03 June 2019 by Alan Hurdle
- Real Cider : No last updated 06 March 2023 by Blue Scrumpy
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 16 March 2019 by E TA
