The Scott Arms in Purbeck

A disappointing visit to a place that seems to capitalise so much on the view that they have neglected the basics. In particular the beer garden with its dangerous furniture. If you don’t fall off the seats you will surely get splinters.

Have always found things somewhat chaotic at the Scott Arms and sadly today was worse than ever. After an hour wait our jerk chicken finally arrived. We were ravenous having competed in a running race on the Purbecks. Thankfully they were large portions which is about the only saving grace. There appeared to be a shortage of cutlery and staff were openly airing their washing so to speak.. when they could have been getting food and cutlery to people…! I really hope management take on board the reviews and improve things as this is an amazing location for a pub and locals like us would return regularly. Fingers crossed..

My Jamaican friends and I have always loved the Jerk Shack food. It seems that now the Jerk has definitely left the Shack. We did have a good plate of food. My Jerk Pork was a tasty plate of pulled pork that was in a spicy sauce that certainly did not have "jerk" flavours. The crispy crackling that came with it was a nice touch. The rice 'n' peas was just white rice with beans, none of the Jamaican flavours in it. The fried plantain was soggy. The slaw was good. It was astonishingly expensive at £18.95! The Vegan Curry did have good flavours. We were unable to find an unbroken seat in the garden, and some of them were quite dangerous. There was a great atmosphere though with good music as it was the Funky Lemonade Garden Party.

Stopped by for a light snack en route to Corfe Castle. Pub had amazing views from the garden (weather was clear on our visit) and the pub itself was clean. Inside and outside seating, food was delivered in reasonable time. Not the cheapest but the food was good. Car park is small and if like us, your car is more like a tank, it might be a bit tricky. That said, the staff were lovely.

I have to echo the concerns about the service (... which go back many years!). Unfortunately, this will never change: the pub relies on passing tourist trade and does not need to build up and maintain a regular clientele. Pride in their 'brand' and a responsibility to ensure the experience of guests doesn't seem to enter into it. It has always been this way ever since my friends and I started visiting ... perhaps we should stop ... .. pity.

We had been to the Scott Arms a long time ago and loved it. So we took our visiting relatives there yesterday for what we hoped would be a special lunch. Big mistake! The usual beer selection was unavailable, my wife's ham and eggs was barely edible, tough and dried-out looking, and the table outside was very uncomforable and we had to change the first table as it was dangerous. It was clear to us that the pub is going through hard times and looked quite fly-blown, but this minimum effort approach is no way to improve footfall. We shall not return. Shame.

We stopped at The Scott Arms for a spot of lunch as it fell in the middle of our Corfe Castle loop walk which took in the amazing coast path. We enjoyed a jerk chicken and a curried mutton both of which were very tasty and filling. Really quick to order, even on a busy Saturday and food arrived in a timely fashion. Although the prices have increased since we were last here the food was tasty particularly the curried mutton. However, it wouldn't need to increase much more before it would be too costly.

Amazing views over the Purbeck Hills and Corfe Castle. Good selection of ciders and very dog friendly. Food wise, very basic pub menu. Staff very friendly especially Emma who resolved an issue we had very quickly. Come and see the views, enjoy a lovely drink and appreciate the hard working team.

Comfortable stay in the largest room that the pub offers. Very old pub, lovely garden, plenty of character in our suite - beautiful views of Corfe Castle. The windows are very old, and didn’t close which might put you off in the winter! Our evening meal was typical pub food, and our breakfasts were excellent. We thought the staff were all very accommodating and efficient.

Wonderful views of Corfe Castle and Dorset as far a Poole harbour, good pub food and options for vegetarians and with cheerful staff

Service here is absolutely s***e. Waited an hour for a coffee. Asked the bar man after 45 minutes if it had been mislaid, responded with a very disinterest “we’re busy”. Nice view but that’s about it

Unfortunately i ordered fish and chips. When it came it tasted very strongly of ammonia and smelt awful. It was inedible. I felt bad and made my family smell It to confirm i wasnt imagining it. My husband then quietly had a word as didnt want to make a fuss. It was taken away, and that was it. No apology, no suggestion for something else. After queingfor ages to pay i asked if the fish could be taken off the bill. It was but i was informed the fish had been brought fresh that morning. I felt rather mistreated and unbelieved. I wouldnt have chosen to come to the pub for lunch and have no lunch. It is a shame as this pub is in such a beautiful spot but i dont think we will be back. Certainly not to eat anyway.

Their website it turns out is well out of date referring to events in 2023 and certainly does not reflect the restaurant menu offered to us on Wed 17th April 2024… Basically there was very little choice and virtually everything was chips orientated… Unless you want a choice of fish & chips or burger & chips avoid at all costs… We walked out without ordering as standards had clearly dropped considerably since our visits in previous years… What a shame!

Delicious Sunday lunch. We’d booked in advance and were delighted with a warm welcome and top quality roast beef dinner with all the trimmings.

The menu was very limited (not like the one I checked online before) and the food wasn't great. My husband had ham, egg and chips and the ham was really fatty, my chips were a mix of under and over cooked and my son's burger bun was stale. The worst bit was paying the automatic service charge when you order at the bar, get your own drinks and we even had to get our own cutlery as the member of staff laying tables missed those where people were already sitting. Very disappointed! I wished I'd paid attention to other recent reviews that weren't good.

Authentic pub serving real ale and local cider. Overlooking Corfe Castle this pub is old and interesting. We went on Easter Monday and the place had been very busy but we booked a table ok. Stsff very friendly and genuine. Food was a bit limited but good quality.

Lovely Easter lunch today. Although it was busy the staff were friendly and attentive, food came in good time and was delicious.

Excellent sunday lunch for mothers day without exploring the commercial side of this special day. One course available and prices were not super inflated. Great service and friendly,helpful staff.

On arrival we were ignored by the bar person for 5 mins as she was too busy looking at her phone, only managed to catch her eye when she went to roll a cigarette. We were taken to our table and told that someone would be back to take our order. 20 mins later no one had come back so I went to the bar to order. I should point out it does say at the bottom of the menu to order at the bar and that they also added a 10% service charge to the bill (did not say discretionary) but we were specifically told that someone would be back. I looked at the menu online before booking and there was quite a good choice, on arrival the menu was actually different and had limited choice so we both settled on a burger. I have to say the burger was actually very nice and the chips were to die for, however that was all that was on the plate, no side salad or anything which you usually expect. Someone then came to clear the plates, took a 2nd drink order and said she’d be back for our dessert order………again we went to the bar. Went to the bar as leaving to pay and was presented with the bill and told about the service charge, I asked for this to be removed as barring bringing my meal to the table and one drink there was no service! For a service charge I expect a service!!! Whilst the food was nice, the lack of service, especially at a time when there were only 3 other tables in, has put me off going again. I have also been told there is a service charge added when ordering from the outside Jerk Hut where you order your food at the hut and take it to the table yourself!!

Excellent service and great food. Good selection for vegetarians. Very comfortable and friendly . Gods selection of wines and beers.

Very friendly and we were welcomed with our dog. Had a light lunch of sandwiches, pate and a bowl of chips...of course! All delicious. Our food was served quite quickly. Pub was busy and other diners all cleared their plates.

Terrible food , cheap bread , oily salad , frozen butter . Staff not bothered . The pub was very cold which was a shame as there was a fire ! I couldn’t eat my food so my plate said it all !

Visited today for the first time for lunch. Staff very inattentive, they could do with some customer service training. A table for 4, we ordered the winter vegetable "soup" and a burger. The soup was more of a mash than a soup when it arrived 30 minutes later. We could stand a spoon in it! We had to ask for a pot of hot water to make it more "soupy". How do you mess up soup? We were then informed that the burger would be delayed due to the batch being ruined? I mean, honestly, it was like the kids were left to run the place whilst the adults were away for the weekend. The burger turned up nearly 10 minutes later, no apology, just plonked down in front of me. I asked for some mayo which was begrudgingly put down on the table by a disinterested waitress.....then to find out she had given me an empty bottle! Absolutely useless.

After coming here for many years i will say the place is on life support and maybe it's time to pull the plug. You would think the staff would be a bit more attentive seeing as they are putting service charge on but they are completely uninterested and even antagonistic. I think they lack the very basics of customer service and would advise the owner to either train or to replace. The lady on the bar was more interested in smoking then serving diden't even wash her hands after. As someone whos been coming here often for 10 years i would say its the worse ive ever seen this place the buildings run down and in need of some serious renovation and investment garden furniture falling apart, drab run down interior. The food is extremely overpriced for what you get. All in all its a shame as this place could really be a good destination due to the location but its had a the life sucked out of it and the empty vessel that remains is nothing but a tourist trap.

We had Sunday lunch at The Scott Arms and was impressed how much improved it was compared to last time we visited. I had roast beef which was cooked and flavoured beautifully. All the vegetables were cooked well with exceptional flavour, a lot of restaurants seem to overlook the cooking of their vegetables but not here. Full marks to the chef and kitchen team for a high quality meal. This is the best Sunday roast I've ever had in the area, and I've had a few! Service was friendly and efficient. Will definitely be back to eat here again.

We had a wonderful Sunday roast here. The food was excellent and the staff were welcoming and very attentive. I highly recommend.

AVOID AVOID AVOID - Awful experience. Ordered food in advance but staff totally overwhelmed by the whole service. Took 2 hours to finally receive very average food and try to charge for zero service. Staff are rude and prices are ridiculous. Do not go.

Huge portions and good quality food so no reason to complain. They were under-staffed which feels a sad problem for many venues, so with that comes its own issues, but the staff were lovely, and I would throughly recommend visiting. No doubt this is great place to be in the summer as the views are amazing.

As locals we know the Scott Arms well, and would certainly agree with many of the reviews over the years - great views, lovely cosy alcoves and rooms, but sometimes slow service and a little pricey. However .... Today we booked for a large family group of 20+ .. without any real idea of exact numbers, and the management were extremely accomodating, setting aside a room for us with plenty of space, a nice long table and a couple of spares. Our individual orders were taken at the table, delivered personally and promptly, and .. I have to say .. the roast beef was outstanding; substatial portions, plenty of everything, nicely cooked veg, yorkshire pud and the most beautifully cooked beef, tender, tasty, perfectly seasoned ... I mean, seriously top notch food. Others had pork and scampi, all excellent. Nice beer and a nice red. I actually don't agree with the fixed service charge - expecially if you order at the bar, but we were looked after by attentive, friendly staff, and if I'd not been charged the unexpected 10% I'd have offered 15. In the summer, it's a tourist trap, but for a Sunday lunch in November, after a walk out to Swyre Head (essential), HIGHLY recommended and thank you.

Massively overpriced - ordered at the bar, £52 for a burger, jerk chicken and two beers. There is 10% service charge on the whole bill even though you go to the bar yourself and take the drinks back with you. Food was ok but almost £19 for a halloumi burger and chips (no salad no coleslaw) - way too much. Tourist trap.

The sandwiches were great with salad and crisps on the side but what we did not realise was that the 10% service charge was automatically applied without asking. The cider was also good especially after walking from Corfe.

This place has so much potential with great views of Corfe Castle but it is a tourist trap and not worth the money or effort. Visited the Scott Arms this weeks with wife and two kids. I had to queue for 25 mins to even get my order taken from the only bar staff that was working. We had to bring cutlery & condiments to our table. 4 meals (3 x burger & chips; 1 x bangers & mash) 2 pints of ale and 3 juices cost nearly £100!!!! When I queried this I was told that 10% service charge was applied. Absolute joke - what service? There are plenty of other eateries around Purbeck so I would recommend that you avoid this place.

Wish I had read reviews before going for a meal. Firstly do not agree to the 10% service charge when basically all they do is bring your meals everything else you have to get yourself (cutlery condiments etc) Now the food not good, Fish and chips batter not cooked through, Ham very poor, and the burger would have been better from Burger king. And all overpriced. Garden furniture in a really poor state (accident waiting to happen) Such a same because the views are fantastic basically this is all it has to offer. Was not like this year's ago.

Aside from a narrow list of options on the menu, rotten garden furniture, and basic food, as service charge is added to the bill, and whilst I wouldn't normally complain, if paying a service charge you expect service. After the rather bland food had arrived, we asked whether there was cutlery - we were told to get it ourselves from outside the main building. Similarly, having asked later on whether we could have some water we were once again directed by the unattentive staff to fetch our own water from the bar. Used to be a fantastic restaurant 20 years ago - thoroughly unimpressed!

Well worth the walk to this pub to sample their fantastic Jamaican Shack food - three of us had the prawns which were incredible and the others had the chicken which they were equally impressed by. Fantastic food and at a reasonable price - lovely chilled afternoon sat in the pub garden in the sunshine overlooking beautiful Corfe Castle.

My sister and brother in law told us about this place and took us here for my mum’s birthday today, and we had an absolutely lovely time. The setting was amazing, the food was absolutely unbelievable, and the service was perfect too! If you’re in the area, this is a perfect place to come for some Jamaican food and a few drinks in the sun! We will definitely come back here!

The staff are lovely but the food was very unappetising and the meal was overpriced. I unfortunately would not go back for food.

Excellent Sunday roast, good local beers, car parking, and beer garden with fantastic views down to Corfe Castle. Well worth a visit.

Went in with a group of 12 for a drink. The barmen was grumpy. We queued at the bar and were served at the bar but the added a 10% service charge. Pubs might get away with it now but it will damage their business in the future Shame on you

The pub itself is in a beautiful location at Kingston and overlooks Corfe castle and the beautiful Dorset countryside. We opted to sit in the garden with our dog after getting our drinks which were a bit pricey but the ale was kept nicely and the local cider was pleasant too. Whilst sitting in the garden it was noticeable that there was lots of rubbish under the tables and within the garden itself. Cigarette butts a plenty discarded crisp packets plastic bottle tops etc which rather spoilt it. Anyway we opted for some sandwiches for our lunch and they were nice however there is a 10% service charge which is added on to your final bill. This is stated in the menu paper but I'm not alone in thinking that a service charge should be voluntary. All in all not bad but a little pricey for a sandwich and the litter in the garden could have been cleaned up.

Stopped mid walk for refreshments, having looked at the menu decided we would stay for lunch. On trying to order and stating we were sitting outside we were told in no uncertain terms that they were not serving to tables outside. This was despite 6 other tables eating and being brought food out around us. We even offered to carry our own plates of food out from the bar. Considering we are in a covid era and being encouraged to continue to maintain some due diligence to each other, extremely disappointing to be declined and told the only way we would eat was to be inside.We didnt stay and had a lovely meal in corfe!

10 of us enjoyed a fabulous roast including vegans & a vegetarian. Friendly, helpful staff & good service. Thank you Scott Arms - see you next year! Recommended!

Hi we came back here after a few years away (thanks to Covid) and did worry about menu choice etc as we wanted a Sunday lunch. The website had a burger heavy menu and we had several email exchanges to clarify. Prompt to respond though which was good. We were a table of 10 and the pub was fully booked for diners. It was a lovely meal, everyone enjoyed their food (had a range from fish & chips to meat and veggie Sunday lunches) and the vegan/vegetarian option was good, (ask them to hold the mustard and honey on the vegetables if necessary) but perhaps most amazing was the fact there were 7 (!) tasty vegetables on our plates.. sublime. Relaxed atmosphere, gorgeous panelled surroundings in the dining areas, ordering at the bar by one person per table to minimise people movement. All seemed to work well.Noted they are happy to have dogs there. Will remember that for when we come back!

We popped in for a coffee to admire the stunning views from the garden. We were served half cups of luke warm coffee which cost us over £7. We asked for some hot water to top the cups up. It never arrived as the young lady serving was too busy eating her diner at the bar. Maybe she forgot but we wont be returning as it was too expensive and to be served half a cup of coffee is not acceptable.

We read the reviews for this pub but we are always honest and make up our own mind.On arrival the welcome was friendly (Charlie)and the pub charming and characterful the views to corfe castle and countryside spectacular. The room was fantastic if you call it that more like a suite. Very clean and comfortable. The food is a pre covid menu and quality of ingredients was good and well prepared . The pub was very busy and the staff were pleasant and friendly to everyone. The breakfast was excellent again great quality and local cereals, jams and lovely cooked breakfast. We will be back to this lovely place

Lovely staff, welcoming and polite. Food was terrible. Undercooked frozen (?) calamari. Sliced supermarket bread. Very disappointing for such a beautiful pub.

Myself and 4 friends had heard of this pub for the fantastic views over Corte Castle. After a brilliant day out in the local area we opted for here to enjoy a Sunday Lunch before we headed home after a weekend away. On arrival the pub looked ‘tired’ but with 18 months of uncertainty for pubs during covid we wanted to support. We sat down outside and 2 of our party went up to the bar to order (no table service). We were two couples and a single person so wanted to pay separately just as we would have split a bill. The first order was made and paid with cash. As the second part of our groups order was taken we were asked if we wanted to give a tip now. Confused my friend challenged and said surely we will do this after we have had the service but the lady behind the bar said it is easier to take the card payment in one go. My friend said she would pay cash but was told they are not taking cash at the moment. Remember 1 minute previous to this the bar tender had taken cash for the first meal. Feeling uncomfortable and slightly pressured my friend agreed to add it to her card payment. The 3rd order was then taken. After around 20 minutes the first plate of roast beef arrived at the table, believing the other plates were not far behind my friend waited. 5 minutes passed but no food arrived so we encouraged our friend to start before it got cold. 10 minutes after the first plate the next two arrived. We asked about the last two as the first had come out some time before to be told we had ordered separately hence the gap. One of our party proceeded in to the pub to discuss with the lady who took the original order and she marched to the kitchen to find out where the food was. When she arrived at the table with the last two plates a mumbled sorry was given, we asked if we could have some kind of gesture to make up for the delay between dishes and was told the kitchen said we could have 1 drink but we ordered separately so should have expected it. Now forgive me if I am wrong but surely as a bar tender taking the orders, even if in 3 lots due to the pub not having the ability to split a bill, if you knew a table was altogether would you not pop your head in the kitchen and let the chef know that the 3 orders for table 105 are all together?! Anyway we started to order our apology drinks and after the first person gave their order the second went to speak and was interrupted to say no it’s just 1 drink not 1 each person with an eye roll to close! We immediately asked to have our service charge refunded as this was not the kind of service we were happy to recognise with a tip to which the lady laughed in our faces and stormed off. This was the final straw for us so two of the party took their meals back to the bar and asked for refunds. Quickly a gentleman working in the pub appeared and tried to rectify the problem but it was too late. As the refunds were issue the same gentleman was heard saying well make sure they haven’t eaten anything from the plates and he swiftly marched to out table and swiped the other plates away with not an apology to be heard. It is a great shame as this pub is in a beautiful location and has a lot of potential. But unfortunately we will not be returning.

Advise to just go for a quick drink and enjoy the view.Limited food. Advised to add chips to the burger as didn't come with them, £13 for a deep fried burger and oven chips. Kid's burger exactly same size as adult's. Not many beers. Broken smelly urinals. Closed at 9:30 last orders at 9. Asked to add 10% up front but refused as generally a bad sign.Get the impression it struggling for cash, so can't hire staff so can't provide the service. Vicious tailspin.If they could find someone to pull up the rudders, it would be fatastic again.For now, stick with one of the best beer garden view in Britain.

We have always loved this pub, and it was one of the reasons for booking a weekend stay in the village. Not been for more than 18m due to lockdown etc and were shocked by how much it has gone downhill.First visit Friday evening, sam,e experience as previous reviewer with mandatory tip added up front! Then turned out they had just run out of ale! Offered lager or wine instead. Everything looking a bit shabby. Limited menu. Ordered kids burger for kids and adult burger for adults ( twice the price) but when they arrived the plates of food looked identical! Left wondering if they had run out of bigger burgers! Anyway, the waitress service was lovely and friendly, and the view as special as ever, so decision taken to give it a second chance on the Saturday evening. No forced tip this time, and "jerk shack" food smelt delicious, so we were very disappointed to be told they had run out by 7.30pm...yet still bringing out plates for ages afterwards, so service must've been very slow, and we were horrified/ entertained to hear the jerk shack chef guy arguing loudly with other punters about their orders! Really rude! "Jerk" shack indeed!! This on a backdrop of blaring R&B music including some choice language at times- totally unsuited to a family country pub . Bizarre. Would consider giving it another chance at some point, but not when the R&B club is open!

A semi-regular user of this pub over many years, so sad to see its decline into the sorry state it is now in. We visited on a busy Sunday afternoon and sat at a crumbing wood garden table (half rotted away) I went to the bar to order drinks for the three of us, and to my absolute amazement was asked whether I would like to add an "Optional £1-00 tip" to the bill before even ordering our food, I could hardly believe my ears, surely a tip is left to reflect the service you receive AFTER you received it, such a cheap tactic to "shame" people into either leaving a tip or refusing is an appalling practice, it soon became obvious however why they did this "up-front", as there was very little chance of getting one afterwards. The "post lockdown menu" was dreadful, mainly burger, burger or burger, very little else.The Jerk shack was a little better, very expensive but edible, the staff were indifferent, not quite rude but I guess that's what we have to settle for these days in some establishments.It was sad to read so many poor recent comments, it was a lovely place to visit - once. It will be a very long time before we visit again.

Met up with members of our family here for a lunch on a beautiful sunny day.Firstly the good points of this pub - the view and friendly waitress.However the cost of the food was ridiculous.Our bill for three crab sandwiches and three drinks came to an eye watering £53.95!Our mistake was having a member of our group read the menu to us, we knew a crab sandwich would be a little more expensive but they were £13.00 each!That would have been okay if it was of a high standard to match the price.As another review mentioned the bread was basic, there wasn't much crab (which was quite watery), salad leaves had been tipped out a packet with no dressing and served along side a pile of tasteless crisps. We would have complained there and then but in true British style didn't want to make a fuss and ruin the family get together.We will not return.

We had planned a walk at Swyre Head and the Scott Arms was the nearest pub. We were well pleased with our choice. The service was friendly and the food excellent. We will return next year.

This used to be one of our favourite pubs where we would go for a nice meal after a walk. Unfortunately it is now an overrated tourist trap with no more nice home cooked food and just a few burgers and other bits on the menu. Today I had a ham sandwich made of dried out bead buttered with margarine, served with salad leaves without any dressing being available and with stale crisps that had no taste. My partner had a smallish burger that which tasted ok and chips (charged extra) and no vegetables or salad at all. I had a diet coke which was not Coke or Pepsi but a cheap version, not that I would have minded if they had chosen a nice tasting one!We didn't bother with dessert (only 3 choices available anyway) and left, not going to return in a hurry.You have to pay when you order and I was asked to add a 10% tip to my card payment; I was annoyed that I gave one afterwards as the food was not worth it.Quite sad that such a lovely pub has gone downhill so much!

Not been here for over 20 years - great to return. The Jerk Shack was excellent and a cut well above the standard ubiquitous pub fayre you can get most other places. Beer was decent. Service was friendly and helpful. The views were fine as always from the garden.

Salt fish and akee was flavoursome and cooked beautifully. Jerk chicken was tender and could taste the delicate smoky flavour from bbq. Service very quick, friendly and clear explanation of menu. Portions generous. Good music and atmosphere.Whoever gave this one star is spiteful and dishonest.View of Corfe castle is superb.

How sad. This was once a fantastic venue with a great menu, super view of Corfe Castle and spotlessly clean with great staff, but no more. The pub is unclean inside and out, the food and staff are indifferent. Frankly, it has lost its way. It has the chance to be great as it once was, but needs a chef, a proper menu, a good clean and refresh inside and out. Also the staff need to be professional and more attentive. With the location the venue could then be one of the best in Dorset, possibly the South Coast.

Poor customer service. Landlady rude and no knowledge of her own menu. Overcharged for desert and Landlady almost argued with me after charging me 5.95 for a 3.95 ice cream despite showing her photos of her own price board. WiFi pass code switched over halfway through visit. Jerk shack shut. Menu limited. Can't believe you have to pay £3 extra for chips on top of tiny £10 burger. Please include this in your burger meal cost. Poor value for money. Business all over the place. Real shame. We've been coming for nearly 15 years and it's really tired run down now. Scott Arms- you need help!!!

Lovely staff, great selection of drinks and the most fabulous view. Thanks for having us, will definitely visit again.

I have read the recent reviews and can understand some of the comments relating to the food but feel I should put a bit of balance to it. We stayed 2 nights in the rooms above the pub and they are really good. Great accommodation, clean, with nice touches all about. The staff could not have been nicer and really worked hard in what is obviously difficult times. We ate in the pub on our first night and to be fair it was not great, pretty basic, which is why I have to agree with some of the comments below. As with most places we have visited recently I think they are suffering along with everyone else with terrible staffing issues. not always an excuse but certainly a contributory factor. However we went the following day at lunchtime for my daughters birthday and it was really very good. Well looked after, food was good, beers excellent and all the staff we came across were very nice, friendly and helpful. I have to say though the breakfasts in the mornings were the best we have had for a very long time. Freshly cooked and great tasting, so definitely recommend staying at the pub, even if things are not quite going to plan, all the time, on the food side at the pub. One slightly annoying thing was no designated parking for those staying at the pub. This was a problem if you got a space but then went out, as when you came back you more often than not had to hope and wait for someone to leave. Big minus point. Sorry

Visited for lunch. Ordered a chicken burger and hallumi burger 1 portion of chips and 2 drinks £39. When it came it was very poor standard. Suffice to say the chicken burger was fed to the dog. Very poor value for money. Worth a visit for a drink and the view but not to eat.

Living and working in Dorset I drive past the pub often so always wanted to go there for a nice pub lunch and take in the views towards Corfu Castle. The view didn’t disappoint but the food did. We ordered a chicken and a halloumi burger with some fries. £9.95 each for the burgers and £3.95 for the fries. The burgers were small, not much bigger than a slider, and not even accompanied by a salad garnish, just a slice of tomato and lettuce in the bun. Had to take a picture to show how lonely the burger was on the plate. Had to go searching for cutlery and serviettes and ask for them in the bar. We won’t be going again.

Avoid go somewhere else. Bought a pint should have read the reviews first!!!!! Food was awful a 50p Bernard Mathews reprocessed chicken breast in a bun. 12.95 then add chips for £3.95!!! No salad other than some limp iceberg in the bun. I think they need to read there reviews stop it everyone don’t buy it they will improve it. Very dissatisfied.

I understand that it is a real struggle to find food in restaurants to support a type 2 diabetes people, I had looked at the menu at this pub before we went and thought that i could eat jerk chicken and have a salad but there was no salad on offer and the jerk chicken and pork which my partner had came with a sauce full of sugar, could not eat the rice (white) did. To know what was added to the rice and not the coleslaw as that had carrots in. No idea that the chicken came with a sauce. I only able to eat certain part of the chicken after I wiped the sauce off but that was dry. So sadly another pub to give a miss. Shame as a lot more diabetics would eat out if simple changes or additions to the menu are made.

Rip-off food - Dorset crab sandwich should have been special for £12.95 - what came was two thick slices of flabby brown bread with a couple of teaspoons of crabmeat in between, barely enough to taste, plus a handful of undressed salad leaves and a handful of crisps. The ham sandwich was less expensive but was watery/rubbery ham on the same bread.Also a requirement to wear masks in a spacious pub garden seems a bit extreme?Lovely location and view that the food can’t spoil is the reason it gets two stars not one

The menu has been slimmed down due to Covid, so was expecting the dishes that remained to be their best offerings. Ordered starters and mains. The mains arrived before the starters, and waitress said that they didn't realize the 8 calamari rings were a starter. Mind you the cheese burger isn't served with chips as standard so who knows. Food is pretty poor pub grub standard, and there was a 20 min queue for the bar. There was a jerk shack on site and this seemed much better in both time, quantity and quality. If you are unfortunate to end up here needing food, use this instead of the main bar.It's a pity, I've visited this pub a number of times in the past and the menu choice and quality have been well above average. Hope this is a blip due to Covid and that they find their old form.

as a trainer going to many venues the room was clean and tidy the view was amazing take pictures, staff was friendly and polite, meal was enjoyable and hot, nothing was not too much trouble,

I have always liked this pub for the lovely view of Corfe Castle. On visiting this time, we tried the Dorset draft cider and blush cider which were both lovely, but what has made us want to go back is the amazing Jamacian jerk shack that is now there over the weekend. The food is outstanding. Honestly out of this world. We have actually cancelled a roast in town to go back again tomorrow for more. We had the jerk chicken and the prawns. Everyone else who ordered was also saying how amazing it was. We liked the gentle music in the background (it wasn't loud). I hope the jerk shack will be here when we next visit Swanage. I also had some purbeck honeycomb ice cream which was lovely. All the staff were polite and friendly too. It does get busy as it's popular and the queue for the bar was long but worth it and we were able to get a table fine. Toilets could use some love as not the cleanest. Looking forward to going back tomorrow for more great jamacian food, refreshing cider and beautiful views.

Appalling service, menu very poor, some very rude staff. Do not waste your time and money here. Very unhygienic, tables not cleaned, rubbish all over the floor. Nothing positive other than the view, such a shame this pub has gone so downhill!

Fast service which was good for us as we arrived late and hungry. Ploughman's was simple but tasty . Beer quality excellent . Friendly staff

Tip was taken before we had received our food. Which was just as well because they would have received no tip. Very expensive. Poor quality, the ploughman’s was a joke, sliced white bread, not ciabatta. Hummus awful, carrot batons were black. Service was poor, had to help ourselves to cutlery after we’d asked for them. Only stopped there because nowhere else was open. Carry on driving to Swanage, don’t waste your time here. Menu was tiny and portions even more so

Worst meal ever fish half cooked chips over done peas looked like yesterday’s .we payed 10% extra for table service what a joke was told to get our own knifes and forks . Sorry but place looked dirty rotten tables and not clean very bad management staff long hair not tied back handling food not for me again stay away and over priced

Sat in the very busy garden during our visit. I looked around and saw that every person who ordered from the Jerk Shack had empty plates and smiles on their faces. We ordered the chicken which came with rice and peas, coleslaw and plantain. It was divine, truly spectacular. Can’t wait to go again when we next visit Swanage. Thanks!

The view over Corfe Castle is fantastic from the garden - Wow! The inside restaurant was closed but looked like it had seen better days. The main menu was limited and customers had to wait an age for their food to be served. However, in the garden they had a Jerk Shack doing Jamaican food, beer and tings. This was irie ! The food was really good and authentic, the service was excellent and friendly and was great. Shame about the main restaurant.

Visited on a Friday lunchtime. We were meeting friends and sat in the garden as weather was sunny. The view is beautiful but the food is disappointing and uninspired. Even the garden furniture is tired and wobbly. Most pubs seem to have made improvements during lockdown making the best of their garden areas but not here. We will not be returning.

As always the view is wonderful but on our visit yesterday the food was overpriced and very poor. Bread in the sandwiches felt like ‘yesterday’s’ with a couple of crisps on a plate. £12.50 for a crab sandwiches was a little far fetched. They forgot the ham in the ham and pickle sandwich. The staff are lovely, helpful and friendly. We know they can do better.

This is the only pub that hasn't changed in covid, except for a few necessary protections. The only pub on our 2 week tour of the south that felt like a proper pub. If you want to drink good local beer in a steep, spacious garden with fabulous views this is the pub for you. I understand the low ratings here, the jerk shack is annoying but was not running when we were there - I suspect it loses them more custom than it gains. The bar inside is nothing special either, but the garden compensates for all.I have stayed at this pub several decades ago, long before the jerk shack arrived, It was a wonderful experience then, and the building hasn't changed, but it looks like further information is needed before I would stay again.

Beautiful views from garden looking towards Korfe Castle helped by the lovely warm sunshine, The crab sandwich with crisps and side salad was lovely.

Food not a patch on what we've had here in previous years. I know because of Covid things are very different this year, but feel this can't be the only reason for the decline. We were a table of 4 and our meals were not served together meaning two of us were almost finished ouf meal before the other two were served. Not sure why as I could only see one other occupied table in the whole pub at the time do they certainly weren't busy. Staff were very friendly though & as always the views from here are stunning.

A popular haunt for us, great views and service always good, sadly on this occasion the food portions have diminished and inflated prices, must be an attempt to recover business from the pandemic, hopeful things will improve once the summer trade has passed and things settle on the pandemic, will be looking for a brighter and realistically priced menu before considering a return. £14 for a overcooked crispy chicken burger and small handful of chips (which are purchased separately and not included in the main meal). First time back since opening up, what a shame, good luck to the landlord on retaining return winter business.

Great garden with view of the castle. Goats cheese salad very good as was the ploughman’s. Friendly staff. Meal options better than the average fried food on offer at most pubs.

Unfortunately this place is getting worse… They have a chicken jerk shack in the pub garden, which play reggae music soooo loud! It gives you a headache. I’m 25, and used to loud music. But this was ridiculous & it didn’t go with the relaxed views & surroundings Then I order my food at the bar, and feel forced to leave a 10% tip. Before the food was even dished up to me. You have to order yourself, get the cutlery yourself & condiments. All the do is bring the food out to you? They put the card machine (amount already typed in) infront of you, then say “There’s a 10% service charge on that, that’s alright isn’t ?”Morally that’s wrong!!!

We arrived to see smoke everywhere, some sort of barbecue and loud music so sat farthest away, but all seats old, dirty and rocky and only few had umbrellas on hottest day. Ordered ploughmans, what a laugh when that arrived, smallest amount of salad leaves ever, apply that wasn't cored, huge slab of cheese, one picked onion and a roll. We paid £30 for 2 drinbks and this disgusting meal will never go there again.

Overpriced for an overall lack lustre experience. The food although OK was not worth the money. 2 pints a sandwich and a portion of calamari were not presented in the best way and cost £32. I now understand why the Square and Compass has a queue.

We stayed here for the night and our room was lovely it was big and spacious and the bed was comfortable. Breakfast was also really good and local and a good selection. However the day/evening before was a little bit different the staff were lovely and helpful but they looked understaffed and where really trying to hold everything together and I felt quite sorry for them. The food was not like we remembered as we came here about 5 years ago and the food was brilliant. This time it was a little underwhelming with us paying £9.99 for just a cheese burger and you had to add on chips for £3.99 which I do not mind if the burger was a little bigger it was like a child’s burger although it was tasty but unfortunately we were not full from this so we had to pop to the shop to get additional snacks for the evening.I am giving a fair review as I will come back and I believe that this is due to reopening and getting back into the swing off things and the stay overnight was really lovely as I said previously! I just think the prices for the food need to come down or the portions needs to be a little more filling for the price. Thank you for a lovely stay and we look forward to coming back when things have calmed a little!

We have always visited when in the area and have fond memories of the times we have spent here. So having visited today we have left feeling underwhelmed. I am sorry to say this pub did not live up to expectations. There was little choice on the menu and what was available was pretty average, uninspiring and expensive. My main concern however, was that in these COVID times that cutlery is left for one to help oneself, who Knows who has had their hands on it before. I actually felt we should leave when I saw this, but the other members of my party suggest we take the cutlery from the bottom of the tray where they may have been handled less. On the plus side the staff were very friendly and the view was amazing. Even if I choose not to come again, I’m sure there will be plenty other tourists to fill my place and I imagine that’s what the management rely on.

If you want to que up for an hr without a drink it’s for you.... waited an hr for a jerk only to get at till and for them to shout no orders for an hour 🥵🤬😡

The open garden and view are the main upsides of the place.Food was standard pub grub but most concerning was the lack of COVID controls.Despite a sign outside the pub asking customers to wear masks before entering the gardens several staff members wore no mask at all or just under their chin coming up close to serve food or engage in conversation.Additionally, cutlery is offered in communal trays where every customer in the pub helps themselves - can you imagine how many people would have touched your cutlery before you?This offered no confidence in the overall hygiene standards of the pub.Complete basics if you want to stay open during a pandemic - ensure all your staff are wearing masks covering nose and mouth. Ensure cutlery is hygienically prepared and individually wrapped in napkins and brought out to customers with their food. Many pubs now also offer ordering via an app instead of needing to go inside and order at the bar.

Came here on anniversary so disappointed.Dirty run down outside tables covered in dirt and bird faeces rotting wood tables , weeds and overgrown rubbish lying around.As we drove here we thought to try the food and enjoy the view , big mistake. Calamari not cooked through coldHumus with crudites well the crudites curled up and were very old, minature portion Burger and chips again tiny portion and cold.We were the only ones there so not busy.Toilets very unclean was told pot washer did them by the duty manager Don't waste your hard earned money here

The only thing good was the view and this was not managed by the owners.Run down and dirty after having months to get ready for re opening.Food was cold overpriced and tiny portions. Old salad was wilting. Tables were rotten and dirtyFacilities dirtyGarden overgrown and unlovedCould not wait to leave, when giving order the woman was very grumpy noticably so when food was brought over staff got very close and did not wear masks. Do not waste your money it was expensive nearly £40 for a starter and a burgerAn utter disapointment have been to many better establishments

Such nice staff - really nice bunch. Makes it hard to leave a slightly negative review, but that is what this platform is for - honest reviews. I remember coming here a few years back and the food being great - outdoor dining today with one of the best views in dorset. Booze selection - great. Staff great. Site - great. Was honestly really disappointed by the food. I bought a burger, which when it arrived was pretty small for a burger. And it was just a burger - no chips or side salad with it. If I wanted chips with it then that was £4 extra. The mezzo plate had a really sparse distribution of carrots cucumber and pita bread and just looked really ungenerous or appetising. Just not good value for money, and I wouldn’t choose these menu choices again - not value for money. Certainly nothing to make a scene about but personally, my departing thoughts were I WISH I HAD GONE FOR THE JAMAICAN BBQ! That looked good. Willing to give this place another go for food, but only for the BBQ. Lesson learnt.

Lovely spot with an awesome Jerk Shack in the garden. The mutton curry is stunning! The view of Corfe Castle is superb. The beer was average on this occasion (but usually more of a selection)... Staff are friendly and kindly brought us an umbrella when it started to rain! Highly recommend...

£8.95 for 6 tiny strips of calamari. Avoid if you’re hungry! Great chips. Fill up on them. Great views.

We came to the Scott's Arms after a long walk. The staff were so friendly and welcoming and the pub is so beautiful with an amazing view of Corfe Castle. As a vegetarian I ordered the Halloumi burger which honestly was the nicest one I've ever tasted. My boyfriend got the beef burger which he said was also delicious. All the food is locally sourced. We will be definitely coming back again!

COVID-19 is no excuse for poorly cooked, over-priced food. Three of our group chose calamari as a main course (which was charged at 17.90 each for a small under-cooked portion) and supplemented by 3.95 of chips which arrived some time later. The icing on the cake was being charged 14.80 as an - optional - service charge. No-one is going to argue about a service charge in front of guests!The staff were OK, the beer and wine are good. If you go to this pub, stick to a drink!

Family evening meal in a pleasant pub. Simple but good choice of mains and puddings. Friendly service.

The food here is terrible, two of the 4 starters were not available. The Thai Fish cakes were deep fried squishy green lumps of horrid, the Fish and Chips did not use fresh fish (ie it was grey) and the chips were over cooked. It appears they only can cook deep fried food, badly.The waitress was very attentive and the beer was good.

What an awful experience. Terrible menu which lacked anything remotely interesting. Ambience was dull and boring. Staff were extremely rude and lacked enthusiasm and excitement. No one said hello or offered us a table. The manager was disgraceful and should have fired immediately. The Diet Coke was flat and when I asked to change the pump to renew it, it came back flat yet again. We waited over half an hour for our food but we ordered cheesy garlic bread for starters which came out with our main - not what we asked for! The cheese was clumpy. We had to ask 3 times for the bill and ended up paying at the bar, not acceptable and then they had the audacity to charge us £4 for service charge - pffffttt! Absolutely not. Never ever ever will we go near that place again. In this pandemic, the staff need to go above and beyond for not only customers but also tips as well to keep the place open. Also, sort out your menu for decent food. My chips were burnt, how does that happen. Disappointed from a couple who drove an hour for this pub. I should have read the reviews first clearly!!!

We were able to get a last minute table and originally looked after however one member of staff was condescending towards our son, to the point of being rude - a child with hidden disabilities, which could no longer remain hidden as I felt it necessary to make this person aware. The food was good but over priced. Not somewhere we would look to return to.

Having walked the Houns Tout - Chapmans Pool loop we were ready for a drink and lunch. On a glorious autumn day we were able to sit outside and whilst there is a limited menu and the ordering process is slow due to Covid restrictions we all enjoyed our meals with a great view over Corfe Castle. Service was friendly and helpful.

The pub from the outside looks beautiful. The beer garden and views are great, but the inside of the Scott Arms looks somewhat dated with no ambience. The food was expensive pub grub. I feel if you’re going there to sit outside with a beer you won’t be disappointed.