The best restaurants in West Purbeck Purbeck South West

We'd read the mixed (mainly bad reviews!) before camping at next-door Primrose Fields and couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised. The family that ran the pub were lovely; warm, welcoming, accommodating and friendly. It was a super hot day and I didn't fancy a hot meal which is all they had on the menu - so I asked if there was any chance of a sandwich - no fuss, no bother - I wasn't made to feel difficult at all! Sandwich was big and delish; tuna crunch with salad on fresh tiger bloom and a side of tasty chips. The rest of our party had a mix of burgers, scampi, more sandwiches (I set a trend!), all of which were very well received. Not a morsel left. After lunch, I went to see if they might have any ice creams, and very kindly, they sold us six cornettos which were evidently from their family supply - I was really impressed with their above and beyond attitude. In addition, the pub garden is lovely; big mature trees, a wildlife pond, big lawn with sun and shade seating options, mini play park for the kids - all set way back from the road so you really feel you're in the middle of the country. All in all, it felt more like going to someone's house than a pub which I really liked. Would definitely recommend to any campers or passers by.

I think the last review highlights systematic dishonesty. 4 ice creams should have cost £22. We were charged £9 for a single ice cream which should have been £3.50. They issued a card refund ostensibly. Luckily I checked my online account which showed no refund. So not just an accident but practised scammers. Ice cream not great either! No real apology and not the first customer they had tried this on I’m sure.

We spent an absolutely lovely hour at The Dolls House at Lulworth Cove. We were first tempted by the ice creams which surely must be the best in Lulworth Cove. Delightfully served by Zac and Nate I had a scrumptious cone with a generous dollop of strawberry and similar of honeycomb. My two friends had other delicious flavours. There’s ample and comfortable seating under large umbrellas so we sat and enjoyed the moment. We loved the ambiance so much that we stayed for tea and coffees. I really recommend The Dolls House. It has a great menu and lovely staff to look after you.

This is part of Rudd's Hotel - but they try and keep the reviews separate - with good reason. Lulworth Cove is beautiful. The pretty courtyard to the hotel looked a great spot for lunch and the menu looked perfect. We arrived at 12:45 and went to the hotel bar to collect menus and order. We ordered drinks but were told they had just taken a big food order and were waiting for some deliveries and would take our order in 10 or 15 minutes. When we went back later we were told the owner/chef was expecting a delivery of wood and they wouldn't come until he paid them hence a further delay. "It's like Fawlty Towers here" said the girl behind the bar. At 1:15 they announced that they were now taking lunch orders. We ordered Calamari and chips for my daughter, moules mariniere and chips for my son, a crab sandwich on brown with halloumi fries for my wife and seafood paella for me. Total cost £64.50. We were told we would be called to the window of the kitchen when the food was ready. In the meantime I went to the loo - a trip I would only recommend in the most urgent of circumstances. They didn't have brown bread (my wife won't eat white). As he pushed to polystyrene boxes of food through the window to me the chef explained that they didn't have halloumi fries so he had put in some spring rolls instead. The calamari was inedible. As I said to the chef - they could have been used as weapons in martial arts they batter was so hard. We also failed to detect any squid, The seafood paella was also inedible. They had lined the polystyrene box with tin foil because it was swimming with liquid. It was also bland and just awful. I complained to the chef who offered to refund the money for the paella - £15. I would have argued and demanded a full refund - but we were on holiday and it doesn't take much to embarrass an 11 and 12 year old - so I let it go. The girl who took our order came and put the refund back to my card. I have just got back home and checked my account and instead of refunding me £15 they charged me another £15. You couldn't make it up.