The Crown, Winterborne Stickland

I have always liked this pub although I don't get out much but when we went for lunch today (last Friday before Xmas !) the place was deserted and the fire was unlit and the heating was off. Despite this we stayed for lunch as we had phoned and booked. Our main courses were nice and the chap in the kitchen can obviously cook, but there was a slight unloved air about the place and they ran out of cola (yes I have children, it wasn't for me) while we were there, then when we came to order pudding there were no puddings ! This kind of spoilt things for us as it was a special meal and we felt that they could have warned us when we booked.
They said that they were not doing puddings at the moment. There was no manager around and I got the feeling that the staff were messed about so I bit my tounge a bit and paid the bill though paying so much to eat in a cold pub that then does not let me order a pud did rankle a bit.
Hubby wonders if place is being run down in order to sell for private house ?

21 Dec 2012 17:26

The Swan Inn, Sturminster Newton

We found the beer here to be fine but there is not much choice of real ale on draught. They do sell bottled Badger beers though. The food was not so good and rather pricey.

4 Nov 2012 18:38

The White Hart Hotel, Sturminster Newton

We went to this establishment on a Friday night and found it to be full of colourful locals. There was a fairly loud juke box which we did not mind as it made a change and we had Tanglefoot and bottled Poacher's pocket, the beer being Badger. The main problem was that just as we had bought a third drink each, at about 10.40, the juke box was turned off and some very loud and tuneless karaoke, with the same two people doing most of the singing, started !
I was a bit hacked off as if I had know this was about to happen I would have beaten a retreat.
In summary, the beer is kept well but it seems to be a fairly lively place to put it tactfully.

4 Nov 2012 18:36