The Castle Inn, West Lulworth in Purbeck

If I could give 6 stars, I would. Sometimes in life you come across perfection, and The Castle Inn is one of those examples. Incredible staff who are just the nicest people ever, beautifully clean rooms with high quality tea/coffee and toiletries, outstanding food and a location that’s hard to beat. I’m trying to think of something they can improve, but I can’t. Well done!! 👏

Lovely stay at the Castle Inn. Very good location for walking the local area. Pub very well appointed and very good food. Quite expensive for food / drink and added tip on each bill mounts up quickly at the end of the stay.

I visit a lot of hotels and B&Bs for work, and this is one of my favourites right up there with my top ever stays. The atmosphere of the place is really positive, and the staff are notably friendly and professional but also had time for us when we had questions. Truly impressed and everyone involved should be really proud. The extra effort was really noticed and my wife and I (who have stayed in hundreds of places) really thought it was great. Cheers all

Wonderful place, from the moment we arrived we were made to feel welcome, nothing was too much trouble. The room was excellent as was the food, the breakfast menu is extensive and certainly from our experience all of excellent quality. Great place to base yourself for walking or travelling to other parts of Dorset. I would say a car is essential if looking to explore the wider area. Finally I will again mention the staff, for a pub that is open each day from 8am they could not have been more accommodating and friendly. Look forward to our next stay, thank you.

My husband and I stayed for just one night at this lovely inn and would have loved to stay longer. We will surely be back. The room was really lovely, well appointed, beautifully clean and cosy. We had an evening meal at the hotel as well as breakfast the next morning and were not disappointed either time. The menus at both meals were extensive and the presentation and quality of the meals were just great. To top it off the ambience of the inn and the super staff were all we could ask for. Thank you all very much for a fabulous stay in beautiful surroundings. The location is perfect for exploring the beautiful and dramatic coastline.

Fantastic stay, couldn't fault the staff accommodation and delicious food. We will definitely go back there again.

Really great place to stay. Lovely location, all staff very friendly & helpful, great breakfasts & evening meals, nice rooms (real coffee a lovely touch), comfy beds and all for such amazing value. Will recommend & will be back. Thanks.

I've just spent two nights here and thoroughly enjoyed it. My friend booked a room too and we both commented on how friendly the staff were. Lovely quirky building, clean and interesting rooms, and good filling full English breakfasts. Convenient car park over the road too, and very handy for coastal walking.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, dinner and breakfast at the Castle Inn. The room was cosy, beautifully decorated and clean and the staff were all really friendly. We got two free drinks vouchers on our arrival, some milk for our room and offered bottles of water on departure which was a really special and appreciated touch. Breakfast was delicious too. Really close to Lulworth Cove, so was an excellent location. Would definitely come again when we’re in the area. Thank you!

The food was excellent but not cheap. I didn't mind paying for it due to the great service and quality. It's definitely worth going on a Wednesday for a 25% discount. Check-in was quick, and the room was nice, clean, and had character. The bathroom was small but sufficient for a 3-night stay. It would have been amazing if the room was better heated for colder days. Tall people might find the low ceilings challenging, but it didn't bother us. The walls and ceilings were thin, so we could hear our neighbors sneezing, which isn't ideal for light sleepers. However, the neighbors were quiet and respectful. The room had water, coffee, and teas provided. The staff were easy-going, and breakfast offered a nice range of food. It's great that they provide a takeaway service for breakfast for those mornings when you want to sleep in a bit longer but don't want to miss out. Parking was easy, and the main attractions were a 20-minute walk away. I would highly recommend going to a supermarket before checking in for snacks during your stay. There is a Londis a 6-minute walk away, but it was never open during our stay and had bad reviews. Overall, it was a nice stay and great to visit in February when it's not too busy. For the amount we paid, it was great value! Thank you to the Castle Inn team.

Another fantastic stay at this lovely hotel, we come every year for my husband’s birthday and they ever disappoint

Nathan and his team went that extra mile to look after us and made us feel very welcome. Great food and drink . Highly recommend

Had dinner here it was a very good meal. Highly recommend £30 -£40 per person.

Lovely place and really enjoyed

I haven't had such a good roast for years. The service is impeccable and the atmosphere really cosy. Can't wait to go back!

Fabulous place, fabulous food & even more fabulous staff, a special note must be made about Hobbs, what a gem she is all the staff couldn’t do enough for us , the food was delicious, nothing out of the freezer here, will visit again

Excellent fish stew, lovely atmosphere, friendly staff.

Solo dad with a 7 week old spent the afternoon with a pint and some lovely food. Service was excellent and all child friendly. Car parking opposite was plentiful and not far from the coast path. Did visit off season though, it can get very busy.

Absolutely fantastic stay from start to finish. We had a large group booking to celebrate a big birthday. We stayed 1 night and had lunch, dinner and breakfast. All the staff, especially Hobbs and Elijah in the bar were brilliant, fun and every efficient. We were made to feel very welcome. Nothing was too much trouble. We highly recommend the Castle Inn for the great hospitality, great food and cosy comfy rooms.

The Castle Inn is in a perfect location for exploring the local area with plenty of parking right outside. The building is traditional and beautifully maintained. The decor is fresh and tasteful. The staff were great from check in to check out. Nothing was too much trouble and all of our needs were catered for. Our room was lovely, clean and well appointed. It had everything we needed for an overnight stay with some great personal touches like a personalised welcome pack and complimentary food and drink. The restaurant food was lovely and again the staff went above and beyond with their service. We had a great stay and would return any time.

A delightful inn staffed by wonderful people, both front of house and in the kitchen. A great atmosphere in a stylishly decorated old pub which has without doubt been turned into a 'boutique inn'. I would certainly stay there again - and, in expectation of similar high standards, in any other of the Butcombe Boutique Inns.

Fantastic place with boutique rooms, food is fantastic

Great local pub with great local food and drink. All are welcome even us with our muddy boots and dogs.

Absolutely loved it here and can't wait to go back. Good food, good beer, lovely staff, comfy room.

Great place to stay, great location and fabulous service

Fabulous staff and good. We will be returning

A very nice weekend was spent at this pub. Excellent rooms, every meal was fantastic and best of all, every single member of staff was so warm and friendly. Will 100% go back again soon!

We had a lovely stay at the Castle Inn. We booked the signature room for two nights with breakfast. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, and the breakfast and dinner was delicious. The Inn is really close to lulworth cove which made for some amazing walks, and the guest pack that came with the room had lots of info on the best walking routes. I would without a doubt stay at the Castle Inn again, thank you for such a great experience 😊

We have only good things to say about the Castle Inn, the staff were absolutely wonderful and couldn’t do enough for us, always friendly and very attentive and helpful. The room was tastefully decorated and clean with everything we could need for a few nights away. The bed was extremely comfortable and the shower over the bath had good water pressure. I cannot fault the room but if you are a light sleeper you can hear some muffled noise from the pub below but we didn’t find this a problem at all. We had breakfast and dinner and absolutely no complaints, the service was great and the food was delicious. The location was perfect for us to get out and about to explore the area. We had a wonderful stay and won’t hesitate to go back for another visit. Thank you for a lovely time.

Great location within easy walking distance of the sea. The inn is popular with families with children and dogs yet the menu manages to be imaginative. Excellent Butcombe beers. Lovely staff too.

Food was delicious, but we had an odd experience - we ordered fish and chips, but got a tiny piece of fish; about the size of a single fish finger. After we paid, we saw other customers who ordered fish and chips, but had normal sized portions. When we brought this up with the waitress she mentioned that they had a shortage of ingredients, which is why she knocked a few pounds off the price of our meal preemptively. It was weird that this was never discussed with us before we ordered. The whole thing felt really underhand, like she was hoping we wouldn’t notice that we were being ripped off.

We loved opur stay at the Castle Inn, The staff went out of their way to make it a wonderful stay for which we are very grateful

Room was great and the food at the pub was delicious. We enjoyed a couple of lovely walks around Lulworth Cove - only a 10 min walk from the pub to the cove. Such a nice short break away after Christmas. The staff were very friendly and made us and our dog, Poppy, feel very welcome. Would definitely recommend.

Lovely quaint setting with friendly helpful staff and delicious food. Very old English traditional and quirky rooms. I would strongly recommend staying here

Excellent festive break, fantastic service Christmas dinner was faultless and portion sizes more than generous, location and atmosphere was great, well done to everyone involved

We spent 5 days over christmas here and had the most excellent stay. The food, especially christmas day dinner, was excellent. Staff were great, 'Hobbs' is a fantastic asset with her engaging attentive style. Location is stunning with beautiiful landscape. Altogether a memorable stay.

A most enjoyable stay, the food and service both excellent, the reason I have only given 4 stars for the room is because we were at the back above the kitchens so a little noisy at tim s from the extractors and we looked out onto a scruffy hedge and flat roof, this area could be made to look really pleasant. Next time we would ask for a front view, despite this we would highly recommend.

Excellent service and really good food - we went back the next day and weren't disappointed!

Lovely location. Staff friendly & efficient. Room clean, had everything you needed. Lovely shower. Food & drinks delicious, bit pricey. Busy, buzzy place. Car parking available.

Stayed for one night in early October. Had stayed previously about 10 years ago. Now run by a pub chain but still welcoming, well run and a great place to stay with dogs. Staff were very busy with diners when we arrived but acknowledged us straight away and we were booked in as soon as they were free. Had evening meal and breakfast. Both were very good. It's a very old Inn, but rooms are cosy and comfortable. A special mention for the staff. Our dog can sometimes be a bit nervous and Kelly picked up on this at the evening meal. When we came down for breakfast this had been relayed to Kate in the morning crew who had set a table for us in a quiet part of the pub. A very nice touch. We look forward to staying again sometime soon.

Pretty pub with rooms close to Lulworth. Everything was clean and comfortable and the team at the Castle are fabulous and did everything to make our stay enjoyable.

Great pub, brilliant food and beer, good atmosphere. Close to lulworth cove and castle, would highly recommend

We booked a 3 night stay at Castle Inn to explore the Jurassic coast. The hotel was ideally located with the coastal walks just a short distance walk away. The hotel staff were welcoming and attentive. The room was lovely. Food was delicious and potions were generous. I would definitely stay here again if I was back in the area.

We had a lovely two night stay here. Food was great, staff attentive and the location is great.

Cosy dog friendly inn. We had a delicious Sunday lunch for 7. They catered for our veggie guests very well. Great service.

Another perfectly relaxing visit just what we needed. The staff were again just fabulous. We will be back. Thank you.

Friendly and relaxed. A quality place. Only dropped in for a coffee - the coffee was great 😃

We came here for a lovely Sunday pub lunch. The staff were absolutely charming and the food was very delicious and fairly priced. We had very fresh and generous Sunday roasts as well as a la carte burger which was perfect. The ambience was lovely and we’d definitely come here again.

Our special place. Always friendly, nice food and drink. Reasonable prices

We stayed here in mid September 2024. The room was hot and we turned the radiator off, the bed wasn't the best and the worst part was that we could hear the occupants of the room above. Even more so when they were moving around. We were in the annex and so had to walk out to breakfast and to enter the pub. The food was fine and the location OK. Lulworth Cove doesn't have a great deal to offer.

Superb location, fantastic food and fabulous staff. A wonderful inn to relax and unwind in. Nothing was any trouble - our dog was welcomed too.

We had an excellent stay for four nights. The staff were all friendly, helpful and efficient, and the room was comfortable, quiet and clean. The food was wonderful - all cooked to perfection and there was so much variety on the menu that we ended up eating in every night of our stay, which we hadn't planned on doing.

Beautiful thatched pub serving nice roast dinners, and other amazing pub food. Wild definitely visit again

Hotel is super beautiful, great decor, welcoming, friendly smiling staff, the food is excellent and the beds are very comfortable, impeccable cleanliness. We have just taken a trip to England and this hotel will remain our best choice. We highly recommend!

The Castle Inn is a beautiful old thatched building. Our room had character but very little natural light so we needed the lights turned on whenever we were in the room. A night light in the bathroom would have been helpful as we had to navigate steps down into it in the dark if we didn't want to put the bathroom lights on in the middle of the night. There was no good light for applying make; natural or artificial. We found the room too warm despite the radiator being turned off and the window open. Due to a safety stay, the window didn't open far. There was a fan available, which was great, but no suitable plug points for the length of cord, and I couldn't get the remote control to work which meant I couldn't increase the fan speed. The mattress was comfortable but the pillows weren't. The room was clean and comfortable and the decor was lovely. We ate dinner in the restaurant and found the food was pretty average, though the staff were lovely. We felt the room and dinner were expensive for what was on offer. The staff were helpful and friendly. We paid £256 and £227 for a Saturday and Sunday night in October.

Food was very fresh and delicious.

the staff made our stay great they welcomed us and our dog 🐕 the room was lovely and food was good quality.

PUB. Had Sunday lunch. The roast beef was not the best, as it was very chewy, the greens were like leather (under cooked). On a positive note, the staff were friendly.

Had a lunch there passing through. Exactly what you'd expect in Dorset ... neat, tidy, picturesque, friendly, well appointed and expensive.

Our room was small but had everything we needed , shower needs a bit of tlc as had limescale ,apart from that was all good . Breakfast was good quality and portions large ,dinner also good quality .Enjoyed the free prosecco in room nice tough .Definitely will return as location lovely

My wife and I recently had two lovely nights at The Castle Inn. Our room was a good size with tea/coffee facilities and a mini-fridge. The bathroom was very clean and modern with Bramley toiletries. The downstairs bar and restaurant were both very nice, with several areas and nooks. The bar served some great English ales, and also had a good wine list. The food in the restaurant was very, very good - some very interesting dishes on the menu, and very well prepared. Simon, Callum and the rest of the staff were very helpful and friendly. On our first morning we had an early local event to get to, so they provided us with a "Grab & Go" breakfast we could take with us. On the Friday evening there was live music in the bar. We highly recommend The Castle Inn and we will be going back.

4 of us on a walking trip: 3 thought the rooms great. One of us got a very small dark room, mostly filled with a big bed, and was disappointed…it was claustrophobic and cluttered… she did however get a nice bathroom. Breakfast lovely although the service was a bit slow. Booking, checkout, common rooms, staff all great

We had room number 8, which wasn't really one of the nicest rooms, as the exhaust in the toilet was combined with the kitchen exhaust, which meant that the toilet and room smelled of fried fat. Everything else was top and well maintained in the room and the breakfast was great and the service too. The dinner is also great! So if you don't get room 8, you have great accommodation.

Great location, great rooms, nice pub with great food!

We've been visiting the Castle Inn for many years, but this was our first time under the new owners. I have to say, while the changes are very positive, the Castle hasn't lost any of its charm. Still very professionally run and well stafffed, with everyone doing all they could to ensure a pleasant stay.

Lovely place, staff all very friendly and helpful. First rate food.

The room wasn't 'boutique' as advertised, but it was clean, the bed was great and the food and service were fantastic

Really lovely hotel with a great location, about 10 minutes from Durdledoor. The rooms are decent size but quite nice. The staff are friendly and very helpful. They have an amazing food menu with many unique dishes. If you are vegetarian, recommend having the sweet peas pasta, it was delicious. The breakfast was also lovely and very wholesome. If you are planning to visit Durdledoor, highly recommend this place for your stay.

Were in room 12; damp, dingy and full of woodlice. Angry with myself that I didn’t complain! Luxury boutique rooms? No way Food good, service good ,just crap rooms( see fotos) Won’t be back- no one asked if stay was good Great customer experience ?!!! Ohhhh yeah, loo brush from your cleaner was in the soap dish! Thanks for that

Recomend you book for a holiday

Amazing food and great atmosphere

Had a fantastic lunch here after walking Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. 2 Adults, 3 kids, we had burgers and the fish and chips. The burgers were really good, tasty and juicy, with nice crunchy and fluffy chips. The staff were great, chatty and friendly, def worth a visit!

This is a top quality pub/small boutique hotel. Rooms are clean and spacious. Great facilities with everything you need for a short stay in the cove. Only thing I would change are the pillows from polyester to feather to make it first rate.. food is superb and the chef is worth his weight in gold. Dinner excellent and breakfast is hard to beat in my opinion. You have to book especially over the holiday weekends otherwise you will have no chance. It’s a 12 min walk to the cove and I would recommend a swim in the morning and then breakfast. Can’t beat it.

Very comfortable and pleasant stay. Staff were also very helpful and made sure we were taken care of. Food was excellent.

Went to order food at 6:30pm and was told the kitchen had stopped doing food but then the lady behind me in the que ordered some food, then I questioned this but was told it’s good for bookings only. I then asked this lady if she had booked and she told me she had not. So I went in to ask one more time only to be refused for food and then laughed at as I walked out.

The location of this pub is great and staff inside where incredibly nice being enjoyed lunch and dinner here on two different days and on every occasion the food that we ordered arrived promptly and was very well cooked I would highly recommend desserts there is ice cream in many different flavours and a few pies that you can enjoy.

The room was beautiful and comfortable, but the staff were brilliant. Hobbs was really helpful and fun, the dogs were fussed and we were almost treated as friends.

Great hospitality, nothing too much trouble for anyone. Superb food! Just fabulous!!!

What a perfect location for a pub. This must be one of few pubs that is set in a scenic place. The staff are friendly and is the type of pub you could spend hours in.

I recently stayed at this hotel for two nights and had an exceptional experience. The ambiance is incredibly welcoming, making it feel just like home. The rooms are comfortable and well-maintained, providing a perfect retreat after a day out. The food was another highlight, offering delicious and diverse options that exceeded my expectations. The staff was attentive and friendly, ensuring that my stay was pleasant and hassle-free. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a cozy and enjoyable stay.

OMG!! We were passing by and this place caught our eye. The staff were all very friendly and the service waa excellent. We ordered the steak sandwiches and they were amazing. I know it's seems silly, it was only a sandwich but they really were something special.

What makes this place outstanding is the quality of the service by the staff, led by Simon, with some having been there in excess of 25 years. They know how hospitality works, in addition to great rooms and the fabulous food is a bonus.

THIS IS A REAL PUB! As soon as I breached the threshold of the pub I felt a nostalgic sense of warmth and home. We, being the pains in arses that we are did not book in advance. However, despite being busy, because of the dazzling atmosphere of the pub, we were warmly accommodated to a sweet little table for two. Our host was most excellent, friendly, good humoured and with good knowledge of the pubs menu. The menu, spectacular! as I wondered what to eat, I noticed just how well everything was paired and balanced, ALL dishes sounded sumptuous. An excellent menu with Pub classics and a modern fine dining dashed through. We had the monkfish and chicken supreme and I tell you flavour reigned supreme that evening, it was most splendid and reasonable for such quality. 10/10 Five star A+ We will make hasty return to this beloved tavern.

What a great place to spend the night. There was a secure lockup for our trusty tandem. Easy walk down to see Lulworth cove - walking along the road was fine with a separate footway for pedestrians. We did try a footpath first up on the hill to the west but the section down to cove has fallen away so don't bother trying that option! Dinner was tasty. Breakfast also good, not a buffet style btw.

An Unforgettable Experience at The Castle Inn Pub & Rooms Nestled in the heart of our favourite town, The Castle Inn Pub & Rooms stands as a beacon of exceptional hospitality and charm. Our family has visited this delightful establishment numerous times, and each visit leaves us eagerly anticipating the next. From the moment you step through the door, you are enveloped in a warm and welcoming atmosphere that feels like a home away from home. The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive, always going the extra mile to ensure our comfort and satisfaction. Their child-friendly attitude is a standout feature, making it an ideal spot for families. Our little ones are always treated with genuine kindness and patience, whether it’s providing colouring books at the table or accommodating special meal requests with a smile. Speaking of meals, the food at The Castle Inn is nothing short of spectacular. The fish and chips, a classic British staple, is served with perfectly crispy batter, chunky chips, and a side of delicious mushy peas. Each bite is a testament to the quality and care put into their menu. The atmosphere of the pub itself enhances the dining experience, with its rustic charm and cosy nooks inviting guests to relax and enjoy their meal at a leisurely pace. One of the most commendable aspects of The Castle Inn is their unwavering commitment to guest satisfaction. On multiple occasions, the staff have gone above and beyond to ensure our stay was perfect, whether it was offering local tips and advice or accommodating last-minute changes to our reservations. This level of service is rare and deeply appreciated, making us loyal patrons.

Nice pub, friendly staff but very expensive food and drink

Visited a number of times during our stay in West Lulworth. The food was fabulous but the highlight for us was Kelly aka Hobs ….. made our visits a joy. Thank you

The staff were very friendly and helpful and it was very clean however the rooms were very tired and the first room we were put in was so bad we wanted to check out. We got moved to a much better room but the decor was still quite tired which is a shame as it's a lovely old pub with great staff. The breakfast was ok but not great again a shame as the pizza we had was very good. So overall we would not go back but the staff especially the cleaner worked hard to give us a good stay.

Our group really enjoyed our lunch at the Castle inn. Beautiful building, parking, cozy elevated decor. Excellent service and extensive and varied menu. Loved our time there! Thank you!!

Butcombe beer delicious as always. Away from the hustle of Lulworth Cove, this friendly thatched pub is conveniently by a bus stop.

Lovely pub but we soon realised if you’re not “local” your prices go up. A single vodka and coke, and a brandy and coke’ is £25. Didn’t return after we over heard a loyalty card is required. Such a shame as the pub is lovely

Fabulous food professional staff all in a great location

We stayed at the Castle Inn for two nights and felt very comfortable there. The room was super clean and cozy and the breakfast also had a large selection and was very tasty. Also in the evening the food was delicious and the staff was friendly and accommodating. The dessert is absolutely recommended. The proximity to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door are also absolutely advantageous.

Gorgeous pub and perfect for a stop off after a day at the beach. Very warm welcome from the staff and the food was fantastic!

Beyond awful. Honestly please avoid this place, I can’t even describe how bad our experience was here. Immature, ‘attitude problem’ staff, terrible overcooked greasy food, surprise service charges for them to just slap a plate down in front of you. We still had to go and get your own cutlery and sauces for the privilege of paying a £4 service fee. I’d imagine experiences in low decile Weatherspoons are probably more favourable. They make you all sit outside to give an illusion that this place is full, if it wasn’t for the constant tourist traffic I’d imagine this place would have no customer or repeat business at all.

Sheer disappointment, when having such a high prices on the menu items you are expected to get what you pay for, this is not the case at this pub… the food is very standard nothing about it what so ever that made it special, was shocked when after having to go to the bar to order I was then told to get my own cutlery ! Due to the lovely sunny day we sat in the garden to eat and NOT ONCE did anyone come out to ask how the food was and our plates were not taken for nearly a hour after we had finished, I was half expecting them to expect us to bring our own plates in and maybe even wash up after … my brother had the steak and I was genuinely mind blown at the size and taste, medium rare inside and the outside was so burnt it over flavoured the entire steak the portion was tiny little slices, the menu come across like the peppercorn sauce was at no additional cost then was told the steak with the sauce would cost £27.50, the whole experience just felt generally offensive.

The food was just amazing, seriously good quality and was well worth the price, in an amazing location as well and a well worth stop for my during my camping trip.

I ordered the stake was told it can only be cooked one way which I find really bizarre for 25 quid it came out and on my daughters life was THE worst stake I’ve ever had proper proper poor quality tasted like burnt charcoal and it was diced up and it was tiny for 25 it’s a complete joke.

This is beautiful little thatched roof pub in a lovely little village the staff are lovely people and so helpful the the food and the beers are all top quality well done the castle inn

Great pub, good beer and food was great