The Cricketers in North Dorset

Lovely place, this is becoming our yearly pit stop for lunch on our travels.. food was great.

Lovely pot of tea, friendly and courteous, the tank museum trio

I am so disappointed. Was an awful Sunday roast we have just experienced. The carrot and coriander soup was lovely , just not very hot. The beef was very rare and very tough... I couldn't cut it , I had to pull it apart. The broccoli was tough. It wasn't very hot . No stuffing because they had been busy ? Wouldn't return , what a waste of £90

So glad we found a pub where dogs are not allowed! Everything was perfect for us, great food and great atmosphere. Will come back again and try a different dish from the menu.

We booked a table for my birthday on Monday evening, from the moment we arrived the experience was really nice, very polite and helpful, the poor lady behind the bar was doing everything on her own from pulling pints to taking food orders and serving the food, she was delightful a credit to you company and deserves a pat on the back, he even had time for a laugh with us even though she had loads of jobs to do, more businesses would benefit having staff like her so thank you very much for making my birth. Jason mather

We had the best night at the Cricketers for my brother's birthday. The lady who served us was an absolute credit, she was all on her own but was never flustered and always smiling. She made our evening. She could not do enough and was absolutely wonderful! Thank you :-)

Excellent fish and chips served by friendly staff. Good prices

really good country pub with excellent food

Service was second to none. It was such a pleasant surprise. The Sunday lunch was excellent and so tasty, and excellent value for money. An unbelievable change from what we had experienced a year or more ago. Although we sat outside, we had frequent from a member of staff to ensure all was OK. Highy recommended.

We were really disappointed having enjoyed lovely visits in the past. The food was very slow in coming, very poor and in very small portions. Not value for money. We have no plans to return unless we hear it really improves.

We stopped in after a walk up Hambledon Hill. Lovely pub, tasty food, great staff, reasonably priced.

A nice pub with good food and happy staff.

We live a few villages away from Shroton so we don’t come here very often but when we do we always have a great time they do brilliant pub quizzes here on Wednesdays which we enjoy! However yesterday we had houseguests and wanted to eat out which is not easy in Rural North Dorset on a Monday but the cricketers was open and the kitchen was serving a delicious menu! As always the food, service and atmosphere were excellent even though it was a Monday the place did not seem empty although it was much quieter than later in the week or at the weekend. Highly recommended!

As it was Monday night I couldn't find anywhere else to eat, so many pubs and restaurants were closed! I had to travel just over ten miles but boy was it worth it. I had the beer battered Pollock and it was superb. The beer was exceptionally well kept as well. Would recommend this pub as the whole experience was great, a special sound out to the young lady who answered the phone as her easy, confident, manner on the phone convinced me to get in the car and both young ladies in the bar especially the red head who was lovely! Not a fan of the basket idea, my fork kept going through the greaseproof paper, would have preferred a plate. With food this good you don't need a gimmick!

Sunday roast outing. The roast beef was excellent! The service sadly let the food down. It took 25mins to have a drinks order taken, 40mins to have our food order taken and we were there for nearly 2.5hrs total. It felt like we were a nuisance to the tired staff.

Absolutely fantastic Sunday roast and the deserts were to die for. Five of us went and it was a lovely atmosphere with friendly and helpful staff, I can highly recommend a visit……very dog friendly too.

Came here on a Saturday evening at 18:30. The entire pub was empty apart from one table and now I know why. We ordered the curry from the specials board (smallest portion I've ever seen, no naan bread), a portion of dirty fries and a mackerel and sourdough starter. The entire plate of chicken curry and rice had clearly been microwaved, it had that overly hot and overcooked texture to it. The dirty fries weren't even fresh, a few bits of crispy bacon, all of the cheese lifted off in one slab and the tomatoes/onions were wet and warm, not cooked or flavoursome. I would've been embarrassed to serve those to the children at home. The mackerel. Well it was just mashed mackerel and a piece of sourdough bread with a drizzle of oil across it. Not overly flavoursome. I've eaten here many times over the years and it used to be great. For someone who regularly eats out between Blandford/Shaftesbury and the surrounding villages. I would recommend any other pub you can find. It'll certainly be the last time we ever eat here. Finally finished, plates taken, not a "would you like the dessert menu" or "how was your meal" they didn't get anything right. They will be closed by Christmas if this continues. £44 for 2 drinks, a small bowl of microwaved curry, some chips, a small piece of bread and some mashed fish. Avoid. I don't often feel the need to leave reviews of a negative experience, but if you're reading this, please book elsewhere. UPDATE following response. Not once were we asked by your waitress. Everyone at the table can confirm that! Neither have you tried to address the comments made regarding the quality, portion size or price of your food. It clearly demonstrates the exact attitude and non-caring experience that we witnessed. A slightly sarcastic/passive aggressive response around Christmas does you no favours. If you have one table eating on a Saturday evening whilst every other pub nearby is fully booked, you really won't be here before Christmas. This is a small village and you've set a reputation that sadly, for you, will not recover under your ownership.

A really friendly pub, popped in for a drink when passing, everyone was very welcoming. They also have a beer garden. If passing would stop.

We had fish and chips which the barmaid said it was freshly cooked. 2 meals £31. The whole meal seemed to be reheated as it was out in minutes and wasn't good to say the least.

Food was tasty (had the Liver and Bacon) but quite small portion. Was only a Monday so quiet but service was very friendly.

Staying locally in the area and this pub came highly recommended … and we were NOT disappointed. Fast efficient service. The staff were polite and very helpful. The food was excellent (even though sold out of fish pie. Might need to go back 😂). The pub is fresh and bright. Give it a try, you will not be disappointed 👍

We had been let down by another venue. A last minute phone call to the Cricketers for a group of 20, was the best decision the day. The staff were very friendly and capable, and the food delicious. A hidden gem which we thoroughly recommend .

This is a wonderfull Pub. The food is excellent, the service is prompt and friendly, the Sunday Roast is terrific. Always love going there. Climbing Hambledon Hill is also a treat. The views from the top is amazing.

We visited The Cricketers a couple of times for dinner while staying a short walk away last week WOW what an improvement on our last visit last summer (was awful in summer 2023!) The new owners are doing an amazing job transforming this lovely pub. Great atmosphere inside and outside in the little beer garden - a real friendly village pub now being run how it should be! The food we ate was cooked to perfection, and the choice was plentiful, with the chefs specials changing throughout the week Scotch Egg starter was delicious and the Pork Belly was that good I had it twice! The Chef - think his name was Connor? Cooked the food just to our liking The staff were all lovely, very friendly and professional - knowledgeable when it came to allergens Big shout out to Sean our waiter on 2 occasions (had only done 3 shifts there so pretty new) - lovely guy, super friendly, attentive and even remembered our names and my husbands allergies on our 2nd visit - a real credit to the team at The Cricketers Just wished we lived closers so we could "pop in" now and again!

Sorry to be having to write a poor review, but there were some positive factors too. Early dinner for 2 adults and a child. Lamb rump dish poor quality meat, gristly and not eaten.bruschetta starter oddly basic half a dough bun with roughly chopped onion and tomato…ok its a bruschetta but no flair at all. Mushroom soup as thin as water and entirely flavour free, i actually wondered if it was a joke. Kids meal chicken strips were ok, unremarkable but perfectly edible and did the job. The young manager handled my complaint well, and was clearly embarrassed about the food. Cost of the food was graciously refunded. I guess you get bad days in the catering trade, and the manager did the right thing. I think the food offering needs a revisit from the pub team. Atmosphere at pub very nice.

We prebooked a table at The Cricketers and mentioned that it was a surprise 90th Birthday celebration for my Auntie. My daughter and granddaughter arrived beforehand after travelling for 3 hrs and had decorations and a cake. They were 'blown away' to see the balloons, banners, flowers and even a Birthday Badge already set up by the staff. This was very much aporeciated and we had a fantastic time making memories with four generations. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and couldn't have asked for anything better. Thank you so much to all the lovely, kind and friendly staff who went above and beyond for us. I would highly recommend a visit for a drink or an excellent meal. This was our first visit but we will certainly be visiting again.

Great venue, good food and polite and helpful but over stretched staff.

Warm welcome and friendly staff, excellent food and beer.

Popped in after a short walk for a bite of lunch. Wow...been a couple of years since we came here, and the food was excellent. We had loaded fries off the specials menu, homemade scotch egg and teriyaki chicken skewers. Food was really good service was fast and friendly. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. There's quite a few nice walks, so to pop in after finishes the day off well.

What an absolute gem of a pub. Delightful staff and great atmosphere. Great mozzarella sticks!

Despite pre booking service was slow. The peach and halloumi salad was particularly disappointing, being comprised of a couple of tinned peach slices with a few small pieces of halloumi. We had ordered a bottle of champagne and, instead of bringing it to the table so that we could open it in a celebratory way, just poured it into glasses at the bar as if it was cheap plonk.

Delighted to report that the Cricketers at Shroton is back on top form. This lovely village pub lost its way for a while due to ownership changes but the new regime has really revived the place. While it was near-empty on our visit, we three were delighted with everything: the food was excellent, the service was perfect and we were able to sit and chat unhurriedly after our meal. Welcome back, the Cricketers. I shall definitely reinstate it on my list of lunchtime favourites.

Great country pub with wonderful staff. My friend and I decided to for lunch after our long walk over the hill. We were greated by the wonderful bar staff and shown to our table promptly. The menu had a wide variety of options and catered for all dietary requirements. I would like to commend the kitchen staff on the delicious food and gorgeous presentation.

If you want to experience how a pub/Restaurant should be run. This is where to go. Impeccable service and delicious food. The Cricketers is located at the bottom of a Neolithic Hill, Called Hambledon Hill. The views from the top are stunning. A fabulous day!! I will be returning.

We booked Sunday lunch here as we were going for a walk up the bit hill (Hambledon?) beforehand. We really wanted a roast but were initially put off by some bad reviews. We had starters- both nacho types- delicious! and then based on our waitresses recommendation one of us had the beef roast. It was generous and tasted great. The potatoes were better than the ones I make at home which seems to usually be hard for a pub to achieve with en masse cooking. The other mains were fine/good/no complaints but the roast was the winner. Our waitress was brilliant. She was very attentive, friendly, provided kids cutlery and checked in regularly to see if we had everything we needed. There was a nice atmosphere inside and the playground just across the road was a great plus to enjoy after we'd finished the meal before going home. Thank you

Lovely meal here today for our Grandaughters 21st birthday. Cooked to perfection. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff.

Amazing Sunday Roast! Lovely & cozy place with a friendly staff that makes you feel at home as soon as you walk in! Beautiful outdoor seating, great hiking spots and views in the area in a charming town!

Lovely pub, fantastic service - bit let down by the food. We had the nachos, which came with a 'salsa' made almost entirely of chopped gerkins (!!) and no sout cream, also a fiver for five onions rings seemed a bit excessive.

Lovely Sunday Roast, would highly recommend.

We could not fault the food, Sunday roast was cooked perfectly. Very friendly staff. Would definitely come again.

New owners have done a great job. Lovely atmosphere, clean, tasty food and good pints! Best place to go after a walk over Hambledon Hill.

I recently visited the newly taken-over Cricketers, and the transformation is impressive. The ambiance is vibrant, the staff is friendly, and the menu offers a delightful mix of classic and innovative dishes. The new management has breathed new life into this pub, making it a must-visit for both regulars and newcomers alike.

What a find! We came here for a Sunday roast.We had roast pork and roast chicken which was cooked to perfection.The vegetables were served in separate dishes and the roast potatoes were crispy and delicious.The food was lovely and hot and the service was superb.The menu had a great selection as well.The atmosphere was warm and inviting.This is a great family pub and we felt welcomed and valued.Put the Cricketers on your list!

We had hunters chicken and spinach, tomato and pesto tortellini. The food was amazing when the correct dish came out

great service, great food and great atmosphere - enjoyed beers, excellent menu with plenty of choice- food excellent quality very tasty , perfectly cooked and full of flavour - good value - locals and bar staff really welcoming and friendly - highly recommend

Had some food in the cricketers recently and the new owners are absolutely fantastic. The food was immense and a great village pub atmosphere. We were made to feel very welcome and will definitely be returning. If you're in the area this pub is a must

Great service and lovely food. Very welcoming place and owner Nice beer Top pub - would definitely come back to this place

Fantastic Sunday roast ! Great value ! Super pub with a great atmosphere- thoroughly enjoyed on our recent visit

Lovely, cheerful welcome and service was friendly and unobtrusive. The atmosphere was warm and calm with fresh flowers and beautifully laid tables. The food was delicious. Thank you.

I have been going to Cricketers for almost 12 years (my husband’s grandfather built several of the houses in the village, where his parents live). We finally decided to never visit this pub again and we will share our experience with those we know. The service is appalling. Last time we went we were told to carry our own tiny dirty tray to our table (coffee and cider — we also ordered BBQ chicken which was brought to the table) and of course were not acknowledged when we left. Just a couple of examples of low key passive aggressive rudeness we have experienced on other occasions — we regret our loyalty and spending our money here. Despite the above, we have to say that one of the staff members at the pub, Nick, is kind, respectful and a real professional.

Excellent customer service, delicious food and great portions!

We had evening meals and Sunday lunch at this lovely place at the beginning of oct the staff were very friendly and they were dog friendly as well the lady put a blanket down for my dog to lay on we will definitely go back to there when down that way again From Margaret and dillwyn wales

Always enjoy eating here. Lovely food..would definitely recommend. Great meal..thank you..

Absolutely beautiful place. Let down by the poor customer service and mediocre food. The potatos tasted like they’d been pre-cooked and reheated. When the waiting arrived with the food, the girl that brought it out, brought the wrong food. We waited more than 30mins to be offered pudding after our main meal. One of our party had to find a member of staff, they had 3 options, none of which was appealing. We hadn’t been offered any drinks with our food until we’d reminded the staff that we would quite like a beverage along with our food.

Had a fabulous evening at the Cricketers pub today. This pub has apparently recently changed hands. The new owners were absolutely lovely. Great drinks, friendly staff and super dog friendly!!! We didn’t have dinner, but we could not resist trying the dessert special of the day which was a “brownie doughnut”creation which was absolutely to die for!!! Little doughnut balls filled with soft gooey brownies! Heaven!

Book early to avoid disappointment. We had the Sunday roast option ( one having a roast beef sandwich) our group had all the meats offered so we can say that each was delicious. Well presented and enough side veg . The staff were excellent, popping back and forth for condiments spare cutlery etc. No rush at the table to finish . Although a very noisy Sunday crowd, it didn't spoil our meal at all and our grandchildren noise was muffled !!! Well done. Landlord was really friendly and humorous. Just what a pub needs

Great food. Great service. Will go again

What a delight. Booked ahead for a Sunday lunch for two on a gorgeous sunny day. As the weather was so good we asked if we could sit outside, this was no problem for the staff. Smooth ordering of drinks, had to pay at the till inside before we went into the garden, not a problem. Small but well maintained garden area, and not long to wait before the roast came out. Well, it was superb! One beef, one chicken. Great size, parsnips, red cabbage, cauliflower on white sauce, carrots, roast potatoes and yorkshires. We often eat out and this was pretty exceptional. Compliments to the chef on this one, we have saved their number and will be back.

Absolutely amazing Sunday roast highly recommend it excellent service the mushroom Wellington is a must for vegetarians. And it's now run by a local couple and local staff who are very passionate about the pub well done guys.

I had a lovely time at the cricketers over the weekend while attending their mini festival. It was suitable for all ages and the highlight was the adult silent disco! The food was very good quality and they catered amazingly to my dietary requirements. The drinks were lovely and lots to choose from! The management and staff were so friendly and work incredibly hard, it’s a must visit pub. I look forward to returning soon!

This pub is under new management, what a friendly and speedy team behind the bar and excellent selection of drinks! The lawn garden is well kept and the pub itself is immaculate, cosy and dog friendly. The atmosphere is very welcoming, well worth a visit!

The festival they held was epic fun for all ages. Adults Silent disco was a fav ! The new Management George and Neil couldn’t be cooler, you’ve definitely got to pop in for a pint and the Atmosphere.

Good food! Good drinks! Brilliant atmosphere! Hard working staff, very friendly! Can’t wait to visit again!

Service was friendly, but really slow, it took more than 50 mins to get our food when there really weren't that many customers. I had steak and ale pie which was dry and over-cooked. On the plus side, they are very dog friendly. There is parking but not much. If they were busy I would imagine parking being an issue.

Fantastic night in the Cricketers. It was my 50th birthday and nothing was too much trouble. Food was superb and the staff were amazing throughout the evening. They really couldn’t have done any more for the 60 plus guests. Thanks so much and we will be back soon!

Our visit was a Monday evening so it was understandably quiet. The staff were attentive and welcoming. The menu is short but unpretentious and food was great. Be warned, helpings are generous and could easily serve two.

Hardly any veggie options, burnt burger bun, overall not recommended if you are veggie/vegan

Always great friendly service and lovely food.

Popped in on Tuesday Eve and luck was in… steak night… 2 excellently cooked 10oz Rump steaks and a very reasonable price too Birra Moretti too so next time I think we will view the wine list to compliment the lovely steaks We will be back

Absolutely fantastic roast dinner yesterday the staff very friendly the food was absolutely delicious. I even asked for an extra Yorkshire pudding to mop up the gravy yum yum. Fantastic village pub highly recommend.

Popped in as under new management and wanted to show support. The team were very welcoming and friendly. We had dinner and it was really lovely. Would definitely recommend and we will be back for sure.

Roast beef was very depressing and to be avoided.

The roast beef was a pretty depressing experience. Badly overcooked and presumably was sat keeping warm throughout the Sunday lunch service. Boot leather springs to mind.. New management please take note.

Under new management. Very friendly and excellent service. Husband had fish and chips. I had courgette, peas in garlic sauce with tagliatelli. Both dishes delicious!

Great evening with delicious steak and mushroom pie and good service. The Cricketers has it’s mojo back

At last a landlord & landlady who know how to run a pub. I’ve not seen the pub so busy in such a long time. We had a roast today, it was delicious

Service was friendly and the atmosphere was nice. However the food was quite lacking. The fish and chips ingredients seemed to have been downgraded and tasted like nothing. We were not very happy with the liver and bacon dish either. Everything looked and tasted like it was just taken from the freezer and warmed up. On Sundays they have a limited menu. According to a sign at the door the place is under new management.

Had a lovely family pub meal last night. Service was good and the food was lovely. Lasagna was particularly tasty.

Great food, great beer and service with a smile! After a long walk we popped in on a Saturday afternoon. A really warm welcome, we aren’t locals and it’s a small village but we immediately felt at home. Stayed for a few pints and had tea. The food was fresh and really tasty. The owners couldn’t do more to help us, even lending us a charger. If I lived in this village I’d be proud to call this my local. Seriously, well done guys. You’re doing a great job. Highly recommended 👍

Had a great experience at the Cricketers. The new managent and staff are fantastic and the food was fabulous. Would very much recommend.

Lovely little hidden gem in a quiet village. Great service, good pub food and very reasonable price.

Popped in for a drink and ended up staying to have a Sunday lunch which was delicious the sides that came with the roast was a surprise I didn’t expect that . The staff was very friendly and the atmosphere was good plus the pub was nice and clean so will definitely be back .so would highly recommend a visit…

Gem of a place. Visited after a walk in the countryside with friends and their dogs. Apparently it's under new management and they and the staff were wonderfully welcoming to the humans and dogs. Lovely food, reasonably priced and beautifully presented. Will definitely be returning for more yummy lunches and refreshing drinks.

After four months of this normally excellent pub being run without any care or attention, it now has a greatly needed new management team! It’s clean and welcoming, with smiling faces behind the bar. All the pumps are working properly for a decent pint. Already...

Great to see the pub full of people last night. Pie night is back and a success. Great food, lovely staff and a proper village vibe about the place.

Finally the pubs under new management. It’s being run by locals who knew how good the pub used to be. They seem to be listening and the first act was pie nights back on a Thursday. Beef and Guinness pie was lovely with a good...

Just went there for a quick drink with friends the lady behind the bar was very nice the pub was very quiet for a Friday night may be need to put some events on other wise ok.

After a great experience last Christmas, I was looking forward to a meal out here with friends. What a disappointment! Very limited menu because of imminent change in management - though no mention was made of this at the time of booking. Slow service, mediocre...

No food website menu is not available!

Very small menu and poor service. Complete change from when we visited at Christmas. Won't revisit.

The poor girl on the bar was put out only 17 and left on the bar on her own bless her. she was lovely and polite but the management - shocking, really gone down hill. service slow and food cold.

Only issue they don't have original coca cola

Sadly the cricketers has gone down hill since it was taken over. It used to be great and we went all the time but now under new management standards have dropped. We place was virtually empty for Saturday lunch so we thought service would be...

Very good food lovely staff who looked after us very well. Will definitely go there again and will be recommending it to my friends

Gezellige typisch Engelse pub met restaurant. Keurige inrichting. Redelijke lunch tegen een redelijke prijs.

Went with our grandsons. Made us feel really welcome. Lovely food and great service. The pub has been updated and is warm and cosy. Will definitely be visiting there a lot more. Thanks

The service for Sunday lunch was very slow. In addition, the roast was cold. However, desert was great!

Sadly this pub has gone right down in our opinion. We arrived on a Friday evening and waited to be greeted at the bar, but we were completely ignored. We had booked on open table, but they said they had no knowledge of our booking...

Lovely pub, really clean, staff were brilliant, I had the pie it was absolutely delicious! All our food was really tasty to be honest! Couldn’t fault them!

I turned up and got an instant warm welcome from the staff made felt at home.the food is delicious and affordable ,accommodate for everyone.would 100% recommend.