The Elm Tree Inn in West Dorset - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

My disappointment of The Elm Tree closing has been relieved a small amount in finding out both the Head Chef Emma and Paul Clark have moved down the road to Salt in Portland so I do not have to go far for an amazing meal now

Very good great pub lovely atmosphere would go again shame itsshutting. A real loss other pubs close by have awful service

Regrettably this inn closed in late November (2023) but previously it was excellent - hence a neutral "⭐" rating. Hopefully it will reopen in the near future.

Late in writing this review but just heard the owner of The Electric Pub Group has announced the closure of this exceptional pub/restaurant with immediate effect. The team have consistently provided the best food and service in the area, proof of which is the award of two AA Rosettes. There’s not many of those in Dorset. This together with the high number of well deserved 5star reviews and a Travellers Choice Award, further evidence of the high regard in which The Elm Tree is held. There will be a deal of disappointment that this decision has become necessary and I for one am not convinced there is any alternative plan that will replace a like. Shame.

Firstly, I apologise for this rather belated review. We had a wonderful Sunday lunch here to celebrate our retirement with 14 family and friends. All the arrangements before the event and on the day were perfect and we were made to feel very special. The food was superb and especial care was taken with the meals for a couple of people with allergies. We would highly recommend The Elm Tree - we are still talking about it all with smiles on our faces. Thank you

Great Sunday lunch. Delicious tender lamb, beautifully cooked; lovely roast potatoes and vegetables. Great staff, attentive and efficient. Very convivial and relaxed atmosphere. Well worth a visit.

Fantastic Sunday lunch in wonderfully cosy and well run pub. Superb selection of mains for all appetites/diets - ruby red beef was quite excellent and vegan & vegetarian lunch options were imaginative and absolutely delicious! All with friendly, thoughtful and courteous service. Just perfect!

There is nothing I can fault about this place. We have been coming as a couple regularly and tonight celebrated my husbands 40th birthday here. Nothing was too much trouble, the staff went out of their way to accommodate us and handled the large number in our party with ease. The food, as usual, was absolutely delicious and the staff attentive and friendly. You have to go here if you are in the area, you won’t regret it. Thank you to all of the staff, great food, great atmosphere, great night!

This year, the elm tree has been at a different level. Superb experience, service, atmosphere, and food. Highly recommended for everyone. We will definitely be back.

Wow what a lovely find..... Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch. Very accomodating lovely staff good service and fantastic food top chef!!! Well done!!!!!

I am reluctant to do this review as I’ll not be able to get a table soon! From the usual warm smiley welcome from Jasmine , to the service , atmosphere , the pinot noir, the Elm Ale (so good!); and then there was the ruby red fillet steak with the beautiful balanced and rich beaujolais sauce …. In the words of my well travelled friend who had it as well “the best fillet steak I’ve ever had” is all the superlatives needed. The Elm Tree never disappoints and the chef really knows how to get the best flavour out of the local ingredients - and the staff really seem proud of that and make the experience for me. Thanks Jasmine et al ! ❤️🍻🤗

Amazing food, first class service and a fantastic atmosphere!

We don’t normally choose to dine out for Sunday Lunch but an occasion to catch up with Family was an ideal time to choose this venue. Having been before a while ago just for snacks & drinks it seemed a convenient place to meet . A beautiful day so we enjoyed drinks in the pretty garden whilst choosing from the Menu. Lots of small plates as well as the Chefs choice for Sunday roast . I selected the Lamb Shank & the other diners had the Beef. Beautifully cooked with additional sides of Cauliflower & gravy. Most enjoyable although I felt maybe the Yorkshire Pudding with the Lamb maybe a little too much on the plate. We enjoyed wine & a mixed selection of Gelato for dessert . Prices were surprisingly fair for the amount & quality of food. The waiting staff were excellent & welcoming . Thank you - will certainly recommend & return. A beautiful area for walking also before you tuck into your meal.

What a find We were fortunate today, we called here for lunch, and it was incredible We sat in the garden with our two dogs and enjoyed the most delicious food we have had in a long time Mixed sourdough and a selection of butters was a precursor for what was to come, delicious Best fish & chips I have ever had, bold statement I know, but those were my wife’s words My Dover sole was perfect So, if you are in the area, do not miss the opportunity to eat here, I guarantee you will find yourself on here writing your very own gourmet food review ( we were too stuffed for dessert, so will shall have to go back soon)

Wonderful food and service. Every course was of exceptional quality and great attention to detail. All staff were very polite, friendly and professional

After a lovely walk around Abbotsbury and the village, 8 of us a superb Sunday lunch here. I think it is quite possibly the best roast dinner we’ve had in a pub.

Looking forward to a meal out. We were going to have the beef, but the menu said it was ‘ruby red’.. not what we like, we prefer our meat very well done. We both opted for the lamb. However , unfortunately it came out very rare,so we sent it back to be cooked. The lamb came out unchanged. So we ate the potatoe pave. Had the waitress asked how we liked our meat cooked there would be no problem. The waitress said she wouldn’t charge us for the mains… but she did actually charge us 50% of the mains… £27:00 for two potatoe pave is ridiculous! A dissapointing experience.

This spot is a lovely spot for lunch and it was fully booked on the day we arrived. Drinks arrived promptly and the service was fairly brisk, very friendly This is also a dog friendly pub with several tables bringing their well behaved mutt along. Whilst service was friendly there was no later 'follow up' to check if everything was ok once the food had arrived and we got stuck in. Really disappointed to find that the tempura cod starter had run out. The lamb and mint coquettes were a little bizarre - they tasted of duck not lamb so we did wonder if there had been a swap with the lamb running out and the duck leg being substituted? The sirloin roast beef (in the Sunday Lunch) was very well cooked, pink, soft and very succulent. Excellent. The Yorkshire puddings were enormously risen, very dark brown to the point of being overdone but sadly virtually tasteless. The roast potatoes seem to have the taste and consistency of being reheated which was another disappointment. Top marks for the cooking of the carrots which were sweet, tender and full of flavour; the same for the french beans and sugar snap peas - excellent care of these quick cooking veg. The rib eye steak whilst cooked beautifully cooked was pretty tough and unyielding and I kept looking longingly at the roast sirloin. I can only guess the cow that supplied the rib eye was stressed out and full of adrenaline at slaughter? A nice portion of tasty broccoli cheese but disappointingly cooked (reheated?) chips. The 'hand pulled' ? ale was cloudy and defo needs some TLC - all in all pleasant lunch but nothing to write home about. Thank you to the chef for giving so much care to cooking the veg and the roast sirloin (but not for the pre-prepared chips, roast potatoes and yorkshire puddings)

Arrived on a Thursday lunchtime as a family of five for food and drinks. Pleasant welcome, drinks and food easily ordered from interesting menu, served with a smile. Food and experience top quality. Happy to recommend.

Great meal, staff very attentive. Lots of fish dishes on the menu,

Detoured away from the coast with 2 companions during my 70 mile walk (about 15 miles for them) especially to eat here, and I was certainly not disappointed. Hard to choose from this brilliant, creative, high-end lunch menu. The fish was brill and it was indeed brill'. I also had a beetroot infused trout starter and it was marvellous. The bar team were warm and welcoming and served fabulously promptly. Great beer and a lovely garden. I will definitely be here again soon. Folks- don't miss this place if you're in W Dorset.

Best fillet steak , best beer for miles - beautiful setting and the most knowledgable staff. It’s certainly good restaurant quality and if you want “Pile em high deep fried frozen food” that some pubs specialise in , move on. If you want quality food from Local artisan producers , expertly prepared , and to eat in a lovely place , then listen to the five star reviews. However , don’t come too often as us locals want to be able to get a table ! My favourite pub in Dorset and one my friends from around the UK always want to go to when they are down - says it all. Oh, and this chef knows how to cook a medium rare steak and the local Ruby Red steak is just Devine ! I could go on … oh the staff are just great with a warm Welcome and genuine care . Never disappoints.

The fresh fish was excellent, perfectly cooked with good accompaniments. The strawberry parfait was packed full of flavour. Very fast efficient friendly service in a good atmosphere.

Went with open minds looking forward to a lovely night out. Started with a 5 minute wait at the door. (Wasn't even busy) Starters came. Gazpacho was acidic and difficult to finish. Trout starter was good not much fault Mains my ribeye was perfect I can't deny that. But the aubergine we had was semi raw (not Al dente!) And seasoning was so bad. I tried it and was BAFFLED she ate half of it. No one came to ask how the food was, when the plates were cleared they didn't ask how it was so I just didn't see the point in arguing. We also were not asked if we wanted any more drinks (ran out after starters were cleared) I know we could of asked ... but for a restaurant with 2 Rossettes. You should have some standards on basic service.. especially when there's only 6 tables sat. To me it seems Rossettes are just being dished out these days .. the bill was over £110 In London the same food and drink would of been under £100 (with great service) very disappointed (would not recommend).

A really excellent second visit , the food was amazing and the service excellent. Will definitely come back

Absolutely wonderful. We had Sarah host us. She knew all the drinks and helped us pick what would suit. Sarah really knew her stuff! The food was so tasty. Adam was also excellent. Will definitely be back. Highly recommend a visit

The pub itself looks very well looked after, nice gardens and decor and it's set in a lovely area. Staff were friendly and professional. Food was amazing, you do have to wait a little bit but you can't rush perfection, after all it's not a Wetherspoons. The wife had Mackerel and she said it was amazing and I had corn fed chicken which was full of flavour.

Nice people. We prefer options for simpler food, but that's just us.

Absolutely delicious Sunday Roast, friendly and helpful staff, nice atmosphere, great pub 👍🏼

Visited with family in the evening. Staff were attentive and courteous and food was delicious. Would visit again but a little on the expensive side given we only had a main course, hence 4 stars rather than 5.

On arrival we received a genuinely warm welcome from the staff. The daily specials were detailed and any queries we had about the menu explained. It is refreshing to find staff who know about the provenance of the ingredients in the dishes being served. The food, as always, was superb - the cod cheek tempura starter and honey glazed soy and sesame pak choi side were a revelation. The wine list is perfectly attuned to the menu. Although very busy, Ruby, who was looking after us was always there if needed. The whole team worked very smoothly creating a lovely atmosphere. The manager, who we understand was only temporary, did a superb job (Good luck with the history course!). If you are in West Dorset do not miss this gem of a restaurant.

A very friendly spotless pub. The food is different and excellent. It is quite expensive but more than worth the money. The young team behind the bar and serving the food are competent and helpful. We had lunch after our walk . Recommend.

Been to this fabulous pub many times, and also before the current management took over. What a huge positive transformation and the current team should be proud of their achievements. I’m booked in for another Sunday roast tomorrow (13 Aug) and if it’s as good as the previous lunches, I’m in for another treat. Succulent ruby beef, ginormous Yorkshire pudding, trimmings, luscious gravy - wow, I’m salivating at the thought already. Staff (Jasmine is wonderful) are wonderfully attentive and affable, atmosphere is great, setting is to die for. I just can’t help but compare to the previous ownership and wonder why they didn’t do anything towards creating the current jewel that the Elm Tree currently is. Lastly, I read a negative comment that it’s all too expensive. I don’t mind paying for quality, and that’s what the Elm Tree is all about. Pure unadulterated quality.

We booked on a Thursday evening for 4. We had heard a lot about this restaurant, and we were not displeased! Most importantly, the staff were amazing, smart, very cheerful and very obliging. Secondly, the food was excellent. Value for money? Absolutely!! Well cooked, tasty...

Came here a few years back and the food was not very good at all. Friends persuaded us to try it again as apparently there is a new chef. We sat outside for a drink first as the weather was good, then went in for dinner. We'd seen a few people with burger orders outside, so we decided to go for those, ordering a mix of beef and chicken burgers, with one fish and chips. We all thought the food was great. Home made burgers and plenty of fries. And our waitress, Tracey, was a hoot. We will return.

Great place, was recommended by friends who had visited the area previously....we enjoyed the food so much we went twice during our short break and recommended to other guests staying in our B&B

One of the best meals out we have had for a long time. Really interesting menu, not relying solely on meat like a lot of pubs. Padron peppers and courgette fritter starters really good. Also nice choice of drinks with some of the best ale...

Went to this place 2 days ago with family friends on their recommendation. Great food, great staff, nothing not to like. Just go.

Quite pleasently surprised. Visited for a very casual anniversary lunch, expecting decent "pub classics" - gammon egg and chips, hunters chicken etc - but was really impressed by the menu. Staff were lovely and knowledgeable, setting is peaceful and relaxed, quality of ingredients was top tier and the imagination in putting the dishes together is really well executed. Have already recommended a few times since visiting last week, and looking forward to the next excuse to go back.

Lovely place, lots of beer! We sat outside and had olives as kitchen closed. Lovely spot. We would have loved to stay for dinner as I side looked so warm and inviting! Next time!!

We visited this place during our holiday and it was a lovely place to be. The venue does look nice and it's reflected in the genuinely attentive and friendly staff. The manager runs a tight ship, that's my guess. My family members ordered the Sole...

Been before and went again just to check that we'd been right first time. And we had been. The food is excellent!!!

We were treated to Sunday lunch by our son . We have eaten here before and always been happy . I have to say this was probably the worst roast I have ever eaten !! Absolutely awful , the potatoes were rock hard and shot...

Food is excellent in taste and quality, but very pricey for the area. Portions are quite small. So be prepared to spend quite an amount of money on a starter and a dessert if you are hungry ;-)

Lovely place, food good but not traditional pub grub, service very friendly

I had an absolutely delicious lamb roast and the staff were very friendly

Quality of our meal was outstanding from presentation to taste was incredible. The attention we had from Ruby our server was beautiful, the right balance of being attentive and making sure we were looked after made for a memorable evening Many thanks for making it...

Fabulous lunch in the beautifully maintained & clean garden. Staff were friendly, professional & super helpful, managing to squeeze us in for Sunday lunch even though we hadn't booked. Though think we may have had luck on our side & arrived just in time. The food was high quality - sirloin roast/veggie roast & battered fish all highly recommended. The other clientele (lots with dogs - all well-behaved) were also friendly & polite - I mention only to highlight the chilled ambience that the Elm Tree offers/who it appeals to. Thank you so much to all the staff- we will definitely return!

Booked well in advance to secure a table to celebrate my wife’s birthday and our wedding anniversary for Sunday lunch. Arrived and stood by the entrance for a few minutes before someone acknowledged us and showed us to our table. Menus were given but as...

We stayed in Langton Herring for the week and we couldn't ask for a better local frankly. The food is fantastic and I'd highly recommend the lamb or wild garlic gnocchi. Incredibly welcoming staff and a big shout out to Jasmine who couldn't have been...

The Elm Tree is our secret 'go-to' place when we're in the area - we've been going for the last few years and every time we've visited, the food has been truly marvellous - inventive, tasty, and made with quality local ingredients. The staff are...

The food is insanely delicious. The staff, especially Jasmine, are warm and welcoming. Jasmine has incredible memory. We had been a couple of times before and she remembered our special dietary needs. The atmosphere is welcoming and it’s great inside and out. Would highly recommend...

We had 2 very good meals here during our 4 night stay in Langton Herring. Interesting menu - with daily specials. Nicely presented too. Great service from the team - we loved it! Dog friendly too. Recommend booking. Save room for pudding!

We stumbled on this place by accident, very nice lunch, service was great with a very peaceful location. I would definitely go back.

Omg found a roast that was as good if not even better than a home made one. We had the roast beef and didn't want it to end lol! It cut like butter and melted in your mouth. Also had the cured trout and cod cheeks for starters which were good. Service was fantastic too. Jasmine couldn't do enough to ensure that my food intolerance requirements were accommodated and they were. She was a great ambassador for the restaurant a d every other staff member was lovely too. Wish i lived closer for regular Sunday lunch!! Get yourself there you won't be disappointed.

Great local pub. Nice staff. Food range from traditional to Japanese inspired Cabbage. Which sounds not great but very tasty. Chargers waiting to be activated. Lovely decor clean loos. We will return all seasons. And try others in the group.

Fantastic food service. Patio garden at front large garden at rear. Very dog friendly. Probably worth booking.

Called here for the first time after a visit to hive beach the gardens are very relaxing and have lovely surroundings the staff were very friendly with us and other customers, the food looked tasty will try next time,we had a pint of cider each

We could not fault this evening ; the staff , the locally sourced drink and food … oh and the food ! “The best steak ever “ as quoted twice by very experienced gastronomic travellers ! Thank you for a perfect evening

Lovely spot, really great food and local beer , friendly and welcoming staff, and a great walk to see the vista from the cliff tops,

Lovely dinner. Bit on the pricey side however, the lemon sole and John Dory were delicious. The server Jasmine was great. My girlfriend and I found her to be extremely attentive and helpful.

What a beautiful lunch in the garden. Such a surprise to find a bit of a special menu halfway through a long walk. Sublime.

The best roast dinner ever ..staff and service superb,nice garden..highly recommended.

We dropped in for an ad-hoc Fathers Day lunch and had a great experience Fantastic menu - we chose from the small plates/tapas - and thoroughly enjoyed Good choice if real ales and wines Wonderful service Very enjoyable - thank you

A hidden gem - managed to get a last minute cancelation on the table booking app and was delighted with the experience. All the staff were friendly, helpful and genuinely appreciate of the cash tip we left. Food was excellent - Sirloin Beef with all...

Great service on arrival, fantastic food but once we’d been served the staff switched off and huddled at the bar, we had to attract the attention of the staff several times for condiments, more water etc

Absolutly beautiful food. Great service. Good beer. Very dog friendly. Peaceful location. Garden out back and terrace to front. Not cheap but out of the four local pubs we went to by far and away the best. Would definitely recommend. Worth booking.

Pub set in the beautiful village of Langton Herring. I really enjoyed the seafood. The first time I went I had John Dory, the second skate wing. Good selection of beer from the Lyme Regis Brewery and my wife enjoyed her wine. The staff are friendly and approachable.

A lovely meal in the garden with excellent service.

It's a lovely place but too expensive. So you would not go to here too many. Times. Repeat business is the aim. Kind regards David Pickin

Only had a pint, but the pub is lovely and in a beautiful setting. Friendly staff, decent choice of craft beers, plentiful seating indoors and out

Just had sunday lunch with family and it was absolutely beautiful...food was the best I've had in a long time ..staff were very friendly...highly recommended 😊👌

Had an early dinner on a Saturday evening with friends. Good quality food that included 1 small buratta panzanella salad starter with hardly any buratta, gnocchi main and turbot main (tiny like a fish finger) 2x g&t and a small glass of wine and a...

Well run establishment. Good standard of food drinks and hospitality. Plenty of parking space. Enjoy.

Potatoes overdone had a wait for meal . Not very busy

Lovely, a bit expensive, but quality and taste are well worth the price. Innovative menu, fresh ingredients, lovely staff.

Visited on the off chance following a walk along the Fleet with my family. We had a fantastic meal with Sea Bream and truly outstanding steak. If steak is your thing, then you must order the “bordelaise jus”! Fantastic pub, atmosphere and garden. This really is a hidden gem and beyond the norm, should have a Michelin Star, not just five stars - will visit again. Many thanks

Visited on the off chance following a walk along the Fleet with my family. We had a fantastic meal with Sea Bream and truly outstanding steak. If steak is your thing, then you must order the “bordelaise jus”! Fantastic pub, atmosphere and garden. This really...

Absolute gem of a pub, with large garden, in a beautiful little village. Food exceeded all expectations - our fish was cooked to perfection, and they made an effort with the kids food as well, which many pubs don’t bother to do. Staff all super friendly and professional. Will definitely return.

Great pub with fantastic food, beer and lovely staff. All-round great experience, thank you

I always pop in here with my four dogs when I am staying down the road, This pub is beautiful, lovely outside seating area, very friendly and attentive staff. We even get table service for just having a drink, dogs are very welcome. Jasmine was...

I remember this Inn from my childhood, many happy memories and I remember it always had a sense of mystery to me! So very glad to revisit my old haunt to find superb food, pleasant and friendly service and as atmospheric as ever! We sat...

The location and setting of the pub are superb, but whilst the food and drink were not awful, I thought them a little underwhelming considering the high price charged, One could say it was a triumph of style over substance. The staff was friendly enough though. I probably won't be going back.

Great pub/restaurant. Good beers, lovely food,very pleasant staff. Nicely maintained premises with a superb garden for when the weather is kind.

Good selection of real ale. Staff polite, pub is clean and the garden pleasant to sit. Close to walks along the coastal area.

Nice location. Great staff. Veg was plentiful. Roast beef was lacking in quantity. Hence 4 stars

Incredible feeling to have a beer where my great-great-grandfather must have done the same thing. Good ale, friendly service, place looks great.

Our first visit. We had Sunday lunch this was excellent the best Sunday lunch I have ever had. The pub is lovely, garden is very pretty and the front of house staff were friendly and attentive. See you again

Fab food and service. Really really good pub grub!

What a little gem! I was a little worried having read a couple of not so complimentary reviews but I didn’t need to be. We were welcomed warmly into the pub. The food was gorgeous. We had mussels from the specials and the lamb. Oh and the crab with grapefruit…..was stunning!! Will definately be visiting again! Thankyou !!

From the moment we stepped into the Elm tree last Sunday we were made to feel very welcome, the service is fantastic and very friendly, and the food, simply delicious, congratulations on your 2 AA rosette award so well deserved !!

Lovely pub, lovely food but too expensive. £7 for bread, £2 bag of crisps £34 for a streak and very expensive drinks. They would be better off calling themselves a restaurant, at least you would know what to expect.

Superb in every way.. From the moment we arrived we were made to feel very welcome and the service was fantastic in every way The menu very varied and very interesting. All of the courses were excellent. High recommend this restaurant.

Excellent food and service. Good value, especially the set menu.

Fabulous Sunday roast. Made with local ingredients and cooked to perfection. The pork was delightful. Service was excellent too. All in all the perfect Sunday lunch. Delicious!!

Amazing service. So quick and food was delicious! Sasha was an amazing host and made us all feel welcome including my children. Would highly recommend!

Back to our happy place. Delighted to see you have achieved 2 Rosettes well deserved. Once again the food and service was outstanding. You were busy but as always your individual attention never drops. The meals were superb love you current menu and the wine...

Best roast lamb I've eaten! Great location, friendly helpful staff too.

Sadly disappointing. At 7. 30 in evening only two steaks available. Bread having to be apportioned. Salmon starter small and almost translucent. Main course of mussels small and five of shells empty! An expensive but not satisfying visit.

I would not recommend this restaurant unless you enjoy paying high prices for poor food and small portions. Service was slow, it took 20 mins to get drinks and then an hour since arrival to get our starters. We were a table of 8 and...