Marquis of Lorne Inn, Bridport

Official site of Marquis of Lorne Inn - www.themarquisoflorne.co.uk

Official site of Marquis of Lorne Inn - www.themarquisoflorne.co.uk

History and layout are as described by Old Blue, below. There is a large car park, and there is a well-kept children’s play area at the side, plus a pleasant garden. This very pleasant village pub is popular with diners, many of whom brave the winding country lanes to come here. It’s a Palmer’s pub, so the beer range is limited – Bouncing Bomb, IPA and Dorset Gold, plus First Press cider, and of course the standard range of keg stuff. The ales were in very good condition, well kept and enjoyable. Food is good quality pub grub, plus few specials, all reasonably priced. Well worth seeking out for an enjoyable lunch, but it didn’t really have the feel of a village local due to the layout and lack of a villagers’ drinking space.

This 16th century farmhouse was converted to an inn in 1871. Some say the Marquis himself named it in connection with a land dispute; others that it was named after him as he’d just become the first subject to marry a daughter of Queen Victoria. A Palmers’ house, it offers Palmers Copper Ale, Best and 200 (a good one at £3.40). The stone frontage is quite wide, with a ‘bar entrance’ towards the right, inside which the bar takes up most of the middle of the building, and a separate door to ‘restaurant and accommodation’ towards the left. The restaurant abuts the side of the bar and there is a communicating doorway in front of it. It is very smartly presented throughout, though in a fairly simple way that makes it feel like a proper village pub despite its renowned restaurant...on which point, yes we did eat here, and the food was excellent. Service was very friendly and efficient. There is a garden to the front with picnic benches, and further seating and a children’s play area across the driveway. A sign announced 2nd September as the current proprietors’ first anniversary celebration, with a barbeque and live music from the Vinyl Monkeys. I liked them and their pub and hope they do well.