West Dorset: Hostelries feature in Good Pub Guide (From Thisisdorset)

West Dorset: Hostelries feature in Good Pub Guide

4:00pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in Latest

WEST DORSET has 23 hostelries listed as ‘worth a visit’ in this year’s Good Pub Guide.

But overall the county’s inns missed out on the major accolades.

Now in its 31st year, the guide also acknowledges good food with an award for Best Dining Pub being dished out in each county.

In Dorset this year the bragging rights to this accolade have been claimed by the Langton Arms, in Tarrant Monkton.

Getting a mention in the guide is not merely something to be proud of for publicans but a draw for customers.

The Good Pub Guide’s Claire Bowles said: “Quite a few publicans have said to me that they’ve had a big response from customers after appearing in the guide.”

Thousands of loyal readers report in to keep fellow pub-lovers in tune with how a pub is doing and to share their personal recommendations on service, food, drink, cost, atmosphere and best pubs.

The fortunes of the county’s pubs have fluctuated over the years with the recession being blamed for a cut in staff with the corresponding drop in service.

Last year the guide said the recession had seen a four per cent drop in staff numbers.

One of the guide’s editor, Fiona Stapley said in consequence genuinely warm and personal welcomes were a rarity.

This year the editor’s report showed clear signs of a turn-around.

Ms Stapley said: “Most strikingly, the mood among publicans themselves is changing.

“Although it is extremely hard work, for the first time in more than ten years most landlords and landladies have been more upbeat.

“People are choosing to spend weekends away in country pubs and customers like to eat out in pubs as opposed to restaurants because the atmosphere is more informal – and the food is just as good, if not better.

“We have had fewer complaints from readers about service this year than we can ever remember in the guide’s history.

“What’s more, in our anonymous inspections of pubs, we have found unfailingly good service, always with a good welcome.

“This is a first for us.”

Best in the west . . .

Bridport : Ropemakers, Woodman, Tiger.

Burton Bradstock: Three Horseshoes.

Chideock: George, Anchor, Clockhouse.

Drimpton: Royal Oak.

Evershot: Acorn.

Loders: Loders Arms.

Lyme Regis : Pilot, Volunteer, Royal.

Standard, Harbour, Cobb Arms.

Melplash: Half Moon.

Nettlecombe: Marquis of Lorne.

Powerstock: Three Horseshoes.

Shaves Cross: Shaves Cross Inn.

Stoke Abbott: New Inn.

Symondsbury: Ilchester Arms.

Uploders: Crown.

West Bay : West Bay Hotel.

West Bexington: Manor Hotel.