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Half Moon Hotel, Sherborne
Sherborne
DT9 3LN
Pub Type
Traditional Food (Marstons)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Half Moon Hotel
A very solid looking exterior with fine stonework around the leaded glass windows,this is a town centre hotel with a guest entrance under the arch to the courtyard and car park while a side door gives access to the ground floor pub,which is a popular drinking venue in town.The bar is immediately infront of this side entrance and is made from chests of medicine drawers,most unusual.Along the front windows are two raised sections with worn carpets but a pleasant lived in vibe,the two fireplaces add interest.There is more seating away from the bar ,while around the corner is a large lower dining area below a vast mirror ,this area feels more corporate but non resident can come in for breakfast from 8am.All tables are numbered ,so you can eat anywhere from a standard chain pub grub menu,although good value daily specials with mains around £6 are available Mon -Fri.Flatscreens were tuned to sport but at nominal volume.
Tied to Marstons so expect ale choice from their portfolio of breweries with ,on my Friday evening visit,Ringwood Filly Drift (decent shape),Brakspears Oxford Gold,Wychwood Hobgoblin and Pedigree which felt like a safe but unexciting choice of ales.However the lively drinking atmosphere made up for that,it's a decent pub for a pint.
On 16th November 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brew Guru left this review about Half Moon Hotel
Not a lot has changed over the year, still a solid enough respectable pub. They had a Jennings Christmas beer (Red Breast) from the Marstons stable alongside the Ringwood Best
On 29th January 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 116 recommendations about 101 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Half Moon Hotel
Just across the road from Sherborne Abbey, this is a large Marstons pub and hotel built from the same attractive local stone as the surrounding buildings. Entering through the front door, you find yourself in the large, carpeted main bar, with a tiled walkway leading you towards the servery which is on the rear wall. There is a raised seating area under the front windows with some high tables and stools closer to the bar and décor is mostly old photos and paintings including some local scenes. The servery is done in dark wood and the front of the bar counter comprises a series of small drawers, some of which I unsuccessfully tried to open. Down the right hand side, the room extends towards the rear, into an area primarily set up for dining. A partly carpeted space with a few comfortable seating options opens into a spacious wooden floored space reminiscent of a dancefloor, with a few tables and high backed pews dotted around and raised seating areas towards the rear. There are lots of large, plain mirrors in this room, more old pictures and some huge barrels and other such vessels perched on a high shelf above the middle of the room. A cabinet on the left hand wall housed a display of wine bottles and whilst the pub had a bit of a chain feel to it, there were enough touches to give it some individuality. A fairly cheap, yet extensive menu offered decent pub grub and we all tried various snacks and sandwiches which were nice enough but incurred long waiting times on a modestly busy post-Christmas afternoon.
I was pleased to see Ringwood Porter on the bar when I arrived and was looking forward to a pint of this rarely seen brew only for the dregs to splutter out when the barmaid tried to pour a pint, resulting in a turned pump clip and a rethink on what to drink. The only other ale options were Marstons Pedigree and Wychwood Bah Humbug, so I gave the latter a try and thought it was decent enough, if a bit thin.
I'm not too familiar with the pubs of Sherborne, but I would say that this is worth a punt if you're after some cheap food and unadventurous ale. They could probably do a lot more to make this place a real winner, but as it stands, I thought it was safe enough and could see me making a return visit.
On 4th February 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Half Moon Hotel
Large Marstons Inn in brewers' Tudor style combining strong food trade with local regulars. Feels more like a city/large town pub than one you would find in Sherborne, but not unpleasant. Furnished to typical Marstons levels and typical food and beer offering: nothing to complain about while not being exceptional.
On 28th July 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BobOs . left this review about Half Moon Hotel
Pretty uninspiring pub. The beer and the food are average while the bar staff, who always appear to be more interested in chatting between themselves than serving customers, are well below average. For much better food try the Raj Poot next door and for much better atmosphere, staff and ales go to the Plume of Feathers a few doors down.
On 10th July 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about Half Moon Hotel
After reading the previous write up and a visit many years ago, we weren't expecting too much. However, we were pleasantly surprised that it had 3 ales on tp and although we had to wait a while as the barman was busy serving up all concoctions of drinks for various young girls, service was as good as could be expected in a busy pub. The ale we had was in good condition. A wide variety of age groups seemed to mix well in here with the restaurant part of this large pub being busy. This is the Marstons equivalent of a Wetherspoons Wetherlodge with enuite accommodation being available which is with noting if travelling by train.
On 20th June 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Half Moon Hotel
The Half Moon is a large pub/restaurant in the centre of the historic bit of Sherborne whose clientele appears to be mainly tourists and those who need refreshment after the ardours of visiting the Abbey. It´s a rather boring Marston´s house which offers uninspiring food and poorly kept beer. Teh staff appear to lack any enthusiasm, while the decor is becoming tired. Its atmosphere is as inspiring as the eponymous satellite. The pub lets down the otherwise quaint town centre, and I would suggest walking a few minutes further to either the Digby Tap or White Horse if what you want is a decent pint and somethign to eat which hasn't just escaped from the microwave. I would not include in a crawl as it currently stands.
On 28th October 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3285 recommendations about 3250 pubs]