The Kings Arms

Popped in for a drink after a walk to Abbotsbury & back, my husband went to the bar & ordered a pint & a half of Peroni, when tasting mine, it was clearly cider not Peroni, I tried husbands & yes mine was definitely cider. I popped back into the bar to get it changed & was informed by a really rude staff member, the one who poured the original drinks, that it couldn’t be cider & I was wrong! She did however pour another drink & plonked it in front of me, no apology, not another word said. Upon leaving the Kings Arms, I used the bathroom facilities & walked back through the bar area & low & behold, a cider tap is located right next to the Peroni tap! Kings Arms, shame on your staff member, everyone makes mistakes but I was made to feel like a liar in front of other customers & staff, I didn’t want something for nothing just the drink that was ordered!! Disgraceful.

We enjoyed a weekend away in this very pretty and unspoiled Dorset village nestled below the downs. Our room was one of three attached to the side of the pub up about half a dozen concrete steps. The room was quite spacious and generously furnished with a comfy king-sized bed, a couple of chairs and a small desk, as well as decent (free) wi-fi and tea/coffee making facilities. When we arrived, the room was a little chilly - apparently the pub had not received an expected gas delivery - but a small oil-filled radiator was quickly provided and the room was soon lovely and warm. Breakfasts are served in the Duck Farm Shop and Cafe just a few yards away and there is good menu featuring local ingredients. We ate in the busy pub both evenings, and the food was very good too. Both teams of staff in the Kings Arms and Ducks were helpful and friendly, and we would happily return.

Called in for Sunday lunch - we had had a decent meal at the Kings Arms about 18 months ago, and enjoyed it, but on this occasion the food was extremely poor ! The roast beef came up floating in a sea of tasteless, watery gravy - the parsnip and carrots were al-dente to the extent of being barely cooked at all - the roast potatoes were more like boiled, no colour or crunch. Overall, very disappointing and we won't be back for a third time !

Our stay was as expected. The accommodation was clean, tidy and well laid out. There was a kettle in the room and plenty of milk, Tea and coffee. Staff were very friendly and helpful. My only criticism is the lack of communication from the accommodation. I had phoned and left a message on the answerphone regarding a stay but I received no reply. I therefore phoned and spoke to a member of staff who booked our stay, took my card details and told me a confirmation email would be sent. I nevet received it. I then emailed again and asked for confirmation, I never received it.! I was e,expecting to turn up yo find we didn't have booking. I don't like that!

Have visited in the past and loved it. However this visit was not so good. We decided on the conservatory as it was windy. We waited a very long time for both drinks and food. Food was ok but choice limited (we had a fantastic ploughman’s here in the past but nothing like it was on offer today), and seemed expensive for what it was. I chose pork schnitzel which was ok, but the sauce was split so didn’t look very appetising. Part way through the meal the gardener started cutting down a hedge near the door with a mechanical cutter. To say the noise was horrendous would not be overplaying it. The noise reverberated in the conservatory like we were in a tin can. We were about to complain about the noise when another diner beat us to it. The server closed the door but it only reduced the noise a bit. I very rarely get headaches but was left with a real banger and ringing in my ears for some time. We would have liked to try a dessert and coffee but couldn’t get out quickly enough. To top it off when walking down the path the gardener had left one of his hedge trimmers sticking out of his wheelbarrow and I narrowly avoided walking into it. This had been one of our favourite pubs on the Jurassic coast, but sadly feel like we shall have to find a new one.

Had a great weekend at the Kings Arms in Portesham Dorset. It situated ideally for visiting local interests. Room was very comfortable and clean throughout. Restaurant was very good with reasonable priced meals and good choice of real ales. Will definitely visit again