The Museum Inn in North Dorset - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

We were staying away for a few days in a holiday home at Downwood holidays (about 15 mins away) we looked up the museum inn and loved the look of the menu so easily booked a table online . We arrived and it was a lovely atmosphere in a charming village. The service was outstanding and attentive. Initially greeted and served by Finn who was great behind the bar. Alex then took us to our table and took our order quickly and efficiently. Shannon bought our drinks to us and was so friendly. Because of the amazing service and atmosphere, we decided to stay after to have some drinks at the bar . Alex rustled us up some of the best espresso martinis ever and we ended up having more than planned 😅🤣 Perfect meal, perfect service and just a generally great little pub! Definitely worth a visit 👌🍾

The look and feel of the pub is lovely but the food was ridiculously overpriced for what was a pretty average meal, Some staff were exceptional others clearly require training so even that element is mixed, This could be a real 'go-to' / 'destination' pub if the food was either much better quality or more reasonably priced,

Very enjoyable stay - lovely quiet location, comfortable rooms and good food. The staff were very friendly and welcoming - Amanda and the Assistant Manager (sorry do not have his name!) were great. Shall definitely book again.

As soon as we entered the Museum we felt welcome. Nothing was too much trouble and our request for a quiet corner was noted and they were happy to oblige with a cosy corner in the dining room. Our Sunday lunch was exceptional and our host engaged happily with us, carefully explaining the benefits of the Butcombe Loyalty App which we had already downloaded. A lovely place with many different seating options.

We went for evening drinks with friends. What a fantastic group of staff! We laughed so much and really relaxed. The regulars were friendly and we met hotel guests who visit regularly and spoke most highly of the accomodation. We saw the huge and interesting rooms. We're definitely hooked! Our visit to the museum was memorable for all of the right reasons!

We spent three nights in this super Historic Inn. We had only booked for one night and found as we arrived that our plans had changed and we needed to stay for three nights. The staff were so friendly and helpful and in spite of the Inn being very busy managed to find us rooms for the three nights. The only snag was, it was a different room each night, but that was no problem, each evening when we returned, our cases had been moved to our next room and clothes hung in the wardrobe. The manager is a natural friendly host and Alex at the bar was very helpful. He sorted out the Wi-Fi for us and booked the extra nights we sat and had a drink. We eat there two nights and enjoyed the food both nights. Breakfast was good, freshly cooked and hot. We would definitely stay there again.

A lovely old pub which I have known for many years, now in the hands of Butcombe. Warm welcome and friendly efficient service. But the website claims 2 AA rosette standard food, on what basis is not clear. Sorry, but it isn’t.

The staff weren’t interested in us, the food was below average and expensive for what is was. They need to up their game in all ways

I had a lovely stay here , rooms were clean and as expected , staff very friendly and accommodating , food much better than you might expect in a pub and really reasonable ( and I am fussy ) Location ... just gorgeous .. in the middle of a tiny tranquil village . Would definitely visit again There was a small confusion on the bill which was MY fault ... and the sign of a well run establishment is one that sorts out problems after you have paid and left !! Well done

Busy with lots of locals we felt the atmosphere was very nice. Our waitress was excellent, attentive and efficient. The menu was very wordy but the actual content did not appeal nothing caught my eye. The prices are very expensive, quality was good but portions small. The sweet menu almost non existent, I order a chocolate mousse cake which turned out to be very stodgy cake more like a brownie not very nice at all. The waitress cleared it and did not ask why I hadn’t eaten it? Cheese and biscuits the goats cheese when turned over was just the end off the roll, how can they charge £12.95 and then serve that. All in all not a place I would go to again.

What an unexpected delight. Came across this dog friendly pub whilst revisiting some childhood haunts. Fabulous fresh food, friendly service, spotless loos( big thing in my opinion) and an overall fantastic experience. Would highly recommend

Disagree with the other review about Valentines, it was great! Food and service was perfect, i appreciate its not cheap but if i wanted cheap I would of gone to McDonalds!!

Visited the museum in on the recommendation of a friend, and we were not disappointed. It’s a gorgeous historic pub, in a lovely setting, and the interior decor is beautiful – very in keeping with the countryside theme. They have accommodation at the pub as well as a really beautiful private dining room, which is hired out for functions, wedding, receptions, etc. There’s also an outdoor courtyard area with seating. It’s absolutely lovely. We opted for the Sunday roast, and it was totally delicious. Served quickly, Hot and freshly cooked. The only issue we had was trying to choose something from the menu because there were so many lovely options! Special mention goes to Melanie who was our server, she was so friendly and welcoming, she’s an absolute star. We’ll be back!

Tried out the Museum Inn after a recommendation from a friend. I was really impressed, it's in a lovely setting, the interior design is beautiful and very in keeping with the countryside vibe, and the staff are really lovely. My friend and I had a Sunday Roast and I couldn't fault it - served quickly, was hot and freshly cooked. It was absolutely delicious! The only issue we had was trying to choose something from the menu - there were just too many lovely options. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this pub. They also have rooms and a beautiful private dining area for parties and wedding receptions, as well as an outdoor courtyard area with seating. Totally lovely. Extra brownie points to Melanie who served us - she was so friendly and welcoming, an absolute star. We'll be back!

Went there a while back and had a really good time, excellent food polite staff and great ambiance. Valentines night was a different matter, food was shocking, just about warm enough to eat, staff were still polite, very expensive food for what they served. Definitely wouldn’t go back.

We, friends and family, went to the Museum for Christmas lunch and had a lovely meal from the pre-ordered set menu. Paulo, Amanda and the team created a fantastic atmosphere despite being incredibly busy. They made everyone feel welcome and there was a lovely buzz, making the day feel like a real treat. My friends were staying in the old stable block rooms and although they reported that it was very comfortable, when I visited them in their room I was quite embarrassed. There was a subtle but pervasive smell of sewage coming from the bathroom, not being on main drains can cause an issue when the water table levels are high. Also there were condensation drip stains on the walls, a quick wipe with a bleachy cloth would have made the bathroom feel cleaner. A rotten floorboard by the bath had formed a dip under the lino caused by the shower head being fixed at an awkward angle which hit the shower screen, not your body! I know times are hard for the hospitality industry but Butcombe really need to invest in this establishment. Throughout the pub it is clear that the whole place needs a lick of paint, the windows cleaned, the rotten fencing at the front fixed and a bit of a revamp, as it is looking very tired these days. We remain however, loyal customers!

Twelve of us visited the Museum and had a great evening . Wonderful food and service . Gluten Free is no problem and you can be reassured that the chef knows exactly what he’s doing when it comes to allergy’s . Highly recommend a visit ….you will not be disappointed

Lovely Sunday roast, great food and friendly staff. Had a really nice meal with family here. They are tight on the roast potatoes (only 2..), but still was a brilliant lunch. Would recommend and definitely return. Thanks!

Firstly, let me say the food was lovely. However, this place is eye-wateringly expensive for what is put on the plate. My £11.95 fish finger sandwich was a small bap, with two homemade but nugget sized 'fish fingers', a small handful of leaves and a spoonful of tartare. No chips. My son's £17.95 burger was a thin patty with a thimble of fries. All in all, we spent over £80 on 4 meals and one drink (a pint for my husband), and left hungry. Very tasty, but not enough to justify the prices.

The Museum Inn, located in Farnham, Nr. Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8DE We booked late on Friday night and only one room was available so it was meant to be! We arrived around 5pm and were greeted by friendly staff, shown to our room ("The Catch") and made a reservation for dinner, luckily they still had spaces for dinner but it is advised to book in advance. Lovely spacious room and bathroom, kettle, teas, coffees and bottled water supplied. I have to say I fell in love with the hand wash and hand cream, I have already purchased some for home, the brand is called Bramley and the scent is Lavender, Geranium and Petitgrain. The bed is probably the most comfortable we have ever slept in that is not our own, soft feather pillows that were just right! Dinner was a three course meal and it was delicious, we took 2 hours to eat but never felt rushed or like we were waiting too long between courses. Starters: Ham hock terrine with sourdough toast and Prawn, potato and crayfish fishcakes. Mains: Burger and Steak & Ale pie Desserts: Chocolate Brownie with cherry sorbet. Biscoff donuts with pumpkin pie ice cream Drinks: Poretti lager and Cherry cocktail. Breakfast: Eggs Royale and Smashed avocado, poached egg and bacon, absolutely scrumilicious! Big thanks to Amanda who served us this morning and checked us out. Highly recommend staying and eating here and we will 100% be back again! Safe travels! The Allsebrooks x

Staff were polite but not particularly friendly or welcoming. The ‘smoked haddock’ fish cakes were good but didn’t really taste of smoked haddock! The Eton Mess was made with yogurt (not cream) and had only a few pieces of meringue. At nearly £8 for this dessert I consider this very poor and way over-priced!

Stayed very close to this pub. Beautiful location. Had supper and breakfast both of which were very good. A little pricey but worth a visit

Birthday family celebration breakfast, great food and service!!! They even brought us a birthday candle in my baked beans!! Lovely helpful fun staff as always served us a fast happy hot tasty meal will be in again soon !!

We had a wonderful evening at the Museum. Having booked on line for our anniversary we were surprised and delighted to find a handwritten card from the inn on the table when we arrived, and two complimentary glasses of bubbly. The food was fabulous - a sharing board to start, beef and ale stew and swordfish mains (both specials) and a light and tangy coconut and passion fruit panna cotta to finish. The staff were all friendly and attentive throughout, we felt really well looked after. The final touch came after we had left, when my husband realised that he had left his specs behind. He went back into the bar to retrieve them and found one of the staff members polishing them ready to return. That’s service! We will definitely be back.

Good food and lovely location - but service v poor. No idea there were specials until end of visit. Paid £15 for a 175ml glass of wine (!!) Had to go and order at the bar, despite being told it was table service. Waiting staff very grumpy and weren't interested in customers unfortunately. Waste of somewhere with a lot of potential. Very quiet on bank holiday Monday, which is probably a clear sign of things.

Nice ambience. Good well kept pint of Butcombe. However even the queen on my tenner winced when I was charged over £19 for a beer and a glass of wine. Ok I ordered a large wine but at £14 a glass they are having a laugh. Farnham is not London W1 , nor am I on MP's expenses. The equivalent of £42 a bottle might be OK on a wine menu but not a bar wine.

Disappointing, really gone down hill . Ran out of 3 different wines , lacking atmosphere , Sad that such a beautiful pub can be so poorly run.

Happened upon this lovely pub by chance. Wonderful to eat restaurant standard, fresh, seasonal food at not the normal pub grub. The menu might be smaller than most pub menus but I’d rather eat creative, fresh, tasty food which can be found here. Highly recommended...

Stayed for 2 nights on a walking break. It's a busy pub/restaurant with rooms. The beer and food excellent and the room clean and comfortable. As expected in an old building, plumbing was a bit of a puzzle but the attentive and relaxed service -...

Always adored this pub, in the most fabulous settling and had so many wonderful meals here for almost twenty years now. BUT….new owners now and a VERY limited menu and the fish and chips I had yesterday for £20 was worse than what I would...

Great pub. Visited on a busy Friday night and the place was buzzing. Great service, friendly attentive staff. Superb food and drinks. What more can you ask for? Very reasonable bill too. Highly recommended.

Superb range of food to choose from. Everything we ate was delicious. Friendly efficient staff. Will definitely be back.

We had a wonderful dinner for 12 people celebrating a friends birthday. The food was delicious and the venue was great. Fab staff and great atmosphere.

Beware, one of those places that elects to add without asking an "optional" 10% service charge. When I questioned this it was reluctantly reviewed (and interestingly another guest said well done to me as she also felt it was well out of order. Sadly I...

Having stayed here previously when we had a fantastic night we were really looking forward to returning. We stayed in the same room which was lovely and comfortable but a little tired, could do with a lick of paint. It was also lacking pillow protectors...

We found the Museum Inn a pleasurable experience .The service was friendly and welcoming.The food could not be faulted as the dishes were exceptional in taste and presentation. We most definitely plan a return visit, and soon.

Recommended this place by a work colleague. Lovely bright chirpy service . Lovely decor and good drink selection . Most importantly a memorable meal. Had the chicken pie with fries. Pot of gravy on the side and excellent veg. Best pie in years. Definitely will...

Very disappointed. Service was dreadful although waiter trying his best. Change of ownership not going well.

I held my birthday lunch at the museum nothing was too much trouble and they made it a lovely day! The food was excellent, along with the organisation with Harry prior to the event. Service on the day was prompt when required and discreet when...

Booked for Sunday lunch in the bar. Buzzy atmosphere, pleasant staff were efficient enough and we weren’t in a hurry. But the food let the pub down. My cheese soufflé tasted fine but was heavy and stodgy. My roast beef was very good and rare...

After our visit I received the usual email asking for feedback, I expressed my disappointment & in reply received a standard reply saying I would be followed up to find out why, in 2 months have heard nothing. There were 8 of us, 2 of...

We had a wonderful meal. As a couple, we have stayed and eaten her in the past but this time there was 14 of us. We stayed in Moles Cottage in the grounds which is beautiful. Very spacious. Our meal was of exceptional quality. Staff...

The staff are all so lovely. They’re welcoming, engaging, attentive and all have a smile on their faces. It creates such a great atmosphere when all customers are happy and being looked after so well. The food is SO delicious! every course we had was...

Having had one really bad meal I’d promised my girlfreind I’d give it another go as she loved coming here in the passed. The place was empty on arrival (12.30pm on a sat) I asked if there was any music. You could her a pin...

A lovely little hidden treasure in the most gorgeous English village. The staff are warm and welcoming, and food service was always professional and swift. We have stayed in several of the rooms there, and they are all styled in period furniture full of lovely...

A group of 7 of us headed out for lunch. The pub was busy and full of atmosphere, sadly I could not say the same for a rather rude bar person on more than one occasion. I understand the pub was busy but there is...

We had an excellent lunch. It was great that the pub is open on a Monday lunchtime when, alas, so many are not these days. We had an American friend with us and we were very pleased that the ambience, food and service lived up...

Really enjoyable wedding anniversary dinner in a warm and cosy pub on a cool wet evening. Thoroughly recommended.

We booked a table at the Museum Inn for a special birthday celebration. When we arrived we were greeted by the delightful staff, who had put out a personal special birthday card on the table and the birthday boy was met with a lovely glass...

Perfect venue for dining in large numbers. Team very efficient, friendly and communicative. Food of high quality. Great portions and extremely tasty. Can not fault this venue.

Bit bland. Under seasoned.Very expensive for average food. Service fine but a wait for the bill. Not good value.

Choose a pub half way to meet friends. What a great choice. Lovely country pub in a beautiful village. The food was so good. All six of us thoroughly enjoyed all three courses

A nice pub in a nice village on a nice day. It took us about 15 minutes to get our first drink despite there only being two people ahead of me and then we were shown to a table for two although we had booked...

We booked a table outside and were shown to our table by Faith. She took our drinks order. Faith was personable and efficient despite having to cater for many guests. The food was fair, I had the rump steak and Stacey had the fennel salad...

We were recommended to visit The Museum Inn and were delighted with the food and service we received. We had travelled from Nottingham to a holiday rental in Hammoon, a few miles away from the Museum Inn.

The Museum Inn is a great country pub in a quiet rural location. The food is very good, although a little pricey. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

We used to visit the Museum Inn regularly in the past for great stays and meals , it was always a special experience. This was our first visit since previous management changes and pre Covid and we understand that staff shortages are a current problem...

The museum Inn is well worth a visit for a quiet country lunch or dinner. Not forgetting they have rooms too making it ideal for a few nights of rest and relaxation in the Dorset countryside.

We’ve visited the Museum a few times in the past , and have always enjoyed it . We went again last night and was very pleased with our meal and as allways the setting is lovely. Just a couple of little things which spoilt it...

We hadn’t eaten here for quite a while so were really looking forward to eating here again but what a disappointment!. Between us we had rump steaks which although tasted nice, were very fatty and difficult to cut even with a steak knife and the...

A beautiful venue and food is of an average standard however be warned that the quality does not meet the cost and also the errors on the bill were astounding. First night our anniversary meal we were over charged by £60 - due to us...

Lovely food, highly recommend. The roast dinner was so tasty. Chocolate fondant slightly over cooked, however it was so nice and not too sweet so I wasn’t bothered.

Everything was excellent and we will be back. We often have family and friends visiting the area so we intend to try out the accommodation. soon.

My 5year old specifically asked to go to the museum for her birthday dinner. She left a very happy young lady.

We were delighted with the food, service and planning which was delivered by Jon and his team who hosted our day of celebration for 34 friends and family.

Excellent cheese souffle, venison scotch egg and halibut chowder. Lively on the Sunday evening we visited.

Have visited this pub on an number of occasions and always found the welcome and the food excellent. It also has comfortable rooms to stay over

Thought we'd give The Museum another go after a really disappointing family meal last year during the pandemic. We live in the village and like to support local businesses. Big mistake! Not a local business (employer yes), now owned by a chain. Food - diabolically...

Cannot recommend the museum enough. Whether you are going for a date, with friends or with the family there is something for everyone. It’s a ranjit favourite of ours! Not a cheap pub but one that serves amazing food every time. Really quirky inside with...

I visited the museum for a lunch and it was wonderful in every way; beautiful pub, fantastic food and great service. I would highly recommend.

It wasn't a very promising start to our evening as our table wasn't ready and we had to wait quite a long time at the bar for our drinks. However things improved and we all enjoyed a very good dinner in a relaxing setting in...

Would not have minded the cost if it had been something special as it was a birthday but it was disappointing.

The food was amazing, so were the staff and atmosphere. My wife and I would definitely recommend the steaks and Aspen chips.

We stayed here for 3 nights at Christmas and decided to come back with family members for a meal. The food and atmosphere were great, but the outstanding feature of the place is the quality of the staff. They are professional, hard-working and good fun.

Popular venue. 3 free fast charging points for electric cars if dining. Excellent. My only gripe was cold plates, but hopefully just a one off, as I was assured they are normally heated. Good atmosphere. Huge yorkshire puddings. A little over priced, and discretionary service...

Family dinner out on a Saturday evening and the place was packed to the rafters, which was lovely to see given the current situation. food was lovely and the service was exceptional. the only issues we had were, no steak knives with the steaks and...

We visited the Museum Inn in late January for a family celebration. Our son uses an electric power chair and we liked the pub because it fairly accessible. The pub itself is eye catching and set in a delightful village. We had booked an early...

Amazing country inn full of old world charm. Friendly staff, good food and a great room at a fair price. Log fires on a cold winter day! A must for another time.

Lovely evening on New Years Eve with relaxed service and good food and wine very friendly service from Richard despite being short staffed due to Covid

We had a lovely lunch today , and it was so good to enjoy a happy atmosphere coupled with great food, and fantastic service The soup was lovely , and we enjoyed our Burgers very much The bar staff and waiters were first rate -...

Thank you to every single member of staff who made our stay over the Christmas period so special. Even before we arrived, Richard was very professional and helpful, and once we met him, we found what a wicked sense of humour he had, too. On...

We have enjoyed a regular Xmas family meal here for a number of years. This year we booked for 5 people and a baby. On arrival at mid day we were shown to one of the tables in the rear lobby by the toilets. Because...

Our stay was only meant to be a B&B stopover while we visited friends, but it was so good that we felt we had had a holiday. The food was so amazing we stayed in the restaurant for hours, and the bedrooms were super comfy...

Stayed here for two nights. Great food and nothing was too much trouble. Three Type 2 7.5KW charging points in the car park - bonus!! Off-road car parking is a little limited but there is on-road car parking around the village green. Lovely old-fashioned inn.

We found the service, food and atmosphere all great. The Inn has a special quality that I think could be unlocked by the new management. I am somewhat conflicted recommending it as it will be difficult to book. If you can book you won’t be...

Came here on a Saturday night as a group of 4, attentive friendly staff and great food! All thoroughly enjoyed our meals.

This was our go to restaurant for when we went out for a special meal with friends as you can always guarantee good food and great atmosphere. Only this time we were proved wrong. To keep it simple: Greeted as we came in and shown...

Took friends for Sundays lunch to The Museum Inn, I ordered drinks at the bar which was totally disorganised the young lady wrote the order down and then it passed to another member of staff to deal with 15 minutes later another member of staff...

I had lunch with a friend. Great service and great food. The food came promptly and was presented very nicely. Very good wine list too.

Warm welcome in this lovely country pub/restaurant/Hotel. Menu choice slightly restricted at this time due to pandemic conditions. However, fish,meat,and vegetarian choices available. All prepared and presented professionally by courteous staff.

Had a wonderful meal on Saturday evening. Everything was perfect - as it always has been on previous visits - food, service, ambience. Thank you everyone for a lovely time.

Diverse and local menu , with good options for vegans and vegetarians, including tajines and gnocchi . Meat and seafood well provided too Venison and bacon pie , superb Food well prepared and high quality , hearty in portions. Good wine list and great blue...

Lovely atmosphere in the restaurant with attentive staff, very tasty food, we would highly recommend

Absolutely top notch service and food at this lovely rural Dorset pub/hotel. We all enjoyed our meals, which were cooked to perfection even though it was Sunday lunchtime and they were clearly very busy.

Not underwhelming actually very disappointing. We used to visit regularly pre-Covid but they’re really going to have to pull up their socks to remain viable. Setting aside an inexperienced waitress there just weren’t enough staff on, the food came out very disjointed so that we...

Over priced dishes and food that caused an upset stomach for two diners after eating fish and chips!

This historic inn is a hidden gem off the beaten path. Only discovered this place as a matter of fact through the Good Pub Guide whilst staying in Blandford Forum. The bread as a starter was more than enough for two and the sticky pork...

Was underwhelmed. Firstly, the outside courtyard was shabby- empty cardboard boxes, gas canisters and umbrellas dumped in the corner. The burger was very average, certainly not homemade, which surprised me. Staff were pleasant and polite. Will not be returning sadly.

Myself and three friends called in while on a bikepacking trip around Dorset. A lovely spot to stop of food and refreshments. Food and drink were both really good and the service from a pink-trousered young lady was exceptional. Would definitely recommend a visit and...

Unfortunately I had a bad experience when we visited The Museum recently. I received an unfriendly welcome despite arriving on time for an early evening booking. The starter was OK, but the fish and chips which followed it weren't; stodgy undercooked thick cut chips and...