The Bankes Arms Hotel Restaurant in Purbeck

After a friendly reception by both staff and locals we were able to enjoy the best Sunday lunch we have had for a while and, maybe, ever had. Well cooked, plentiful and good value are all you can ask for and both of our meals provided all of these criteria. We were in Corfe for a weeks holiday and called in for a cheeky pint on the way home most evenings. Drinks to suit everyone's taste, but for me the Palmer 200 was the winner. Breakfast before we began our journey home was also good value and set us up for the day. Overall, give them a visit as we are sure you will not be disappointed.

We stopped in by chance one lunch time on the way to visit the castle - the entrance to the castle is just across the main road. It was a lovely place to stop, we had a great welcome, the food and drink was good. It is an extremely comfortable place to visit, and there seemed to be a number of different rooms, all on slightly different levels, where you could sit and relax. There was a lso a decent garden too for the summer.

Lovely relaxed Sunday roast dinner Wonderful food with all the trimmings Best gravy ever Relaxed atmosphere Friendly and efficient service by two wonderful ladies Many locals and repeaters Only thing I did nt like was that cabbage was very sweet ! Will be back 🙏

We arrived on a Sunday afternoon without a booking, and asked if they could accommodate the 4 of us for lunch. It was busy, but luckily they managed to fit us in. I'm so happy they did, as we had the best roast we've ever had! 4 of us ordered beef, lamb and pork, with a side of cauliflower cheese. The flavours, the homecooked touch, along with the outstanding service we received, has made this experience one of the best. Thank you

the position of the tables was very good with plenty of space service was a bit hap hazard with several drinks that were on the menu but not available vegetarian option poor humous sandwich,mac and cheese my pulled pork was nice but would have been better hot chips and onion rings very hot overall price acceptable

Called and booked a table for 4. On arrival they had no recollection of the booking saying we called the wrong one, to realise it was their mistake sat us at a table which only has 2 chairs to leaving me and my partner standing for 10 mins. Waited a while to be served majority of the time expected anyway , drinks arrived, missing one drink we then had to ask for multiple times, finally drink came which was the wrong drink so waited again. Glasses were all dirty. TBH at this point we are waiting on food and it’s arrived before the drinks 😳

We stopped by the Bankes Arms for a nice pub drink and found an attractive traditional pub in the heart of the village of Corfe Castle. Staff were absolutely lovely, acknowledging our arrival, encouraging us to sit anywhere despite not dining then offering a great range of drinks. The pink haired barmaid was lovely and even gave our dog some doggie Purbeck ice cream which he wolfed down. Such a lovely place welcoming locals and tourists alike

We have been visiting this pub for around three years now with our westie and Love the fact that it does allow dogs! We call in for a meal after going for a long walk along the beach. We have never had a bad meal in all the times that we have visited. love the variety of the menu. We absolutely can not fault the food. Today we had a fabulous Sunday Roast I had the Roast pork and Paul had the beef Mmmmm!!! It was so so tasty!!! Just feel you deserve a good review! you are always so busy and no matter how busy you are you all seem to deliver a good service.

What a great pub and restaurant ate here twice over our break staying close to corfe , the staff are the best food was great and not stupid prices, we had our dog with us and the staff made a lovely fuss of her and put her at ease can’t wait to visit here again best place to eat in corfe .

Amazing service from start to finish, really helpful with helping my fussy children decide what to eat as well!! Food was lovely and well priced, We will certainly be back. Thanks all xx

What a disappointment of a Sunday lunch at the Bankes Arms. The building is stunning as is whole of Corfe Castle, but forget ordering any food. Shown to a table with a very uninterested young lady, who pointed to a box with clip board menus. Bar area looked a mess, piled up glasses with no room to move. Staff chatting rather than clearing up. It's the first view for anyone entering the place! We had to ask to order drinks, placed our order for 2 roast lamb and 2 beef....... then we sat and waited. Oh and we waited. And waited for over 40 mins before 'we' had to ask can we have a drink & how is food order going. Food was poorly presented piled high topped with a yorkshire pudding. Meat on top of red cabbage & some other unrecognisable shredded vegetable. A carrot ? or suede 'baby food' puree spread across the plate. The roast potatoes were dreadful, clearly re heated in a deep fat fryer. The carrot & the parsnip were the highlight of the plate. The Yorkshire pudding was rubbery, cold if not stale. Meat was poor. Had the look for pre packed sliced meat. The cauliflower was lovely & cheesy. It was not busy, just seemed a bit chaotic and unorganised. The staff need to be given a bit of direction! The only thing we didnt need to sit waiting for was the bill, which arrived promptly after asking for it. I would suggest a calculator for behind the bar. Maybe a quick look before at the food hygiene certificate rating would have helped us. Such a shame 😪 in a prime location within this historic village with a bit of TLC, organisation, and a good Chef this could be a Star Attraction in this beautiful area. Come on 'Bankes Arms Hotel' - step up and show the visiting world how we can do things in the UK 🇬🇧

After visiting Corfe Castle, I went into the Bankes Arms and was immediately greeted by Zack who showed me to my seat. Then the lovely Faye took my drink order. I ordered the nachos with chilli beef and hoped for the best as it can be very hit and miss. Well, it didn’t disappoint with a very generous portion of chilli beef, guacamole and sour cream, jalapeños AND real cheddar cheese. It was delicious. I would definitely recommend it as a place to eat and will definitely visit again.

My friend and I had the most amazing meal at this establishment. We booked a table and immediately on our arrival, were greeted and seated at our table. The service was fantastic, the food was beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious.

Very well presented pub with helpful and friendly staff. £6.45 for a pint of Guinness is a bit rich and more than some London prices.

My wife and I have nearly stopped going out as we always leave disappointed, knowing we could have cooked better tastier food at a fraction of the cost. This restaurant has renewed our faith. It was fantastic. We were out for a drive and found this wonderful place by accident. There was a special Sunday roast menu, so we chose from there. I chose the crispy pork belly, it was fork tender and delicious with a strip of the best crackling I have had in ages My wife had the roast beef, which was cooked perfectly. We ordered a side of cauliflower cheese and there was easily enough for two, we also ordered a side of chipolata sausages and there were tons in the bowl We could hardly walk it was so filling. Sorry about the photos, it was so nice I started mine before thinking about taking a picture

Stopped here for a birthday meal. Totally feel like we were ripped off, the menu described a Rib eye steak, which was the most expensive item and upon arrival it was so thin it did not resemble Rob eye at all. The service was slow, we asked for a drink that nobody bothered to bring and asked for the sticky table to be wiped, which never happened. The whole packed pub appeared to be single handedly run by one pregnant manager and a couple of young lads . Would definitely not return.

Popped in to have a drink on a wet summer’s afternoon. The service was shocking, I stood at the bar to get some ice for my warm white wine, one person serving and another unloading the glass machine who looked at me three or four times whilst doing this. Eventually got some ice! Just common courtesy to acknowledge someone at least. Went up for another drink and it gets worse, the greeting that was given to three people who walked past was so unwelcoming, then the staff were being shouted at in front of customers and then joked about with regulars. Will not return, unprofessional, rude, uninviting, and expensive

Had the best experience at the Banks Arms, friendly service and was made to feel right at home. The Guinness is on point, not to mention the "red wine". Would definitely recommend

Stopped for lunch and so glad we did. We had the loaded fries and Brie, bacon and cranberry sandwich. It was just amazing.

Where to start…. Poor service as soon as we walked in. We checked before attending if they had Gluten free food, told they did. We order, only to be told that several items were not GF…. So we change our order. Food comes and it’s no GF and given the wrong meal. ( this isn’t a fad, it’s a medical thing given my body is genuinely allergic to gluten) We tried several times to tell staff but seems they like to party at the bar rather than check on customers food. Not once through our meal did they check if we needed anything or if everything was ok. When they came to clear the plates we pointed out the order was wrong. The male shrugged his shoulders and said “ well you still ate” yes I did, because after a 14hr shift at work and meeting friends I was ready for a hot meal! Given we live in the village too, we like to support local businesses, however given the poor attitude and inattentive staff, I can safely say I will avoid this pub! I’ll stick to the good food and service at the castle inn or fox!

Wow, wow,wow. Visited with 5 friends yesterday for Sunday lunch. We all agreed it was one of the best Sunday lunches we had ever had. Food and service were superb. We will be back next year! Thank you

Sunday roast was amazing and as always great service. As the manager of a competitor restaurant it’s lively to be welcomed here. The staff were first rate and the roast pork was delicious. Crackling was perfect! Thank you George and your staff and please pass on my compliments to the chef and staff in the kitchen!!

The sign on the door said "legendary roasts" they were not lying. Really delicious food, good service and good value. The 1st time we've had a Sunday roast there so I don't know it it's always this good but the Yorkshire's with little bits of crisped carrot, the greens were spiced and the gravy had incredible depth of flavour without being too salty. The cooking shows talk about elevating dishes - exactly what we had here. Exceptional cooking with expertly balanced flavours.

Family of five, four roast dinners, three lamb one beef. All rated five star quality. Presentation excellent, as was the food. Beef tender, big plus for me! Good value as well, highly recommend !!

Had Sunday lunch here as always really good in-fact better than previous visits portion was extremely generous I couldn’t finish it all. A lovely Malbec to accompany my pork roast. Staff were very friendly as always. My thanks to George and his team Unfortunately for him I will be back !!!

We have been staying in Corfe Castle Village and chose this restaurant for a special evening meal because the traditional decor looked gorgeous and (unlike the crammed place opposite) there was ample space around the tables for our two dogs. Our whole party (3 generations) found their food delicious and the staff were pleasant and professional. We had made our booking in person, stopping for a drink (loved the Old Porter) and noticed that the man serving at the bar, George, was very hard-working and helpful and knew all the regular customers’ names. We’re very grateful and will definitely come again on our next visit.

Fish and chips. But the guy who dealt with us was great. Just what we wanted a Great night in a storm

Had lunch here in the garden, chicken Caesar salad and seared salmon, delicious, And with a view too.dogs welcomed too.

I booked a table for 14 for Sunday lunch. We didn’t need to pre order and this didn’t cause any issues in the kitchen. Service was friendly and the food was exceptional!! Great portion sizes and just absolutely delicious. Highly recommend this pub and hope to return soon

We’ve had dinner at the Bankes Arms 3 times this summer and absolutely love it! Corfe is a beautiful village and at its best in the evening I think. Beautiful building, lovely large garden, friendly helpful staff, excellent menu and the food is wonderful. Pub food very well done. There always seems to be a nice atmosphere, people drinking in the bar and an always pleasantly busy. Clean toilets, a must for me! We have taken our two dogs every time and they are always made to feel very welcome, given water and a biscuit. Can’t wait to go back again!

Visited twice on holiday recently. First time pretty good, second time not so. Recommend beef burger and nachos. The shandy battered fish and chips is not only a gimmick, but a gimmick that doesn’t work. I can only surmise that the sugary lemonade in the batter mix burns, leaving you with a partially blackened coating that tastes revolting. Couple this with a thick rubbery fish skin, it makes for a pretty unpleasant experience. Suggest chef visits the Weld arms up the road to see how this dish is created properly.

Visited 3 years ago and having been caught in a torrential downpour decided to pop in again to see if we could get lunch. Glad we did food was excellent. The soup starter with warm bread was lovely and the mains were very good. Hubby had Caesar salad and I had summer vegetable tart, just a pity we were too full to try the dessert menu! Maybe next time!

We walked from Swanage and ordered some drinks here. We ordered the Salmon In white wine sauce and asparagus with fresh vegetables.Allergens and ingredients are listed in the menu. After 30 mins wait a waiter brought out the salmon but was covered in a tomato,creamy coloured sauce .I said to the waiter that it didn’t look like what I had ordered and he insisted that it should have tomato in it ! There was hardly any asparagus and the sauce just tasted of garlic and tomato.It was horrible.Not a white wine sauce -who knows what else was in there . I went into the bar and demanded a refund. Cash was left on our table ,despite them not accepting cash, as a refund. We left hungry . This is a dangerous practice ( and illegal)of serving anything up -as people with food allergies and intolerances are in danger here .

We had a really good Sunday lunch here while on holiday. Great service, lovely veg and best roast potatoes I’ve had away from home. Good quality meat. All well cooked and served and friendly efficient service.

Sehr gut gegessen in schönem Ambiente Wir haben ohne Reservierung einen schönen Tisch bekommen und sind sehr freundlich empfangen worden. Der Service war zuvorkommend und nett, das Essen frisch gemacht und äußerst schmackhaft. Sehr gemütlichen und authentische Einrichtung.

The food was beautiful, the service excellent, the IPA divine. A really lovely pub with great character in a superb location. The food was very good indeed. The staff were polite and attentive.

Lovely pub, great garden - can see the steam trains passing. Friendly, happy staff. Was really nice seeing young people in their first jobs, learning customer service. Really good roast lunch, we had the mixed meats, delicious! Thanks very much, we’ll be back! X

Lovely pub with friendly staff We had planned a picnic for the day and it suddenly started to rain so we joined the queue to try to get tables. We managed to get one of the last ones available which was a lovely table near the entrance by the bar. Lots of things appealed on the menu and the staff were knowledgable about allergens. Between us and the kids we had the salmon & chorizo main, cornflake chicken starter, croquettes, soup of the day and a burger. Everything was yummy but the salmon and chicken bits were especially delicious. There was a bit of a wait but considering how many people arrived at exactly the same time it wasn’t bad at all and the service was nice and very friendly too.

The staff were excellent, the food was average, except for the chips which were close to diabolical.. It`s our fault that we did not call attention to them until we paid at the counter. The manager would have none of it. He was not rude but our comments were just refuted `out of hand` We are in the hospitality trade and know chips very well, plus we know how to deal with guests . Such a disappointment.

A real plateful for a welcome Sunday lunch. Plenty of variety of vegetables, and a generous portion of meat.

Turned up Sunday lunch time. Was busy but managed to get a table. Lovely staff. Good service. Dog friendly. Excellent Sunday lunch. Was perhaps more expensive than some venues but it was worth it.

Absolutely fantastic. Lovely Staff and Food. Brilliant place to have a few beers and admire Corfe Castle A++++++++++

This is such a beautiful building with a really lovely garden leading down to the railway station - therefore it is such a shame that it is so badly let down by some of the staff (especially the lady working behind the bar) who were...

Lovely pub lovely atmosphere staff are great and very friendly. Entering the premises we had to walk through a couple of smokers in the entrance which as non smokers was not very pleasant. Maybe they should be asked to go out the back of the...

We went to the Bankes Arms for lunch after having a great experience there last year, sadly this was not the case today. We waited 40 minutes for a burger and some fish and chips, so I asked the waiter if he could check on...

A delicious Sunday roast in a very comfortable and welcoming pub. We have stayed at this hotel on a couple of occasions and have always found the food served to be excellent. We will definitely be returning soon

Nice friendly service mid week but the food was probably the least good all week. Sirloin Steak looked distincly like a rump, the pies were bland tasting and the side dishes presented poorly. Didn't feel like they were expecting guests. Probably as we were 4...

Great pub offering food, friendly atmosphere. Ate here twice during our visit to Dorset. Once was a booked meal and the other just popped in on the hop. Both meals were excellent very tasty and good value. Attentive staff. Lovely beer garden and a car...

What a fabulous place to eat & drink and the ambiance is really nice the food superbly presented and the staff really helpful as one of our party has a difficult allergy to deal with nothing was to much bother and an adaption was put...

Rude waitress ( older lady of the two waitresses working) Told us to pay as she wanted to shut the pub 9pm! Younger waitress (Erin I think) was lovely and clearly horrified at our treatment. Most apologetic.

Pub ok, food OK, service appalling. Late does not describe their performance. Forgot drinks order, forgot to clean the table, forgot the food. Absolutely no communication why things were hours late and when we might get served. AS BAD AS IT GETYS

3course Sunday lunch and a bottle of wine for £60 amazing meal great value in current climate staff are equally attentive ! Thank you !

From start to finish our weekend was perfect. We stayed at the Banks Arms hotel and absolutely loved it. Our room was quiet, clean and very comfortable. The breakfast was huge and delicious. We ate at the pub in the evening and were not disappointed....

The staff were very welcoming and friendly. The hake from the specials board was really good. We also enjoyed the crumble and custard.

My wife and I enjoyed a superbly presented and portioned lunch. We had chosen soup and a desert. Both plates were full, the soup lapping over the edges of the plates. The crumble was served piping hot in a deep bowl with a jug of...

We used to have a regular drink here with an occasional meal; but their good chef left and it went all Fawlty Towers. Finally after a dodgy tummy episode we called it, and after a break of 10 months we were suckered into the £25...

Brilliant pub, great for drinks and seems more of the locals go here, but also great holiday atmosphere. Would revisit anytime. Good service and bar staff.

What a wonderful find! Beautiful pub/hotel. Superb service, outstanding food and a great selection of local ales and gins. Staff couldn't have been more helpful and welcoming. Roaring fire, cosy and charming atmosphere.

Had the Christmas meal. Uninspiring roast on every level, followed by shop bought pudding and cold custard. Rude staff.

Excellent choice of dishes and very tasty indeed . We thoroughly enjoyed the food and atmosphere so returned the following evening to try something different on the menu . The staff were very friendly & efficient so we would definitely recommend a visit .

Poor service, given what’s going on in the town and half term… OK if you have 45mins to wait for lunch with young children… if not try another place.

We came as a multigenerational family for a family afternoon, a few drinks and food at 3:30. Told food was served from 5pm as the kitchen was shut Went to order at 5pm to be told kitchen opened at 5:30. Told at 5:28 kitchen was...

Really good food, all made fresh. Really interesting and varied menu and the staff were really great. Highly recommend.

Very friendly service, excellent price for bitter (£4.10). I ordered the confit duck leg with couscous and ratatouille: the portion size of all three was minute. A very small duck leg, a miniature cup of couscous and what was probably one tablespoon of ratatouille. And...

Visited for dinner on Wednesday late evening with my wife and 3 children. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff. Erin and Emma couldn't have been better. The food was fantastic and arrived quickly. Compliments to the chef's. We would recommend and will definitely...

Visitors to this establishment need to be told that they are charged exceptionally high prices for their drinks. I was charged £11.00 for two pints of larger. When I questioned that was rather high I was asked if I was local. With my Yorkshire accent...

We stopped here for lunch after enjoying some lovely food last summer. Me and my partner both opted for the fish finger sandwich which is served with a salad and a decent portion of crisps. Once again the food was very tasty which was served...

Came here on 2 occasions, once for lunch,the fish finger and bacon with brie sandwiches were lovely. We then came back later in the week for an evening meal. Had the Pork Belley and Salmon Fishcakes which were both great. Starters were nice as well....

Visited the restaurant twice on our recent holiday staying in Corfe. First time with my sister from Austria, who can be critical, to say the least. On both occasions the whole meal for all of us, was excellent. Very busy, but we found the young...

Good pub meal, didnt charge 10% service charge like Greyhound does. Not overwhelmed by the cheesecake with a tasteless red glace on , in menu described as raspberry coulis, could be better, But overall nice meal at fair prices

We only came in for a few drinks and I must admit, the food looked lovely. The pub is a nice looking place with a garden and seemed perfect for our family to stop and have a drink. We were a group of 6 adults...

Beautiful Beer Garden, friendly staff. A have to be here. Perfect view to the Castle. Really nice!! Good Food and own car Park

Me and my partner were in Corfe looking for somewhere to eat for lunch. We happened upon the Bankes arms as a nice looking building and were sat in a very sunny garden area. After ordering drinks and a sandwich each our waitress initially tried...

We ate here one evening during our stay in Corfe Castle, arriving fairly early and finding the pub almost empty. Few other people arrived as we ate, making it feel a bit lonely! But we had a nice meal of smoked haddock tart and fish...

We went on Sunday at 6.30, towards the end of their Sunday food service. It was very busy but we had booked and they were quick serving us. My husband and son had a roast which they said was very good and a large portion....

Was a lovely sunny day, took steam train from Swanage and got off at corfe with my 90 year old dad. The beauty is that we walked around the corner from the station, all on the flat and there was the Bankes Arms. Popped in...

My wife and I were looking for somewhere for a snack at lunchtime having enjoyed a tour of the Castle - and wanted some simple, uncomplicated food in a non-crowded environment (essential to avoid Covid right now due to hospital treatment). Other places didn't feel...

Great beer garden that in the sunshine was excellent - very enjoyable and a view of passing steam trains too.

Visited on a busy Saturday evening having booked previously. Lovely room near a real fire. Very good service. Had scallop starter with black pudding and bacon. Sublime! Then both had steaks which were perfect. Thoroughly recommend. Well done !!!!

Fantastic experience all around great food, especially the Sunday roasts, cheerful courteous friendly Staff all in all expectations surpassed highly recommended! Compared to the greyhound next door it’s chalk and cheese!

Amazing experience! Had booked a table to celebrate my Grandads birthday who died last year and this was the first year without him. My Grandparents had owned a caravan in Swanage for about 10 years when I was little so as a family we know...

What a delight. Beautiful Sunday lunch with the family. Food was delightful as was the service. Thank you.

If visiting Corfe Castle, stop into the Bankes restaurant to grab a coffee and some food. Excellent service, excellent fresh food, and overall a wonderful stopping place before the castle! Tiny but absolutely mighty in our opinions! <3

An enjoyable dinner with friends. Food was tasty and good value. Our friends venison was undercooked but was recooked without to much fuss. Good value wine list. Service with a smile although a little stretched

Excellent food, starters, main, & deserts. All are difficult to fault! Great fish pie. Reasonable wine list. Nice atmosphere.

Great place, friendly helpful staff with tastey well cooked food I will be returning and I recommend.thankyou for a pleasant meal

A really friendly, cosy and comfortable pub to just drink or have a meal. A very good, but not too extensive, menu with something for everybody. Cooked well and served by friendly smiley people! We were especially grateful to Lewis who booked us a cab...

Staying at Burnbake Lodges and went into Corfe Castle for Sunday Lunch. I had a small roast beef dinner as I don't have a big appetite and had seen the full size portion - no way could I have managed that - you certainly get...

Myself and my partner visited here on 02/10/2021. Parking is round the back of the pub and then you have to walk round to the front, we were greeted as soon as we walked in and sat down promptly, and a drinks order taken with...

Another place we tried whilst on holiday in Corfe. Full bar and food service is available and was prompt. You can also order at bar if you prefer which is a must for me. Food was good, I had chicken wrapped in pancetta served with...

The best Sunday roast I have ever had. Staff very nice & attentive without them making you feel they are pushing you for the table. Worth a visit for sure with steam trains to watch as well!

We were very fortunate to get a table for two without booking on a busy Sunday afternoon. Sadly our arrival coincided with the arrival of two large groups who were set up in the garden. We ordered two Sunday lunches without just a few minutes...

Service was lovely, friendly staff, menu quite limited and expensive. We both ordered the steak and Guinness pie served with mash and seasonal greens . The pie filling was delicious the pastry top was lovely and crisp the mash was buttery and tasty but the...

Hubby and I have been doing WW2 site seeing during lockdown, when we came across the Bankes Arns, this use to be a military base during WW2, as you've got Fort Henry nearby. What a gem of a place, we sat in the beer garden...

I felt the tables were a bit close together, and I saw several customers not wearing masks (which I know I cannot blame the pub for). Our first pint of beer was cloudy and had to be sent back. My first choice of meal was...

We found the Bankes Arms Hotel on a Walk from the near by camp site at Corfe Castle. Thank you Chloe and all the team for a very enjoyable evening. We shall definitely return on our next camping trip 🙂

the location and the view are worth the visit. But its much more than this. Good environment, lovely staff, great beer and food. Ill be back there certainly

Stopping here for a pint, great ale just what was needed after a hot day on the steam train. Nice view of Corfe Castle too.

Extremely friendly staff, lovely decor. Free parking for customers. would definitely recommend the cod and chips and the calamari.

I rarely post reviews - about once every year or less - and only if I am so impressed (or disgusted) that I feel others might benefit. And I am aware of current difficulties - its really hard to find trained, european staff these days...