The Horse and Groom in Purbeck

Lovely visit for a drink, asked if we could have some cheesy chips, unfortunately not on a Sunday, but what about cauliflower cheese? Roast potatoes? Oh yes please! Omg absolutely amazing! Gravy too! Thank you so much Joe and team just what we wanted with our pints. Great customer service, happy smiling staff and great music too.

This is just the best pub in the world! You always get a really warm welcome. Excellent beers. Excellent food. Excellent service. It can not be any better!

Highly recommend Sunday lunch at the Horse & Groom. Excellent quality. Nice selection of veg and meat fantastic. Will definitely be visiting again. Staff are extremely friendly and attentive.

Fabulous home cooked food, good portion sizes and lovely staff.Cute courtyard with flowers and picnic benches, with umbrellas.

Fantastic Sunday lunch. Nr the quay. 5 different veg including superb cauliflower cheese. Tender beef, crunchy potatoes and Yorkshire pudding. Really generous portions. Super home made brownie dessert and all v reasonable. Lovely friendly welcoming staff. Excellent service. Will return!

Went into the pub on the last Wareham Wednesday, the town was busy but they still accommodated us. Food orders and drink orders were taken quickly, the food came out, and we could not fault it, the staff were very friendly, helpful, and polite, couldn't fault it, thank you very much

My husband received a voucher for his birthday which prompted our visit having never been here before. The menu was great and the specials board added to the difficult decision making! It all sounded lovely. I had belly pork (as I often do !)& it was delicious, a generous serving alongside bubble and sqeak mash and green cabbage and beans which made a lovely change from the usual peas,carrots and broccoli. My husband had cajun chicken which he said was really lovely and our friends had a seafood platter and a pie of the day which was a slice a fully enclosed shortcrust pastry pie not just "a flaky lid" The pub was very busy,giving it a great atmosphere but not compromising on food service. The only "improvement ",in my husbands eyes would be to have a German lager on draught. We will be back!

We called in for Sunday lunch on spek,we didn't book and were warmly welcomed by a very friendly team 😀. There were 4 choices for Sunday lunch and we opted for the pork loin. The pork was served with 4 vegetables and roast potatoes with lots of gravy. To say it was superb is an understatement. We sat in the courtyard which was very pleasant with hanging baskets. Service was attentive and very efficient. Would thoroughly recommend at £44 for two with drinks a bargain.

A lovely small quintessentially British pub. We arrived around 5:30 and there were only reserved tables available but the man behind the bar kindly said we could sit at the reserved table and that he would juggle some things around to accommodate us. Food was served from 6PM so we had a bit of a wait and we did wait a little bit for our food but with other people obviously doing the same it was fine and it was worth the wait. There were good options for the children and the Belly pork was delicious. The Seafood basket was very tasty but did feel like it was missing another side. Banoffee pie very nice with a bit of a twist as it was in a pie casing rather than a biscuit base which I would usually expect. A really lovely pub with a great atmosphere.

Didn’t book, would advise to if going at the weekend. Managed to get a table, great selection of local beers. Had the crab salad, large portion and very tasty.Plus a Steak and Stilton pie , again large portion and enjoyable.

Bob, Caroline, Joe & the team never disappoint! It was my wife’s b’day and we wanted to have drinks with family & friends at the horse and groom. The service was amazing and everyone had an amazing time, thanks to everyone at the Horse and groom. Such an amazing place that we can’t stay away from!! Thankyou!!

Lovely warm welcome when we arrived, which was a bit earlier than we had booked for, but nothing too much trouble for the friendly staff here. Sunday roast was absolutely fabulous. Very generous portions and we left feeling absolutely stuffed! Really wanted to try one of the tempting desserts, but just couldn’t fit anything else in! Highly recommend and would definitely return on a future visit.

Dropped in without a Booking - Table for Two - It was very busy - Staff were excellent and advised to have a drink first and they would arrange a table. 10 minutes later, we had a table. We ordered the Special. The Barmaid came over (it was still very busy) and said that there was a better table and would we like to move. I repeat, it was very busy so to take the time out to seat us at better table is and was above and beyond in my book. The meal itself was superb - it is to my regret that I did not have room for a dessert. I intend to call in again and have no hesitation in recommending this venue to the harshest critic. Did I mention the staff are excellent Highly Recommended

First time here and we were welcomed so warmly. It felt like we were invited to someone s home. There were lots of lovely dogs and people in a relaxed mood on a Friday evening. Staff were wonderful and so friendly. Food was lovely and they accommodated our allergies and special requests without any trouble. Love this place.

Three of us and our dog went for an early supper. The staff were extremely friendly and the service was excellent. The food matched the service.

Had a wonderful meal - pie of the day which was incredible! Lots if filling! And two gorgeous desserts The service was friendly - great choice of drinks available and food was very good- would definitely go back - thank you!

Good beer, good food and exceptionally friendly staff. What more can I say? Also dog friendly as well.

Excellent roast beef. Super value and great local beers (love the Dorset Gold ale). Worth a visit and was a great way to avoid a cloudy/rainy day in the Purbecks.

Ordered soups for our lunch and received only what I can say was a huge bowl of purée. NOT soup in any way whatsoever and almost inedible. My partner ate his rather reluctantly and I just couldn’t stomach mine. When the lady came to collect our bowls, she took one look at the full bowl, gave us both dirty looks and walked off. We couldn’t believe she didn’t even ask what was wrong or had we enjoyed our lunch. Both myself and my partner are former chefs and neither of us have ever come across such rude, unprofessional and unpleasant staff. Not to mention the ‘soup’, which was in no way soup or even in liquid form. After a second incident more recently there? None of our family will be returning. If they carry on this way? They’ll be out of business soon. We won’t be returning. The Granary or the Quay round the corner are far better bets. Save your energy and avoid this establishment.

I went in to see if there was any room to sit inside, my disabled parents were waiting out front. I used the loo whilst I was there, and was making my way to the door, to bring my folks in for a drink & some food. A barman pointed out to me that there were public toilets down on the Quay, and that I should use those next time, he was obviously annoyed! I didn’t bother to explain that we were planning on eating/ drinking at the establishment. I am local, and this is the second time that I have witnessed unpleasant staff here. Needless to say, we will avoid this place. They have boards outside , singing their own praises, that says it all !!

We had a Sunday roast today, absolutely delicious, best roast we’ve all had in a long time . Hot fresh and cooked to perfection, desserts were fab as well , lovely place and staff super accommodating , thoroughly enjoyed by all of us .. thank you

Nice pub, friendly staff, good beer, nice beer courtyard, clean toilets. Shame the kitchen was closed on the day of the visit but would try again one day.

We found purely by chance despite regularly being in Wareham. Bobs curry night! Best curry ever, delicious veggie option. Highly recommend, excellent value for money, as much as you can eat. Recommend booking or you may be disappointed!

Yet another great curry night at the H&G, fantastic food, great service, lovely meal with friends. Thx H&G team. X

Having not been into this lovely pub for a while we were so pleased that it exceeded our already high expectations! The pub was warm and friendly and although very busy the drinks and food were very quick to be served. We had the most delicious mussels in cider and cream with crispy fries and an amazing Shepherds pie which was made with lamb shanks. We managed to get a roast yesterday before we left which was definitely the best we,ve had in a pub. Can’t wait to come back soon.

Called in with family without booking. Absolutely perfect experience. Staff offered a warm welcome. Clearly family friendly. I have to say this is one of the best pub meals I have had in years. Excellent menu and the food was not only of the highest...

This little gem of a pub is tucked away in Wareham. The staff are super friendly and the food is reasonably priced and great.. Toby and Liv are super hosts and know how to make you feel at home and relaxed while feeding you superbly....

Had a roast here a few weeks ago with the most amazing crumble so I re booked for today . When I booked they said crumble wasn’t on the menu today but they had other tempting home made desserts . Three hours later when I...

We stopped in here for lunch whilst visiting Wareham Village after seeing the good reviews however we weren't overly impressed. The service wasn't great as no one came to check on our food/to see if there was anything else we needed. My other half enjoyed...

As a party of 2 couples we visited the H&G for the first time in early Oct 22 for lunch. Unfortunately, a couple of the specials had sold out (moral of the story: arrive earlier) but two of us had the steak and ale pie...

Whilst all the pubs at the river were full we walked back up the main street and found this pub. Plenty of space friendly service and good food and beer. Garden at the rear but also nice looking inside.

This is a hidden gem in Wareham and can be easily missed. It’s just set behind the Quay but it is a great pub with a garden and the food is excellent . We have 9 different meals for our party and every one was...

We eaten in this pub many times and on the whole its been great. We popped in and had 2 seafood salads last week which were around £15 each......What we got was really small and not worth the money...i had about 3 mussels and a...

We were having a bit of a bum night out and were looking for somewhere to eat. We went into the pub and the guy behind the bar saw us come in and waved us over. He couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. It...

And yet another lovely meal at the H&G. Bob’s curry night is not to be missed. H&G regularly do themed nights which are always fantastic. The staff are amazing, the atmosphere is relaxing and friendly. If you’re just dropping in for a drink or meal,...

What an excellent pub. Excellent food, fantastic varied menu. Staff so attentive and efficient, all of them. This a very busy and popular place, both with locals and holiday makers, as we are. We have visited this pub on many occasions over the time since...

Wonderful traditional pub with a friendly atmosphere and great food. Initially visited for the BBQ which was so amazing we returned for an equally impressive Sunday lunch! Will definitely be back.

Four of us took refuge from the rain in this low ceilinged, authentic old pub on a Sunday afternoon. We enjoyed a plentiful, home cooked Sunday roast, and one person had a delicious vegan alternative meal. The extra cauliflower cheese was amazing! The hosts were...

Early finish at work so I thought I would treat myself to a pub lunch ! The staff here are very attentive with out being in your face. Joe (😍) always has a smile on his face , and the food and beer is excellent...

We decided to stop in Wareham for a Sunday lunch and after trying The Salt Pig, they were full but recommended this pub and we were so glad they did. The bar staff found us a table inside and we ordered two roasts. A couple...

Very warm welcome. Nice selection of local ales and a log fire or two burning away. Busy Sunday and we hadn’t booked but they found us a table Enormous roast dinner which was delicious -staff attentive and friendly and we didn’t feel rushed. We didn’t...

We had dinner here during a short stay in Wareham with family. The food was amazing and the staff very welcoming and friendly. I also recommend the selection of beers. Would visit again and often if I was in the area!

Superb Sunday lunch. Good beer too. It was very busy in there, and we hadn't booked, but luckily we managed to get a table.

Having lived in Wareham for 22 years have seen this pub go through many owners. Bob Caroline and there wonderful staff, make this a very welcoming venue for a casual drink or a meal, what ever the occasion !

A real gem of a pub - easy to see why it has won so many awards. Excellent choice of beers (including Liberation !!) , good reliable pub food ( steak and kidney pud to die for) cosy, traditional pub atmosphere and staff who know...

Great drinks, lovely venue, friendly staff, charming patio garden - always a great choice! Been several times and never had a bad trip

We have been coming here to eat twice a week for the whole of July and August. This pub never disappoints, if you are looking for home cooked food at a reasonable price with really friendly staff then you won’t go wrong here. Please ignore...

We visited the Horse and Groom with friends on Sunday 15th August in the evening. We sat in the garden with our dogs and enjoyed the service of the lovely bar maid. It was the start of our usual August holiday in Wareham. We asked...

Best sunday launch in wareham great service very friendly fantastic atmosphere and you can bring your dog.

The woman behind the bar was unfriendly, rude and snooty. I heard a family leaving saying the same thing as we arrived. AVOID

Booked a table for 4 (2 adults 2 children). Unfortunately due to a massive traffic jam we were 30 minutes late. Pub were very accommodating when we phoned ahead to let them know and kindly kept the table for us Quite a limited menu selection...

We just love the pub for its relaxed and informal way it is managed. A traditional pub that offers amazing food, great service and really good beers and wines. Ad and I go at least once a week and have never been disappointed although Ad...

Went there on a Monday afternoon and I have to say the service is great, the beer is beautiful and when asked for an ostrice bowl the lovely waiter didn't blink but came straight out with amazing bowl for our ostrich. Thank you all for...

Good pub food - not fancy but good and good choice of drinks- outdoor seating. - felt covid safe - friendly staff

We went for a visit to Dorset with some friends recently and this was the first pub we went to - on the first day the pubs were back open! Can't rate it highly enough - the man that greeted us was so friendly and...

After a incident at the Old Granary with a very rude young man. We arrived at the Horse and Groom. Delightful staff and lovely courtyard. Food excellent and lovely staff

Ate lunch here for the 1st time. Friendly service, good atmosphere and busy for a Tuesday lunchtime. Nice old pub with interesting historical photos. Good lunch menu. I had the seafood basket with salad, my husband had pie of the day and my sister had...

Visited tonight for something to eat lovely welcome as always. Pub was very busy so we sat in the garden. I had Ham egg and chips and my partner had Gammon both meals were delicious. Thank you.

We booked a table inside for a Saturday night meal and were greeted well on arrival, COVID procedures were in place but did not spoil the experience. Friendly service and good quality food well resented. One observation that might help other diners from out of...

Had a lovely lunch here today... we both had fish, chips and peas which was delicious... they wouldn’t let a gent in because he had no mask and we thought this was handle very professionally and courteously... we will definitely return ...Glyn and Lesley Jones

We had a fantastic meal and few bevvies in here with friends. Staff super friendly and lovely atmosphere. Highly recommend. Restored our faith in the area after the rude and unwelcoming reception at The Old Granary.

Have visited this lovely pub a few times now and every aspect has been amazing. The staff and owners are always accommodating and extremely friendly and chatty even when they're rushed off their feet! The food is lovely and obviously cooked from fresh. The stuffed...

As soon as we walked in greeted like they valued our custom. Quaint pub, great atmosphere, relaxing, love the decor. The guys who were front of house were polite and couldn't do enough for you. The cod & chips yum, as was my husbands burger....

I don’t really have much to write about, but visited yesterday evening. But the reason for the review was just to share good of a pint of guinness it was. Akin to being in Dublin. So smooth and creamy. A thing to savour.

My husband and I have just eaten the most delish meals. I had the seafood linguini, my husband had rack of lamb....WHAT a treat. Perfect service, beer, wine...and as for the food! Yum, Highly recommended

We have just had a superb evening here hosted by really friendly and welcoming staff. It was great to enter a pub with such a great atmosphere just as it should be, we ere guided to our table after the usual formalities and the pub...

Very friendly staff and owners and a great range of Gin’s. Very welcoming. Food was also very nice, a good selection.

Lovely pub. Friendly welcoming environment great service well kept cellar I had a couple of pints of Twist and Stout. Will be coming back to eat at some point.

This is our favourite pub to visit when on holiday. This last week despite the weather we managed to have a great meal on Friday night and drinks on Sunday night (if there had not been such bad weather we would have gone every night...

Prior to going to Bournemouth on holiday, found this gem in the Good Pub Guide 2021 away from the river front. Really felt like some returning normality with Joe taking food and drinks orders on arrival in this wonderful quiet rear courtyard and the landlady...

We hadn't booked but the young man on Reception was most helpful and fo7nd us an outside table. Very good covid measures and the staff very welcoming. We had a superb fish and chips and steak pie lunch. Reasonably priced and excellent portion size. The young guy who served us was brilliant, knowing all the real ales and very polite and helpful. Great experience and worth a visit if you want a good pub lunch and excellent friendly service.

Booked a table for Sunday Roast on the first ‘free weekend’ of the easing of lockdown. We were definitely not disappointed! Met with a friendly welcome, covid check-in and plenty of hand sanitiser. We had a table in the pretty courtyard garden under an open marquee in the glorious sunshine. Everywhere was spotlessly clean and the service was top notch; friendly but not intrusive. All Covid-19 guidelines were being followed with tables socially distanced and masks being worn. Manager Joe made sure we were being well looked after and the young waiting staff were confident and capable. But the best bit was the food! A choice of beef, pork or turkey with ample portions of veg and gravy and extra massive pigs in blankets and cauliflower cheese. All delicious. The first draught Guinness was perfect and new pub puppy Dixie just rounded off this visit nicely! We will be back!!

Very friendly place. Food was very nice and well proportioned. Spotlessly clean. The staff were most accomodating. Will definitely be returning there at some point.

Don’t get the chance to go out with the wife much on our own, so was lucky when the opportunity arose.Had a lovely time, good food good service good atmosphere.

We have been to the Horse and Groom twice before although it is a little out of our way and it has been pleasant. This time we were met in the narrow entrance hall by a lady, feet astride bristling with suspicion. My husband said gently that we had a reservation. She pointed to an app pattern on the wall and snapped 'sign in'. We explained very gently that we do do have smart phones. This was met by a mixture of anger and shock. Through her mask she snapped a single word at me. Now I wear hearing aids and could not hear what she said. I said so and she snapped, I ,the same word again. I repeated. She whipped off her mask and said 'Mask'. We had already checked around us and no one was wearing a mask. I explained that I did not wish to wear a mask (not necessary in a restaurant ) as I wear both glasses and hearing aids. With which she turned on her heel snapped 'follow me' and led us to the most remote table in the pub where she left us and did not reappear. The rest of the staff were their usual polite selves but our evening was spoiled and we left without dessert or coffee. These may be trying times especially for the hard of hearing and those with vision problems but it seems a pity to make it worse. We probably won't go there ever again which is a pity for us and them.

We popped in here for Saturday lunch on the off chance that it might be good. We were not disappointed. We received a warm welcome and we felt looked after. We felt ‘safe’. Nice selection of beer and wines. Food tasty. No complaints. Would definitely visit again.

We were pleased to get in as everywhere was busy in Wareham and we had it booked. Awesome Sunday lunch (no other menu available). Very generous proportions, we asked for our beef rare and we got it, veg perfectly cooked. Only downside was no wiping down tables between visits (three different couples came and went next to us). We need to be more Covid aware.

We had a great traditional Sunday lunch here. Choice of 3 meat roasts plus veggie. We tried roast beef, turkey and vegetarian and thoroughly enjoyed them. The meat itself was superb but so too were the accompaniments: even the cabbage was super tasty! And, at £11.95 a plate, fantastic value.

When we walked in we were direct to the beer garden as apparently there were no tables inside. We were told that it was table service. Eventually another staff member spotted us and came out to see if we had ordered, which we hadn't. We were able to taste some of the local beers before ordering, which is good. When our drinks came one of them was definitely flat. On asking the the original staff member for a replacement we were told that we had tried the beer before ordering and were charged for the replacement. We asked for the flat pint to be brought back so we could throw it in the flower bed. They have some nice beers but the service lets them down badly.

We have visited this pub every night of our holiday this week. The food is excellent, varied menu daily and the real ales are a great range and kept to a high standard. The staff have adapted to the current situation including the new changes this week. We felt safe at all times and still very welcomed and looked after.

Centrally sited in South St., not far from the river Frome. A welcoming pub serving good value food. Service was great in spite of the national restrictions. Booking advised for the moment.

Popped in today for a light lunch and coffee with the other half had a beef sandwich on brown bread was melt in the mouth came with side salad and chips husband had a prawn mayo both very filling

First thing to say is that I would highly recommend this Pub. We were staying in Wareham and I had booked a table there for a meal on our first night out. We had a lovely lady meet us and show us to our table, the choice on the menu was excellent and the food just as excellent. The young fellows serving us were polite and friendly and the pub was comfortable with a great atmosphere. I just can’t say enough good about the staff and the pub. How can I forget great beer too.

Fantastic quaint pub near the River, beautiful Courtyard Garden in which to relax. Lovely service , called in at lunchtime for something to eat, wow, the food was amazing. Cannot wait to return for dinner or a nice Sunday lunch!

By the time we arrived it was almost 2.00pm. A late lunch. It wasn't busy. There was plenty of room in the outdoor area. We opted for the seafood 'basket' which was a selection of battered seafood on a bed of salad. It was delicious. Fresh fish, cod, scampi, calamari and butterfly prawns battered. They were hot and crispy and didn't appear to have been previously frozen. They had a good selection of daily dishes on the blackboard. They serve some nice local beers. The staff were good with the social distancing and the toilets were clean. We felt safe. Well done the staff for coping well during this difficult time of Corona virus. Next time were in Wareham we'd be happy to come back.

Visited tonight on the spur of the moment. Service from the moment we arrived was impeccable. Ordered the gammon steak fantastic my partner had the fish and chips also fantastic would highly recommend.

We had a fab meal at the Horse and Groom. I have had a lot of steaks in my time - this was the best! The rest of the family had the vegetarian choice and all loved it. Great friendly service. Highly recommended.

We've eaten in the Horse and Groom several times now and the food and service are always fantastic. Lovely local pub with an outside area too. A big shout out to our waiter and Manager(?) Joe - lovely friendly service from everyone! :-)

I have been to this pub several times with my family& always experienced excellent food & customer service. I even had a pint once after being rescued by the RNLI ! That pint was the best ever 😀

It's a pub! Good beer and friendly staff. Although we didn't eat here the plates of food we saw looked very appetising

My partner and I were in Wareham for the week and pre booked this place for the Monday evening. The staff were very friendly and welcoming, we both had fish dishes which were brilliant. The atmosphere was nice and warm and we felt very safe with the COVID protocols in place. Only negative would be the rather bland/supermarket feeling desserts.

Nice traditional pub, excellent beer, & food was decent Process coping with Coved was pretty good too Would definitely visit again

Four friends and I had Sunday roast dinner here yesterday and we all really enjoyed it. We had a vegetarian and vegan in our party and they were very happy with their meal too. The service was very good too. Definitely worth a visit

by chance we called in today for a meal. lamb shank and fish and chips.couldnt fault the meal at all and by chance had 50% off thanks to the government.great value at £ 13 for 2 meals.great pint of guiness and white wine and excellent service.highly recommended.

If you enjoy home cooked food from local trout, lamb or a mean curry to local crab sandwiches this is the place to come. All washed down with a varied selection of local ales, wines or coffees; all at very competitive prices! Definitely the best pub in Wareham this summer.....

Popped in for lunch (ham, eggs and chips) and a refreshing real ale (shield maiden). Both really good. Atmosphere excellent. So much so we went back the following evening and again had great food and ale. Dog friendly too.

Living in Wareham decided to meet family at this refurbished pub. Open fire. Great food. Very welcoming hosts. Food was the best pub food I have had for many years. Many local people and will certainly return and recommend.

Having recently returned from living in France for 12 years where we got into the habit of regularly and often going out to lunch, my wife and I visited Wareham looking for a place to eat. Naturally we headed for the riverside, but were really disappointed with the pub restaurants located there. We headed back to our car, and by chance,we turned off the main street (the 1st on the right, heading from the river) and happened across the Horse and Groom. It was a cold day, and we needed to get warm so in we went. What a good decision! The open fire was welcoming and the greeting was instant and warm! Recovering from heart surgery I could not have a good 'blow-out' so chose from the light menu. The portions were very generous, well cooked and well presented. They were extremely good value for money. My wife and I have eaten in many restaurants and we have found many where the service is good, many where the food is good, many where there is good value for money, many that are clean and well presented, and many that are welcoming, However, we have not found many where you can find all of these at the same time, but the Horse and Groom is one where you can! As someone who used to own a restaurant and who has worked all my life in catering and hospitality I cannot too highly recommend the Horse and Groom. Give it a go...... you won't regret it.

We enjoyed a very delicious Sunday roast at lunch here today. The service was good at the bar and the waiting staff were efficient and friendly. The food was hot with plenty of fresh vegetables. We paid extra for Yorkshire puddings and pigs in blankets. The pigs were full sized sausages and there were so many we brought some home! There was plenty of meat and gravy. It was extremely good value. We will definitely return.

Not having the barstools take over the bar was good to see, called in with a friend and had food, the soup was delicious service was good really pleased that the comments on a previous post have been taken up . Reasonably priced and a good place for tea and coffee compared to some of the other venues in the area well done thank you