The Guildhall Tavern in Poole

I have been here before, but on that occasion I had fish - which was amazing. This time it was a table of 10 people for Sunday lunch - celebrating a 90th Birthday. And it was superb. The food was epic, top quality, and plenty of it. The service was faultless. Great atmosphere due to the restaurant being full. Thank you, you made our day.

Fantastic. First time visiting the guildhall as I had heard good things about it. Well it didn't disappoint. They know how to make a decent cocktail, the food was amazing, the decor is beautiful and we were looked after so well by our waiter Daniel. Thankyou Daniel for making our night amazing. We will be returning.

We often visit The Guildhall for dinner and as always, had a great meal. Daniel looked after us and was polite and attentive.

We had a wonderful dinner at the Guildhall Tavern the one night we spent in Poole. We had the best Oysters of the whole weekend (and we tried quite a few). The staff were lovely, the food was creative, and well prepared. The clientele was nice which contributed to the great atmosphere. It was a nice experience.

Truly a hidden gem. The quality of the food was impeccable. The best oysters we had on our weekend away. The balance of flavours and care that went into all dishes was wonderful. The staff was also incredibly attentive and the wines by the glass and carafe did not disappoint. We would love to come back.

Found by accident great food and service. All 4of us really enjoyed our meals. 3 had dessert too. All plates were sent back clean. Our server brought water for the dogs 🐕.

We booked this restaurant for a lunch to celebrate our wedding anniversary and are so glad we did as we had a fabulous meal and great service. A couple of days before we had a nice courtesy call from the restaurant to confirm our booking. On arrival we were warmly greeted and shown to our table. One of the many nice features is that the tables are not close together. There is an extensive menu of food and drinks. We ordered still water and a bottle of New Zealand Marlborough white wine which was top drawer. We decided to go with the fixed price lunch menu and it was excellent in terms of choice, quality and portion sizes. We chose the cheese soufflé and smoked trout to start with and didn’t mind waiting for the food to be freshly prepared. For main course we chose the pork belly and smoked haddock risotto, again both dishes were divine. Sadly we didn’t have room for pudding but we ordered coffee and were surprised with a pretty plate with Happy Anniversary written in chocolate and a portion of ice cream which was a really nice touch. The whole experience was sublime and we can’t recommend this restaurant highly enough and will definitely return.

Lovely menu, great service & delightful food

We paid our 3rd visit to guildhall tavern at the end of September, always visit when we come down from Manchester. What can I say, FOOD is EXCELLENT, STAFF go out of their way to make you feel WELCOME.,WONDERFUL AMBIENCE. IF WE LIVED IN POOLE IT WOULD BE OUR SECOND HOME. THANKS

I cannot recommend the Guildhall Tavern highly enough from the moment we entered we were treated to fantastic service and outstanding food. We shall definitely be returning as it’s fantastic value as well. Thanks to all of you.

We had the pleasure of booking the Guildhall Tavern for our wedding lunch reception and we had the most spectacular food and wine pairings topped with the best service. Our guests absolutely enjoyed the menu that was curated for the occasion by the chef. We are still raving about the food almost a month later. Also, if you're there please do try the English Sparkling Wine (Champagne) it was divine. Thank you to the Guildhall Tavern team for giving us the best treatment and elevating our dining experience, making our day even more special.

Just great food great service lovely place

We had cocktails followed by Sunday lunch. The staff were very professional and attentive. Great atmosphere on a sunny day in the garden and a wonderful roast. What a way to spend a Sunday eating excellent food at the Guildhall Tavern.

One of the very best restaurants I had the privilege and pleasure to dine! Stands up for its name and past glory achievements. Constantly great food to die for, professional yet engaging and personal service, calm and relaxed atmosphere, a truly unique ….. A place of celebration and sanctuary , of fine dining memorable-experience ,which brings people together , who have plenty to say and nothing to prove! Thank you kindly G.T. Team! Keep it up, keep pushing with consistency for excellence!

Just returned from dinner for two. This restaurant is faultless - professionally run, pleasant ambiance, real ale on draught, crisp white table cloths, excellent fish cuisine, reasonably priced. I tried to find a fault but couldn’t. Go there !

Food was superb cooked to perfection We had a lovely table which we shared with our 2 dogs who were treated so kindly by the staff and nearby other tables. We hadn't been there before but most certainly will return !

Have been here once before and really enjoyed it but last nights dinner was fantastic! Staff were lovely and the food was excellent. The cod dish was one of the nicest I’ve ever had! I thought really good value for such fabulous food and we will definitely return! Was too busy eating to photograph anything but it was all delicious…

I came to the Guildhall Tavern a week or so ago, I was warmly greeted by Carlos who was very professional and attended to our every need! Faultless service. The food was very enjoyable, very fresh and locally sourced ingredients! The Moules were outstanding! As was the potted crab. I highly recommend coming here for lunch or dinner, a very classy place and an exceptional dining experience. We will be back!

16/8/2024-Friday. My husband treated me to a surprise dinner at The Guildhall Tavern, Poole. The moment I step inside this restaurant. The recognition awards on the wall caught my eyes. As I love to enjoy good food. We both started off with 2 starters each. As we couldn't decide which. The food was superb quality, fresh and nicely done with perfection, and a well-blended taste. The staff were very attentive. We enjoyed every dish that was being served to us from our choice of selection. We definitely came back. Highly recommended ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely delicious food -unfortunately our pictures do not make justice of it! We would definitely recommend the mix seafood main, it was divine! The roast pork was also cooked to perfection and came with all the trimmings. Lovely friendly staff, we will definitely come back again!

Sunday lunch with my wife: Charming atmosphere, blown away by the food. The seafood mixed grill was fantastic and - even though they're seafood specialists - their pork Sunday roast was one of the best we've ever had. Worth going out of your way for. Staff were very attentive and the gregarious owner made it feel even more special. Dishes are well priced for the portions and quality. Solid wine list. Will be coming again.

Went as a party of four with my girlfriend and parents and the moment you walk in the door you are made to feel very welcome. 3 of us opted for the roast belly pork and one the sea bass, absolutely superb food with large portions washed down with a couple of bottles of good NZ Sauvignon Blanc I highly recommend this lovely pub/restaurant

Very friendly and helpful staff and the restaurant was quite busy with largely elderly clientele even midweek. Service was brisk and portions generous. Sea bass mains were overcooked but deserts were flawless. I thought quite expensive for mid week in the provinces at over £150 with one drink each.

Couldn't fault it. Service was immaculate, Carlos was very professional yet attendive to our table. The food was phenomenal, great athmosphere. Will certainly come back.

Very good quality fish / seafood, the steak is also great. Tables are well spaced making a pleasant atmosphere. Highly recommended.

We had all dinner here after getting married at Poole registry office and we cannot speak hardly enough of the place. It was absolutely outstanding – from the service and warm welcome to the delicious food. We love to eat out and have been to countless restaurants across the UK and this place is one of our favourites! Highly recommended.

Fantastic lunch deal which runs on Saturdays too. Steak was perfection, restaurant is beautiful - highly recommend!

We have not eaten in this restaurant yet. We have merely enjoyed wonderful service from Vee and her amazing cocktails 🍸 👌

Turned up early for 7.30 booking. Warm welcome and cocktails in garden. Great service continued when we moved into the restaurant for wonderful food. Thank you everyone. See you again.

We had our wedding meal here on the 6th July and we cannot express our gratitude enough for making our day special. The food was absolutely incredible and the process of deciding on menus was made easy and fitted our needs. The laid back attitude of nothing was too much trouble suited our own relaxed approach. We were a small wedding of 26 people and it was great fun having a champagne reception in the cocktail bar prior to the meal. Would highly recommend The Guildhall Tavern, you won't be disappointed!

The food and staff were good but unfortunately the owner joined a very noisy table and completely ruined our intimate evening. It was a birthday celebration meal and as you can see we were given an anniversary decorated plate. We, and the rest of the restaurant did not want to hear all about the owners achievements!

Went here twice while on holiday. The second visit was a tasting menu along with a wine tasting. It was such a lovely way to spend an evening with full explanations of the wine delivered by an expert. The food was interesting and so good. I would definitely return when we are in the area

Wow wow wow what a fantastic restaurant. We used to visit here many years ago but the place quite frankly got tired and the quality was poor. Now, just exceptional. The best food I’ve eaten in the area for a long time and by some measure too. The new management have refurbished the whole interior and it’s perfect for setting. Seaside themed, but with class. The staff were fabulous, attentive without being overbearing and always with a smile The chefs produced fabulous food, in our view of Michelin star quality. If they keep this up then they ought to be in contention for one. Frankly we can’t wait to come back. 5 stars from us.

Wow! A beautiful restaurant with a superb menu. In my opinion the Sunday roast (beef) was the best roast I’ve had in Poole, perfectly presented by the wonderful staff. The delightful sunny garden is a perfect spot for pre dinner drinks. Will definitely go back!

Been frequenting this local gem for many years. After a very recent change of ownership they really have taken the whole place to another level offering both a fantastic Sunday roast (which includes the offer of their a la carte menu plus a steak night on Wednesdays. If you haven’t been back here in a while or have never been before then you are missing out. Cannot recommend enough. Service is second to none and there is a fantastic wine list.

Popped in following a recommendation without a booking on a Saturday night and we were not disappointed! Service was warm and friendly without being over the top, the scallops and shellfish mixed grill were simply incredible and the desserts….wow! The decor was lovely, very clean and well looked after. Great drinks options including some unique cocktails. Looking forward to going back with the in-laws soon!

We went for early meal (dinner) srrvice was very good, food was also very good better than the lounge on the front. Not cheap but you get what you pay for and we did ☆☆☆☆☆

What a brilliant restaurant. We went on Friday night expecting a wait but we were shown straight to a table for two. The service was perfect from start to finish, Carlos the host made us feel welcome from the off, and he truly embodied the “nothing is too much trouble” vibe. He was pleasant, charismatic and was happy to chat with us. Brooke the young waitress was incredibly attentive, ensuring that our food was served quickly and without fuss - she also made a recommendation for my partner, which turned out to an absolute winner! We had the Cod Supreme which was cooked beautifully, meaty and so fresh - special shout out to the chefs tonight! I had the seafood grill, and I can honestly say that it was some of the best seafood I’ve ever had the pleasure of having - the fish was cooked to perfection, with the perfect amount of spice and salt. However the mussels and prawns truly stole the show! Desserts were fantastic, a fan favourite of crème brûlée was just fantastic, and the passion fruit meringue tart was so light and fluffy! Special shout out to Sherridan on the bar, the cocktails were absolutely nailed! We loved the banana dacquiri and the lychee cooler - the perfect end to a perfect evening! If you are ever in Poole, I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough! Well done guys, you fully deserve your hard earned awards!

Beautiful authentic French food & drinks, friendly service and comfortable/cosy. We would highly recommend.

Popped in for lunch, it was very quiet but as it was sunny we sat outside. The staff were very attentive and the food was delicious. We opted for the set menu and could not fault the food quality. Maybe the portions were a little on the smaller side. The twisted prawn cocktail gave us some good twists to try at home when we make our own 😁

The Guildhall Tavern was a pleasant surprise, an up market yet reasonable restaurant / bar. just back from the maddening crowd nestled in Pooles Old town trading area near the Guildhall. One of the highlights for me was the cocktails, I recommend "Love from Guildhall Cocktail "🍸. There's an upstairs cocktail bar an indoor dining area on top of that there's an outside patio dining area. Tell them TravelStyleNews sent you ;-)

A great local restaurant, very unique and the food is very delicious! recommend! It feels like everyone here is from nearby residents. The relationship between the store staff and customers is very good. It feels like eating in a restaurant at home, very comfortable😌

A wonderful restaurant with excellent food and staff who now how to treat you and offer excellent advice on the choice of wine to compliment your food

Had a special birthday celebration here did not disappoint.

A hidden gem. Located on the prettiest street in the whole of Poole. The Guildhall Tavern punches above its weight - from service to food, the experience is superb. It has a lovely cocktail bar upstairs and is beautifully finished. The staff were friendly, passionate and knowledgeable. They had a range of unusual but gorgeous wines. The food is to die for, and a must-visit for seafood lovers. We will be back!

Two small dogs were at next table to us which members of waiting staff were continually petting, and no sign of them washing their hands before serving at other tables. Restaurant was extremely noisy as well. Don't approve of dogs where food is being served, unless assistance dogs.

The staff do try but they just don't know enough about the food to get it right. Sorry guys, the vegan Risotto was like mush.. and tastless. Sadly I'd gone in because the menu outside looked inviting. Once in though I was told they're not serving that anymore. So I had two options, Risotto or tofu. Neither a real hit with me but I gave it a shot. I won't go back which is sad because it used to be a lovely place with great food.

We went to celebrate my mum’s 80th birthday and my son’s Royal Navy deployment. We had the most wonderful meal. Everything was perfect, the staff were attentive and friendly. A huge thank you to Allen and the team. This Liverpool/London family will definitely be back!

We had a wonderful lunch, lovely afternoon, fantastic staff, thank you. We will most definitely be back with friends and family.

Great atmosphere we had a table for 16 for Sunday roast all food came out hot and was delicious 😋 we had a large table set up in the cocktail bar very nice surroundings.

Never disappoint's, amazing as always such a good atmosphere.Will forever be one of my fav places to come to and to take the family to.

We had excellent seafood. The service was very friendly and helpful. A little expensive but the food is worth it. Would definitely go again.

As usual the welcome was friendly and the service was excellent. The food was great, all cooked beautifully and generous portions. They have a good selection of wines (and port - mmmm!) and cocktails. Our friends were highly delighted and want go again (despite having to travel from Oxfordshire) My wife I I will go again for Sunday lunch and/or evening meals. The food, drink and service have always been excellent.

We went to the Guildhall Tavern for our wedding anniversary on a Friday evening. As we were doing the tasting menu we arrived at 7.30pm and the restaurant was quiet but got busier around 8pm. The service was friendly and well paced. The tasting menu was excellent, decent size portions and we enjoyed all 5 courses - definitely a good way to celebrate our anniversary. We would happily return.

Guildhall Tavern was again was an absolute delight. This beautiful restaurant has never let us down, superb food and a wonderful, very comfortable atmosphere.

Very nice seafood restaurant. The hake and the sea bream are both very good. Also the market fish - plaice.

We love the scallops and fish of the day is beautiful. Simple cooking but delicious.

This restaurant felt special from the moment we walked in the door. We were greeted immediately and shown to a nice table. Our coats were taken and the service was attentive throughout. The cocktails, mocktails and wine were delicious and the food was so incredibly tasty. Would definitely recommend for a special occasion and we’ll be back.

Wonderful good, delightful cocktails in the upstairs cocktail bar, outstanding service. Had a truly magical evening. We’ll certainly be back!

Absolutely perfect, fiood was divine, service exceptional. Wouldn't hesitate to return.

Had a fantastic evening enjoying cocktails with friends, India was both superb with her knowledge and advice and her skilful cocktail making. We all enjoyed the superb cocktails in excellent surroundings. We'll be back and thoroughly recommend it as the place to go in old Poole.

Came here to this little gem of a establishment for cocktails and oysters. What a great experience the interior design of the premises was a talking point and really stands out in the heart of the old town. The waitress India who served us was very knowledgable and went above and beyond to keep us happy we will be back thank you for a wonderful experience.

Visited for Sunday lunch which was superb 👌 would highly recommend. Front of house & waitress service was exceptional, a real hidden gem. Look forward to returning very soon. Thank you.

Great Sunday Lunch Attention to detail with regards to presentation and cooking. Tender beef and chicken beautifully cooked - good quality meat. Vegetables very green and wholesome. Lovely service ; nothing was too much trouble. Definitely recommend for any dining style for couples, large groups , families. Also not to to forget the cocktail / bar upstairs - very lovely for a pre lunch / dinner drink and what a nice treat to have that facility ! Makes a meal out in a restaurant so much more special. Looking forward to visiting in the Summer for the sun trap outside. We we will be back Highly recommend

Came for Sunday lunch , I had belly pork and husband had the beef. Large portions and veg sides. Food delicious as always, service great , a lovely lady on her first shift was so nice. I asked her name then I forgot it .

We dined like VIPs, the service by Vee was outstanding, food was delicious, loved the cocktails. Will definitely re visit if we are in the area again.

Disappointed. We especially booked lunch here as we were in Poole for the weekend and had enjoyed a meal at the Guildhall Tavern before. Today the service was very poor targeted at sales not customer satisfaction. The special fish soup was dumped with no finger bowls nor advice on accompaniments. The roast was adequate but hard roast potatoes and meagre vegetables. The sorbet was just a plain ball. The wine was not served in an appropriate glass. Maybe as it was Mother's Day it was too busy but we we very unimpressed.

We chose this restaurant to celebrate our wedding. Whitney was exceptional every step of the way, helping us choose the menu, wine, canapés. Nothing was too much trouble, even my many questions. On the day the restaurant was beautiful with all the tables decorated with our favours and table cards. We started in their beautiful cocktail lounge for welcome drinks and canapés. Then dinner was served. I honestly cannot tell you how amazing the food is here, everyone has commented on the quality of the meals they had chosen. All the staff were so polite and friendly, and again went out of their way to make sure the day went smoothly. The team made our day perfect. We would 100% recommend it to anyone. Carla and Malc.

An exceptional experience! Incredible food and outstanding service! Cannot wait to go back! From start to finish we dined like VIPs and were made to feel exceptionally welcome and special. Having lived in Poole for 15 yrs I am ashamed to say this is the first time I have dined here! Will certainly be making up for lost time from now!

Had a lovely lazy roast accompanied by some beautiful cocktails. The food was sublime and so were the cocktails. Would like to thank India & Vee in the cocktail lounge for the wonderful service and great advice in helping us choose from the mouthwatering selection. Will definitely be back again, a lovely place

Amazing scallops and baked Hake. Perfectly cooked, wonderful taste. Mushroom risotto equally divine. Wish we had more space for a second crème brûlée.

Our first time dining here, what an amazing place! Beautifully styled, spacious (I hate overly cramped restaurants), INCREDIBLE food, drinks & service! A real gem with a hidden cocktail lounge upstairs! Will definitely be returning.

Superb Late Lunch… My family booked this as part of my 60th celebrations. What a great afternoon we all had. Great menu, superb service, lovely surroundings and very very fine food!! Very attentive staff and nothing was a problem . I would say that the whole experience has moved up a notch from a previous visit I had a few years ago . Good cuisine and nice wine was had by all!!! A great atmosphere too.

What a gem! Perfect for an elegant dinner or cocktails with friends. The bar staff were so lovely and the drinks even better. Will be back soon!

We had a booking for 4pm. We were contacted earlier in the day to see if we wanted to bring it forward to 3pm. When I declined the offer I got the distinct impression this wasn’t what they were hoping to hear - and this proved to be correct. Whilst the food was reasonable the service was disappointing. Food was thrown at us at pace, and despite having drinks to finish we were told they were closing in 10 minutes. My coat was “helpfully” placed on the back of my chair to presumably encourage us to leave. I’ve visited Poole 3 times in the last 8 months. We’ve enjoyed all the restaurants we’ve eaten at and would recommend them all - with the exception of this one. A hugely disappointing experience.

I have many fond memories of this restaurant. The former owners, Frederic and Serevine, were brilliant - they created a wonderful atmosphere and served truly special food which justified the price tag. The restaurant is under new ownership and I walked away disappointed. The standard of food has dipped markedly (more like a good 'home cook' standard), but prices remain high. It no longer feels like a special French restaurant - to me it felt more like visiting a branch of Cote. Don't get me wrong. My food was nice, the staff were fine, but it is nowhere near what Severine and Frederic delivered. Saturday lunchtime on a sunny day and it was virtually empty. I can't say I'm surprised. I used to go on about this restaurant and always looked forward to going back. Now I'll be heading to the St Tropez Lounge which Frederic and Severine now own. I wish I'd follow my gut feeling and not taken a chance when I knew the place had changed hands. Disappointed. *Edit* the new owners left a snotty, dismissive response to this review which they've now removed. Says a lot about their attitude. Real pity as I used to love this place and used to recommend to anyone who would listen.

We had a lovely lunch here recently. We both had steak which was tender and tasty would highly recommend and would definitely return to this beautiful restaurant

We had a fab evening with excellent food and service. The catch of the day (lemon sole) was pronounced top class by hubby and my hake was cooked perfectly. The atmosphere is lovely and it was a special and enjoyable meal. Staff were knowledgeable and engaging. Unfortunately we live over 170 miles away or we'd be regulars, I'm sure. But will recommend to friends and if we're back in Poole will definitely visit again

Had the set lunch menu today which was absolutely gorgeous. We had pate to start and then fish and chips! That haddock was probably one of the nicest pieces of fish I've ever eaten (and that's coming from someone who is spoilt with having some amazing fish/seafood, with a husband who ran a fishmongers for over 20 years)

Before our meal we had some cocktails in the cocktail bar. The cocktails were excellent and refreshing. We were able to order our food before we were shown to our table for dinner. The staff were very attentive and the service was what you'd expect from a high end restaurant. The menu wasn't too big which is always a good sign. We decided to share some "whilst you wait" as starters and loved them all. The tempura prawns were exquisite. The mains were delicious too.

Hostess was lovely. The interior is decorated very nicely and in keeping with the nautical menu. The food was nice and I would definitely come again.

Really very disappointed with our visit. This used to be one of our favourite restaurants and we made a trip from London especially to be there. It is highly unlikely that we will make a return visit. Although the staff were friendly and attentive the food just did not live up to the expected quality or cooking. Our starters were so so and quite expensive for what they were. Mains were simply terrible. The “catch of the day” seemed like it had been hanging around for more than a few days, plus an eye watering £35. Potatoes that came with it were terrible - had been pre-cooked some time before and then reheated. Veggies were an extra £5. Sea bream was over cooked and had a weird texture and flavour. As it was inedible the manageress did take the price off our bill without being asked.

I could not fault Sunday lunch here. It was delicious. The beef was perfect and plentiful,the vegetables al dente. The roast potatoes crisp and tasty.

Best Sunday lunch I've had for years. Reasonably priced at under £20 for amazing roast beef and delicious tats and al dente veg. Super staff and lovely ambience. Can't wait to return.

I visited the Guildhall Tavern yesterday with 7 friends, we all had starters which were lovely and we all had the roast dinners. I had the chicken which was very tasty and succulent the rest had the beef. They all said it was the best they have had. Desserts were also lovely. I had the apple & blackberry crumble & custard. The food and service was Outstanding and a lovely atmosphere. Also they have a cocktail lounge upstairs, well worth a visit. 5* all round. Looking forward to returning soon. Please go and try for yourself.

We visited after a long time , which used to be our regular restaurant. New ownership and front of house did not do it for us. After a change of front of house we decided to revisit. Really impressed from front of house, attentive service without being intrusive, great food also a really good atmosphere.

Best Sunday lunch I've eaten. A classy restaurant at very fair prices. Thank goodness the new owners know what they are doing. Much better than it was. Quite superb.

Another excellent evening . The added cocktail lounge is also a great way to start the evening .. GT expresso martini is a must on my book. The food as always was superb and the service excellent. Personal feel and friendly .. well done see you again soon .

We went for lunch on a Saturday and went for the great value lunch menu! Salmon to start with fantastic pork belly for main. By far the best restaurant around. Service was great as always and the food couldn’t be faulted! Will be back again soon!

Excellent food, welcome and service. Enjoyed the cocktail bar upstairs and will come again. Our new favourite place for a special celebration.

I booked my husband and I in to the Guildhall Tavern for his Birthday, the booking process was quick and easy with extra confirmation requests too. I was called by Whitney a few hours before the booking and she advised that we were welcome to arrive early and enjoy a glass of bubbles in the drinks lounge upstairs before dinner, this was an unexpected touch so we made sure to finish work early for this. Upon arrival Whitney greeted us warmly and offered to take our jackets before guiding us up to the drinks lounge, advising us of the nights specials and catch of the day before leaving us to relax. The glass of bubbles each were lovely and we decided to order a half dozen Oysters (from Jersey) with Sauvignon vinegar and shallot dressing along with the recommended Sea Salt & Rosemary Focaccia with sun blushed tomato & olive tapenade and beetroot & caraway hummus - the oysters were large, full of flavour and shucked without leaving any pieces of shell, the focaccia was wonderfully warm and light. The ladies upstairs were all friendly and attentive, nothing was any trouble. We then decided to order a bottle of the local Sparkling Dorset Cremant to have with dinner, it’s beautifully crisp with fine bubbles leaving a smoothness as it goes down. We ordered our food whilst up in the drinks lounge, we were then guided downstairs to our table as the starters arrived… Grilled Scallops in the shell with Garlic & Herb Butter and Korean Fried Cod Cheeks with winter kimchi and miso BBQ sauce, both delicious were flavoursome, well portioned and with a variety of textures and flavours on the palette, a great start. For main my husband ordered the Roasted Hake Supreme with herb crushed potatoes, samphire, steamed mussels, chive and caviar beurre blanc and I decided to go for the Pan Fried Fillet of Sea Bream with fregola & prawn pasta, shellfish bisque, charred tenderstem broccoli, pickled fennel included additional sides of Creamed Leek & Barbers 1833 Vintage Cheddar Gratin and Koffman’s Skin on Fries - everything was cooked perfectly, the fish had crispy skin, fine delicate flakes of flesh, plenty of sauce, the pasta on my dish wasn’t stodgy or dense and the flavours of both complemented one another perfectly, the mains were, unexpectedly, rather large so we didn’t actually need the additional sides, we were so full already but the fries were so crisp and hot that I just kept shovelling them in to my mouth, I didn’t want them to go to waste! Of course we had to have a dessert, no matter how full we were… Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding for me and the Dark Chocolate Delice for my husband, both truly delicious, full of rich flavour and a great way to finish off a meal. To help wash the desserts down my husband had a St Clements Martini and I had the Summertini - well mixed and balanced - fantastic. Between dishes we were chatting with our waitress (I’m so sorry we didn’t catch your name, you are Italian I believe) as well as Whitney, sharing wedding stories and experiences of where we came from and where we were going in life re. moving, along with Whitney’s heritage, we had such a great laugh with her and the chat really made our evening and was something that you don’t get to experience in many restaurants these days. As ‘front of house’ Whitney is absolutely spectacular, thank you for making our evening and my husband’s Birthday meal extra special, we can’t wait to return soon! (I forgot to take pictures of the desserts!)

I booked my husband and I in to the Guildhall Tavern for his Birthday, the booking process was quick and easy with extra confirmation requests too. I was called by Whitney a few hours before the booking and she advised that we were welcome to arrive early and enjoy a glass of bubbles in the drinks lounge upstairs before dinner, this was an unexpected touch so we made sure to finish work early for this. Upon arrival Whitney greeted us warmly and offered to take our jackets before guiding us up to the drinks lounge, advising us of the nights specials and catch of the day before leaving us to relax. The glass of bubbles each were lovely and we decided to order a half dozen Oysters (from Jersey) with Sauvignon vinegar and shallot dressing along with the recommended Sea Salt & Rosemary Focaccia with sun blushed tomato & olive tapenade and beetroot & caraway hummus - the oysters were large, full of flavour and shucked without leaving any pieces of shell, the focaccia was wonderfully warm and light. The ladies upstairs were all friendly and attentive, nothing was any trouble. We then decided to order a bottle of the local Sparkling Dorset Cremant to have with dinner, it’s beautifully crisp with fine bubbles leaving a smoothness as it goes down. We ordered our food whilst up in the drinks lounge, we were then guided downstairs to our table as the starters arrived… Grilled Scallops in the shell with Garlic & Herb Butter and Korean Fried Cod Cheeks with winter kimchi and miso BBQ sauce, both delicious were flavoursome, well portioned and with a variety of textures and flavours on the palette, a great start. For main my husband ordered the Roasted Hake Supreme with herb crushed potatoes, samphire, steamed mussels, chive and caviar beurre blanc and I decided to go for the Pan Fried Fillet of Sea Bream with fregola & prawn pasta, shellfish bisque, charred tenderstem broccoli, pickled fennel included additional sides of Creamed Leek & Barbers 1833 Vintage Cheddar Gratin and Koffman’s Skin on Fries - everything was cooked perfectly, the fish had crispy skin, fine delicate flakes of flesh, plenty of sauce, the pasta on my dish wasn’t stodgy or dense and the flavours of both complemented one another perfectly, the mains were, unexpectedly, rather large so we didn’t actually need the additional sides, we were so full already but the fries were so crisp and hot that I just kept shovelling them in to my mouth, I didn’t want them to go to waste! Of course we had to have a dessert, no matter how full we were… Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding for me and the Dark Chocolate Delice for my husband, both truly delicious, full of rich flavour and a great way to finish off a meal. To help wash the desserts down my husband had a St Clements Martini and I had the Summertini - well mixed and balanced - fantastic. Between dishes we were chatting with our waitress (I’m so sorry we didn’t catch your name, you are Italian I believe) as well as Whitney, sharing wedding stories and experiences of where we came from and where we were going in life re. moving, along with Whitney’s heritage, we had such a great laugh with her and the chat really made our evening and was something that you don’t get to experience in many restaurants these days. As ‘front of house’ Whitney is absolutely spectacular, thank you for making our evening and my husband’s Birthday meal extra special, we can’t wait to return soon! (I forgot to take pictures of the desserts!)

Just a heartfelt thankyou to Whitney and Sam and all their team for putting on such a wonderful 70th birthday lunch for me and my close friends and family, last week. All 14 of us had a wonderful time, and without exception all enjoyed every last morsel of our three course lunch, canapes, cremant and wine. Living in Weymouth we will certainly be visiting again and singing your praises in this part of West Dorset. David Clark.

We often go to Rick Stein’s while visiting family in the area, and I’m happy to report that the Guildhall Tavern is even better. Excellent, friendly service, great drinks, truly delicious food, both seafood and otherwise. Flavors are spot on and everything’s cooked to perfection. Even the chips are some of the best we’ve had. I never write reviews and just had to give them some kudos. Highly, highly recommend. Looking forward to next time.

Food has really gone downhill with the new owners , used to be my favourite place now its not a place I would go again

As I said to the friendly and welcoming hostess at the time - in a word - 'Superb'. It was my wife's birthday and I wanted a surprise meal for her. She was delighted when she found we were at the Guildhall Tavern. We have...

We went here last night for the tasting menu & wine… was absolutely lovely, food was presented well & tasty & the staff are extremely friendly and welcoming. We would definitely recommend here

Our first time eating here but what a gem. From cocktails to desserts it was excellent. Staff and friendly and attentive

I have to temper this review by saying that I’ve eaten multiple dishes at this restaurant over two visits, several of which I enjoyed. However, my last main left a lasting, negative impression. The sole entree was dry and smelled strongly of AMMONIA! I, trying not to cause controversy, told the hostess and asked for a sauce to mask the unpleasantness of the dish. However, in retrospect, the staff really should have taken the dish away, given that ammonia indicates that the fish isn’t fresh. The experience was worsened by the fact that we were sitting outside the kitchen, and we could hear the chefs loudly defending their terrible food!

Nothing to do with the Guildhall, but very close to it. Good food, good service, nothing not to like. A bit more expensive than average but worth it.