The Kings Arms in West Dorset

Had a great meal whilst staying at the campsite down the road. The food was outstanding, the staff were lovely

a great restaurant with phenomenal cuisine, the food is extremely tasty. Super friendly and attentive service. We had a really nice evening with a random band that was rehearsing, the music was great and a relaxing night in a nice room.

While we like the place and the server very friendly, love the way she let us try a little of the wines before ordering. Great touch. On to the food, way over priced for the quality the bill came to £107 including wine (£25ish) for two starters and two mains. Probably at least £30 over priced in my view. To be honest if we are ever back there we wouldn't bother going back. Sorry Edit: In fairness we had a cheese board in the price which the wife reminded me we had, I'd totally forgotten.

Lovely pub on the road between Abbotsbury and Weymouth. Reasonable choice of beers and wine. Nice menu, food was fine with good portions. Service was great a solid mix of professionalism and friendliness. Large garden out the front with bench tables around. Smaller slightly raised decked area attached to the pub with several tables. I have no hesitation in recommending this place and will definitely be returning in the future.

Lovely pub, nice garden and good drink selection. I would have given more stars if weren’t for the unreasonable portion of ch We bought 2 portions of cheesy chips for £6 each. Each bowl had 7 chips in. Totally unsure how anyone thinks this is acceptable to serve.

Been staying in a holiday cottage in the village so popped into the pub twice for a pint, and then again for dinner. This is everything a village pub should be... friendly and welcoming staff, good drinks selection and a lovely setting. And the food tonight was excellent as well. Definitely recommend. Also very dog friendly!

Can see that some point it had been decorated quite nicely but now very neglected. Garden tables felt like they were about to fall apart. Food mediocre and quite frankly looked like it needed a good clean, little stream by the decking had beer bottle in it, would have taken seconds to remove - won't be rushing back!

Lovely pub with a nice atmosphere, servers were brilliant, very attentive and friendly. The potato and leek soup was really tasty, as was the fish & chips and the vegetarian korma. The lemon cheesecake was delicious too!

Mother's day. Really good menue. Really good quality food. Cheerful helpful staff. And a relaxed pea full atmospheres even though it eas full

I don’t normally leave reviews but my kids made me promise I would. The staff at the King’s Arms were friendly and we received a warm welcome on arrival. We were seated quickly and it was a comfortable welcoming environment. However, that’s where the good stuff stopped. We only popped in for a light snack drink, so ordered chips. The chips were such tiny portions our teenage kids complained throughout our stay and could not believe how mean the portions were. I tried to brush it off and explain it was a touristy area and so the pub was here to make as much money as possible (there is no other reason I could think of!) but it did feel very much like we’d been conned. If it wasn’t for the friendly staff and good service I’d have given 1 star. I write this from the McDonalds down the road near Dorchester trying to save the day.

Brilliant pub. Great bar staff and the owner keeps a good beer and a welcoming place for a pint and food.

Driven past here a 1000 times, very glad I stopped, and will definitely be stopping many more times in the future! Great place for sure

Fantastic fish and chips! Absolutely massive portion!! Service excellent and great selection of beer, good with the dogs too. Will definitely make a pit stop when camping next door again. Brilliant value for money

Nice welcoming staff and pleasant garden food ok but overpriced chilli was just like stewed mince! Friends burger was ok

Great food and friendly staff, superb location. The fish and chips are huge.

Easy 5 minute walk from Portesham Dairy Farm campsite. Great service from the team and the food was delicious. Calamari starter was yummy with a Dijon sauce. Prawn Curry 🍛 was good and the fish and chips impressive! Sat at bar after for a nightcap. Highly recommend 🙌🏻✨

Nice and quiet for a relaxing meal. Food good. Staff very friendly and helpful. Dog friendly. A bit over priced food and drink for the location but would visit again if using the motorhome site again.

Have been staying in Portesham for over 10 years, kings arms was great back then but had declined particularly in the last couple of years so much that we’ve avoided eating there went today and the food was back on form, great meal, friendly attentive staff. Hopefully it can stay this way! Fillet steak on the linguine was particularly good.

Having read a number of negative reviews we nevertheless went for an evening meal & were pleased we did. Staff were friendly & attentive. The food was well cooked, well presented and well above average for a pub. The place was very busy too. Very impressed.

After a morning dealing with some sad family business, we called in here for a drink on the way home. We were enticed by the menu and ordered a trio of starters to share. ( It’s our favourite way of checking out a new chef!) Salt and Pepper Squid - a modern classic, but nobody does it with a Dijon cream. Shilvinghampton Beef Brisket Croquettes, moist, deeply flavoursome and sourced from food miles measured on one finger. A seasonal favourite was pan-roasted squab breast, beautifully seared just on the one side. Try it pink like this before you send it back for the chef to ruin it to your taste. Rarely do I find a faultless meal, but I do believe in saying so when someone’s got it right. We are 100% coming back for the full meal.

Great fish and chips Dog friendly

Family dinner turned into a disaster. Tatty interior, cold undercooked food and overpriced. Having booked a table and having to wait at the bar until a member of staff decided to clear the table so we could sit down took over half an hour, no apologies, should had turned round and gone home.

Lovely Village Pub, pleased it's still open, staff excellent very attentive, remembered what we were drinking after one visit, food very tasty and Gluten free options available,w had roast beef and roast pork came with lovely selection of vegetables

Great place for food highly recommended

Lovely cosy pub with friendly staff and a very tasty Sunday roast. Especially liked the nut roast

Had a light bite and drinks. Very nice. My 5 star review is really for Liz. She was extremely busy, single handedly running the bar, taking food orders, serving orders, clearing tables and taking payment. All this on her own, very unfair. But done with a lovely smile and friendly nature. Treat this woman well, she is worth her weight in gold.

Lovely pub and location. I was on the way back to London and needed a pit stop. As soon as I walked in I was greeted with a big smile and taken to a table. I didn't have to wait too long as the only waitress working was just like wonder woman. I run a restaurant in London and would give her a job anytime.

Polite staff. That’s where it ends. Food was beyond mediocre. I’ll spare you the details except to say a 25 pound main that tastes like a Tesco meal doesn’t feel good. The most upsetting part was that we had to sit between two tables with massive dogs. I love dogs but in a restaurant?? Barking, eyeing your food. The smell and the risk of being hurt. It was an upsetting evening. But doesn’t deter us from loving Dorset.

Romance spot for a couple to dine on tasty and delicious food. Traditional pup menu with fresh vibes and delicious treats. Perfect service from the staff, excellent customer care and great atmosphere. Review again after Christmas in the new 2025 year.

Very disappointed! Didn't start well as had to return the 6X beer which was cloudy and tasted off, resistance from barman who reluctantly replaced beer with another type. Similarly, out of date peanuts were replaced with barely an apology. We both had roast beef which was overcooked and tough, this and the veg looked like it had been kept warm all afternoon. We stayed locally and had planned to return later in the week, we're now looking for somewhere else.

Always been a bit of a hit and miss but today I am totally impressed. The couple behind the bar are so incredibly kind, very very clean with a lovely lay out and food was delicious! Definitely after 3 years of living here will be making this our local. Thank you x

Lovely pub with nice beers and food and friendly locals and bar staff. Only problem no real bar area, for popping in for just a drink. We sat at the bar.

Great staff and great food. Thank you

We were staying at a campsite nearby, and booked Sunday lunch at the Kings Arms. The roast dinner costs £17.50 for beef or port and £18.50 for lamb shoulder. When it arrived it was ok and tasty but a pork chop and a lamb shoulder chop rather than sliced roast meat. It was also a small portion with extras such as cauliflower cheese at an extra price.

Went for Sunday lunch, very nice and friendly. Nothing on the menu my son liked but the kitchen obliged by doing him burger and chips. Definitely worth the visit. 😄 👍

Have been for a drink when camping in the village and wanted to try the food. Booked for my birthday celebration and was delighted to find 6X on draught! Not an extensive menu but something for every taste and the quality of the food was excellent. Staff really friendly and helpful, making it a really good evening for everyone in our party. Will definitely be back when next in Portsham.

Had a chilli there a few weekends ago, quick service, food was nice, sat in a nice quiet section will return again 😋

Fantastic food, amazing staff and exceptionally dog friendly. Staff even sang happy birthday to our dog. Whenever we are back in this area we will be back

We visited this pub several times during a short break in the village. We liked it so much on our first visit we kept going back. Nice beer, friendly staff, decent pricing, food was lovely and very dog friendly.

We went here whilst staying at the local campsite.. Although it's a lovely pub we wont be returning because the drinks were way overpriced. We had a pint of lager each, one was poured into the correct glass, the other into the wrong glass which was a normal straight glass, that made the drink dead flat. I pointed the problem out to a member of staff, the drink was then poured into a different glass, although it was slightly better it was not that good, she didn't even top it up to try and give it a bit of life.. You would think with the extortionate prices they charge they'd try and get it right. So all in all a bad experience was had, so we won't be returning...

Is a lovely place, nice staff...

We loved the Kings Arms. Sitting in the afternoon sunshine in the large garden or on their decking is very relaxing. It is dog friendly and our black Labrador loved it too. It looks as if it will be very cosy on a cold winters day when the log fire is roaring. The staff were great and friendly. In fact the entire village of Portesham was so friendly we felt really welcome even though we were there for just a few days.

Called in here on 2 separate occasions for a few pints. Lovely atmosphere, very chilled and welcoming, good choice of drinks, very doggy friendly. Friendly staff!

We have been coming to the local campsite and using the pub at this time for the last 3 years. The first year we came in and the food and drink was very good and we found it difficult to get a table because it was so popular. Last year we booked before we arrived , but were a little disappointed. This year we came in with a bit of trepidation, to find you are back to your best. The staff are efficient, friendly and appear proud to sell your products and the food is good and beer well kept. We will be back, please don't have another blip.🥂

The food was awful for the price , dry so don't know how they can charge 17 quid or more how ridiculous!! You pay for the setting only and to top it off, an old discarded nappy in the car park how gastly

Quite disappointed with our lunchtime meals. Hubby and I had ciabattas and chips which lacked substance and were just ok…Son’s fish and chips were not the best quality for the price we felt and the peas were certainly an experience! Justhad much better elsewhere for the price…

Very nice venue clean and tidy with pleasant staff. The food was lovely and tasty. My only gripe is the price over £21 for a pub meal and the thick chips at £4.50 worked out at around 30p each.

Lovely food, friendly staff, and we especially loved the duet playing in the garden. Such a relaxed evening. Thank you.

Beautiful pub in a 1000 year old Anglo Saxon village (celebrating 1000 years this year!). The pub has a decent garden out front with both decking, and a small stream/pond section between the garden and the decking. There was also a pizza oven which was being fired up ready for dinner. We only stayed for a couple of drinks so can only comment on this. Decent selection on tap with lots more in cabinets behind the bar. One noteworthy detail was the bathroom sinks, only a small thing but the sink design was really cool.

Glad we booked in advance (literally an hour before hand) and they had room. Very popular and rightly so. Food was delicious and service just as good. Even though it was busy, service didn't seem effected, we had finished our food and desserts within an hour.

Nice location,nice place,nice staff but £17.40 for two pints of peroni lager and a pint of coke says I was either accidentally overcharged or this place is very expensive.Either way they won’t see me or my wallet again

Great beer, live music and a wood fired pizza. What more could you ask?

Excellent service and food really enjoyed the sea bass

Stopped in for some lunch really enjoyed it Service was good very friendly great food

Should stop for a lovey drink and some food

Went for Sunday roast, meat was terribly fatty and cheap and one of our parties food was cold. Overpriced, no soft drinks written on the menu. Just save yourself the money and hassle and go elsewhere.

Food was great (if a touch pricey) staff were a bit dismissive, weren't told we had to get cutlery (considering it is pricey too..) asking for a napkin when there was none was almost too much.

Excellent Sunday beef roast first class service attention to detail first class 👌 getting busy ambient atmosphere all good no worries no negatives

Disappointed I recognised there were mixed reviews before visiting. Visited on a Sunday small menu. Our experience was the menu clearly stated SEABASS with samphire, green beans in a ‘posh’ sauce, it was one small seabass fillet, no samphire or green beans, it was overpriced. When commented to staff the response - I will tell the chef, my comment was the manager needs to be told, response - he works across the road! That plus a big empty board supposedly demonstrating what wines from around the world were available demonstrated how poorly the place is managed, would not go back & could not recommend it.

This was undoubtedly the worst meal we have experienced. From an extremely limited menu we chose a starter and a main meal. Both were brought at the same time. We waited until serving staff came to ask if we were enjoying our meal so we could get our mains reheated, but they didn’t come near us. We complained as we did not eat the mains but they just took the plates away and said sorry. The fish was badly over cooked and the chips were yellow inside, the meal was cold by the time we got to it. It was atrocious. I would not recommend to anyone.

Beer is far too expensive!!!! Didn't stay as a guest, just a walkin guest for a pint and a meal. Table booked before we purchased the beer but cancelled the table based on the over priced beer!!! Update from The King's Arms with a polite response but they are deluded to think that I could have gone for a cheaper beer of £5.00 for a session beer 🤔 Extracting the urine on beer prices and think it's acceptable.

A lovely, friendly country pub situated in a beautiful village. We had a Sunday roast dinner which was very tasty. It has a large garden, which is dog friendly. I would definitely go back again.

Review for Kings Arms Pub, Portesham The Kings Arms in Portesham is an idyllic country pub that offers a delightful blend of rustic charm and modern comfort. My visit here was nothing short of pleasant, and I am eager to share my experience. Atmosphere: The outdoor seating area is absolutely lovely, especially on a sunny day. The well-maintained garden is adorned with colorful bunting, creating a festive and welcoming ambiance. The tables and chairs are comfortable, and the large umbrellas provide ample shade, making it a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the surroundings. The view of the lush greenery and the quaint village backdrop adds to the serene atmosphere. Service: The staff at Kings Arms are friendly and attentive. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm smiles and prompt service. The team is knowledgeable about the menu and eager to accommodate any special requests or dietary needs. Food and Drinks: The menu offers a good variety of traditional pub fare with a few contemporary twists. The quality of the food is excellent, with fresh ingredients and generous portions. The drinks selection is also impressive, featuring a range of local ales, ciders, and a well-curated wine list. Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty meal or just a refreshing pint, the Kings Arms has something to satisfy your palate. Value for Money: Considering the quality of the food, the service, and the picturesque setting, the Kings Arms offers great value for money. It’s an ideal spot for both casual lunches and more formal dinners without breaking the bank. Overall Experience: The Kings Arms in Portesham is a charming pub that excels in every aspect. Its combination of delightful atmosphere, excellent service, and delicious food makes it a must-visit if you are in the area. I highly recommend stopping by for a relaxing and enjoyable experience.

really nice food, would reccommend

Handsome location and building with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Menu options are few, but the quality is high. Service very friendly. Ample nearby parking. Beautiful grounds.

Yogi say's you & you staff r 5 🔯 for me & my humans who come with me thank you .l like your chirsmas lights 5 stars thank you.

The best Sunday roast ever! Lovely pub, great atmosphere and dog friendly - what more could you want?

If you are in the area why not have a pint, very good otter.

This is a lovely place in an amazing setting. Sadly I just found the pub nice as it is very expensive. Would visit again and it's worth a visit

Lovely pub in a beautiful setting &nice food

We are visiting Dorset for a summer break, and went to the Kings Arms for dinner. We had olives and bread to start which wasnt bad, although only one tiny loaf for the bread was a bit smaller than anticipated. For mains we had the liver, a pie and chips, and the chicken with sausage cassoulet.. The menu was simple but it was evident that every meal was well thought out, and cooked to perfection. Definitely better to have a limited menu where everything is done well and this was a prime example. I had the liver and It was vert nicely cooked with delicious accompaniments. The other meals were also very much enjoyed and everyone left feeling that the price was very fair for such a high quality meal. The staff were very friendly and the setting was beautiful. If we visit in the future we would be certain to go again.

Nice food, friendly staff, also nice to have a ukulele ensemble rehearsing on the night

Great location on the Jurassic coast road. Aspells Blush on tap, great cider.

Staff very friendly, only popped in for a drink 🍸 will definitely go back 👍

On an incredibly busy night the committed staff here made sure we got a meal even when the kitchen was closed. We were staying at a nearby campsite and had left dinning out very late. So grateful. Lovely food and beautiful pub garden to sit out in. Thank you!

Awful service, rude staff (the bloke with long ish brown hair mainly), took over an hour for food to come

Amazing Sunday Roasts and a great selection of ales. 28/04/2024 Still does epic roasts and great ale

Only there for food. Excellent to narrow it down. Were treated to the ukele band. Brilliant real shame we couldn't stay later. Will come again.

My sister and i went for lunch as she lives in the village. Delicious food and friendly atmosphere. I had roast beef, roast spuds, perfectly cooked veg, Yorkshire. All gorgeous, with gravy to die for. Worth booking as it gets busy.

Had a nice meal, staff very friendly

Very little drinks options, limited food menu and quite pricey.

Lovely local pub, excellent food. Great portion size. Small menu, but a good selection of "favourites".

Very nice pub with a great atmosphere. The menu is a bit pricey. But country pubs are facing hard times. The staff are friendly and welcoming. Well worth a visit if you're in the area.

friendly staff and nice sunday dinner! :)

Such a shame, lovely pub but made to feel unwelcome when we went in, the man who was supposedly front of house was very ignorant not at all friendly and made us feel very unwelcome. The pub itself was lovely shame about the one particular member of staff.

Lovely pub with very nice food.

Just had a very enjoyable meal. Had the special, steak and red wine pie, chips and peas. The pie was amazing, big chunks of beef steak, and lots of it, delicious. Only thing I would like would be a choice of sides. Then had sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream, now very full and very satisfied. Staff are very friendly. Wheelchair ♿️ accessible from the car park. Highly recommend, especially if staying at the camp site as few minutes walk.

A lovely roomie pub with a good selection of beers and a couple of ciders. There were 4 of us,2 steaks, fish n chips, and a burger. Everyone enjoyed the food,my steak was cooked to perfection. The bro in law said he wanted more chips with his burger. We had 3 Irish coffees after the meal. The staff member who made it should have googled how to make one. We had 3 mugs of armericano n milk with a shot of whiskey in. Which in itself wasn't horrible but an Irish coffee it ain't. Very pleasant staff, attentive and chatty. If in the area again i would happily visit again. 👍👍🍻

What a fab meal we had tonight . I had trout on noodles with a great sauce and fresh veg. My partner had venison ham made on site served with an egg , recurrent and black pepper sauce and chips it was delicious. Very quick and excellent service. Highly recommend.

Just been for a meal this evening Unfortunately, not very good. I ordered the Chicken schnitzel which was very dry and overcooked with a very salty chicken seasoning. The caeser salad was a couple of gem lettuce leaves and some kind of dressing, definitely not Caesar dressing and a handful of croutons. This should have been described as salty seasoned chicken breast. My hubby had the game , egg and chips. The chunky chips were very dry and tasteless, which he left. He didn’t like the game, not sure what it was Sorry but would not return.

Superb meals this evening - Venison ham egg and chips and Chalk stream trout, both were delicious. Good beer and wine, friendly, comfortable pub.

We didn't stay here, but on the campsite opposite. We have spent New Year's for the past two years at the King's Arms and cannot fault thewelcome, the food or the service, we'll be back.!!

We had a meal on the evening of 29th Dec and lunch on new years day the food was exceptional would highly recommend the food although can't say the same for the service it was appauling

Staying at the campsite nearby which is lovely, went for a nice walk and came back to this pub. First impression was lovely and staff seemed great. After a few drinks served by a lovely young chap just returned from Australia, we ordered another drink from which we thought was the manager and we charge an extra 70p, ok may not seem much but was the principal, we asked the nice bar chap about it and he he got the other guy (who we thought was manager) to witch he just said oh I charged u wrong price 😡 no sorry just oh do u want the 70p back sarcastically, if you own this pub keep a close eye on this 1. Unfortunately we never saw the Australian guy again just hope we didn’t get him in trouble .

Last minute stop for Sunday lunch, had a very nice garden with a stream running through it. Excellent service and lovely food, will definitely be back

A lovely atmospheric pub. The food was excellent.

Sunday lunch, roast beef and roast pork then a lovely lemon tart with blackcurrant ice cream. Food served promptly and staff were efficient and friendly.

Fantastic welcome and service , a quiet Tuesday evening but the standard of food was amazing as was the service would recommend the trout which I had as it was one of the best I have ever had as was my wife meal was so full could not do dessert which is a rarity

Just had the Sunday roast Starter pheasant with Caesar salad changed the blue cheese for the roasted goats cheese Then the roast pork for mains And the piece de resistance was the apple crumble with ice cream ( not many chefs get the crumble right either soggy or too dry) this was perfection

Really friendly pub, serving excellent ales and great food. Staff really friendly.