Village Inn in Purbeck

As always we had a very pleasant evening- the food was good and the staff were very friendly. I particularly like this venue for it's accessibility which is why it's a definite favourite of mine because I have mobility issues. It is also very clean- massively important. We shall return again soon.

During a motorcycle ride over towards Swanage me and a friend decided to pop in and have a breakfast somewhere new. We are so pleased that we did! As you approach the restaurant/bar the whole atmosphere was really inviting, the area is very well kept and designed in a way that gives the best options for everyone to enjoy. We wanted to make the most of the sunshine so we decided to use the outside seating, it had a real luxury feel about it and not your normal standard of restaurant/bar. We opted for the full English breakfast and it came with no downsides, it is clear that they use very good quality produce and it made all the difference. We will certainly be coming back, especially with the new beer garden/entertainment being currently built ready for this summer. I hear It will be quite the place to go and visit. Finally the staff were really friendly and couldn't be more helpful. If you haven't been I really recommend giving it a go!

Booked for special Christmas Eve menu. Very poor service, had to wait ages between courses and restaurant was not heaving. Food mediocre - roll with starter had obviously been microwaved to heat and too chewy to eat. Had fish for main which was overcooked and dry. The turkey was rolled in fatty streaky bacon and red cabbage inedible as had been cooked with too much white wine vinegar. Desserts OK but “sticky toffee pudding” was just a golden syrup sponge and had never seen a date in its life. Was not cheap and will certainly not book again. Chef ok to cook scampi and chips etc. but certainly not good on anything else. Will not go again!

I visited the Village Inn for a meal with my family and had a pint of Palmers IPA whilst I waited for my meal. The pint was perfect. Perfect temperature. Perfect tast. Perfectly poured. It had that freshnes that makes a pint so enjoyable. The barman seriously knew what he was doing and clearly enjoyed his craft.

Used this place while staying in the adjacent campsite along side. Brian & the staff are superb and really know how customer service works. Had breakfast every morning staying there and dinner in the evenings. Amazing food for the price, good sized portions and very tasty. Keep up the good work you deserve the excellent reviews

I’d booked a meal at another pub but when I got there they said they were full and had cancelled all bookings after 8.00pm.......but never called me. I phoned the Village Inn, explained my situation and they said they had a space if I could get there before 8.45. I explained that I would do my best as I had to travel, and that if I missed the deadline it was down to me. I arrived at8.50pm and apologised. I stated that I fully understand if the kitchen was now closed. I was told that they’d made a commitment to me and they would still serve me as the chef had agreed to wait knowing my situation. The meal was superb as were the friendly staff. The atmosphere rounded off a long day and I would certainly recommend a visit to anyone in the area. It will certainly be my first choice when I’m back in the area.

Visited The Village Inn to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary with around 20 friends and family. The atmosphere was great, the food excellent and the staff cheerful and efficient. We have visited on a number of occasions and have never been disappointed.

Had a lovely meal with a large group of family for a birthday celebration. Everyone seemed happy with their meals, good options including vegetarian and vegan. Accommodating of our large table size (20 people). Pre-booked and could not fault the food or service. Had a great evening.

Very “average” and over priced food. The staff look uninterested. Menu is very limited. We were told “No need to book at lunchtime” but, all of the quieter tables at the back had reserved signs on. We left the restaurant at 13:35 and none of those tables had people on them? They close at 14:00. Very mediocre and over priced pub food….Don’t bother!

We come here quite a bit usually for breakfast but for a change decided we would try lunch What a treat food was freshly cooked piping hot plentiful and most importantly delicious I was full but the chef added to the deserts cabinet fresh trifles and I have never been one to say no to this wow it was absolutely amazing doused in sherry the fruit and sponge was mouth watering. You really have to try this one if you there for a visit Once again first class food and service spotlessly clean surroundings

Where to start, we venture out and about for breakfast most Sundays so have experienced many different venues. This by far is the Best Full English by far The food is fresh, hot and plentiful On top of this the place is immaculate from the general areas bar restaurant and especially the toilets. You can indeed tell a lot from a place by how the keep the toilet areas so clean. The staff are extremely welcoming and friendly and we will without doubt be returning again Thank you to you

Living fairly locally, we used to drop in to the Village Inn for meals as a couple or with friends and always had a pleasant experience. Then Covid came along, so today we had a renewed pleasure in calling in to the Village Inn once again after a two year hiatus and we thoroughly enjoyed a snack lunch. The staff were super friendly and very helpful - after at first saying that no soup was available as it was now the Summer(!) the manager surprised us by saying that the chef could in fact make some for us. On noting that an adjacent table then also ordered two soups, we suggested that perhaps this policy should change so that soup was available year-round! The chocolate fudge cake dessert and coffee were a great finish to the meal. Prices have obviously risen since we were last at the Village Inn but the quality of the food, service and atmosphere continued to be excellent.

We celebrated my daughter's birthday here in February and found it to be great value and excellent quality. Portion sizes are generous and the food itself is very tasty indeed. Service was excellent and the place itself is very clean. Would definitely return and recommend to all.

Good food friendly pub/restaurant, excellent menu and specials board Phil and staff do a great job, a great asset for the caravan and camping site as well for locals.

This was my second visit in two weeks and I have to say that on both occasions I found the food to be excellent, and the staff very friendly and efficient. It’s also an exceptionally clean establishment The roast dinners are cooked to perfection and are fantastic value for money, would highly recommend. We are already planning our next visit- thank you Village Inn.

First time we have had breakfast at the Village inn and we were not disappointed. Freshly cooked pancakes and bacon with lots of maple syrup. Delicious!

We stayed in one the luxury statics on the ulwell caravan site for 4 nights, couldnt be bothered with driving to swanage and paying to park on a Monday night mid Sept , knowing most restaurants were closed on Mondays ( pier , 1859, chilled red , and also now bliss has gone) so thought we'd try the village inn. It was great! I had katsu curry with prawn crackers on the side, £11 partner a large whole seasoned sea bass for £16 with plenty of new potatoes ( see photos) the desserts were good, cherry pie packed cherries , open apple pie either local ice cream just 5.95, when most desserts are around £8 now. Went back again the next 2 evenings, lamb Rogan josh good ( lots of lamb,), I had homemade lasagne with garlic sour bread, lovely . The sirloin steak one evening was succulent and beautifully seasoned (£21) We enjoyed all meals and desserts , and the quiet modern restaurant , recommended!

Cold lighting, no music and dogs. If the food was inspired and delicious, then this would be minor gripes, but sadly, despite nice people, there doesn’t seem to be any inspiration behind this restaurant. DlYou have a captive audience on the park and that probably...

To be fair food is great and drinks are fine.. it’s the older staff to be fair they are so short and unfriendly even when you try to have a laugh it goes over ther head! Cheer up a bit! It’s a holiday park if...

This page has always been good but tonight really surprised me - ordered the sea bass and it was fantastic. Arguably better than anything I've had at other sea food restaurants. Well done guys - amazing

Just got back from the beach. First visit here. Couldn't believe the amazing speed of service. Excellent! Food was just what we wanted. The Triple of Seafood was very good indeed. Staff were very friendly and helpful.

Holidaying in Swanage we came upon the Village Inn which was dog-friendly and seemed to meet our requirements. We booked a table and arrived at 1845hrs. The waitress introduced herself and advised us it was her first night on duty, we looked at the menu...

18th Visit we will be back. The site is fully accessible and facilities are super for all caravanners, motor home users and campers alike

We spent Christmas at Ulwell (again), and booked for the Christmas Eve and Boxing Day meals at the Village Inn. Both were lovely - quick service, food was hot, restaurant was lovely and warm and very reasonably priced. Thanks Phil & team.

Lovely open fire, warm welcome from the staff and excellent food. Not too stuffy, a bit of banter between regulars and bar manager which we enjoyed. Dogs welcome which was a bonus.

As we are fed up with Fish and Chips - seemingly the only available evening meals in Swanage we Tried 'phoning to book a table, no reply, no call back. Walked in at 18:00 to see if we could have a meal in the 'Inn',...

We stayed on a nearby campsite and walked to the Village Inn, described as family friendly, having open access to the outdoor play area. The man behind the bar (see photo) was so unfriendly that I nearly walked out, however our two year old grandson...

Don’t expect gastronomic delights but good portions of basic food and kids menu, good service and reasonable alcohol selection

I can't comment on the food as I didn't get the chance to sample any! Despite signs outside the pub and on their website detailing that they are open every day, they are not! No food Monday nights, No breakfast mon or tues, and no...

I have had two vegi Sunday roasts at The Village Inn recently and i can honestly say both were suberb. Good quality and generous portions. It was very busy & everyone seemed to be enjoying their meat roasts too. They do very tempting deserts too...

Although the service was quite slow, the food was extremely good. The steak pie was sublime, stuffed with beef and lashings of gravy. My wife enjoyed the chicken, chilli and pineapple melt.

I had the rack of ribs, great as was all the food. The staff all wore their masks, the service was quick, and the tables well spaced. AS pleasant evening

Another pleasant lunch at the Village Inn but, whilst most responsible customers did wear a facemask when entering the bar, those that didn't were not challenged by staff (or even politely requested) to do so.

Met up today with friends for Lunch.The management must have read the previous review as covid19 precautions were definitely in place. All our lunches were very good and excellent value. The staff and barman were very friendlyWe sat outside in a lovely patio area. Inside was very inviting too. To make things even better the bar stocked my favourite French rose wine. Would definitely recommend this eating place.

Visited here for dinner. Loads of empty tables but after we were sat down another group were placed right us.Staff had no masks/ visors and kept leaning over table when serving/ collecting with no apology.Bar has 2 plastic screens by the beer pumps but staff serve you from the sides and talk to you where no screens are.No issue with fact they say they have a restricted menu at present, but quality of what they served was not as good as before. Sorry to say suggest avoid until pandemic over.

Having stayed at Ulwell three times we have never eaten at The Village Inn before. And we won’t bother again.Whilst accepting we visited a week after post lockdown re-opening, there can be no real excuse for the excruciatingly slow service. Our drinks arrived swiftly, but we then waited forty five minutes to place our food order in a largely empty restaurant, and only then after we had sought out a member of staff to take it.We then had to chase up the second round of drinks three times, having waited no fewer than twenty minutes for them. Our meals eventually arrived one hour forty five minutes after we sat down.The food itself was good, but by the time it arrived we had lost interest in what we were eating. Yes, we got a round of drinks on the house, but not a word of explanation as to why we had to wait so long for meals from a very limited post lockdown menu to be prepared. The staff seemed to have no idea which table occupants had arrived when, taking orders in a haphazard way with organisation non-existent.My patience has bounds and The Village Inn tested it to the limit.

This is the second time we have been, the food is brilliant, well cooked and very friendly staff, I had chicken and bacon jacket potato and hubby had pork loin steak, he is a very fussy eater, it was cooked to perfection, everything was really tasty and thoroughly enjoyable, it’s a place where we know the food is consistent, will be going again in the near future, parking is a bit of a problem but we have managed.

We was reluctant to visit for our evening meal as earlier on in the day I popped into the restaurant to inquire if I needed to book for an evening meal I was “greeted” by the restaurant manager who couldn’t really be bothered to look up from whatever he was doing when I asked he said no you can’t book all reserved tables are gone you can take pot luck but I’m expecting it to be really busy and with that walked off leaving me standing there slightly miffed.As we were away with my elderly mother and father the village inn was the ideal place to eat as we were staying in the park so we thought we would go and see that evening if we could get a table and low and behold there was lots of tables free for us to have our meal there was two young men and a young girl working that evening who we’re doing an excellent job jacks customer service skills are outstanding and really puts the manager to shame the food was excellent and we had a lovely evening which I very much don’t think we would have had if the grumpy manager was there !

Visited multiple times while staying at the campsite but it is open to the public and good enough to visit as a stand-alone restaurant. Food was good with a wide variety of styles to suit everyone and good kids options. Service friendly and prices were reasonable, though drinks were a little on the pricey side. Decor is excellent and there is a good variety of seating inside and out.

Visited on Sunday for a roast after a long walk. A choice of lamb or beef. I went with the lamb and my Husband had beef. The food was outstanding, very fresh and tasty. The portion sizes were extremely generous! It was so hard to choose a pudding, they were all on display and all looked so amazing! I went with the pineapple upside down cake with custard - definitely a good choice! The custard was also made to perfection. Friendly and helpful staff. A nice find!!

I visited here a few days ago for my boyfriends birthday meal. The food was nice overall and not too expensive. The variety of options was great, and being in a group of 10 there was something for everyone. The atmosphere was lovely and food arrived quick. However when we asked about the allergens in some of the desserts the server said she would ask but then did not come back. After about 10 minutes we asked again and she responded the chef had gone home so she didn’t know. I’m sure legally in this day and age restaurants are required to have allergen information readily available? It was a shame and left the meal on a bad note. I wouldn’t visit again due to this, unless the information was available. Would probably have been a 5 star review if it wasn’t for this!

This was our third stay on campsite and we regularly use the village.Since it’s refurbished it’s immaculate, the bar and toilets are stunning.They sell good local ales food is very good well priced and good portions.But the landlord is the most miserable grumpiest ever!

I looked on trip advisor for a place to eat for funeral we attended in Godlingston, Swanage.This one had good reviews and was nearby.It is so lovely and clean, super friendly and cheerful staff.There are outside tables as well as in door.The toilets were spotless.We had sandwiches served with salad and crisps. All beautifully presented and reasonably priced.What a lovely place.

We were at Ulwell Village with our touring caravan and decided to pop into restaurant for dinner one evening. Staff very friendly, service good, food is lovely and good choices on menu.

Interesting place to find down a variety of back lanes and surprising range of items on offer when we finally found it.I had a great chicken and ham sandwich washed down with a pint of local bitter, both were very good.My navigator had Tuna and Mayo sandwich with crisps and a nice side salad. Well worth going out of your way to find this gem of a place.

We went out to the Village Inn with friends from away as it always a good experience . We ordered Lasagne ,Chicken dish , Beef and Ale Pie and the Seafood Platter . The Seafood Platter was very disappointing with it`s fish/seafood content .More rolls and salad than seafood . The other three meals were excellent as always .

We visited for dinner for my sons 9th birthday whilst staying in the joining caravan park.

We have visited the Inn on several occasions recently having fond memories of holidays with our touring caravan many years ago with our young children.A excellent place with very smart modern Decor and really welcoming.The staff are very friendly and attentive and nothing is too much trouble.We have visited for coffee,drinks and two Sunday roasts recently and they were most enjoyable.

Recently refurbished to a high standard. Lovely atmosphere and really good service. We were able to chat as the noise level is very good and no annoying music. Food was ok. The prawns were nice but the curry did not pack much flavour and certainly was not a panang as I have had before. Generous portion but just needed a bit more flavour to be called a curry rather than a stew with rice.

It was a rainy dull day so we decided to go out for lunch .On the specials menu was a Vegetable Lasagne ,as a regular meat eater I thought I would give it a try I was not disappointed the cheese sauce and pasta was just right . The ciabati bread was a bonus .Really tasty and I thoroughly enjoyed it and would order that dish again . Always a nice pint out there as well .

Rather dull and souless atmosphere.

The recent refurbishment of the Restaurant has greatly improved the ambience of the eating and bar area. Still one of our favourites for a pub lunch - the food is tasty, well presented and plenty of it. Just a touch on the pricey side

Called in at 12.30 for lunch on a sunny winter’s day. We had not been here for a couple of years although we live only a few miles away but we were amazed by the standard of refurbishment that had taken place a year or so back. The whole interior was tastefully decorated and furnished - and the new toilets were equipped better than a 5* hotel! The quality and quantity of the lunch was superb - served by very helpful, friendly and efficient staff - and was quick and reasonably priced too!

Lovely interior - really welcoming. Door is basic pub fare but reasonably priced and works. Just a real shame that the New Years opening hours are not pre-publicised. We booked a caravan at the linked Ulwell Village park but only found out by the board outside that it was closed after lunchtime on New Year’s Day.

Sunday lunch with the family first visit since refurb its lovely, food was very nice as it has been in the past especially the lovely desserts we will be back thanks

We went with friends to the Christmas Dinner ,Excellent Turkey and trimmings but the roast Potatoes were disappointing ,bit dry and not crispy . Christmas pud was good but not enough sauce . Coffee and Mince pies afterwards .Adequate !

Group of us came along for a Christmas dinner, the food all came out together and was excellent but needed more vegetables, one small bowl between eight people just wasn't sufficient. Staff could have interacted more and been more friendly but overall it was very nice.

Miserable staff, not friendly at all! Would not recommend going here. Basic food, poor service and a complete lack of interest in their customers.

I met a group of friends for an Xmas dinner. I had the salmon & watercress tart which was tasty but far too much thick pastry which was only half filled. Would have been much better to have trimmed the excess as it was quite dry and tough.

Our group come here every year for our Christmas dinner. The food is excellent, as is the service. The menu is very varied and includes a vegetarian and fish choice. I come here during the year as well am always welcomed and whatever we choose to eat it is very good, and the staff are very welcoming and friendly.

The Village Inn is a bit of an oddity in that it's attached to a campsite and from the outside not your archetypal village pub. But on a chilly November evening we ventured inside to be pleasantly surprised.

Dropped in here for coffee and lunch after hiking across from Corfe Castle as it was the first place we came across.

Great selection and good quality food. Nice outside area too although dog friendly inside and out Reasonably priced.

I really enjoyed my visit here with family. Staff were friendly and there was plenty of choice on the menu, including veggie options (my brother had the nut roast).

We haven't been here for about 20 years!

6 of us went for dinner while the parents went out to dinner. booked a table for 6 of us child menu OK the standard things we had scampi and chips with salad

We stayed at this caravan site for three days and normally don't bother much with on-site bars however this one we did. We found the food to be of a very high quality for the price,the place was friendly and nicely done out with a real ale from Palmers also. It is also open to visitors as well so not truly an on-site pub.

Really impressed with the newly refurbished restaurant! Contemporary and welcoming. Great Sunday lunch as always.

Stopped here for lunch in the middle of a walk. The sandwiches and ploughman’s were really good and made all the more enjoyable by some excellent local cider on draught.

Good to see the village inn looking so nice after their refurb. It has made the place look a lot lighter. Food as always delicious and staff very accommodating.

We stopped off at this place for something to eat and drink after a morning walking locally. The bar had recently been renovated and with a carpeted floor was very warming and welcoming. The food was nice, however, whilst turning my map over I managed to knock a whole pint of lager over the table and upholstery. It was very embarrassing, but the staff were great and told me not to worry. I would definitely visit this place again when we are in the area.

Myself, a friend and 2 children enjoyed our lunch today at the newly refurbished Village Inn. We loved the new look and the new additions to the menu. Food was lush, service was brilliant, only downfall was a 'grumpy man' sat at the bar who commented that our children should be told to be quiet and he was waiting for us to go home ... however that's no fault of the Village Inn , just himself! Great refit and we will return!

We struggle to find nice places to eat in Swanage, it all seems over priced and a bit naf but after visiting the Village Inn on Saturday this will be our eatery of choice from now on!

We stayed at Ulwell Cottage caravan site for the second Christmas, and returned for the Boxing Day carvery at The Village Inn. Again, great atmosphere and lovely food - really good value for money (especially as it was the festive period). Food was hot, veg cooked well (not soggy, as per many christmas offerings!) and cheerful, helpful staff.

We came down to visit my in-laws for my wife's birthday and were brought here for lunch.

Great food, good varied menus. And child friendly. Caters for vegetarian and All age groups. Friendly welcoming staff

First night in Swanage and randomly chose the Village Inn for dinner. Everything was excellent from the welcome by the staff to the 4 different meals we chose.

Five of us enjoyed an excellent evening meal here, very good quality food and well priced. All staff very friendly and gave good service. Quite busy here for a Monday evening which shows it must be good. Will be visiting again.

Welcome and service was very good. The menu and specials catered for most tastes. The main menu was reasonably priced, although I thought the specials were over priced. The slow cooked BBQ beef was just a bowl of beef strips with peppers, onion and BBQ sauce. It was served with 1 slice of garlic bread only. Would have been better if served with chips or rice as well as the garlic bread, especially for a price of £10.75. The deserts were very good and I assume home made but at £6 a time again a little over priced. It is however very convenient whilst staying at Ulwell caravan site and the bar was well stocked with local beers.

Una gran variedad de comidas y bebidas especiales y a precios razonables. También tienen comida para llevar si se aloja en el lugar. Encantadora zona de descanso exterior nueva

La comida es de buena calidad y bien de precio, sillas en el restaurante podría ser mejor, ya mimbre no es la mejor opción tal vez! Sin embargo, algunos empleados parecía un poco gruñón no es realmente un problema, volvería otra vez!

De nuevo no nos podemos quejar del servicio o la comida, sin duda comer allí de nuevo en las tres semanas siguientes, sin olvidar el bar excelente.

4 de nosotros comimos en el Village Inn última noche y todos nosotros nos quedamos impresionados con la comida. Muy bien presentado y muy rico.

We arrived at The Village Inn having got lost on a sponsored walk on a very hot day. The staff, particularly Lily Littleford were extremely friendly and helpful and we will certainly be back for a longer visit when next in the area. Thank you to you all and we did finish the 19 mile walk too! Kate and Paula

We organised to come to the Village Inn a year ago and spoke to the Chef Philip who was brilliantly helpful in helping us toMake sure everything ran smoothly. The menu offered was creative and offered at least six options of starters and mains. The food presented was delicious and local produce was used where and when available. The waiting staff were extremely competent and courteous and coped with 38 people very efficiently. I can happily recommend the Village Inn to anyone planning a get together. There is a lovely room attached to the Bar where we met and socialised and then shared a delicious meal together.

My wife and I visited with four friends for lunch. There was a good selection on the menu and we each found choices to satisfy our preferences.Two of the ladies chose a vegetarian option and were both very pleased with their food. All three men chose burger and fries with onion rings. The burgers were huge and delicious with lovely chunky fries. We all thought the quality was excellent and very reasonable value for money.

We went to the Village Inn for Sunday lunch and it was fab. Lamb cooked to perfection and a huge Yorkshire and lovely seasonal veg. We were in the family area as quite a few of us with lots of children under 6 yrs and it worked brilliantly. Will definitely recommend it.

Have eaten here twice this week and cannot fault the food or service. A good menu with a choice for everyone.

Dated decor and surroundings, menu is over priced with slightly above average food . Service took along time and the wait was not worth it , drinks were expensive as well . The village inn needs a make over and a shake up having said that there is no where else to go in walking distance if you stay on the campsite .

As always good food, excellent service, varied menu, pleasant surroundings, can get busy at times worth booking a table. Genial host.

We stayed at The Ulwell Cottage site for Christmas and booked the Boxing Day carvery at The Village Inn. Great atmosphere, lovely food (& the vegetarian option was excellent too) and really good value for money. We're hoping to return next year!

First class catering,with brilliant staff servingThe owners should be proud of the chef and the catering team.we will be back

Excellent food and service have eaten here every time I have come to Swanage over the last 15 years never had a bad experience

fantastic family night great kids disco lovely atmosphere we ate in the bar area ordered at bar arrived about 20 minutes later even though it was busy food was lovely hot and fresh desserts looked great but we were full

Sadly, I personally feel that the Village Inn is not quite as good as it could be. The quality of the food is good but the portions are quite small and prices are high for what you get. I also feel that the atmosphere lacks a certain ambience (especially the over-bright conservatory area). Having said that, we have eaten here a few times and the food is nice.

Although the menu is not very exciting the standard is very good and the service is fast and efficient. The beers is well kept.

We dined here on 11 September 2016. Booked our table (glad we did as it was quite busy). We had one of the "special's" Beef Bourguignon and it was delicious. Followed with Key Lime Pie - again, superb. We have dined here a couple of times already this September, and have been very happy so far. They have a great selection of desserts, which you can see in their glass display cabinet before you order, very tempting! This is a place not to be missed. Reasonably priced, really hot, fresh food, well presented. Happy band of waiters and bar staff - service a tad slow - but they were really busy and the food was piping hot and fresh. Altogether a very good experience. Saw families dining, children seem very welcome. Thank you Village Inn - what more could we ask?

Grandchildren loved it and so did we! Food lovely, staff pleasant and so nice that no one needed to drive!

The food is always nice and hot. Quick service and good bar staff. Dogs allowed in too.Nice choice of specials and good for caravan site.

Again the village Inn surpassed the food and drink test, well cooked and tasty. The beer and wine list first class along with the service. Always a good place to eat.