St. Peters Finger, Lytchett Minster in Purbeck

Bad start when the member of staff greets you with a moan about how many bookings they have. That’s not my problem. Maybe try welcoming us with positivity and wishing my wife a happy Mother’s day instead. Our table seemed ok to start with, but before I had even warmed the seat up we were being asked if we knew what we wanted to order. We asked to be given a minute, but immediately afterwards a second member of staff asked if we were ready to order. The conveyer belt was truly in motion. Well the table was made worse when guests arrived on the adjacent table. It was clear there was insufficient room for comfort. Please stop the money-grabbing, cram them in like sardines approach and provide an enjoyable experience. We ordered our food, two roast beef and a child’s fish goujon and chips. I reckon 5 minutes passed and we were presented with our plates. The only nice part was the horseradish. My beef was tough, potatoes over done and lukewarm at best. The gravy was bland, not beef gravy and I wish I hadn’t added it to the dish. The lunch was rounded off with a bill that already had service charge applied in faded print that I didn’t see. We were a table of 3, why is service charge included as standard? I didn’t want to tip their poor service, bad setting and rubbish food. To top it all my wife had to ask for the Mother’s Day chocolate gift, another chance to say Happy Mother’s Day missed. Never going back!

Fish and chips were really nice, male staff super friendly and lovely. Brownie was lush!

Had club sandwich, which was lovely. Service was great, and the pub/restaurant was lovely. It's great to sit outside on a lovely day.

Can recommend you try the Steak & Tanglefoot pie, delicious!

We booked a table at lunch time for my husband’s birthday. We sat in the restaurant and it was freezing. My husband ordered a double cheese burger and it was tiny. I ordered the fish and chips the chips were cold and the fish was so full of oil that it had soaked into the chips making them inedible. When our plates were collected I did say that the fish and chips were not very nice and she took £10 off the bill , we were not asked if we wanted another drink or a dessert so we paid the bill and left , not a good Birthday lunch for my husband ! Very disappointed.

Great location and a very picturesque pub

Banging munch, perfect service and chill setting, absolutely perfect.

Excellent venue, service and food. Lovely decor, environment and smart toilets. Lana and Scott were excellent hosts. Will be back.

Good food - Lanya looked after us very well - only put 3 stars for atmosphere as was mid week and quiet but other than that very good

Excellent service given. Disappointed that the Gluten free menu which is available all week was not available on a Sunday. The Manager did take this off the Bill and was very accommodating. Ned was very helpful and is a credit to the pub

Absolutely terrible The Sunday lunch was mediocre 3small potatoes & hardly any veg. Service haphazard & constantly getting things wrong. Not how it should be Some servers surly I shall not be returning.

visited some friends in Dorset for a bit of bird watching, they decided to take us here. Lovely old pub, great deco, very busy sunday afternoon. Glad we booked a table. staff great and plenty of them. Roast dinner was great but the spuds were a little dry and hard, not crispy and fluffy. Would return though as our friends have been going for years.

We were only here for drinks and had some olives but the pub is lovely and the staff were so friendly and made our time there much more enjoyable. We had two dogs there and they got so much love and treats! I would highly recommend this pub.

Friendly staff, excellent food and great quality beer.

Had an unexpected visit, was really busy for a Friday lunch - but the food came out in a timely manner and was YUMMY!! Lana was lovely aswell, despite the business. Just wish we lived closer....

Lovely late lunch. Food was exceptional, staff were too. Will be back

Great food, very helpful staff and a friendly welcoming atmosphere.

Great service! Lovely atmosphere!

We made our reservation in advance but didn't specify that we would be bringing our dog, despite being a dog friendly pub, we were unaware that they were restricted to the bar area. Initially there weren't any tables available but the bar and restaurant staff went above and beyond and managed to accommodate us. It was worth the wait, the food was delicious and the service was first class. We will be back.

Came here for dinner whilst staying at the campsite up the road on a motorbike road trip. Fantastic pub.. Great food. Really attentive and friendly staff. What more could you ask for 👍👍

Lottie was a very attentive server and enjoyed the atmosphere. Food was ok - came out quickly

Went for evening meal. Had booked table but there was a problem as never told them we were bringing a dog. The staff couldn't have been more helpful to accommodate us. Food was excellent and the service outstanding. Great pub with a lovely atmosphere. Thank you for a lovely evening

Sat in the garden in the sun and enjoyed a lovely meal. Great service , friendly staff

Lovely food and friendly service

Great pub with 10/10 food and staff! Mia and Jimmy were both very friendly :)

We had a lovely meal. Our waitress Mia was lovely. Will definitely come again.Xx

Lovely meal with a lovely atmosphere. Mia was a lovely waitress and very knowledgable about the menu. A lovely place to celebrate a birthday. Thank you

Had a lovely meal Service was amazing

We had a great evening with lovely service. Amanda and the the rest of the bar staff were great.

Amanda was a fabulous hostess and made us very welcome.

Charlie is the best Waiter ever! Amazing food as well

Lovely meal, lovely atmosphere, fantastic decor, and top service from Mia and the team as always. Will return time and time again :)

Efficient and friendly service from Mia. Food was tasty and piping hot.

Food was so tasty and had amazing service from Mia! Would 100% recommend. Got to give a mention for the decor as well, very cosy

Great find with lovely service, decor and great food. Marvellous GF menu. Lana our waitress for very helpful too .

Wonderful service from Mia and fabulous food.

Delicious meal, lovely atmosphere and our waitress Mia was very friendly and attentive, I will definitely be returning! Thank you for a lovely evening.

Mia was a great host and waitress, she looked after us very well, had great conversation and great customer service skills. Will defo be back 😀

Mia was fantastic, great customer service

The food was great Mia was attentive and personable. She took great care of us, checked in regularly and was a fabulous waitress in our first visit! We will return :)

Last minute booking and they accommodated us without any issues. food was very good and hot. Mia our waitress was fantastic. She really looked after us. Would highly recommend.

Brilliant service, amazing food. Lovely staff. Big shout outs to Grace, Lottie, chef Adam. All amazing with my kids and us. Great allergy practice

Lovely food. Great service. Manager Scott looked after us due to allergies. Credit to company. As well as other team Ned and Grace. Everyone was wonderful.

Mia was amazing, she made the whole dining experience for me and my wife

Had a lovely meal with all the family here. Good food and lovely service. Highly reccomend it!

Lovely evening and Mia was attentive, great service, thank you

Lovely meal and Mia was a excellent server definitely be back again

Lovely friendly staff. Tasty meal. A nice surprise that kids ate free for half term!!

We booked a table for a meal on Valentine's day. On arrival we were greeted promptly and as it was very quiet (only a handful of diners) we could choose the table. We received very good service from our waiter. Food arrived within 15 min of ordering. Like with any food it's down to personal preference and taste so here's our opinion on our dishes... My partner had a beef shin which he didn't actually enjoy much. The meat was tender, he just didn't like the sauce. We both agreed it reminded us of the tinned meat meals we took camping when we were younger. The veg is described as "maple roast carrots and roast mushrooms" but they tasted and looked like they were steamed or boiled. I had a duck, which was really, tender, moist and tasty. I didn't use the gravy served as I didn't like it (a bit bland for my liking). The dish was moist enough so I didn't miss it. I would prefer the duck to have crispy skin but I understand it's a bit of a challenge when slow cooking it. Both our desserts, sticky toffee and apple pie were exceptional.

I wouldn’t recommend the charcuterie plate to share at £17.25. It’s tiny one piece of sourdough, 4 slithers of meat and 3 olives each…plus a few leaves! Shame I can’t post a photo!!! 🤦‍♀️

Really nice food, environment and service at a reasonable price

Nice local pub, great food. Not much int he way of entertainment, music etc

Excellent service staff very helpful and friendly especially Mia the food was wonderful will definitely go back again highly recommend

Mia at St Peter’s Finger was great, friendly, effective and efficient. Food was delicious came out in good time, thanks

Great food, served quickly by friendly staff.

Jamie is a great host and was very cheerful and charming.

Excellent service from Serfafino. Nice food and nice atmosphere.

Dog friendly & cosy, Relaxed atmosphere.. the food was well cooked, delicious and well presented although the portions may not suit some who may think it’s a little small for bigger appetites. Friendly service by all members of staff, specially. Lalita. Dogs are very welcome there with a spacious beer garden where they can have a little play. Overall, a wonderful visit with our four legged companion.

If you thought that visiting a pub named Peter’s Finger would be a place to tickle your fancy, you might just end up feeling a bit… *underwhelmed*. Let’s dive right in, shall we? First off, let’s talk about the portions. I ordered the “Steak Pie with Mash” in eager anticipation, only to quickly realize that I should have brought a magnifying glass instead of my appetite! The pie was an ok size and tasted nice  but as for the mash? A mere whisper of potato that was flattened for some reason, then scored with a lattice pattern as if to distract you from its size! If I’d known I was going to get such a minuscule serving, I might of asked for a teaspoon to eat it with. To make matters worse, my plate was garnished with what can only be described as a scattering of Red cabbage, which was meant to fool you into think you had a full plate of food. I was truly left questioning whether the chef was trying to start a trend of “micro meals.” Now, let’s discuss the service. The male Italian waiter we encountered must have been a method actor preparing for a role as 'The Abrupt,' because he was certainly committed. While he took our order with all the warmth of a damp dishcloth, I half expected him to roll his eyes every time we asked for something! When we asked about dessert, the look on his face resembled that of someone who’d just discovered their pizza arrived as a salad. Honestly, I was just looking for a sweet ending, not a look like I asked him to get Peter to check my prostate. So, if you find yourself hankering for a pint and a meal that makes a gourmet ant feel well-fed, Peter’s Finger may be the place for you. Just be prepared to leave with a hearty laugh and an even heartier thirst for a proper feast. In conclusion, if you’re looking for somewhere to work on your “diet,” Peter’s Finger is calling… just don’t expect to leave satisfied or with a waiter who’s mastered the art of hospitality!

Love this place so much, everything going for it

We had a family gathering with people from America, Germany and the UK. There were 11 adults and one 4 -month-old baby. As we hadn't seen each other for years, we spent time chatting and catching up at the beginning instead of placing our lunch orders. However, we were not hurried and, on the contrary, told we could take our time by a very friendly waiter. After we had eventually ordered the chatter continued until the food was served (and very quickly, I might add) It was all delicious and everyone was amazed at the size of the 'club sandwich' which I had ordered. Throughout the meal all of us were attended to by a very friendly and efficient team. When it came to paying, some of us wanted to pay by card and others in cash. This was not a problem either and when we finally left St Peter's Finger we all commented on what a successful time we had there and that we would definitely be returning.

Very good pie, mash and red cabbage. Pub was tidy and was very atmospheric with friendly, attentive and helpful staff. Recommend it if you're in the area.

We went for a family lunchtime meal, the food was excellent, the staff were lovely with us and our two children and the pub/restaurant is beautiful.

Lovely food , good atmosphere, polite and helpful staff .

We visited on a Saturday lunchtime recently and received a warm welcome to a lovely pub with excellent food with a great atmosphere. The only difficulty was choosing what to have from the excellent menu!

Great pub! Gorgeously decorated for the winter holidays! There are always a lot of people here and a lot of reserved tables. Despite the fact that the waiters work quickly, literally running between tables and the kitchen, you still have to wait, but not for very long! This pub is dog friendly!

There were plenty of free tables, which were clean The toilets were also clean Didn’t wait to long for the order to arrive, but unfortunately very small portions for all five of our party, my pie was so hard and over cooked/heated up I could not get my knife in it. There’s nothing worse than not having a full stomach after leaving any restaurant!! We have frequented this establishment many times in the past, but not experienced this. What a shame !! We do hope this is not the slippery slope

Very disappointed I had double cheeseburger and fries the fries were overcooked and the burger was dry at £17+ I expected more the waitress whipped my plate away with over half the meal on it ! She was grumpy when she brought the meals out so I knew I’d be wasting my time complaining

Nice looking pub, expensive, slow bar service and bar maid had no knowledge about the ales.

We were disappointed not to have the December Celebration menu as promised when we booked. Atmosphere was a little lacking and the waitress a little brusque.

Bar is pretty with cozy seating but staff weren’t friendly or engaging even though the bar wasn’t busy. Found the drinks very expensive compared to a similar local pub that we stopped at earlier in the evening. £17 for a beer and a double spirit and coke seemed overpriced.

Couldn't find a finger, but found a good pub

Came here one in the past, and was due to go to another pub with my mum, but she accidentally went to this one, hence why we ended up coming back here. We decided to cancel the other reservation. Both of us came to celebrate my birthday and found a good spot to sit. The atmosphere was relaxing and the food was great. I had the fish and chips and peas which was amazing. Very tasty. Mum had a meat pie dish, which she enjoyed. The only issue was lack of options for someone who doesn’t normally eat meat, except fish (I’m a vegetarian-fish consumer, forgot the actual name for people like myself), however, its a pub after-all so expect much meat! Overall, atmosphere was good and I enjoyed the time with my mum and will come back in the future. Thanks

Our waitress was friendly, experienced but mostly as frustrated as us with the quality of food. Odd mushroom soup, gritty unusual mushrooms, 1 ladle of soup in a bowl ( very poor portion) and cold stale sourdough bread. Come on, this isn’t difficult, if u have to serve such small portions of the cheapest thing on the menu, at least take the time to serve fresh and warm bread!!!! Gravy cold on the duck, poor helping of the limp, not peeled correctly and over cooked veg - again very small helping. Only vegan mayo on site???? Really? What a shame, 1st time there, not encouraged to return, despite being given 20 quid off the bill. Soooo over priced for portions and quality.

The food was good, the service was very good

Friendly staff, excellent service, wonderful food, lovely atmosphere and environment. We'll be back!

Very good. Lovely food and lovely service.

Always a friendly welcome, warm cosy atmosphere

Such a pretty pub, my partner and I popped in for Sunday lunch as live locally. 2 roast beef ordered and arrived fairly quickly. Menu states the beef is served pink, it wasn't! Chewy and dark brown. Roast potatoes were white, no crispiness whatsoever, clearly undercooked, the parsnip was too hard to cut, veg the colour of tinned peas and the Yorkshire pud was like a soggy bit of cardboard, as for the gravy, absolutely no flavour. Shame really as a lovely little pub. Sent the food back, would not recommend sadly.

It’s really quite disappointing that they don’t understand the concept of welcoming the customer. Food and non alcoholic drinks over priced. Really disappointed.

Fantastic. Simply wonderful experience, the staff were great, food was delicious, atmosphere was second to none! Highly recommend

Nice food reasonably priced ...drinks a little expensive but it's where you are

Hall and Woodhouse still executing their new formula well. Good food ales and staff. Laid back and lacking in pace so make sure you let them know if you are in a hurry. Interesting menus with plenty of choice. Amazingly fast and attentive service.

One person serving at the bar on a pre xmas tuesday ……so sloooow. i just find it astonishing how indifferent to bar service this place is…..

Lovely birthday meal for my partner. We had the plant burger, double beef burger and some chicken for our dog. Food was fresh and worth the price. Didn’t wait for long at all. The man who served us was very welcoming. Would visit again if in the area, thank you!

Popped in for roast, quick service and food was lovely Staff were friendly and welcoming

Visited this pub numerous times this year. Excellent staff and food.

A great atmosphere on a Friday evening. We ate in the restaurant. Hake and Double Cheeseburger both absolutely excellent. Very swift and attentive service. Highly recommended.

Fabulous pub down the road from south lytchett caravanpark. Went 3 times and what beautiful food lovely friendly staff especially Mia. Thank you We definitely be back

We visited on Sat 26 October. Two of us and a dog and from the moment we walked in to the moment we left it was a great experience. The staff welcomed us in a really lovely manner, served us with friendly professionalism and attended to our needs. I had the fish pie and my wife had the steak pie. Both delicious. As we left the barman gave us a warm goodbye. We'd definitely come again and highly recommend.

I was picking my son up from School as he had fooftball on the 24 th oct and we had an hr to spare,I brought him a bottle of coke and I had a pint of thirsty ferret my favourite beer, the young staff member was very rude to him,he has social anxiety in certain settings and is getting diagnosed for autism so very nervous and does not like facial contact, also the price was a bit steep £10 for a coke and a beer, won’t be bringing my family in anytime soon for a meal, not if that is how people are treated disgusting….

Lovely pub that has been renovated in keeping with it's age.

A lovely relaxed and delicious dinner with my family over from Finland!! Thank you.

A lovely place to visit, with good food and friendly staff

Beautifully refurbed recently and stunning old pub. Roast however not good the beef was like old leather and over cooked the gravy was tasteless in fact got a refund as couldn’t eat much potatoes were ok. Shame being such a great venue

We had been recommended the pub whilst staying at the local campsite, they even gave us a voucher for a free bottle of wine or a couple of pints of beer. Sadly the whole experience was not a good one. It’s a shame after reading so many positive reviews on Google. Initially, we were greeted well at the bar and led to our booked table. The order was taken quickly and the food arrived very quickly. My wife enjoyed her Vegetable Roast, but my Roast beef was extremely tough and not as per the menu suggested. Unfortunately, the gravy was also tasteless. We both said the Yorkshire Pudding was the best thing on the plate! I struggled to get the attention of staff where we were sat, to order another drink, we also waited for so long for an offer of a desert, that we gave up and walked over to the server station to pay our bill and leave. We were not asked if we enjoyed our meal and the server was quite surly and preoccupied. The pub was extremely busy, so maybe struggling to be attentive to those in the corner was not a priority. Overall, the experience did not live up to others recommendations. Shame on the last day of our holiday in the area. Not somewhere we would rush back to.

What a stunning place!!!!! Only had drinks but the food looked amazing.

Vegetables we not cooked - overall food was pretty poor.

A mixed bag. We had three different meals. The fish and chips was excellent along with the salmon and steak. The burger was tough and appeared cooked from frozen. The curry although jam packed packed full of ingredients was bland and nearly cold. When told about the poor meals our server apologised, but that was it. Overall not to bad but cooks for as lot better

Nice pub good cuisine, we had a good time.