The King's Arms in West Dorset

This is a hotel with attractive pub like character but great rooms with attention to detail (good quality coffee and tea making and fresh milk). It is an historic building so not everything is pristine but the rooms are clean and generally well maintained. Well located in the centre of Dorchester with an adjacent free car park for hotel residents. Continental breakfast was good in terms of quality and value. Did not try the cooked breakfast which was priced on an individual plate basis. Food in restaurant was ok; pub like in quality. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Good value.

Just got home from a fabulous Sunday lunch. We all had the roast dinner which was absolutely fantastic. I can’t eat chestnuts which are in the stuffing so the chef did me up a bacon wrapped sausage one instead, which was incredibly thoughtful. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back as everything was faultless.

Hard to judge general menu as I ate vegan roast. It was absolutely the worst ever, it looked and tasted disgusting I will never return. It makes me so cross to eat vegan food out because I can do much better at home so if a chef can’t knock up a decent vegan dinner then they shouldn’t be working as a chef. I was actually temped the following Sunday to take down a roast I made and show him how it’s done. Like I said I can’t give an opinion on the rest of menu as I didn’t eat it but my friends said it was ok but they’ve had better.

Visited on a Stay & Dine 'deal', and was thoroughly impressed. The Kings Arms is located in the centre of Dorchester with parking provided. The interior of the building is lovely, with a great ambiance and character in spades. Our guestroom was lovely. It was spotlessly clean, well appointed with a lovely big shower. Everything looked new. We ate dinner & breakfast in the restaurant and it was great. The staff were all very friendly & helpful. Genuinely couldn't fault anything and looking forward to visiting again.

Restaurant: Staff efficient and pleasant; food great; good atmosphere; beer very good. Hotel: Room quiet; bed comfortable; excellent welcome tray. Would recommend to anyone.

Stunning hotel in the town centre. Had one of the upscale rooms and was totally worth it. Fantastic restaurant with surprisingly wide choice if you are veggie or eat fish.

Gorgeous food lovely decor and well stocked bar, friendly staff a great pitstop on a long journey or just to sample amazing main courses which were very filling

excellent food best Sunday lunch in Dorchester

A beautiful place. The food was delicious and mostly the service was good but the lady at the bar served me a coke that had clearly run out and I was left standing quite a while trying to get somebody's attention to change it for me

The hotel itself was lovely, very nicely decorated and super comfy bed! The staff were outstanding and couldn't do enough for us from small changes to food orders and changing our room to one with a bath! Brad was was very helpful and super friendly, the breakfast was outstanding and the restaurant food was good too! Would love to come back.

Delicious Sunday lunch! 2nd time, hoped it would be as good as first & it didn’t disappoint!! Beautiful tender beef & veggies like home…..well worth visiting!

Our first time here for Sunday lunch. Perfect! Lovely warm atmosphere on a blustery Sunday afternoon. We had 3 vegan roast dinners and they were obviously cooked with skill and care - tasty, hot and beautifully presented. The Butcombe Original was superb. We'll definitely be back...

We stayed in one of the rooms at the Kings Arms and had breakfast and an evening meal. The staff were both delightful, helpful, and couldn't do enough for us. The room was wonderfully roomy and comfy with lots of lovely little additions. The breakfasts were plentiful and delicious with a wonder ful choice and the evening meal was one of the most tasty that we have had in a hotel in a long time.

There’s no doubt that this is a beautiful hotel but, we went with friends for Dinner and the staff were friendly and promptly took our order but when the meals arrived, my husband ordered the brisket, but it was too fatty and still had two pieces of string attached and the mashed potato was bland and quite sloppy, so he went hungry as he’s not one for complaining. We all ordered deserts which were ok but we we’ll probably not return for food which is a shame as it has a lovely atmosphere in the hotel.

Went with a group of friends and had the Xmas menu, at lunchtime, great choices, good quality food with friendly staff. Good selection of beers in the bar as well

We recently stayed for one night at the King’s Arms in Dorchester. The staff were extremely friendly, the place was very stylish and the food was exceptional. I would heartily recommend it to anyone.

Booked a birthday dinner with my family. When we were arrived we were greeted by friendly staff and the interior looked beautiful. But sadly our evening was ruined by the food. We ordered a combination of the chicken burger, beef burger and vegetable mousska . The food was blend with no flavour and over priced! The burger buns were dry and no seasoning on the food! We complained to the waitress who called the manager. We explained to him that the food was disappointing and tasteless. He offered to take the drinks off the bill which did not amount to much and he wanted us to return again! Unfortunately, we will not be returning as the whole experience was very disappointing. Never again !!

A great experience. Lovely surroundings, extremely polite service, piping hot food and prices exactly matching the meal. And what a meal! Our family contains an omnivore, two pescatarians, and two vegans including one gluten-free, so we're hard to please. And the King's Arms served up the very best for all of us. Stunning soups (butternut squash & coconut), succulent burger, tasty Devon crab, stunning cider-battered haddock, chips to die for (incredibly crispy and melting in the middle) - and a vegan option that was one of the best I've ever known (merguez roasted squash, smoky aubergine, yoghurt, crispy polenta, zhoug and beetroot ketchup). Even the side of sliced bread was lovely. We all walked out extremely happy.

We were staying in Dorchester. It was a cold damp evening and we were looking for somewhere to eat but because of the weather and time of year other restaurants were deserted with no atmosphere. We were glad we tried the Kings Arms. The bar seemed quite busy and there were several people in the restaurant. Food was served promptly and service was good. I didn't take a note of the staff names as 2 or 3 were involved. The restaurant was warm and cosy and food very good.

Visited for Afternoon Tea last weekend, all the team were very pleasant and attentive. The food was plentiful and nicely presented and I’m still obsessed with the meringue swans. Highly recommend a visit, excellent value for money. Only criticism would be the teapots clearly weren’t cleaned properly as they were tea stained all down the spout but as a hotel GM myself, I know it’s a difficult time for the industry and I’m sure it was a one off!

A five star hotel in a beautiful part of the country. We booked this hotel for our 35th Wedding Anniversary and it did not disappoint. The Kings Arms hotel was one of the nicest hotels we have ever stayed in. Attention to detail in all aspects was incredible. We took our dog with us and she was made very welcome by all members of staff. We had booked one of the fancy rooms but when we arrived we were upgraded to the Plush room. A beautiful spacious bedroom. All of the staff were hard working and made sure everything was just so. All of our meals that we had ordered were cooked to perfection. We will definitely be returning for another stay very soon. If I could give 10 stars I would ⭐️

As regulars and frequent visitors of this hotel, we left feeling very sad and not wanting to return, I think we can honestly say, this was our final visit. Empty bar, yet had to get the three servers attention to serve us whilst chatting between themselves! Embarrassing, even to order food, we had again interrupt a “staff conversation” yet we were the only customers there! Sad, as we eat here 3-4 times a month and it’s always been a firm choice of ours.

A good varied menu. Food was delicious. The staff were very polite and professional. A little slow on bringing the condiments when we already had our food but definitely a good night. Recommend

We went for Sunday lunch and it was a-maz-ing. The staff were attentive and present without it feeling like they were on top of us. The food was great, we both had the beef roast. It all tasted so good that we took our time savouring every mouthful, which then led to our food getting a little cool, but that fault is with us for taking soooo long not the restaurant. The yorkshire was quite possibly one of the biggest I have seen and had a flavour you don't often come across, more likely than not due to the fat or other ingredient they've used, I wish I had asked for their secret! I will say that this is not your average Sunday roast, this is a Sunday roast elevated. There weren't any children when we went and to be honest I don't know if the menu and atmosphere would suit a family with children any younger than mid teenagers. I wish we lived in the region so that we could make this place a regular and if we are in the area again we will certainly be booking a table.

Superb Sunday lunch, one of the tastiest vegetarian roasts I have ever eaten. Lovely selection of vegetables. All the staff were very polite friendly and welcoming. The interior is beautiful, clean and really tasteful. I can't wait to return.

I had a wonderful experience during my recent stay at The Kings Arms, Dorchester. The staff were incredibly attentive and friendly, the room was clean and comfortable, and the amenities were top-notch. Overall, it was a fantastic stay, and I look forward to returning in...

My wife and I, along with one of our friends stayed at The King's Arms for 2 nights. It was the start of our 3 day hike in Dorset from Dorchester to Lyme Regis. We booked the hike with On Foot Holidays. It was our...

Location: 60/100. The hotel is located in a little town along the main street. There is quite a good parking inside the property, protected and open. The street, as usually in England, is very quiet despite being in the centre. However, you are not in...

Had a two night stay with breakfast and evening meal at this hotel . This was an anniversary gift from our children who I must say chose well and we were upgraded to an epic room at no extra cost. The room was very spacious...

A couple of years ago we called in here for a drink, and resolved to stay here if we revisited Dorchester. It has a good car park behind the hotel. I very much liked the external appearance of this traditional hotel, complete with pillared porch....

We stayed in a 'Cosy Room' which was, as described, small but perfectly formed. It was comfortable & quiet and had eveything in there that we needed. The bathroom had Bramley toiletries - always a bonus. The food in the restaurant was very good. Staff...

We had a lovely dinner here. Sea Bream was very good and the rest of the family were very pleased with their roast chicken and also burger. The staff are extremely friendly and the decor is relaxing.

We were on our travels and were looking for a stayover in Dorchester. Someone recommended to us The Kings Arms in so we popped in for a drink to check it out. We had a lovely welcome by Brad who was the manager on shift...

Fabulous start to the weekend,, the king’s arms food, ambiance and service are amazing……. Lamb starter and Steaks main are a must have!!

Excellent stay. Lovely attention to detail and very friendly and helpful. Room very comfortable and clean. Shower easy to use and very refreshing. Nespresso machine a nice touch as is the fresh milk. Will stay again.

Excellent accommodation, very comfortable room, good food, free parking and great location for touring Dorset and the Jurassic Coast

Lunch Two persons. Had lunch on 1st august 2023 Staff were so lovely and friendly and welcoming, and helpful..One visitor had poached egg and salmon on toast. .Partner had a trout omelette Both meals were delicious. .Definitely will pay another visit soon.The interior was beautiful...

Interesting and well prepared locally sourced produce, good vegetarian and vegan options. Excellent service and good deserts. Modern decor tastefully done.

I really like The Kings Arms. Been here quite a few times now and am likely to return many times. However I have given them a score of 3 rather than 4 as my main course today was not that good. Starters were great as...

Just returned from Sunday lunch at Kings Arms. Lovely food, with interesting ingredients. Never had a lamb scrumpet before, or basil sorbet! The rooms are lovely, staff were attentive and gave us plenty of warning about a large group coming in. We were allowed to...

We held our wedding celebrations at this remarkable hotel which catered to our every need. The rooms are first class, the food was excellent and the service was faultless. The hotel is situated in the centre of Dorchester which is a beautiful town. We highly...

Sophie the receptionist was above and beyond awesome. Service with smile and went far and beyond with service I wouldn't get in the states. The drinks here are too good to document. What I will call the senorita of the Sazaretac, Ivana makes the best...

Great service and fantastic Afternoon Tea. A lovely selection of sandwiches with lots of filling and tasty cakes! Definitely recommend!

Apart from a poor Sunday roast, the food was good. Staff were all particularly friendly and helpful. Room OK though not particularly well designed, but to be expected for an old period building. A pleasant experience right in the centre of Dorchester.

We live nearby and all of the staff are really friendly and lovely. They are always ready to help and the food is delicious 😋 Thanks to Bella, Brad, Jimmy, Jake, Liam and all the staff for making it enjoyable every time we visit

My wife and I were very impressed when we spent a few nights at the Kings Arms in Dorchester (April 2023). We had an Epic room which was lovely. We ate at the hotel two of the three nights we were there and the food...

We were staying in the hotel, but I've reviewed that side of things separately on the main hotel tripadvisor page (not spoiler alert, it's 5* all the way), and decided to eat in the restaurant on one of the evenings. The hotel carried the excellent...

We booked a 'snug' room on the 'stay and dine' offer. We were upgraded to a 'cosy' room on arrival - nice surprise! The room was very clean stylish in a 'cosy' way. The tea tray and bathroom toiletries included good quality brands - Teapigs...

We stayed overnight, Bedroom and bathroom were very good except terrible lighting for ladies trying to make their faces up. Really poor lighting both in the bedroom and bathroom for this purpose. The hotel was really busy, but the service was fine and the food...

On Saturday 25/03/23 my husband and I had our wedding party here. It was absolutely beautiful and the organisation was so seemless. After a little bit of uncertainty when the previous events manager left we had the pleasure of meeting Natasha. From our first meeting...

We stayed the night in one of the newly updated rooms: comfortable bed, bathroom well-appointed, nicely appointed coffee and tea. We didn't do dinner in the hotel, as we wanted to go into the town, and we couldn't have done justice to a £15 breakfast....

I highly recommend the Kings Arms Hotel in Dorchester. We chose it so we could explore Dorchester itself and it’s right in the middle of all the wonderful buildings and walking distance to everything. The hotel has been sympathetically updated retaining all the character of...

Sunday lunch was delicious. I had the 3 meat roast which was so tasty, the beef was tender and cooked to perfection, as was the chicken, so moist and juicy and the pork fell apart and with incredible flavour. My partner had the burger and...

Please note: we wrote to the restaurant to express our concerns before leaving this review and were told that they had "seen the food that day and it looked delicious! ". No response was giving to any of our complaints. We visited as a group...

We are so, so happy with our experience at The Kings Arms. The service, the food, the facilities, just everything. Brad, our host, just had everything under control, despite me being very particular. literally nothing was forgotten, or too much trouble for him and the...

We had such a wonderful experience in this hotel. Our room was super hot the first night and I went downstairs to find out how we could adjust the heat. Jimmy at reception didn’t mess around he got us into another room tout suite and...

Fantastic lunch with family just before Christmas. Amazing food and a cosy feel with great service. Thoroughly recommend this lovely pub.

Really pleasant stay. Staff were great, the breakfast was just right and there is parking right outside. Would definitely stay here again when in the area..

I rarely right reviews, but felt that the Kings Arms Sunday lunch deserved it. My wife and I thought absolutely everything was great, excellent flavours, well cooked potatoes, lovely gravy succulent and tasty meat, etc etc.. Yes, it’s not cheap, but you pay for what...

From the moment we arrived there was an excellent, attentive and friendly welcome from all the staff we encountered. Drinks were well made and reasonably priced for a hotel, the decor was beautiful and cosy, and the food was exceptional. Particular mention to Louisa and...

Service poor, food is very much on the slide. Beer was poor and either they don't know how to keep it or the barrel should have been taken off earlier. Oh and senior staff indifferent. We will not be returning

Went for my sons 16th birthday meal and I cant deny everything about the place from the look to the food was really very good. I had a burger and the bday boy had pork belly and they where very nice with no complaints, there...

What great service . Liam in the bar is a fantastic host . He is so pleasant and accommodating. It is so good to have great service these days and we throughly recommend the bar and restaurant. Many thanks

Just right - lovely setting and well organised. Had Sunday roasts and a burger - all well cooked and tasty. Staff very friendly. Would definitely come again

Not sure whether this is generally a good place or not but this has to be published. I booked dinner six weeks in advance for eleven people for l0th Jul. Upon arrival we where told that there is no Crab, no Chicken and no Burgers....

Had a very disappointing meal here this time has been very good up until now I had the brisket which was tasteless, chewy and fatty very badly cooked I should of complained but was a bit awkward as someone else was paying Please get back...

We stopped here on our journey to Totnes; what a fabulous find it was! Great service from the welcome we received through the front door and continuing to the bar staff. Food was delicious; we will definitely return.

We had a wonderful meal to celebrate a big birthday. The food was exquisite and the service absolutely delightful. There were six of us in the private dining room and it really made it a perfect occasion: I would recommend this room for 6-8 people.

My wife and I stayed at the Kings Arms on the recommendation of friends. Our stay was exemplary, first the staff, the entire team were super friendly and well trained, consummate professionals without in any way appearing aloof, how good is this! I must say...

Beautiful hotel. Room comfortable and nicely decorated Breakfast excellent. Vibe of the hotel is extremely enjoyable. Loved it

Lovely warm welcome. The bar, restaurant, room all beautiful. Amazing food, wonderfully presented, perfectly seasoned and not huge portions so you can have 3 courses, drinks and a coffee and feel just right….massive winner for us. Stayed 26th April

I visited the kings arms restaurant with 8 friends for my boyfriends birthday. The dining area and bar were stunning , the staff were friendly and helpful. They accommodated vegan options and had a small but varied menu. Every person loved their meals, they were...

I took my family for dinner at the hotel following a recommendation and we were not disappointed. The dining room is attractive and our table was well-spaced from others. The staff were excellent and I must give a special 'well done' to Chloe who served...

We ate at the hotel during our recent stay. We had 4 breakfasts and 1 dinner and all were very good. The breakfast was included and had a nice selection of cereal's, juices etc plus a very good cooked option. The evening meal was a...

Foodwise very unsatisfactory. Venue very good, comfortable with attractive decor. The retaurant staff were friendly and attentive, the bar staff need a lesson in manners and service. This is not a cheap place to drink or dine, the bar service does not reflect that. Cash...

Quite disappointed with a well priced meal. We were treated by a Friend. I had the Merguez spiced Lamb. The food was just warm, no real flavor & our friend asked if I'd selected a child's portion. My wife had the Ragu, again baby warm....

Great hotel in a central location with friendly staff. Nicely renovated old building with interesting features.

We received a very warm welcome when we arrives for our four night stay. The hotel is beautifully furnished. We enjoyed the bar, our breakfast and dinner in the very attractive dining room. The hotel is in an excellent location with the added bonus of...

Very tastefully decorated and good attention to detail. Staff friendly and relatively attentive. My biggest issue was with the pricing and food. One member of the family ordered cheese and biscuits at £9.50 I thought this would be good but consisted of 3 cheeses which...

What a great place to stay! All staff we met were very friendly and helpful, well done and thank you to them and person that recruits for this smart and well renovated hotel. Dinner and breakfast were delicious, all cooked fresh in the show kitchen....

Drinks menu was good, however the service was poor, having waited at the bar while bar staff noticed myself and partner waiting and the only ones there might I add. Their personal conversation and phones took the majority of their attention before being served 10...

Went here for a big celebration having read the reviews we thought it would be nice. Waited about 25 minutes for cocktail order to be delivered. By that time (8pm) when we were ready to order the food the pork special had run out and...

A quick pop in today for a working lunch. As time was limited we decided to go for a burger and my colleague had a Rarebit with chips. When the food arrived it was well presented and my burger was a delicious homemade style burger....

Quality and service comes first, not the price !!The Kings Arms delivers the best and with aplomb. (How anyone could compare this beautiful place with Weather… thingy across the road is madness!) The Kings Arms Arms is superb in every way, the attentive staff, high...

We are regulars here now, having been here for breakfast, lunch & dinner many times over the last few months. The food and service is always top notch and it’s now one of our favourite places to come. We drive all the way from Lyme...

Had a late lunch here with some friends, having been a few times and really enjoyed it. However, this time the food was lukewarm on a cold plate, with overcooked potatoes and a piece of cod that I’m sure was frozen and not fresh. For...

A fabulous stylish and tastely renovated hotel. We had a small room but it was just lovely in every way - every detail had been thought through. Nespresso and teapigs, lovely full size toiletries, classic fm welcoming us on a digital radio and well placed...

I can't compliment this hotel and restaurant enough. The staff are friendly, helpful and welcoming, the rooms luxurious and comfortable and the food exceptional. We stayed for 2 nights and have left feeling relaxed and spoilt with lovely memories. Thank you.

Lovely welcoming old coaching inn at the top of the high street. Check in was easy, the room was available early and the dogs were greeted warmly.

We are regular diners in the Dorchester area but somehow the new restaurant within the Kings Arms had past us by. After rave reviews from work colleague's we went out for dinner there this evening and were greeted with curtious and attentive staff, a great...

A wintery Monday in January and you rock up at 4pm looking for something to eat and a warm, cosy bit of hospitality…? Tick. Massive tick. The tickiest of ticks. Although it was quiet (a Monday afternoon in January? Of course it was quiet) the...

We felt very relaxed and well looked after at the King’s Arms. Our stay was for one night over New Year’s Eve. The staff were friendly, helpful and polite. Our newly-refurbished room was beautifully done and provided us with all we needed. The restaurant meals...

Stayed overnight and had dinner at this brilliantly refurbished coaching inn. From the minute we arrived we felt very much at home ...the staff were very welcoming and very efficient, the ambience was friendly, the food delicious and all good value Thank you and well...

We were visiting family in Dorchester so we booked in for a four night stay, which also coincided with the half term holiday period so the only room on offer was the smallest 'Snug'. This did not put us off so we paid for a...

Superb setting in Dorchester, wonderful interior decor. The staff were friendly, excellent ambiance and the steak was one of the best I’ve ever tasted. My only concerns were the limited options for vegetarians and portion size was slightly on the small side. Overall - highly...

Our ‘plush’ room was plush, except the radiator wasn’t working! A heater was provided, which did the job. Large, tastefully decorated room, with seating area. Large, comfy bed. Large bathroom…….fabulous shower and lovely smelliest. First breakfast featured under cooked sausage and bacon. First evening meal,...

Main courses were delicious as were the desserts! And thanks to Brad who was just excellent as our host. We will be back.

As soon as we arrived at the Kings Arms and welcomed in its historic and charming lobby, we knew that we were in fir a treat, and our first impressions were confirmed throughout our 3 night stay. This comfortable and stylish boutique hotel was once...

I stayed a night at the Kings Arms with my husband. Staff where lovely,very helpful and professional. The room was a little on the small side but very clean and comfortable. We tried the food in the restaurant and it was delicious and the service...

We stayed on a B&B basisand were pleasantly surprised at the improvements the new owners have implemented. We stayed here a couple of times about 12-15 years ago and whilst it was an acceptable hotel it was a bit tired. The new room layout we...