The Castle Inn, West Lulworth in Purbeck - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

This is a lovely pub and restaurant. The food was superb, the staff are very friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is very good.

What a beautiful room with attention to detail and quality toiletries and quality tea and coffee. The breakfast is sensational. The selection exceeds every expectation. The short walk to the sea and the view there is beautiful.

The Staff at the Castle in are amazing nothing is too much trouble and the bedrooms are really lovely we hired 6 and all of my family adored the individual styles and the settings of the rooms we were allocated we will be returning x

Didn't stay just had food. Staff were great and attentive but not overly so. Food was yum. Pub clean and quirky. Parking simple. Price, slightly higher but worth it in my opinion .

Lovely pub with plenty of indoor and outdoor space. Dog friendly with treats and water available. We had the Sunday roast which was amazing and although it was father's day and quite busy the service was great. We thought it was very good value!

Lovely staff, very nice food and reasonably priced!

Lovely country stay for business. Great hosts. Lovely base for walking. Stayed twice and would stay again.

A very pleasant lunch stop, well worth the walk up from Lulworth Cove to escape the crowds. Excellent Scotch Eggs and well-kept ale.

NEGATIVE First impression was not good as we had to wait at check in while four different people offered to help Room 6 with its panoramic view over a flat roof was not the best The noise from the kitchen exhaust fans was something that could be expected at a cheap 2/3 star hotel The welcome message from Simon was ambiguous - it said “help yourself” to Prosecco, but it was not clear if it was complementary, as it was priced. POSITIVE The food was very good

Lovely old pub, great location to walk down to the cove, great food and the staff are fantastic. Will definitely be back soon

We arrived inside and one of the guys inside was very rude and swearing because I asked him why he didn't tell me about the table availability.He turned around and swearing. Discusting.We were waiting for another 20 friends and we had to change location.Not very friendly. Reply to your review: If you were aware of the incident you should come to apologies as it wasn't me swearing.It was your staff first swearing and being unpolite even after I realised he was swearing, I asked him and he swore again.But don't worry....I will let everyone know about the incident as I'm a travel blogger.Have a good day.

Decent food but overpriced and not a fan of the optional tip which is automatically added to the receipt. Flatbread and asparagus both very good, cheeseboard only okay and a small portion. Service was friendly.

Friendly staff, nice room, delicious food. Thank you!

Great pub, amazing staff, dog friendly, lovely food!

Dined only, great menu and lunch

Fantastic location, pricey because of this I suspect. Food was OK, not outstanding.

Nice castle with a pretty garden

Really lovely service from all staff, lovely manners. I've never been called Ma'am so much. Will definitely be back again if I'm in the area. Was the first one in for a Sunday Roast and it was amazing. Staff know their knowledge on dogs too - went with a temperamental terrier. Those commenting on prices - it's definitely one of the best priced places to eat in the area.

Only had lunch but couldn’t really fault and the nduja scotch eggs were delicious

Visited out of season for lunch, easy to park and nicely busy Warm reception and very enjoyable food and drink. Home made pie delightful. Will visit again.

Fantastic location for Lulworth Cove & Durdle Door, Excellent old inn with good bedrooms, good showers and excellent beers, ciders and wine. Good Hanger steak and chips.

Only went for lunch. The taste of the dishes was good, the quantity was a bit mediocre.

Only stopped for a quick drink on way home from beach. Beer was good sat outside in sunshine Parking across road

The food and the staff were all amazing, went for a breakfast the following day which was equally superb. Thank you.

We had lunch here. It was outstanding. Tasty and arrived so quick. The staff were lovely and really helpful.

Myself and my partner have been walking to south coastal path and decided to pop in to the castle inn for a meal and a drink We also have my 11 month old Labrador Murphy with us the staff couldn’t have treated us better or better. They brought him water biscuits and also cooked him some chicken The meal we had was excellent on the location is wonderful. I will definitely be returning and it would also be nice to book a room.

Lovely room, great location, great food. Breakfast was ok, but more choice and juice would have been nice.

Wonderful location close to Lulworth Cove, great food (dinner and breakfast) with great service. Lovely pub with great rooms

Have stayed here twice for bed and breakfast, very comfortable rooms, friendly staff and good beer!

Absolutely stunning place, equally with all the attractions around but one of the things that's really outstanding is customer service at the breakfast... Friendly, polite and very professional lady call Katy made me feel very welcome I would definitely come back just for breakfast ❤️

This was our first visit while holidaying in the area. We had dinner but did not stsy there. We weren't disappointed. The food was excellent. The Manager and Staff were helpful, attentive and friendly. The food was served in good time. We loved the ambience of the Inn, except it was rather dark at our table. Finally I wanted to give it 5 but would have to say it was a touch on the expensive side. That aside, a wonderful experience on every level. Thank you.

First of all we would like to say massive thank you to Kate serving us most delicious breakfast . She is very smily polite and helpful . Secondly the beds are very comfortable and rooms are cosy. Thirdly great location to see durdle door which is walking distance and lulworth cave too as well as many little walks around . Highly recommended it 👌

The food service was quick and the staff were very friendly. But overall it was disappointing experience, we couldn't get a seat inside due to not booking in advance. We were offered the use one of the outdoor cabins, we were told it would be warm and cosy. They have a small heater which does nothing and a light which didn't work. Also, the Sunday roast was one of the worst I've had.

Very good coffee and local beer.

A terrible experience: we made a mistake, booking 2 rooms on 28th March instead of 28th May. We called immediately apologising and asking if we could have a discount for the date we needed and a very unpleasant lady told us that our booking was not refundable and so what was done was done... It's not about refundable or not refundable: we made a mistake! The hotel had the right to get our 320 POUNDS (!!!!) but hey, let's stay human... I hope you enjoy our 320 pounds, anyway. A third of my salary.

The Caesar salad stated that it included anchovies. It didn't include anchovies and when we told a member of staff they had the nerve to tell us it was anchovy sauce. We were not impressed. We waited so long for our table to be cleared & to order dessert, we have up. Won't be going there again😕

We had a meal there and it was nice, service excellent, staff were very friendly.

Awesome service and meals here. Friendly and very helpful.

Amazing Pub with fantastic staff and great atmosphere, make a point of dropping in you won’t be disappointed

Great, but the bed was two twins pushed together, Hard ridge in the middle!

Stayed here for a weekend break. Not the best start as the gas was out so a stripped down dinner menu and no hot water, luckily all was well in the morning and fixed. With a dinner reservation made could have gone the extra mile to call and notify as could've then considered different options, but was too late to arrange anything by the time arrived. However didn't put a damper on the stat too much, the room was beautiful and clean and the breakfast was by far one of the best I'd had staying anywhere in recent memory. Happily stay here again.

We have had a wonderful 3 day break here. The staff are amazing, the atmosphere cosy and welcoming and the food is excellent.- breakfast lunch and dinner. Can't recommend this place highly enough.

We were so impressed with The Castle Inn. On our first night there had been an issue with the delivery of Gas and food prep, heating etc was difficult. The team were open and honest and managed the situation professionally. Service was amazing and the team were all superb. The food was good although we had an issue which was dealt with effectively. I asked for a number of changes on my meals due to dietary restrictions and this was no issue and was provided for me. Our room was beautifully clean, cosy and quirky- loved it and slept well. There was every attention to detail. Had a lovely break and planning a return visit soon.

Recommended. This is a lovely pub with delightful rooms. Dog friendly. On the road to Lulworth Cove in the little village of West lulworth. Didn't eat dinner but had the most delicious breakfast from a wide-ranging menu. Delightful, welcoming and helpful staff.

Fantastic pub for food with amazing service Staff are friendly and welcoming You need to book in advance for food if you want to eat inside as they are always fully booked

Superb lunch. Excellent service. Super friendly team. Perfect.

Cosy pub in a great location. We stayed here to explore the Dorset coast and it's close location to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door makes it ideally placed. The staff are all very friendly and engaging. The food is good quality and reasonably priced.

Lovely pub, staff were very friendly and the food was delicious!

Very tasty food and very friendly attentive staff x

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!

My friend and I had a lovely lunch. There was a wide range of dishes on the menu. The staff were very friendly and efficient. We will definitely return and recommend The Castle Inn to friends and family.

Lovely room, great service/team and food that wouldn’t be out of place in a ‘high end’ restaurant anywhere in the world

only stopped in for the restaurant … awesome food, people and atmosphere being gluten and dairy free the staff were helpful in ensuring everything was good for me - decent size meals and dessert was devine

Fabulous Sunday lunch in the most beautiful location. Thank you.

We stayed for 1 night on Friday 9/2/24, you couldn't get a warmer welcome, great room, great food,and a great atmosphere in the pub, not sure you can ask for anything else. Definitely would stay again.

Beautiful looking pub and the pictures on here look fantastic. Perhaps we just got unlucky as we thought it was the worst sunday roast we’ve ever had and the kids didn’t like the kids meals we ordered for them. Very expensive for the quality of food we experienced. Service was ok but resented the 10% service charge that they added to the bill. £67 for two adult roasts and two kids meals and two soft drinks. The other reviews on here look great so perhaps we were just unlucky 🤔

2nd visit to this lovely pub. Staff are all amazing and so friendly. The food is delicious. Hope to come again

Our favourite place to visit for lunch and dinner and for a sneaky relaxing overnight visit. Hosts are great

Stopped for a quick lunch, the Shakshuka was excellent. A pint of Butcombe Rare Breed went down very nicely too.

Looked nice from the outside, so decided to pop in and try the Sunday Roast. Lovely people, lovely food and a lovely pub. Would recommend and will definitely return again soon. Couldn’t fault it!

We enjoyed dinner here twice during our short break in West Lulworth. The food and service was excellent !