The Poachers Inn

We all enjoyed the food at dinner, and the service at this friendly little hotel was excellent. Our ground floor rooms smelled damp, though, and on both nights other guests walking past and talking loudly disturbed us. That's not the hotel's fault.

The standout was the customer service. We were so well looked after, and the staff couldn't do enough for us, especially Ella! I'd give the pub three stars for atmosphere, but four for that amazing service. The chef made a real effort to prepare different vegan options each night and even at breakfast. It was nice to relax by the pool, and the village is gorgeous.

This lovely hotel sits in a beautiful hamlet on a quiet road, a short drive from Dorchester and Weymouth. Great value: I paid £100 for bed and breakfast for two. The cooked breakfast was good quality and came with fruit juice and cereal. The small outdoor pool is peaceful and big enough to swim in, though it was a bit chilly for us in April. It’s solar heated by pumping water through black coils. The pub grub was good, apart from the mozzarella sticks, which tasted shop bought and plasticky. The roast pork and cooked breakfast were very good. Service was very friendly, and I'd gladly stay again in summer.

We chose Poachers for its location near the Tank Museum, its lovely building and village setting, and the quiet, charming surroundings. We had Room 7 near the pool. It was a decent size with plenty of furniture for a longer stay; the bathroom was clean and functional, though the shower was tiny. It's also very dog friendly, which is great, and we'd come back with our puppy now that we've picked it up since our visit. We arrived before 3pm and were surprised to find the hotel locked, though it was my fault for not checking the confirmation. I think they may have been short on staff while recruiting, which is fair enough. Tracey greeted us warmly and explained what we needed to know. She even offered to open the pool despite the rain. That evening she looked after us at the bar and served a very nice meal. The menu was limited at the time, probably due to staffing, but there was still plenty to choose from and something for everyone. We ate in the bar both nights. On day two, Kate welcomed us and served breakfast, then hosted at the bar that evening. We saw Sarah several times too and always exchanged pleasantries. Thanks to everyone for making us feel welcome, including the gardener whose name I didn't catch, sorry!