The Benett Arms, Shaftesbury

A wonderful 17th Century village pub, refurbished a few years ago and well described by Quinno, below. The bar is comfortable and cosy, the staff very welcoming, the customers a friendly mix of locals and ale fans. Food is freshly cooked and is a mix of standard dishes and seasonal specials. The pub has won several CAMRA awards. Always 3 ales on draft, this visit saw beers from Yeovil, Ringwood and Keystone, all in excellent condition. There was also a cider on offer. Well worth seeking out for food and ale.

Unusual looking edifice, with interesting windows and built in an attractive light-coloured stone. It’s down some steps to enter, past some books and music for sale as well as all the local literature on the right. This enters onto the main bar which is quite dark and atmospheric. Décor of exposed brick, flagstone floor and inglenook fire with wood burning stove. Unusual sight in the corner of a bearded mannequin presumably dressed up as a jolly farmer, holding aloft a goblet and surrounded by soft toy farmyard animals. To the left up some steps are two further rooms, a small semi-lounge and rather more spartan dining area which seems rather cut-off from the atmosphere of the pub. Three ales available from the unusual semi-circular bar, all local (two Sixpenny Brewery and Ringwood Best). My Sixpenny Addlestone was in good nick. Pickled eggs at the bar for 50p, barmaid remembered to offer crisps as an additional extra. Some notable outside features include a boules pitch and a lovely grassed drinking area over the road with church views. Got chatting to a local outside who was welcoming. The barmaid also popped out to take a photo of our coach “we always say that there must be a coach-load of people turning up when it gets busy but this is the first time we’ve ever actually had one!” All-in-all, pretty good and it’s worth a detour to check out.