Hunters Moon in West Dorset

My family eat here regularly because it’s so good. The pub itself is attractive with interesting features. We’ve never eaten a meal here that we’ve not all enjoyed & the service is excellent with friendly & attentive staff. We recently went there for their carvery, I don’t eat meat so the chef cooked vegetarian sausages to go with the vegetables. The choice of vegetables was excellent with probably the best roast potatoes ever had anywhere!

A group of 17 from our bowls club arrived for a meal at 6.30, those who had the roast had tummy problems that night and the following day, the veg was very hard the roast potatoes had been reheated and the gravy was cold. We (10) did complain to the waitress when she came round, she apologized and said she would speak to the chef. We phoned the pub on the 2 Oct to let them know what had happened, they said they had not had any other complaints. Other meals on that day were OK but not the roast, we will not be coming back.

Dont even think to stay!!! spiders everywhere,cables hanging squashed through window, attached to an overloaded extension brick. Bed , smelt stale, toothpaste in sink, hairs on toilet seat. Obviously no cleaning done, to say the least.

Stayed the evening here whilst in the area working. What a wonderful place. Great greeting, fabulous evening meal and pint. Room was great and breakfast superb. And to top it off Dean was such an amazing host . Will definitely book again and recommend lovely place run by lovely people. Thanks

Just returned from a weekend stay at the Hunters Moon we were a family group and we had 3 rooms bed and breakfast. The rooms were clean and comfortable and the breakfast was excellent,all cooked to order which we chose the night before. We had dinner in the pub on both evenings, the food was very good. We were made to feel very welcome by Dean the owner and staff. We arranged for a earlier check in this was not a problem, just had to ring the bell when we arrived.

We recently stayed locally to the Hunters Moon pub for a long weekend, we loved the food so much that we ate there 2 nights in a row. Dean the landlord was so friendly and welcoming, he made a point to learn our names and even remembered us the following day! The food was outstanding (both nights), we didn't realise that they did accommodation too, other wise we would definitely have considered staying here. All in all this pub had everything you could ask for, a real hidden gem in Middlemarsh!!!

First time there ! Frendly staff , food great (once it arrived ) but wasn’t in any rush ‘ BUT !! We was sat in the restaurant area, NOT at the bar , and I was surrounded by customers eating with their dogs , at one point there was 5 dogs and 3 of them yapped loudly the whole time we were there!! And cause of that would I go again !!!!! Not sure !! Not a great first impression And seeing one dog say In a chair licking the table!!

Our stay at The Hunters Moon was just what we wanted and exceeded our expectations. Our room was fine and breakfast and evening meal were excellent. Staff were helpful and friendly. The Hunters Moon is very well situated between Sherborne and Dorchester, both very interesting to explore, and within easy striking distance of the wonderful Dorset coast.

Classic 'oldy wordly' pub. Dog friendly. Great menu and a specials board. Good sized plates of food at reasonable prices. Lovely picnic table seating areas in the garden for the warmer months. Friendly staff. Would recommend

First ever visit, visited as a Brit stop. (Stay in the carpark in motorhome for free, but have a meal in the pub). Staff were friendly and welcoming. The pub was busy (Saturday night) but the service was still super speedy. Hubby had a steak, I had a vegan burger. Both meals were piping hot, good portion sizes and absolutely divine! The pub was clean and tidy. Definitely recommend, we will be back! Thank you.

Well what can I say about this wonderful establishment. Having had a close friend have a nasty accident I needed somewhere to stay at last minute notice and I ended up staying for three nights. No request was too small and the staff continually went above and beyond. The chef Paul is simply a genius, I couldn’t wait to finish my work so I could get back for the best meal of the day. The rooms are warm, clean and comfortable. I simply cannot fault this place. I will without a doubt become a rather annoying regular. I can’t say enough about this fabulous place to do it justice. Only that, if you are remotely in the area then Hunters Moon is 100% worth a visit. You will not be disappointed

Visited this Pub for the first time last night!what a great experience cannot speak highly enough!food service and surroundings were all excellent.We will tell our friendsvand be visiting again ..Thsnkyou !

Driven past many times but first visit meeting halfway between relatives house. We both had the roasted Salmon with red pepper and sweet chilli sauce, served with cheesy mash and vegetables. Absolutely delicious! Rounded off with Eton Mess. Very friendly staff, lovely atmosphere and great food. Will be back again.

Our walking group stayed overnight. v good dinner - excellent faggots and chicken pie .Very good dessert and all followed by an very good English breakfast the next day. What really made it was the excellent very friendly and helpful owners and staff .Highly recommended

Had a fantastic 3 days staying in this pub, great atmosphere, excellent staff, And lovely fresh cooked food, breakfast, lunch and dinner, very dog Friendly. Very reasonably priced rooms but would perhaps ask for a bigger room Next time but we did have a dog with us. Will love to visit in the summer as I’m sure it would be even better to do all the walks and enjoy more of the food that is served. Hilari and steve

We stayed at the Hunters Moon for two nights and ate breakfast and evening meals on both days. The food was very good and plentiful, (smaller portions are available) and the ambience was cheerful and welcoming. The landlord can seem brusque but its just his manner and the rest of the staff are more openly friendly. We stayed in two tiny rooms at the back of the hotel and we were not so happy with them. Besides being so small - the bed takes up most of the space - they were rather tired and the walls and carpets were not particularly clean. Hopefully the rooms upstairs are bigger and better. On the positive side the beds were comfortable and clean and there was free wi-fi and coffee making facilities. Such a small room is fine to just put your head down and spend the day out and about, but would be a different matter if you had to stay in it all day. However, the price was fair. The hotel is 'dog friendly' which you either like or don't. Tip. Take care leaving the car park the view is partially obscured by a bush and cars travel past very fast.

Wow! Just wow! As a vegetarian it’s difficult to find something on a menu sometimes. Here, the options are incredible. The veggie curry is absolutely delicious! Well done team. Atmosphere couldn’t be beaten and the staff are very friendly. Excellent!

Just don’t go there. We have been going for over thirty years and seen lots of changes but heard from other locals they were avoiding it. Us too now. Tatty and worn decor, mediocre food and charmless staff. Some of the staff are incompetent and rude. No atmosphere and a sad little outside area. There are so many lovely pubs near by, try going to Cerne Abbas or Buckland Newton but give this place a miss until it changes hands.

Some sort of charming bits (in a retro pub vibe way) but overall tired with a number of tables where furniture didn't really fit that were awkward to sit at. Sunday lunch was edible, but "municipal" - kind of school dinners style, but much more expensive (I think £18 each). Waiter didn't explain set up (some places give you a token, it turned out they didn't). That said, they were pretty busy, so there's clearly a market for it. Not for us though.

We were staying close by so it was rude not to try the local facilities. Met by friendly staff a specials board and a menu which allowed the Chef space to do their own things, responding to the availability of the market. The main menu was varied and a choice of small portions or standard portions. The food was piping hot and was swiftly served. We only had small portions, which was enough for us. The standard size meal looked huge, so if your hungry, go for it. Our first visit only wetted our taste for the lovely food, we went back as a celebration of our visit to the area. Highly recommended for a visit. our only observation was that the puddings were a little on the high price. But good food and two nice evenings were had.

Called in and was treated very well by staff.Elise looked after us brilliantly.Good points was the fancy you can have a smaller portion of meals if you prefer and also they turned the music down when requested to do so.(Why do pubs assume everyone likes music played?) Anyway ,food ,very tasty and nothing was too much trouble.Will be back.

We went here for a Sunday carvery while on holiday and were extremely happy with the quality of the food and the service. Absolutely delicious great value for money and also our dog could come in and sit with us while we had the meal!!! So we had someone in a wheelchair and the staff did anything to make it as easy and possible for us all to have a great time ! The staff were all great so 10 out of 10

We stayed a couple of nights here while visiting Dorset for a wedding. We had a lovely room (family room) and enjoyed a couple of delicious cooked breakfasts. The service was very friendly and staff very helpful. We didn’t arrive till quite late on the first night, but they were happy to check us in. Highly recommended, and very reasonably priced.

Excellent. We started going here 15 years ago and it's still as good We sat outside and really loved the food and atmosphere Would highly recommend Staff are excellent, professional and really inviting giving the impression they love their job and what they offer We had 3 starters, excellent Lasagne, Hunters Chicken and Faggots, all perfectly cooked and tasted delicious 2 desserts and coffees... perfect Thank you and see you again soon

Chose the carvery. Terrible mistake. Having a carvery at 6.00pm obviously means you get the dried up leftovers from lunchtime. So called yorkshire puddings completely inedible. Burnt potatoes and parsnips and meat very dry. At least the gravy was hot. One of the worst carverys I have ever had.

I would give this pub 4 if it wasn't for the rude landlord. Food good plenty choice. Lovely staff apart from landlord. I presume he wants guests so why try and make them look small!

Had passed here several times on road from Sherborne to Dorchester and not been able to stop . This time drove out specifically from a meal . Its a large pub with a nice atmosphere. Menu is extensive with GF veggie and vegan dishes. Nice touch is two prices for most dishes , one for a smaller portion . This suited my wife who could manage the smaller dish of Pork Belly and enjoyed it . She also managed a dessert . I had mojito marinated chicken which was one of the daily specials ---excellent. And a dessert. Food came quickly although staff had warned of a delay due to a large party . Excellent service throughout the meal .

We stayed overnight in our motorhome (Britstops) and enjoyed a couple of pints in the garden before a meal inside. The bar staff were friendly and welcoming and the service prompt.

Frosty reception to begin with as hadn’t booked a table. Soon changed to warm and welcoming as they saw we had dogs. Had fish and chips and hunters chicken cooked to our weird requirements without any fuss as well as extra sausages for our canine...

Really brilliant pub. We were welcome in our motorhome and has a really lovely meal. Staff are so friendly, highly recommend. Just a shame we live in Yorkshire or we would be back xx

Lovely atmosphere we visited twice whilst on holiday. Once for drinks then after that a meal. We have a little dog that was made very welcome by staff and guests. Cozy, good array of beer and cider. We had venison faggots, mustard mash and can...

An excellent pub/restaurant with rooms. Our room was comfortable, inner well cooked and well presented. Good value for money.

Lovely evening spent here, warm welcome on arrival, staff very friendly and chatty, food was amazing, lovely cosy relaxed feel!! Can definitely recommend!!

Second time of viewing the fabulous Hunters Moon pub. We were staying locally and Dean and the rest of the staff make you so welcome. Dean is a superb landlord and very good barman. We visited a couple of times over the Easter weekend and...

What a find. Cannot rate this pub highly enough. Great food, great ambience and great banter. We'll definitely be back.

Lovely lunch . Come here often. Very welcoming. We had 2 children of 6 and 2 and also a baby in a pram and a dog. Couldnt have worked out better. Very good service. Great coice of menu.

10/10 for these guys, fantastic staff, lovely carvery and a wonderful experience. We took our 11 month old granddaughter for lunch today, the staff made her so welcome with child's cutlery, a highchair and lots of kindness. Couldn't fault the staff, they were all amazing....

Crisp white sheets in a warm comfy spotless room, Melt in the mouth pork served next to a log fire,delicious hot breakfast. Hosts like your best friends-mentioned at dinner I forgot to bring Camomile tea bags for my nightcap and not a problem,I was given...

Great food with extremely friendly hosts in this country pub. Nothing was too much trouble and our group were made most Welcome by the landlords.

came here for a Sunday roast and what a roast it was. Plenty of choice and lots of it.....we rolled out of here. Beautiful quaint old pub with fantastic old fashioned service with a smile and very reasonably priced

Great food, fabulous service, incredible food, wonderful staff, if Carlsberg did gastro pubs, then this is it, probably the best pub in Dorset, and you can stay as well , 100% as good as it gets, ( & your doggo’s are more than welcome, try...

at this welcoming out-of-the-way pub between Sherborne and Dorchester. Staff were outstandingly polite and helpful too. Not cheap - where is? - but very good value for money. What a find!! Highly recommended.

Fantastic country pub with excellent wines, beers and service. Went in after doing some work locally and had the most amazing carvery, washed down with a lovely cote de rhone. Stayed overnight in their lovely accommodation and had the best breakfast ever. All dietary requirements...

The food was better cooked in the evenings than before covid. Staff were pleasant as usual. Over the winter, I heard the landlord say that they had upgraded 2 of the rooms, and can I suggest the room with he sofa bed is next, as...

Staying locally for a weeks break, we ate three times at this establishment. At all times the food was excellent but the portions, for me, were way to big and I recommend choosing the smaller option where offered. The Butcombe Bitter was in excellent condition...

Situated on the main A352, the Hunter's Moon is very easy to find. It has a large parking area and some outside seating. Inside is a typical old-world village pub. the owner is very welcoming and they serve up great food with something of a...

This was a chance find, we had planned to eat on the terrace at Minterne Gardens but the disgusting portacabin toilets meant my wife wished to move on. I am assured the ladies here was clean and pleasant. I like a good pie, my pie...

We arrived early for our overnight stay, and we were shown straight to our room which was ready and waiting. The room and en-suite was spacious and clean, and had everything we needed. My husband wanted to watch the football, so the landlord put it...

4 of us visited here on Saturday 22nd Jan. Arriving at 18.45, the place was quite busy, good sign. My wife had advised when booking of her onion allergy, the landlord said the chef was aware and he would speak to my wife. Chef came...

Another great night at Hunters Moon. Dean and his team, always give you a warm welcome. Great service, great food, and wonderful atmosphere. Thank you Dean, Emma and your team for a fantastic evening.

Having looked for a pub for a drink that was open we stopped here. Dog in garden barking but we went in and the bloke came out from end of building shouting we’re closed open at 6. Perhaps he should update his sight as it...

The place itself needs a facelift. Grotty garden. The food was pretty basic but was ok, quite tasty. Nice pleasant service and they offer smaller meals for less hungry customer. They seem very busy so they are doing something right. Not my first choice next...

Five of us enjoyed an excellent lunch time meal selecting a variety of options, most of which was "home prepared", off the menu. One thing I wasn't prepared for was to have the chips already salted. Being on a low salt diet they were willingly...

Visited for a couple of lunch time meal with family which was extremely enjoyable. The staff and landlord are extremely polite and helpful. A lovely menu, fantastic selection of drinks (especially the Guinness), and the food was lovely and served piping hot. Well worth a...

Lovely family feel to the pub. We were staying nearby and had two meals here. Very dog friendly. Meals are delicious and substantial but cleverly you can order a large or small of each one to cater for smaller appetites. Staff are really attentive and...

Staying overnight en route to Cornwall. We stayed at this amazing Family run Traditional Inn. The menu is extensive and added specials board. Portions excellent and tasty. We chose fish and chips and sweet & sour pork. Well presented and the service attentive and friendly....

We had planned to eat at another pub in Long Burton but they were closed, so we decided to go to the Hunters Moon. We were so pleased that we did as we found the staff very helpful and friendly and the food was delicious....

When we drove up we thought we had made a bad decision. When we went in we still felt so. Completely wrong-dont judge a book by its cover. Superb pub meal. No catering pack meat here its superb local produce fron their butcher Staff nice...

This place is a must visit for us when in the area. Dean and the staff are absolutely brilliant and provide a great atmosphere. They are doing an excellent job in adhering to the current restrictions and we felt very comfortable inside, there is also...

We called here for dinner recently and were so glad we could be accommodated. We ended up having 3 courses instead of the quick dinner we initially planned because the setting, service and menu were just too good. We felt really welcome by the friendly...

Thank you for such a lovely stay in your Inn. The place was clean warm and welcoming. Food was delicious 😋 The area was outstanding and so many places on the doorstep to discover. Come and visit don't hesitate. It's beautiful. Thank you to Dean...

I haven’t been to this pub for 29 years after moving from the area. Millie was celebrating her 18th birthday with her boyfriend Charlie and Theresa and me (grandparents) her mum and uncle. The food was brilliant and the service even better so pleased we...

Lovely location and building. Staff were very welcoming and attentive but food was a bit of a letdown. The dishes didn’t taste as if they were cooked on the day and were very average.

Recently stayed in the area for 4 nights, so decided to try the local pub. They were very welcoming on arrival, and nice to see a proper NHS QR Code check-in on arrival. There was hand sanitiser at the entrance, a one-way system and all...

Another fabulous lunch at this superb venue. Squid starter for me and pate for my wife, and then both opting for the home made steak & Guinness pie. Absolutely delicious,as always,great veg too,so fresh and perfectly cooked.Well done to Dean and the team, you never...

Wonderful range of meals which really make the mouth water; as their specials board makes you ponder on which delight to experience next; a true find for the exploring traveller or holidaying local alike. The home-made pies are just superb.

After driving past this pub on many occasions my husband and I eventually got around to visiting for an evening meal to try it out before possibly returning with family. In these difficult times we were prepared for a slightly different menu to the one...

We had dinner with friends here one Saturday evening. We each chose our 3 courses from an extensive menu and were all very impressed by the quality of food which was served by friendly waiting staff. The selections were all reasonably priced (we paid just...

Warm, cosy log fire for 'Burns night' meal. We found the Landlord and waiting staff were welcoming and friendly. Thoroughly enjoyed our set price meal and looking forward to returning soon.

A lovely warm welcome given to us when we popped in for lunch. Great food, very attentive staff. The landlord was really friendly.

Very easy to book online. Staff were welcoming as one would expect. Very good choice for vegetarians which is a bonus for me. The pies were enormous and very tasty, infact all portions were very generous. Interesting pub with lots of photos of local interest...

Found as driving by. Lovely exterior and inside was just as charming. Nice selection of ales and ciders. Menu the usual and lasagne and fish and chips were ok. The service was outstanding and drinks bought to the table. Good luck boys with the prostate...

We were on holiday near Dorchester and decided to visit Sherborne for an afternoon, falling across this excellent pub on our way. We were very pleased to find that it was step-free (Dad is 86 & uses a walker) and dog-friendly. We chose to sit inside but the garden looked very inviting. The turkey & bacon pie was rated 10/10 by hubby (praise indeed). Our table was large and round, and Dog spread himself out underneath it very comfortably. The staff were friendly and efficient and we thoroughly enjoyed our lunch. If we lived nearer we would definitely return often, as it is we thoroughly recommend Hunters Moon to all.

Whilst we thoroughly enjoyed our evening meal and the general ambience of this Pub, the accommodation was not particularly good . The bedroom was extremely small and although generally the bathroom and bedroom were clean the shower had cracked tiles and the bedroom had tea stains/splashes down the walls. Rather disappointed overall.

Stayed for two nights and all staff were so friendly, room was lovely and cosy, tea, coffee biscuits and a bottle of water replenished each day, full English Breakfast was outstanding and even better as it was complementary, we had each meal here as the food was so fresh and huge portions, we will definitely stay here again

Service was super. They got the vegetarian order wrong twice. Curry was good vegetarian pie was truly awful. Piped music - why?! Genuinely perplexed by how badly wrong the vegetarian options and experience for my partner were, given how good everything else was.

we were stopping in a self catering cottage next to the hunters so was very handy. the food was excellent and we ate here 4 nights out of our 7 day stay the last night with our family who were staying in Weymouth. the portions were very good and lovely fresh veg and the children's portion large, the landlord could not have been more accommodating and his staff very friendly and helpful

Good base for exploring Dorset/Somerset. Very comfortable and clean room. Delicious food and good value for money. Best eggs for breakfast too ... whether fried, poached or scrambled, they were perfectly cooked every time!

Stayed in the family room with our two kids. Big room , nice and comfy. Bar staff were really friendly and the food was also great. Would stay again.

I stayed here a few weeks ago before an interview. Staff were lovely in the evening and the next morning. Room was comfy and just what I needed. Staff could not have been more attentive and kind - even wished me luck on my way out.

Pulled in on my bike today, hoping for a sandwich and a quick drink. Even though it was just after 2pm the friendly chap behind the bar was happy to serve me and I enjoyed a really good bacon, brie and cranberry sandwich with a very fresh side salad. Will be visiting again!

Had a nice meal at the Hunters Moon had the pie of the day the portion was quite big and I struggled to finish it which is s rare thing for me ,but the deserts still temped me .The staff were friendly and the atmosphere of the pub was good with little cosy areas to eat and talk to your party

Had always seen a full car par as we have gone by, but were really disappointed.. We had to wait 3/4 of an hour on a quiet midweek lunchtime. The so called steak and ale pie appeared to be made from left over beef joint as it was hard. Mash and veg to go with it were awful. This was supposed to be a birthday treat for my Mother who left most of her meal.

A really friendly welcome awaits you at this pub. Good choice of food and daily specials available. Also smaller portions of all main meals. Beamed ceilings and open log fire add to the atmosphere. Garden tables available for the warmer weather. A great find.

Been twice in December. Once during a quietish midweek lunchtime and once for Sunday lunch which was hectic to say the least! What didn't change was the warmth of welcome or the comfortable surroundings. The food was nice, particularly the carvery. Not quite five stars but not far short.

Lovely atmosphere, pleasant and helpful staff, excellent food. Steak mushroom & Stilton homemade pie with fresh veg and lovely fruit crumble & cream. Definitely recommend

second visit to here and again excellent meal had the duck this time and was cooked excellent my wife had the fish n chips and she was delighted with hers this place was packed so best to book you will not be disappointed

Been here a few times now and the food is amazing. Not your average pub grub. Staff are lovely as well. Recommend highy

1st time at this venue today. Very good food and friendly service, also had other food available not just the carvery. Welcoming atmosphere will go back again.

Popped here mid afternoon for food. While an odd time of day to eat for most places we were fine here. Good food, had faghots, fish and chips, chilli and lasagna. Good service too, will come back again.

A nice pub, with good accommodation. The room although not large was perfectly adequate and well appointed, a very comfortable bed and a good nights sleep. The pub has a good selection of beers and a good menu. For a busy Saturday evening the service was very good, quick, friendly and helpful. The food was also very good, well cooked and presented with generous but not over-facing portion size. The breakfast was excellent again with a good choice, delivered with a smile and well cooked. The full-English (Hunters Moon breakfast) was certainly provided sufficient sustenance to run on for most of the day. And all very good value for money.

A nice, friendly pub with a good extensive menu. We stayed in holiday accommodate next door so it was very handy.

Pleasant country Pub. I recommend the home made Steak and Stilton pie. Staff very friendly. Reasonably priced.

Stayed at the Hunters Moon for one night on the 4th of August as we were visiting Weymouth. Staff were very friendly and welcoming when we arrived, our room was very clean and had everything we needed. Breakfast was very good and came very quickly after we had sat down lovely full English but lots of other options to chose from. Will stay again when we are next in the area.

We stayed next door at White Horse Farm for a week and enjoyed a Sunday carvery and also drinks on another occasion. Very friendly staff, welcoming to children. Both carvery and sausage and mash were good. Traditional pub with table service.

Have been several times before and always had good meals but we're disappointed tonight. Husband had Jalfrezi curry not spicy and quite bland more like a stew, i had Cajun spiced chicken breast not spicy at all, crumble pudding luke warm

Stayed next door nearly and went here to eat three times, one on my birthday. Really enjoyed the food. Varied menu, well cooked. Had the steak a second time because it was so good the first. Friendly, helpful staff and very reasonably priced food and drinks.

Highly recommend this pub, great for every occasion, we visited as a family and were made to feel extremely welcome from the first foot in the door,

We called in for a curry on the way home from Sherborne as it was a gorgeous evening. The parking here is easy and it is a great stop too for cyclists on the Sherborne road. It was a trip down memory lane for me and my partner as we used to frequent this pub a few years back when they served splendid food at a reasonable price. This visit was quite different. The staff were still friendly, beer garden was tranquil and well laid out but the food was a really terrible let down. We ordered two lamb curries and man bread, one larger dish for £11 and a smaller portion for £8. Neither portion was big enough to wArrant this price tag. The smaller dish would not even have filled my cat’s bowl! It was such a rip off and seriously cheeky. I can only think that the pub was about to run out of the curry we had ordered and tried to stretch the portions out. To top it off, my small curry was not cooked through which made it unpleasant to eat. The bread and dish were very dry too. We won’t return here for food in a hurry.

Nice friendly pub with large car park. The staff were friendly and helpful the pub has beams. The menu is typical pub food all of us were happy with our food well cooked and hot. The service was good though it was not busy. Would could visit again.