Mad Dogs, Sherborne

Official site of Mad Dogs - mymaddogs.co.uk

Official site of Mad Dogs - mymaddogs.co.uk

Originally a school built in 1745, The Britannia has recently been renovated and is now an hotel with a restaurant and public bar. It's trying to be all things but not quite hitting the mark. There is a courtyard at the back which has a small garden area, a restaurant which appears to have escaped from 1977 and a bar whose odd flooring and purple back lighting behind the counter make it feel like the foyer of a Hamburg brothel. Staff were very welcoming, and water was provided for dogs. There are high chairs available for children in the restaurant, but the uncomfortable bar seating makes it unlikely families will enjoy being in there. Three ales on, Spitfire, Doombar and Courage Best, all quite flat and past their best. Fine for B&B and I'd include on a crawl, but it's not somewhere I'd go for its beer.

Stone-built town pub with a large stone-flagged bar to the left and a room laid up as a Thai restaurant to the right. fairly plainly furnished but pleasant enough although lacking something. Handpumps included Bombardier, Youngs and a seasonal Marstons brew, which seemed in fair order. Could be a very good pub with a few improvements.