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The Countryman Inn, Dorchester, ENG

The Countryman Inn

4.5
4.5
476 Reviews
£25 and under
Pub

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 8 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
Soak up our friendly service and homely charm when nestled in the impressive roadside pub located in the hamlet of East Knighton. Here at The Countryman Inn, we are the perfect retreat to sit back, relax and indulge in our delicious food with the perfect drink in hand. Our traditional pub classics are expertly crafted from our seasonal menus and the bar is crammed with local ales and tipples to tempt any taste buds. Using the most seasonal ingredients and decadent flavours, there's a dish for every desire. Turn your fleeting visit into a welcomed stay by resting your head in one of our Nine ensuite rooms. All decorated with cosy interiors and homely touches you'll be able to unwind in comfort and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere in a home away from home.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    Pub
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 7:30 am–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
    01305 233970
  • Payment options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Neighborhood
    Dorchester
  • Parking details
    Massive front and back car parks available
  • Additional
    Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Valentines Evening

    £27.50 - £32.50 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Valentine's Night at The Countryman Inn Treat your special someone to a memorable evening at The Countryman Inn this Valentine's Night. Indulge in a delicious three-course meal for just £32.50, or enjoy two courses for £27.50, as we offer you a carefully curated set menu full of romance and flavor. Let us take care of every detail while you relax and celebrate with your loved ones in our cosy, welcoming atmosphere. It's the perfect setting for an unforgettable evening together. Reserve your table now, and let us make this Valentine's Night one to remember!

What 476 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseEnergetic

Loved For

  • Dorset

    Best Value

  • Dorset

    Great for brunch

  • Dorset

    Kid-friendly

  • Dorset

    Good for groups

  • Dorset

    Neighborhood gem

  • Dorset

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Dorset

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Countryman Inn impresses with its "excellent carvery," "friendly staff," and "warm atmosphere." Guests consistently praise its "great service" and "fantastic value for money." Whether enjoying a Sunday roast or exploring the varied menu, visitors find the experience "highly recommended." The inn is also noted for its dog-friendly environment and accommodating service.

476 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    Dublin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We have visited a few times with the current owners and it never disappoints. The food is delicious and always made to feel welcome. Today we had the carvery and it was delicious. Excellent choice of vegetables, tasty meat options and nice to have a choice of 3 sizes of plates. Also had a burger in our party and that was very tasty. The pub was very busy but it didn’t have a negative effect as we were well looked after.

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  2. Kevin

    Dorset

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious carvery plenty of choice best we’ve had in a long time looking forward to trying other things on the menu in the future will definitely visit again

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  3. Suzanne

    Dorset

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great selection of food and offers Quick service Food is great quality and good size portions
    The Countryman InnResponded 2 days ago
    Dear Suzanne, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed our food selection, quick service, and generous portions. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. Best regards, The Countryman Inn Team

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  4. Wendy

    Hampshire

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We went on Sunday lunchtime. I booked a table. When we arrived we had a short wait while our table was prepared. It was busy the atmosphere was buzzing. We were seated quite quickly in the front bar where there were 6 other tables. It was not noisy at all and felt nice and intimate. Other tables were in the larger part of the pub and more open. The service was outstanding, we ordered our drinks from the waitress at the table and they were brought speedily. We ordered the carvery which was very popular and justifiably so. It was excellent. Everyone in the front bar was having carvery. The portions of meat were very generous and everything was nice and hot. It was tasty and well cooked. I would highly recommend. The meal was excellent value.
    The Countryman InnResponded 2 days ago
    Dear Wendy, Thank you so much for your glowing review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your Sunday lunchtime visit and found the atmosphere both buzzing and intimate. It's wonderful to know that our service and carvery met your expectations. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best regards, The Countryman Inn Team

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  5. Michelle

    Dorset

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First time having the Sunday carvery the beef was lovely. Great service to
    The Countryman InnResponded 2 days ago
    Dear Michelle, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the Sunday carvery and found the beef lovely. It's also great to know our service met your expectations. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. Best regards, The Countryman Inn Team

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  6. Pat

    Dorset

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 8, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Not advised that any dishes on menu were unavailable, however the starter ordered was not, neither were 3 of the 4 main dishes that were ordered. Waitress explained that they were running down stock in preparation of introducing a new menu. Not really what you want to hear. Food was bland and very average quality. Staff allowed us to bring our own small cake to mark a birthday. They brought it to the table with plates and a beautiful knife and sang happy birthday. Excellent service.
    The Countryman InnResponded 2 days ago
    Dear Pat, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're pleased to hear that our staff could help make the birthday celebration special with the cake and singing. However, we apologise for the inconvenience caused by the unavailable menu items and the quality of the food. Your comments are valuable to us as we work to improve our offerings and service. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back and provide a better experience. Best regards, The Countryman Inn Team

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  7. Shelley

    Dorset

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 7, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We booked a table as a family we live just up the road , the first was great the waitress couldn’t be more polite, We asked for 5 things on the menu to be told we don’t have that I’m afraid. I didnt order a meal in the end because there wasn’t anything I liked so my husband ordered a mixed grill and added bits so I had a little plate , When the food arrived it’s like we were eating the left over food , I told the lady we weren’t happy and asked for a dessert because instead , bill for 2 meals and starter £67
    The Countryman InnResponded on February 8, 2025
    Dear Shelley, Thank you for sharing your feedback, and we sincerely apologise that we didn't meet our usual standards during your visit. We're very sorry to hear that your experience wasn’t as expected. We truly value your input and would love to learn more about what happened so we can improve. Please reach out to us directly so we can better understand the situation and resolve it to your satisfaction. We hope to hear from you soon! Kind Regards, The Countryman Inn.

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  8. Jerry

    Vancouver

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Recommended by a friend and not disappointed. Great menu choices and our food arrived quickly and hot. Lovely and rural setting. If it’s a traditional old English pub you’re after, please go !
    The Countryman InnResponded on February 8, 2025
    Thank you so much for your kind review, Jerry! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your visit and that our food, service, and setting met your expectations. We truly appreciate the recommendation and are glad you found the atmosphere to be just what you were looking for. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

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  9. Ruth

    Dorset

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We visited with 2 friends who haven't eaten there before......they were very impressed. We knew it would be as good as ever! Warm welcome, excellent service and attention without being 'in your face'......
    The Countryman InnResponded on February 8, 2025
    Thank you for your lovely review, Ruth! We’re so glad to hear that you and your friends had a great time with us. It’s wonderful to know that we were able to impress your friends and that our service and atmosphere continue to meet your expectations. We can’t wait to welcome you all back for another enjoyable visit soon!

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  10. Betty

    Devon

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 2, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    Carvery was pretty bad, meat was hard and dry gravy tasted burnt cauliflower cheese was burnt, peas were hard
    The Countryman InnResponded on February 8, 2025
    Dear Betty, Thank you for your feedback, and we sincerely apologise that your recent visit didn’t meet your expectations. We’re sorry to hear that the quality of the carvery and food wasn’t up to standard. Your comments about the meat, gravy, and vegetables are concerning, and we’ll be sure to review this with the kitchen team to ensure it doesn’t happen again. We truly appreciate your input and hope you’ll give us another chance to provide a better experience in the future. Kind regards, The Countryman Inn Team

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FAQs

The Countryman Inn is rated 4.5 stars by 476 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 8 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Countryman Inn

East Knighton, Dorchester, ENG DT2 8LL

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Dorchester
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 7:30 am–11:00 pm
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    Pub
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Massive front and back car parks available
  • Payment options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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  • Terms of Use
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  • Cookie Preferences
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