The Square & Compass in Purbeck - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Brilliant classic English pub with great sea views, a very nice, tasty pasty and a pint. Highly recommend!

Always nice to stop off for a cider and pasty :-)

Brilliant pub in a lovely area for walking, nice outside area that had a few musicians playing when I went there and a cool little dinosaur museum on the side

England's best kept secret! What a pub!!! Amazing!

Beer at still under £5 a pint, although on a sunny day you might have to queue outside!

Basic food, mainly pies. Very old, quaint pub, serving beers and cider mainly from the keg or barrel.

Absolutely amazing little pub with great cider and beer, and tasty pasties and puddings. Well worth a visit!

Quirky little place with a small museum attached. Curry pasty and pint were lovely.

Great small pub and loads of outdoor. Side was brilliant, pasties were great and loads of dinosaurs for the kids to look at

Lovely friendly atmosphere, and dogs are welcome! Spectacular location near the sea oh and pasties to die for!

Amazing atmosphere and great food, I went when it was busy tho so there were big queues

Came across this pub on their festival day - what a treat! Great beer, great great music, and even better atmosphere. Highly recommend if you’re stopping in - an amazing beer garden too.

Nice to visit on a lovely day as outside space has wonderful view. Pasties are yummy. Beers are good.

Love this place local people are great staff excellent and what a view and great ale and cider and Alex is a good lad and Charlie are all ways make you fill welcome

Great pizza, fantastic local cider and what must be the best view from any pub garden in the world.

Great cider brewed by themselves ...

Whenever we have a week off in the summer we always come down here. Quirky place. Staff are attentive and the food is delicious.

Best pie I ate in a long time! I got the steak pie and I would come here again. The pie is 5 pounds but worth every penny. The area is beautiful with views of the mountains and sea.

This is a really authentic old English pub. Tried some epic ciders - which were cloudy and still - more like Scrumpy. The cornish pasties looked really tasty. It's good to know there is a 200-space public car park over the road, so it's best to park there rather than clog up the narrow lanes. My friend liked the cider so much that she ordered 2 carry-outs so her partner could also enjoy it when she got home

Great place for a drink, food is tasty but microwaved pastys.

Lovely place and quite busy when we cane here, plenty of choices of ciders and beers and other drinks, they also serve pasties here as a food choice which were delicious.

We love visiting this place when we’re down this way… the pies, pasties and sausage rolls are the best you’ll find. The atmosphere is friendly and buzzing. Great walks around the area too. Highly recommend!

A pint straight out of the barrel after a walk on a sunny evening. Very relaxing worth a stop if you're at Worth Matravers excellent beers.

Lovely little rest stop. Delicious pasties!

A busy pub with walkers and locals. We called in on a walk and it just started to rain so the pub was very busy as the large seating area outside emptied. The staff did really well despite the rush. We had a pasty and a sausage roll that were very tasty which were very tasty.

One of my favourite pubs, great pints and pasties in a stunning location

It's a great place to stop and have a pint and pasty mid-walk. Being it's in Worth Matravers it's full of walkers (don't worry I did say walkers 😜) walking along the coastal path to or from Swanage. You can get a great variety of ciders or ales and homemade pasties and pies. No other food other than bar snacks. I loved the cheese pasty and washed it down with a crisp cider after a long walk. Definitely recommend.

A very different pub but a must to see

Remember going here about 30 years ago on an annual fieldtrip. Memorable, quaint and with a great view.

Very busy but the service was great would recommend this pub,soo,many hikers and guests but the staff weren't phased good luck to them all ,lovely guys!!

We come every year. A great pub with a huge amount of outdoor seating. The pasties and cider are great and the pub itself is really interesting and unique.

As always a great choice of craft ales and ciders and the basic (pasties) but good quality food does the job.

Been here a few times, always a joy. Great ales, now even more additions to food choice. Plus a new pizza oven. Very busy but very quick service. Fully recommend, even a small museum to visit. This heart and soul of old England. All 8 of us enjoyed it.

This place is unique, a must see location in the heart of rural Dorset

This has got to be one of the best beer gardens in the world - you sit on various granite(?) slabs that work as tables and chairs or the grass slopes complimented with a wonderful view, Service is via a hatch. Plentiful local ciders and beets. The pasties are awesome and they do events.

Outstanding pub, with an outstanding view

Probably the best pub in the world

Great live music, followed by dj music of an atmospheric, ethereal type.

Nice pasties and pies. Vegetarian and vegan options. Dog-friendly

Excellent pub with an interesting range of ciders. The staff were lovely and efficient. The delicious pasties were enjoyed by us outside, surrounded by a great sunset view. The museum inside is a lovely touch, giving some historical context to the place.

Lovely cider festival with music and gorgeous views from the front gardens

Brilliant pub, stunning views from the garden and great selection of beer, cider and pasties.

Great pub, lovely sitting outside, beautiful countryside

Outstanding popular local pub with a wide variety of ciders (home made) and a good selection of beers. Food wise mainly limited but good. The main problem was I was more than willing to have a few, but I was driving 😁

After a very warm 4 hour walk along the beautiful coastline, the Square and Compass was a much welcome sight as always. A lovely pint too. I was not keen on the cheese, onion and potato pasty, for the simple reason they had added chunks of swede to it which, combined with the cheese, made for a most peculiar taste! I couldn't eat it. Please stick to the 3 vital ingredients that makes a delicious pasty.

Lovely pub excellent choice of beer and local ciders didn't eat here so can't comment thinkbitwas pies and pasties

A wonderful village pub. Low ceilings, small rooms, traditional door bar. Simple food of delicious hot pasties and pizzas, great selection of beer and cider. I got lucky and was entertained by local musicians. Great space in front of the pub for drinking and relaxing outside. Children and dogs welcome. Chilled atmosphere, village car park around the corner with great walks in the area down to the sea and along the coast path

One of the great British pubs - beer straight from barrel - amazing setting and atmosphere! Corniche parties to die for! What's not to like?

Love visiting this old pub and museum. Often has a singer/band at the weekends and is set in a beautiful little village surrounded by excellent walks and views

Lovely place to spend some time with friends

Fantastic local pub in Worth Matravers. We stopped here after a walk along the coast. Fine selection of beers and ales and at excellent prices! All but one beer were under £5. Also recommend to try the steak pasty. Lovely views over the countryside with plenty of outdoor seating. We even had some pretty chickens visit us. 😊

Excellent watering hole to refresh after a long day exploring. The snack options are great also! I won’t ruin the surprise of the many excellent oddities of this pub.

Great pub! Brilliant for walking.

Beautifully sighted. Excellent beers and ciders. Menu limited to pasties, and cake. All served rapidly. Music sometimes. A place for friendship. (And a small museum)

Quite simply the best boozer in the world ✌️

An Absolute Gem of a pub a must visit if you are in the area, stunning views of the English Channel on a sunny day

Stopped here after a likely walk,I had the most delicious sausage roll and pint of cider! There was almost no seating outside,lovely to see a proper local pub doing wonderfully! Recommending this pub to everyone!

Wonderful old pub, brilliant home made Cider. Great pasties. Will definitely be going back.

Loved this olde worlde pub, super location and great for walkers/ cyclists/ families/locals. Didn't eat but pasties etc looked great and were clearly in huge demand. Tiny bar so queue out the door (it's small!) to order but pretty swift service and super friendly staff. Spectacular views.

A great friendly place with lots of character, great beer and the best homemade sausage rolls

An unusual pub with a ( free) mini fossil museum attached with regular live gigs squeezed into the biggest of 2 rooms. The view out to sea is superb on a warm sunny day as is sitting at any of the large and unique tables outside at the front. There is also a beer garden to one side. Selling a large variety of ales, beers and ciders....many of them local....especially the ciders is what draws people to this little pub in Worth Matravers. The catering is basic.....they have no pretentions of being a gastropub.....serving pasties/pies ( Inc recently...vegan ones) and cakes /puddings....something to take note of if expecting a large menu!. There are 2 "sheds" out front, seating about 7 comfortably in the dry if it rains or try your luck inside. The bar(s) are not conventional.....more like 2 serving hatches though service is quite quick if you don't get stuck behind someone who dithers over making a choice from the many, many to choose from. Nevertheless the queue is often long at peak times, stretching well out of the single entrance door. There is a large and "free" carpark (£2 donation is suggested) 200yards up the road from the pub. Well worth a visit if you're in the area ( many walkers do) or even a diversion if you're not....

Beer and atmosphere are what’s missing from modern pubs,

Lovely pie and pint in the garden enjoying the sunshine 🌞 and the view 😀

Lovely place with fantastic views. Local beers and a good selection of local ciders. Pasties and Sausage Rolls of multiple flavours. £4.50 to £4.80 per pint. Recommended 🍺

strange place, where people cross glances and then words, strange place where the comfort is not soft, nor warm, it is the most homely rock and wind that you can find far from home. essential

Great location, limited choice of food and drinks but when it's good food and good drinks it's not a problem. You know what you are getting and always hits the spot

Brilliant pub with homemade beer,cider and pasties, so good we had to go back

Great place. Beautiful views. Great atmosphere. Tasty. Nice service. It was sad to continue the trip. It is a must to visit this place.

A beautiful pub with beautiful views. If you're looking for posh food then you won't find it here. The emphasis is on good beer and cider in a fantastic location and if you're feeling peckish you can have a pastie. A great traditional Dorset pub 😁

Excellent food! The chorizo sausage roll was amazing.

Popular place, and rightly so. Excellent parking provided by parish at reasonable charge before pub. Cider recommended, and pasty was delicious.

Busy on the day we went there good range of beers tho

Truly one of the greatest pubs in England. Fantastic beer, location and staff. It's a unique experience and I highly recommend a visit

Great find once again!! Views are amazing and the drinks are ice cold. Loved it!

Old style place, pasties and pies and good ales and cider. A fabulous place after a long walk!

Tasty pasty with plenty of meat in it! This pub is unbeatable for atmosphere .

Interesting with tiny museum lovely and quirky

Had a nice drink at the Square& Compass.

What a lovely little find and place to unwind after a walk. Provides views, pastries and pies and refreshing beer.

Great pub, lovely atmosphere and incredible move having the museum and collections of cool fossils around! Nathan is great 😎

We had a fab visit. Lovely atmosphere, a cracking day, the sun was shining. We had a walk to the sea and back. Get there for noon to get somewhere to sit, it can get busy.

beautiful location -ideal refuelling station on the many walks around this area of outstanding beauty 😍 great choice of real ales ,nice pies 🥧

Unique one of the handful of pubs that have been in every CAMRA guide.

Brilliant pub with great selection of beers. Great live music too

I tried Kiss me Kate cider...hhhmmm. I can recomand for ladies. And the best Cornish Pastry in UK.

Incredible gem on the coast path. You'll have to queue but the line moves faster than other similar places in other towns. The pasties are incredible and their own-brand ciders are spectacular.

Great little pub good selection of beers and ciders and good pies . Can get a bit full inside when the weather is not so good but plenty of room outside on a nice day lovely log fire if you can get near to it .pay car parking just up the road popular with walker's. Dog friendly. Live music nights .Well worth a look round if you get a chance museum is very interesting. Some sheds outside to sit in if you prefer.

Awesome place. Great atmosphere, service and food/drink. The fossil exhibit is so interesting. Top pub - go back regularly 😎🍺🍷

Everything was spot on, especially our waiter JACK - a fabulous and helpful and personable young man

Lovely old pub with sunny terras overlooking the sea. Inside warm wooden rooms that breathe history. There’s even a museum of fossils and other weird and wonderful artifacts.

The pub reminds me of something you'd find at Black Country museum or Beamish museum. Just perfect and to top it off, they serve locally sourced real ales straight from the barrel. Wish I lived nearer.

This is what a pub is. Not a Google showpiece but a great pub? Great atmosphere. Unique. Good beet. Even better pies. Busy. Full of life and character. Warm. Cozy on a cold day and informative.

Amazing friendly pub. Great views. Great atmosphere. Truly special place.

It's just an amazing place, a friendly pub, sausage rolls, yummy 😋 views were beautiful. Will definitely return

Lovely real old pub.... Good beers, interesting menu in that they only serve homemade sausage rolls and Dorset apple cake and either beef, curry or cheese, onion and potato pasties... an interesting business model but always seems to be very popular. Well done the Square and Compass., there aren't many good old fashioned pub left

Fabulous, quirky old place. Located on the South West Coast Path in Worth Matravers, the Square and Compass is not your average pub. It has no traditional bar, just a serving hatch. Customers queue along the entrance passage and it can be a fair wait at busy times so time your visit carefully. It’s worth the wait though because the selection of ales is always excellent and hand drawn from the barrel. And if you think having no bar is odd enough; well, this magical pub is half museum, and not just a few cases on the wall, a full blown local museum that you access from the pub. It’s one of my all time favourites. Sitting outside in the huge beer garden in the Dorset sunshine after a bracing walk along the coast - what more could anyone ever want?

On a cold winters day, what could be better than a pasty and a pint, sitting in the one small bar, with an open fire, it feels like you have stepped back in time 100 years. I'm sure in the summer it will be a different experience all together. Loved it

It was lovely to find a roaring fire on arrival, making for a cosy and welcoming ambience in this lovely old pub. Good beer and tasty snacks such as sausage rolls and pasties complete the experience.

This awesome pub never fails to deliver. Great range of beers all well kept and delicious simple food. Ideal pit stop on a hike.

Absolutely perfect! Exactly what you imagine a traditional country pub to be like