The Castle Inn Restaurant in Purbeck

I spent a night at the Castle on a short walking break with a friend. Being hungry after our walk we were early coming down to eat, but were taken straight to our table. I chose two starters and a portion of truffle fries, and everything was very good .The loaded hummus with fried sprouts did sound a bit eccentric, but was delicious….I’m vegetarian, and it was my favourite course of the meal, and very generous. The roasted beetroot, pear and goats cheese salad was good, and the fries really tasty. Being pretty full after all this I finished with an affogato and the mini doughnuts. On a busy Friday evening service was friendly and attentive. Breakfast next morning was good, a big bowl of granola, yogurt &fruit compote followed by poached egg on sourdough. Thank you for a lovely relaxing stay with great food, and I hope to be back very soon.

We chose the roast and weren't disappointed. The turkey was so tender. Veggies cooked perfectly. Plenty of hot gravy and a huge Yorkshire pudding. Very friendly staff.

Very delicious food with both traditional and more adventurous options. Service was nicely paced and we were full after starter and main.

A wonderful pub in a lovely location. Great food and service provided at all times to make a fantastic dinning experience.

Just, of the overall experience, The Castle Inn was excellent. Fantastic customer service, excellent food and just an all round enjoyable atmosphere. What helps too it excel is its location to the fabulous coastal walks and the impressive Lulworth cove.

The food and service at this beautiful country pub were outstanding. The best pub food I have eaten in a long time and definitely the best truffle chips I’ve ever eaten. All staff were really friendly and helpful. Will definitely make this a regular eating spot.

Lady at the bar was just FANTASTIC, so welcoming and funny. The front garden was lovely and over all a gorgeous warm pub. Roast wasn’t the best and I wish I got a pizza but would still return!

Decided to book as part of our walk from Durdle Door campsite to Lulworth Cove. The pub is a short walk into West Lulworth. It’s a Butcombe pub with plenty of beer options to choose from. We had the vegetarian Sunday Lunch which was really good and a side of cauliflower cheese. Portion size was very good and had to work a little to get through it. They have a nice selection of deserts and small portions for those wanting a sweet need to the meal without bursting on the way out. Shame we weren’t in the area for another few days as the menu looked really interesting with options that aren’t seen in many places

Very good Sunday lunch. Nice to see that custard is proper custard not shop bought! Friendly staff. Family had a good time. X

This was the best meal out we have had in a long time and usually we are quite fussy and particular! We could not find one single fault with the whole experience. The food was perfect and the staff were spot on. We had a gorgeous sunny autumn day so sat outside. We would highly recommend the Castle to anyone. We would come back here tomorrow! Our thanks to the team for a great visit 🤩😉

Visited on a sunny afternoon in August. Sat at a table outside on the front of the pub. A couple of people had told us about this pub said food was good. What a disappointment. Food was very poor and well overpriced for a very average pub grub meal. Service not very good Staff not very friendly I would not return Please avoid

Nice olde worlde pub. Good food and drink. Friendly service. Free parking in the car park opposite the pub. I'd recommend booking as it's very popular.

Excellent waitress who was helpful and kind - gave us some top tips so we really enjoyed our meal Thankyou Philippa . All staff very helpful and smiley , despite being very busy . We will be back 🤣😘

Fantastic place for lunch on the way to Lulworth Cove. Staff are friendly. Delicious food with a variety of options, even for children. Our fussy 3 year old would have been happy with a number of choices and they were happy to switch peas for beans. We ate our lunch in one of the beach huts and our little ones thought this was fun. We’ve been a few times over the years and the food and service is always of a high standard. We look forward to stopping at The Castle Inn as much as going to the cove. Thank you.

Lovely old pub, room was a bit on the small side, could have done with a table. Breakfast was included and was very good. Also plenty of dinner options from pizza to more 'gastropub' fare. Short walk to Lulworth cove but quite a trot to Durdle door.

The MOST delicious food and hilarious staff - such a fun night - thank you thank you thank you! Went with meat eaters, vegan, gluten free friends and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal. Totally yummy!

We were a group of 8 and had a mixture of meals off the menu, including the Sunday roast. None of the meals were very good. The cauliflower cheese was the only ingredient I’d rate as passable.

We stayed here for 2 nights and although this is termed a hotel it is really a local's pub with rooms. The food is as one would expect in a pub with the beer being excellent but somewhat expensive. The room was adequate but suffered from my favourite bathroom bugbear ie. not enough light to shave by - are all hotel bathrooms designed by females I wonder? Staff in the bar and restaurant were both friendly and efficient. However, being wrongly billed was an annoyance but the error was corrected.

Spent a lovely 2 nights at the Castle Inn last week. Very comfortable and clean room with all the facilities you need. Really nice. Ate at the pub both nights and the food was excellent, fish and chips, steak, camembert sharer, mussels - all fantastic! Added to that the Butcombe ales were gorgeous and the service was superb - big shout out for Jo who was lovely and looked after us so well. Such a friendly and cosy pub, many thanks for a lovely stay!

Stopped by after a walk at Lulworth Cove. Decided to have Sunday lunch which was delicious with an excellent Veggie option for me. We received a warm welcome, and the dog was happy with the treats jar. Will definitely go again. Probably next wee ;-)

Enjoyed an evening with friends and good friendly service. Dishes were imaginative we enjoyed the Rib eye pork smoked sausage cassoulet and the venison bourguignon Casserole, the pie special was also good. We had a problem with one dish which was immediately sorted out. We took advantage of the Butcombe card offer (25% of food on a Wednesday)A good evening enjoyed by all.

Fantastic food and great service. Mussels were really fresh and all our food was well cooked. Greeted by really friendly staff. If we visited Lulworth again we would definitely eat here again. It was busy and I am glad we reserved a table online.

Had a fabulous evening of live music and a delicious fish pie meal at the castle inn. Will definitely be returning to check the local area again when the weather is better. What a lovely place.

Lovely pub. Great staff, all very helpful. Food tasty, and plenty of it. Wit definitely come back. Thank you A two

West Lulworth Women's Institute celebrated Christmas with a meal at the Castle Inn last night. I was a little apprehensive, as anyone who has organised groups will understand. But I need not have worried. The management and staff looked after our group of 25 ladies very well, and everyone agreed that the food was delicious. Aren't we lucky to have a village pub that serves good food?

We had a very good evening at The Castle Inn. The food was delicious, the pub looked festive and a good time was had by all of the members of the local WI. The staff were verypolite and helpful. We are now going to join in the community carol singing on the green near the church in Thursday 21st December.

2 night stay in November, nice rooms, friendly staff and the food was very enjoyable, both breakfasts and Dinners. For a smallish establishment with 12 rooms we were really impressed by the menus, particularly breakfast which boasts a wide array of hot options all of a high standard. We did the 7 mile walk across the cliffs taking in Durdle door and other great scenery. helpfully the room pack provided details of the walk.

Have been here 3 or 4 times just for drinks and maybe a light bite… love this place … bar staff very friendly.., I walk in and my drink is already on the bar… locals are really friendly and funny… if you have the balls to actually have a conversation…. Go here it’s a must … just so bar staff know I’m known as man with husky xx

Quite honestly the best pub I've been to in decades. Came with my family and my mum. The team here were exceptionally kind and accommodating as one of my daughters is autistic and asked for separate food. This would have been outstanding alone but then the food came out. Quite simply superb. Mussels the size and taste of which we have never seen before and soup and toastie to die for. The Best people, the best food, the best location. We are making plans to come back.

This is a busy pub, at least during the holidays. The beer is good and well kept. The food menu has a nice range of options. The dishes were all tasty and the service was good, friendly and efficient. The pub is a bit of a walk from the beach along a road which doesn't have pavement all the way.

Came here for an early dinner after a day at the cove. Looked great from the outside. unlike others I was not caught out by the car parking arrangement. You simply have to log your registration once you are inside - don't forget or you'll be fined. What stood out about this visit was that during out whole meal we were stared - or rather scowled at - by an elderly white haired gent and his wife across the restaurant. I should point out that we are a non-white family. Normally I wouldn't blame a restaurant for the actions of another customer, but it was clear form their chatting with the staff that he was a known regular here. As we left, the white haired man had taken up a prominent seat in the pub area beside the front door staring at everyone coming and going, and in fact he stared so fixatedly at my daughter that my wife actually asked him what the hell he was looking at. He seemed lost for words and went back to his drink, with not very much to say for himself. It was a very unpleasant interaction I did not want my family to experience. I only post this as I believe the customer must be well known to the manager and staff and I would hope this encourages them to have a word with that gentleman. I wonder how many other meals he has spoiled over the years.

Nice welcome good selection of beers and cider Food was very good burger for lunch and followed it with chocolate mousse with pear and honey comb was delicious

The lady that works at the pub- didnt get her name, but she has a dark brown/black bob is super friendly and efficient. A couple of minor things were soon put right by her- just the sort of person you want looking after you. The pub is lovely- everything that the photos online. The menu is nice and a cut above standard pub offerings. The Butcombe Original is the best Ive had.

We visited after walking at nearby Lulworth cove to Durdle Door. The building is old and quintessentialy English with thatched roof and low ceilings. We had pea hummus, calamari, polenta chips and fish and chips to share between two. The food was OK, reasonable sized portions and staff were friendly.

Stumbled across this super pub whilst hiding from the rain! Friendly staff who were fun attentive. Dog treats available too. We really enjoyed our food especially the salted caramel donuts!

So good that we went two nights running. There were six of us staying locally for a wedding and we had our first experience seated in the separate dining area with an excellent dinner, certainly matching expectations. The wedding was great, but the lure of The Castle Inn was greater as the evening wore on. This time, we were walk-ins, but the manager recognised us from the previous night and gave us the same table. This time we chose a bunch of starters, and combined with excellent wine, was just the ticket. We will return! A note of warning to those who park in the pub carpark across the main road. You must get your car registered with the pub so you won't get a £60 fine. We failed to see the signs...however, the pub have notified the parking company to cancel, but it's a lot of hassle.

Found this little gem via a Google search! What a lovely inviting pub, the staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful, and the food was superb and very reasonably priced, I highly recommend the little Nutella doughnuts!! 👌🏼 Very dog friendly too, and the doggy water barrel and access to bowls was a lovely touch!

Absolutely fantastic service and food- the best Sunday roast in the area. The ladies who arranged our table (sorry I don’t know your names, but the stall with the flip down lid was perfect!) and Dylan who served us and arranged our taxi home were superb. Dylan- best of luck in your adventures- your dad is very proud!!

Popped in for a spot of tea, staff friendly and chatty. Drinks rather expensive. Food was good but a little overpriced for the amounts given. Relaxing atmosphere and very quant look

We were in the area and decided we would visit here again. The car park over the road was full but on our second attempt to get into the car park someone who had just parked moved their car over slightly so we could get our car in. You need to use the tablet computer on the bar to register your car which you just type the first part of your car reg and tap on the picture and select whether you are guest or diner and you will be ok to park. You can choose to find a table yourself in one part of the pub which I think you won't be charged a service charge as you order food at the bar or in the other section you get shown to a table and have table service. I had a local beer which was nice. For food I had the fish and chips which was really nice and would have it again. Overall the staff seemed friendly. The place was busy but food didn't take overly long to come. The food and drink is good. Car parking can be an issue at busy times as the car park isn't over big and the street parking can be difficult. I would recommend this pub

Normally eat here once a month whenever we are in Lulworth Cove everything was fine until I asked for the bill and I couldn’t believe how the prices had raised then to see that service charge is now automatically added ( the waitress said she could take it off but we hadn’t received bad service so we paid it but felt that it should be at the diners discretion) my wife & I both felt that our meal was extremely poor value

A fabulous family occasion completely spoilt by parking fines. 2 cars = £120 plus administration charges and YES having seen the notices we did register on the console which on asking a member of staff kindly directed us towards. Both car registration details were entered. One letter arrived within a few days the other was more than 10 day's and very close to the final date before the fine went up to £100.. We did try to contact the pub to discuss our options but sadly didnt get an answer. Our visiting family became so distressed that we ended up paying to give her piece of mind. Guess thats what these letters are designed to do. Living in Dorset we visit Lulworth often but cannot see us risking another visit to the Castle Inn. Visitor beware.

We didn’t pre-book and the restaurant was busy, but staff kindly made space for the three of us. I had never been to this establishment before and I notice some other reviewers moaning about not knowing to register their number plates in the carpark. As...

Came here for dinner on a busy Monday! Place was packed and you could see the staff were working hard and looking after all of the customers. Outside is a real sun trap. Had a ploughman’s which was incredible! Homemade sausage roll (5 star) and...

Writing this a week later after visiting for a evening meal, the meal was average at best, the steak had to go back it was far too tough & honestly ive had better from tescos! Came home today to find a parking fine in the...

Dinner menu is great and the food was lovely. Staff were friendly and had a really cosy feel to the place. Dog friendly which is always a plus too! Would recommend!

Absolutely first class service. Busy Wednesday! Packed inside and packed outside but the staff well in control and running around keeping everything going. Manager present on our front which is always good to see. Had a pizza for lunch and it was amazing!

Super food, friendly staff and a great atmosphere, this is definitely on my list to return! Had a tasty pizza and the fish finger bun, both delicious, shout out to Nathan who looked us really well! Car parking too, it’s a must!

We were holidaying nearby in Lulworth Cove. I choose a handful of pubs/restaurants nearby and pre booked before we came, which in August we new it would be busy. We enjoyed an evening meal and honestly couldn’t fault it. The food was cooked to perfection,...

Despite all the tables being reserved, we received friendly service and were graciously provided a table for an hour. Plus, the food was quite good.

Lovely cosy pub with lots of lovely features both inside and outside. Whilst staying nearby with my husband for a few nights we visited this pub for drinks on one sunny day and then returned for dinner the day after. The drink selection was very...

Just can’t quite get it right. Had hoped it would regain its ability to be an excellent pub but just don’t seem to quite get the right staff or systems in place. Shame as excellent location.

Absolutely amazing all round!! Stayed with my lady and had the full experience! Nothing was below short of fantastic!! Had the calamari and pizza for dinner!! Went up to our stunning room and popped down for a fish and chips and the best brownie we...

I didn’t stay here, just had a meal, but the rooms look magnificent. I would definitely stay here next time. Jo and her team were very attentive and efficient and the food was the best we’ve had in Lulworth all week! Thankyou so much!

Great food and great service. We were 9 people for a late Sunday lunch. Quality and variety of food, service & value for money all excellent. Staff friendly & accommodating. Highly recommended

Superb location, spacious, good menu choices, excellent quality food, fair prices ( the members club 25% Wednesday food discount is most welcome ) seating good, nice idea of having a “mini” dessert as an option. Staff were very welcoming and pleasant - Philippa who served...

Hot July day and wanted some lunch. Nothing on the menu is cold apart from the ploughman's. At £16 it seemed pricey but we ordered after being told it's fine to share. (should think so for that price!) It arrived and I felt like asking...

Visited here again for a special occasion and we were not disappointed. We felt an excellent choice of food and on arrival it exceeded expectations as it did on our last visit. Dessert was delicious especially the hot mini donuts filled with Nutella. The customer...

What's not to love. This place has great curb appeal. Wasn't planning on stopping as was en route for a swim, but the sunny outdoor tables lured us in for very late lunch or rather early tea. 2 roast beef dinners, adult and child. Great...

Excellent meal and lovely staff - nice pint of Tall Tales IPA as well! You'll need to book if eating - they get very busy, but worth it.

Beautiful bar/restaurant area, lovely outside seating and whilst it’s next to the road, there’s not a lot of traffic and it’s a real sun trap (with brollies for shade). The menu was great, really friendly staff and absolutely delicious food - best ploughman’s I’ve had...

Dinner was delicious, great service, the staff were very accommodating to us and 2 dogs, great menu, we were spoiled for choice. When it came it was simply delicious.

Text: A lovely local inn only 10 min from Lulworth cove walk . Really cute place . The bkfst was lovely . Rooms well equipped and clean . Only a few negatives the guy I think he was the manager was not friendly on check...

Go a lot. Lovely food and staff dog friendly too it’s our local pub and we are very lucky, recommend fish pie when they have it on

Friendly pub, full of character with low beams, nooks and crannies! Good menu and selection of local beers & ciders. Busy turnover of walkers; the bar staff were very efficient and cheerful.

The Castle is a short (20 minutes or so) walk from Lulworth Cove, so we visited a few times while staying...as we did last year. We went a few times: brilliant Sunday lunch, enjoyable quiz night and great pizzas. Very friendly staff, particularly the lady...

Abbiamo trascorso una settimana nel Dorset avendo preso come postazione questo hotel che è ricavato in una storica casa vittoriana...

Fell into the pub for a late lunch/early dinner after hiking the coastal path. The staff were great and the food was good and plentiful for hungry us. We had pre-booked a table which was good planning as the place was busy. Would love to...

Stayed here for a couple of nights. The staff are very friendly and professional. The rooms are clean and comfortable and lovely bathrooms with complimentary toiletries. The breakfast was amazing with a great selection to choose from, the food in general was of a high...

The bar staff were very friendly, visit ofton and my go to when in Lulworth, lovely atmosphere and locals friendly and good company,

Went for two drinks on Christmas Eve. The pub was packed but they still found us somewhere to sit. We visited again on Boxing Day, same situation, and the lovely barmaid even remembered what I drank! I had a long conversation with some semi locals...

We had a lovely stay in the delightful establishment. The rooms are very quant and comfortable, very well decorated and relaxing. The food is extremely good both breakfast and evening meal. Lots of choices and good quality

We booked The castle Inn on our weekend visit to Lulworth Cove. Very dog friendly, the Malbec wine is good but can’t remember the name. The menu was limited as they had a rush on during the day ( it was a Friday after all)...

Blessed with sunny weather in October 2022. Sat outside. Would recommend the cider. Lovely lunch experience

We came as we were staying in the town for a weekend away. The pub looks really nice from the outside to the inside. Staff were really friendly and nice. However neither of us were keen on the food. We had 3 courses too. I...

We are in Dorset regularly & have drinks in the castle but haven’t eaten in there. On a visit with family, we asked if there were any tables for dinner. Although none were free, the staff found us one that had just been vacated. The...

We had booked a table for a Friday evening and had never eaten here before. We had dinner and dessert and we were astounded at just how good the food and service was. The steak was cooked to absolute perfection, the ice cream we were...

Don't order the Vietnamese King Prawn and Cashew salad. The taste of vinegar is totally over powering and i had to search to find any cashews along with the 5 or 6 prawns. A Very disappointing meal.

As a previous reviewer said, don’t bother going if you haven’t booked. Even though half the outside tables were empty they still wouldn’t serve us food and only told us after we had got drinks. Staff weren’t very friendly telling us this either. While we...

Pro tip: book first! We went one evening as we were staying in the village and this was a short walk for dinner. We were disappointed the first night as they only serve food to pre-booked guests. This however is why it is so good....

Sat outside as full inside. Sadly that exposed us to smokers whilst eating. Dog friendly but not happy to see a dog being allowed to eat off the table by his owner. Said patron broke a glass & kicked the bits under a table but...

Sunday lunch was poor. The menu said glazed carrots. They need to take the s off! Roast potatoes were more like boiled. Very slightly roasted. For seasonal veg at this time of year I would have thought there was more than kale growing in the...

Warm and friendly staff, from greeting to leaving made us feel welcome and at home, dog included. A menu full of gorgeous fresh food and brilliant service. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit thank you.

Been to other Buttcombe pubs and this one is the best so far. Very quick service and friendly staff. We had dinner and a couple of beers, all of which were delicious. It’s going to be busy during the summer but if you can get...

Rude and unprofessional staff. The set up is unclear about eating and there’s a real lack of customer service. Better quality places to eat and drink in the cove so avoid if you can.

We stayed at the castle inn for 2 nights and had a fantastic time. It’s well located, about a 15 minute walk from Lulworth cove where there are little eateries, a pub and touristy shops. My partner went swimming in the sea, so bring your...

Lovely meal here. Staff were super friendly, lovely smiley waitress who served us. Charming inside and food delicious. Would definitely go back

Had a lovely evening meal here. Food was great and the waitress was lovely, being the judge of our paper aeroplane competition and even rewarding us with a prize for the winner.

Customer service, awful. Appalling behaviour from the lady with the red hair. We walked in after a long day exploring Bournemouth and Durdle door and proceeded to sit down on an empty table. The lady with the red hair said we’re fully booked tonight no...

We're just back from a holiday in West Lulworth and by happy coincidence, our rental cottage was right next door to The Castle. Over the course of our one week holiday, my family and I managed to work our way through all the main course...

Hobs and her crew provided fantastic service during a two day stay. Food is excellent , staff are very attentive and friendly . Thoroughly recommend this place.

I can not recommend this pub enough! We were staying nearby and pre-booked The Castle for an evening meal on our first day. The staff on arrival were incredibly welcoming and seated us immediately. The overall look and atmosphere of the building was brilliant and...

Attended a Easter gathering in the area had a Sunday roast late in the evening ordered the "go big meal" well if that was the go big wouldn't want the small.. absolutely no gravey on the dinner ... had thicker meat in the saver ham...

We visited The Castle on a number of occasions during our recent stay in Lulworth Cove. A very easy 20 minute walk from there. We sat in the beer garden a couple of times, and sat inside for a meal. Good choice of really nice...

A very good meal and pleasant evening was spoiled by the arrival of a £60 fine for parking in their carpark. I asked the staff where we should park so was following their instruction. No one took our reg number and no one said anything...

Went to have lunch with my boyfriend and Nala, my dog. Excellent service, very kind everyone. Food and beer very good. I would come back adn I would choose the place if I need accomodation

Spent a couple of nights away at the Castle Inn with my husband. Lovely position, short walk to lulworth cove and pleasant stroll to durdle door. We ate here on one of the nights and the food was very nice. Room was nice, we greatly...

Spent 1 night at the Castle Inn, and had a snack on arrival and dinner here. Enjoyed our stay, it was clean and comfortable, and a fairly good menu, and a good breakfast.. A few local ales at the bar. Staff friendly and helpful. Around...

Discovered this pub by chance. Staff were super friendly and helpful. Had a great table. Food and drink was smashing. Well worth a visit if you’re in Lulworth or Durdle Door.

Went to the castle inn for the first time in a few years, last went before the refurbishment. The food back then was excellent, a varied menu with something for everyone. I went in today with two family member the place looked lovely, shame I...