The King's Arms in North Dorset

Proper pub. Pool table, juke Box, Live music, Sky and BT sports. Large Capacity. Busy and social at weekends, open 7 days a week until late. UPDATE NOW CHANGED OF OWNERSHIP. VERY DIFFERENT.

Biggest pub in town but closes at 9pm?? Called in for a pint around 6pm, smelt very fusty, a few locals in. Asked the barmaid what time they close, she was unsure as she finished at 6 but thought around 9. Won't rush back

I thought I’d written this few weeks back so apologies to owner. Walked in for late lunch 4 of us as it was a close pub to the famous gold hill. What a welcome from Dave the owner nothing too much trouble and seated us in a great spot. We got chatting about areas Essex and wareham and cloudy cider and how it’s made and he was such a knowledgeable friendly guy and a great sense of humour. Food was absolutely fabulous and tasty. I had fish in baguette others had pie and mash and faggots and mash all cooked to perfection and we would definitely recommend and we will be back Dave top man

Food exilent staff are friendly and very informative on upcoming events

Very good pub friendly waitress looks nicely dressed hope to visit again soon

Absolutely loved the food. Great selection for adults and children.Good service. Kids menu's they can colour and draw which keeps them entertained while waiting for their lunch/dinner. There is seating inside and outside. Staff are very welcoming and friendly. Very popular place. I highly recommend this place. I give it 5*

Was looking for a meet up spot with family for catch up after Xmas for x6 people and came here but it was sadly very unwelcoming, the girl serving us was clearly not in a good mood and didn’t want to be there, we asked if we could have food to a man there and said we stop food in 5mins (14:30pm) so rushed to order and the girl refused us anyway, place was very freezing (wish they put a fire on), the floor was very sticky as we walked over it and hot drinks were poor. Shame wanted to try something different.

Come with the family of 6 and had the nicest food .. Great service from the bar staff especially the young girl with long lashes she made us a feel very welcome... We will definitely be back.

Party of eleven, tables were moved to accommodate us, drinks bought at the bar and food ordered from a very extensive menu. We were not disappointed, the food came out from the kitchen all together, freshly cooked and hot. Very tasty. And we didn’t have to wait long. Who ever is running the kitchen, is clearly very organised. Well done. Good range of beers and a log fire burning.

Lovely food cooked by Gareth, lovely setting, reasonable price.

Was a Friday afternoon, so quiet. Big pub. Barstaff very friendly. Excellent pint of Guinness. Will return. Soon.

Good food and friendly staff. A bit cold inside though!

Old style Inn situated in the centre of Shaftesbury with a good car park. Good quality and value menu with a wide range of dishes. Lovely olde England ambiance serving local craft beer and cider

Very quick service as it was early Friday morning

Good food, generous portions, friendly staff. We chose the right place to celebrate our wedding anniversary!

I usually eat at the kings about twice a month , usually with my brother and his wife or with one of my mates . Love that the menu is changed regularly, my problem is that the menu is brilliant with very few things I would not eat . I had the fish cakes , chips and muddy peas , which was the first time I’ve had them , they were brilliant , my brother had the chilli and his wife fish and chips which they enjoyed . Well served by the lovely bar lady . A smile on her face all the time and could not of been more helpful . If you’re looking to eat in town then I can recommend the kings any time . Well done to all at the kings you’re doing a grand job . Thank you once again .

Easy parking! Great atmosphere, friendly and welcoming staff, wonderful food with a fantastic range of ales with a real open fire in the wintertime! What's not to like? Go there now! Excellent! 👍

Thought I would put a description than just 5 stars come here a lot for breakfast and what a difference the place is now under new management. The guy running the place is lovely and his wife is fantastic also. Service with a smile and wouldent turn you down if you just went in for a glass of water... This is a very nice place to come for a drink or a bite to eat any time of the day, it is looked after by SIA on a Friday and Saturday night and managed well. I will continue to visit as my favourite pub in Shaftesbury! See you soon!!

Went for a roast dinner and it sounded amazing but went it arrived it was absolutely shocking, was not freshly cooked and not even cooked properly, felt microwaved. I opted for the large mixed trio of meats with "crackling" I felt it was unfair and shocking that they served 2 pork scratchings as "crackling" definitely mis-sold and will not be returning! However staff were nice and friendly!

Popped in here early evening for dinner. The lady behind the bar was very pleasant, informing us that if we ordered burgers on a Thursday they came with a free drink. There was a big choice of different types o burgers. I chose the lamb and mint which was delicious. It came with fries and a rather lovely home made coleslaw. Will definitely visit again when we’re in the area.

Good food and staff but a bit noisy. Would go back.

I’ve been a few times now for lunch and a roast. The baguettes are gorgeous and a good choice to select from. The roasts are amazing, £13 for a trio large roast which was absolutely massive. The food is such good value for money!! The male owner is polite, friendly and really accommodating. I would highly recommend

Nice pub...Great service from lovely young barmaid Abbie would recommend 👌

Lovely pub. Food amazing. Good value. Staff friendly

Excellent food with generous portions. Good value for money. Very friendly lady behind the bar. Found this pub by luck when we arrived and glad we did. Much needed lunch stop. Beer and drinks good.

Excellent..never have i had so many mussels in one serving and the landlords friendly and helpful..see u thursday for maddies fishcakes😂

Very rude and unwelcoming staff woul not recommend

What a pretty pub in the heart of Shaftesbury. A wonderful menu for all, lovely atmosphere, beautiful decor. There are spectacular paintings for sale too by local artists. If you are in Shaftesbury definitely worth a visit, for a drink or / and food!

Here over the weekend, was busy but the limited amount of staff (seen) coped very well :)

We went for a meal in the pub last. It was booked by a family member and we were quite unsure about going. But what a surprise. The staff were friendly and happy. The menu had plenty of choice. They substituted things on my daughters plate and nothing was too much. The itself was lovely and presented well. It was priced just right. Thank you Craig for the service you provided and thanks to girls working last night too.

Brilliant service, very helpful and understanding with my fussy daughter. The food was really good portion size and very tasty too. Definitely going back again.

I Regularly pop in for a pint and because the food is excellent I often have a bite to eat. From the wonderful baguettes, the chilli to the steak and kidney pie, it’s presented beautifully, tastes great and brilliant value for money.

Good very good pub good beer a bit expensive

We went back here as mymum& dad first met here. They were both born here & my dad had recently passed away so we went for a drink here in memory of him.

Fantastic pub. Food was 1st class as were the staff who looked after us during our stay. Highly recommend.

Good for those who want to watch sport. Child friendly and has a games room and outdoor seating. Dog friendly. Good value food well cooked and presented

Food was very good,friendly and helpful landlord and staff.

Called in for a Sunday lunch, and what a treat. Fabulous pint even more fabulous Sunday roast, all cooked to order so was worth the wait, desserts brilliant, we were so pleased we tried this pub what a treat.

Lovely food and friendly staff 😋

My husband and I were out on a day trip to Gold Hill. On arrival we found it very busy (a good thing these times) there was a food market on. We decided to go into The King's Arms and very glad we did, we were greated by a lovely lady behind the bar she served us our drinks and took our food order. All with a lovely smile. We both chose the Sunday roast. My husband had the lamb I had the 3 meat roast. Wow when it came everything on the plate was fresh, well cooked and well presented so, so scrummie excellent value for money . Then it came to the pudding I wanted the rhubarb crumble but it had cinnamon in it sorry not for me but to my great surprise the manager came over to say the chef would cook me one with out. I have never had such good food and service "anywhere" thank you all. We will definitely be going again. The pub is family friendly and animal friendly.

A great discovery. Wide range of dishes. Meal delicious. Plenty of seating.

Great food, nice atmosphere, good beer garden

Good food food highly recommended 👌

My wife and our 2 well behaved dogs stopped off here for lunch and were pleasantly surprised. The new management have turned this place around from what was a drinking den full of all the grief that can attract, to an airy, well presented, spacious and clean pub serving great food. A friendly welcome awaits well behaved patrons and the atmosphere is friendly and hospitable. We were not rushed and were served a most delicious home made burger stuffed with Stilton. It was lush!! I would recommend a stop off next time you are in Shaftesbury. I would think it better to book ahead if you are taking a large party like a coach, as the meals are prepared and cooked to order. There is ample cheap parking adjacent to the pub. The machines weren’t accepting cards so cash was required. All in all a great experience and a full belly. Our dogs were very welcomed, definitely dog friendly!!

Nice local pub, friendly service.

We visit Shaftsbury often for a few days break and are always looking for new places to eat. What a find to come across the Kings Arms in town. The landlord was very accommodating and friendly. The food was freshly cooked piping hot and very good value. The landlord also converted me to his range of infused draught ciders. We will definitely return next time we visit Shaftsbury.

Very lucky to have a pub like this in Shaftesbury! Lovely staff, great selection of drinks and the food is excellent.

Lovely food and relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff.

Once you arrive it is hard to leave. The bar room floor is so sticky it keeps you stuck in place.

We have become regulars on a Sunday afternoon. Mostly we enjoy a drink after our walk. On several occasions we've treated ourselves to Sunday lunch. Delious food, great choice and good portion size at a good price.

Best roast potatoes I've had out, the 3 meat roast on a Sunday is great! This visit was a Saturday, had the scampi, lovely taste, possibly could of done with a few more scampi but for just shy of a tenner it was good value. Chips were nice too! The guys that run it are polite and have a good sense of humour. Some of the locals are a bit noisy but it is a pub after all! 🤷

Great friendly pub, great service, dogs are welcome and catered for Food is very good and competitively priced based upon other local establishments Entertainment and meat raffle so well worth visiting We will be paying the highest compliment by definitely returning

Really lovely pub, great ambience didn't eat but food looked lovely and will definatley return to eat.

Friendly staff and good food at reasonable prices. Not quite the normal sort of pub I would go to, but pleasant nonetheless.

We went to the Kings Arms for lunch on Sunday and had a lovely afternoon. The pub itself is large but has lots of cosy corners with warm fires burning. The staff were extremely friendly and nothing was too much trouble. I had my little...

Came in with family and a newborn baby as our first outing, baby changing facilities were easy to access (I didn't have to wait around with a crying baby for a key which was really nice!) We ordered some light bites and sides and the...

My daughter lives in Shaftesbury and I visit from London as often as possible and we are delighted to have found the Kings Arms. We spent Christmas Eve and New Years Eve here for dinner. We have a small baby and it is perfect to...

Visited for a Sunday dinner,great food and huge portions..well worth a visit. They also allow dogs. Family friendly,accommodated my 21 month old perfectly

Well what can I say . My brother, his wife and myself went to the kings for my birthday lunch, and we were not disappointed . As usual the hosts were brilliant , both smiling and chatting , and the pub was the busiest I’ve...

I regularly pop in for a pint but I have been in to eat a few times now. Every meal I have had has been excellent! From the great value steak and mushroom baguettes to pork chop with Stilton, it is all Cooked and presented...

Our first visit a couple of weeks ago, was a fantastic experience. We’ve not stopped raving about this place, for its delicious menu choices, catering for large or small appetite’s, a huge selection of drinks, to suit all age groups, in our party. Ohh and...

The Kings arms has become such a great, family friendly, lovely place to be. Having been here before the new owners took over I wouldn’t have come back. With the new management, food and drinks choices- I can’t get enough of it! Made my family...

We decided to meet in Shaftesbury as it was in the middle of our houses, what a marvelous pub! Huge choice of drinks and a comprehensive menu. We had a starter each, the calamari is devine, the garlic mushrooms very tasty. The roast dinners come...

Great pub. Excellent food and very friendly staff. It has a lively bar area and a quieter room off to the side thats perfect if you want somewhere away from the bar to enjoy a meal. Can't fault anything about this place. Will be back.

Excellent local sourced meal, friendly staff, very recommend. Will definitely go again.

What a great afternoon out with my brother and his wife . Great service from the landlord , nothing to much trouble . My brother hade pork chop and his wife and I had burger , but me being me had the bigger with stuffed...

Lovely food dog friendly lovely country pub .

We have been to the kings arms for Sunday Lunch and it is by far one of the best places for it. When you walk in you are greeted by the friendly landlord and landlady and all the staff. Also at this time of year...

Popped in on Remembrance Sunday on the off chance of a Sunday Roast. Greeted and welcomed by very friendly staff and enjoyed an excellent roast dinner. Freshly prepared and cooked with care.

Stumbled across this pub on our stay in Shaftesbury. A really vast menu and friendly service. We went two nights in a row. All had different meals and were really tasty and well presented. Great value, excellent quality and fab atmosphere. Really recommend.

Couple of pleasant afternoons that turned into evenings spent here with friends.. Very welcoming land lord. Food excellent - especially the Sunday Roast. Pool table was a great attraction, especially as it is located away from the bar - felt like we'd hired it privately.

Great food and environment with friendly banter from Dave the landlord. Difficult to impress 4 couples over a weekend… but you smashed it. We had a great relaxing time, with super selection of beer, wine and cider. Also the best gravy ever to add to the fabulous Sunday roast. Thanks it was all amazing.

Not very busy when we visited out of season for lunch, but nice welcome and fuss made of our dog. Food was excellent. Highly recommended.

Had a great meal with drinks took the dog with us and we were all made welcome. Must add that we have a better than expected meal for a pub! Looked and tasted home made with excellent service and reasonable prices, will be going back soon.

Visited with my two children on the 19th october 2021. We were hit with an old pub reception, lots of character and atmosphere. We were met with a very friendly greeting and attentive staff. After looking at the new menu advertised outside all i can...

Well done to the new owners lovely atmosphere sorry did not have any food but menu look's good

Friendly staff... Even the doormen were very helpful. Food was good and plenty of whipped cream on the hot chocolate..

Went for a family meal and was not disappointed, went for the King Burger and was not disappointed one bit! The menu has so many great choices it was hard to choose from, everyone's dish around the table was well presented and smelled amazing, overall...

Nice craft pint.nice surrounding.

Welcomed with a friendly greeting, as soon as we walked in you had a great atmosphere and the smell of a freshly lit open fire. I have to say, I enjoyed every single bite of the meal. I had a 3 course meal, and so...

Came for a family meal last night, and have had a couple of roasts here recently, the roast pork is to die for, so tender! Had soup and lamb shank last night, perfect menu, loads of choice, pub classics and more premium meals. Cooked to...

Its very good all the best alan

Travelled up to The Kings Arms from Poole and well worth the journey. Wide and varied choice on the menu which left none of our party of 7 wanting for anything. Food was fantastic, well presented and served by helpful staff. Lovely surroundings and atmosphere....

Food brilliant and menu choice is good. Travelled up from Poole after a recommendation and it was well worth the trip. Excellent food, great staff and really nice surroundings

Lovely atmosphere, fantastic food cooked to perfection for a group of 17 which is unheard of! Piping hot and good beer!! Top shelf!

Decided to try as under new management and now does food... we had a 2 course meal. Very good value for money. 1st courses we had calamari, baked camobert 2nd courses wild boar and apple faggots. . Hunters chicken. All very good tastey food of...

Great pub and staff and great food

Good food Great beer Great staff A bit quiet but a good pub

Went lunchtime with my brother for a couple of pints and to try something off the menu . Well what a great lunch we had . The drinks as usual were good , the new landlord and land lady were very welcoming and helpful ....

This is a lovely friendly and welcoming pub. We we're pleasantly surprised to hear that this was a dog friendly pub. The food was homemade and delicious, and the atmosphere was amazing. We were lucky enough to be there on quiz night which was very...

Had a delicious home cooked meal here last night, the staff were so friendly and we managed to catch the quiz which was really enjoyable.

Fantastic find in Shaftesbury. We visited Shaftesbury yesterday on our way home from Bournemouth and were looking for a "light" lunch. We looked at several eateries in the town but were not overly impressed by the choices or prices. Remembering that we had passed the Kings Arms whilst parking , we decided to give it a try. Wow!! Incredible menu with loads of choices (all very reasonably priced). Very friendly greetings from the owners and two of the best jacket potatoes we have eaten for ages, We sat in the sun and it was a great end to a lovely week away. Many thanks.

Had a lovely fish and chips here fish really was lovely the batter was perfect

Lovely looking pub ...lady serving was very welcoming. We had a nice drink but didn't stay for food as the telly was turned up rather loud for 2 lads to watch the footie and the floor of pub was very very sticky

Absolutley fantastic food, we had the king burger it was really nice. The kids plates were really tasty and ample x

Had a lovely Sunday roast here, it was nice and quiet and the staff were very attentive.

We visited here last night with friends, the atmosphere was great. The hosts, Dave and Louise were very friendly and gave us a warm welcome. The food was absolutely delicious, I had the homemade chilli probably the best I have ever eaten. We all had Caramel apple pie, except my husband who had knickerbocker glory. We will definitely be going again, very soon. Keep up the good work and see you soon

The food in this place is incredible. I was truly not expecting anything special on walking in but WAS I WRONG! Homemade fish finger baguette for £6.50 was incredible and the burger…. The burger was huge, and tasty!!

Great pub serving good food, nice and friendly. Will visit again.

Friendly staff and excellent food!