The Helyar Arms

Stayed at The Helyar Arms over the Easter weekend. The location/setting is lovely and quiet with nice countryside views. There is a large car park to the rear, although if you go out and return mid-afternoon, it does fill up. However, there is ample parking on the nearby street. We had lunch before checking into our room. The restaurant area is set out very well and it's very clean with nice decor. We had a Panini for lunch, they were lovely and fresh and tasty. When we checked into our room, we found it to be spotlessly clean and very bright. It was a front facing room, which had lovely views up the village street. We did find the walkway to the window side of the bed very tight. You had to shuffle sideways to get in. Also, when getting changed of an evening, we felt the room was quite cramped. The pillows on the bed were far too soft for our liking, I think this is the only place I have stayed in that use feather pillows! There was plenty of tea, coffee, and biscuits on the hospitality tray in the room along with bottled water. It would have been nice to have a couple of hot chocolate sachets there, too! The housekeeping throughout the building was very good, and all the staff were friendly, helpful, and efficient. All the food we received was good and cooked well, we do, however, have to question value for money where the steaks are concerned. The Ribeye steak was cooked to perfection, but all you got with it was a couple of scoops of gratin potatoes and some mixed leaves and peppers! For £27 I would have expected a portobello mushroom, grilled tomato, and onion rings as well. There were only 2 options of draft ale, and they were both amber beers, Otter and Butcombe. It would have been nice to have the option of a lighter Ale on draft. For an establishment with only a handful of rooms, at no point did the owners/managers introduce themselves to their paying guests. They seem to spend more time with the locals. It feels that their emphasis is more on the pub/food side of things rather than the B&B side of the business. "You only get one chance to make a good first impression," Although I have pointed out a few negative points, the positives far outweigh them, and we would definitely stay there again.

A lovely location and great looking pub. Sadly the food did not live up to the promise. In particular the pizza resembled a supermarket pizza - soggy with far too much tomato and cheese. There was supposed to be Duck and Spring onion but all I saw was a few small cubes of strange meat and small circles of green - no flavour except the overpowering cheese end tomato. Even the drizzle Hoisin couldn't save it. I can do better at home. The other meals were pretty average - which for the price (£13 each for pub grub) is unacceptable. Also average bottle of wine was £23.50! Didn't complain because we were with my elderly mother and she had said the recommendations locally were good. But when we got home she apologised!

I visited this restaurant last Sunday for lunch with my cousin and her husband who live in the village. It was quite honestly the best lunch I have had in a long time. My cousins had the lamb and I had the chicken. Both were superbly cooked and presented and not huge as in many other places. As a result, I was able to finish it all and have the wonderful ice-cream desert to follow. The meat and the ice-cream are sourced locally, which, to my mind, makes a lot a difference to the quality. The staff were very friendly, efficient and we were not kept waiting. The cook is clearly top notch. I will certainly want to visit this place the next time I am up and I cannot wait. Indeed, my cousins are regular diners here and can't praise it enough.

Great food great service great beer great atmosphere a lovely landlord and staff what more do you need Ignore the poor reviews in my opinion there is nothing they could do to improve on what they are doing . It’s a lovely cosy pub in a very nice village

Party of four adults. Great lamb Sunday roast with lovely sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Friendly, happy staff. Cleanest pub we’ve been in for years. Lovely buzzing atmosphere too! Definitely be back!

Our second stay here and did not disappoint. Friendly welcome, pleasant room with comfortable bed. Clean, big bathroom with good shower, for a country pub. Easy to communicate with before booking. Lovely dinner and nice breakfast, as chef away, continental style delivered to our room.

On my final tri-annual lunch at the Helyar Arms this year, we had the normal outstanding lunch and service. Harriet and Holly were consummate professionals … helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and kind to my 92 year old mum. We travel from Wimborne specifically for such a good experience. The food was terrific; the atmosphere welcoming; and the overall service outstanding. Thank you.

Absolutely recommended. Delightful old building, superb atmosphere, great choice of beer and wine, friendly hosts and stunning village location. Breakfast is superb but dinner is a disappointment. I had whole black bream with a mixture of leek and courgette; the bream was absolutely tiny and for £16 I expected more - there would be more fish on half an M & S fish finger. Overall though, very highly recommended for a walk in pint or overnight stay. The accommodation was clean and fresh, a great selection of tea, coffee, biscuits and FOC bottled water.

Attentive and friendly staff. Good food especially the blackcurrant sorbet. Comfortable bed. The only gripe is that the vegetarian breakfast was the same price as the meat one for the same meal without the meat.