Fabtastic food, the ultimate burger sure lives up to its name. The service is absolutely brilliant,…read morethere was a very friendly young waitress called scarlett who had a constant smile on her face. Lovely location, lots of seating inside and outside and a beautiful view looking out to sea.

I love this pub. I lived in the Isle of Wight for 7 months and out of all the places I tried (and I…read moretried many - research, of course) this was my favourite. I ran a B&B and would often send my guests here to sample their food while overlooking the beautiful countryside that surrounds this gem. The food isn't exquisite but it's reasonably priced for what you get and it's usually well cooked. The staff are friendly and there's plenty of seating both inside and out on the patio overlooking the sea should it be a nice enough day. There's plenty to entertain the kids with an indoor play area in the garden and some swings. If you're in the Isle of Wight I highly recommend you visit Chale. The scenery is stark and beautiful with the rolling hills complimented by the cliffs and sea for as far as the eye can see. Driving along the coast you can regularly see all kinds of birds of prey including hard-to-find Merlins. If birds don't take your fancy, keep your eye out for the kite surfers which can occasionally be seen out to sea. Great fun to watch, particularly if they're show offs and perform all their best tricks, which most of them do. All in all, this is a great day out no matter your age or interests. I hope to return soon.

We stopped in Godshill for dinner after an afternoon sightseeing (Orborne house and grounds, and…read morethen the Brading Roman Villa), because I'd seen it recommended on Yelp. We parked down the street and walked here, and it was pretty busy around 4pm. I'd wanted to try some local cheeses while in the UK, so I ordered a cheese platter (6.95 pounds) as an appetizer and the Duck platter for my main. The cheese plate included crackers, some fruit paste, apple slices, and three local cheeses. I wasn't a huge fan of the crackers, which reminded me sort of like communion wafers in taste. The cheese was tasty, but I neglected to write down which cheeses we ate, so I can't really remember those. The Duck plate... Holy cow! Delicious! It came with gravy, on a bed of (red?) cabbage. I remember the way the salty, tender meat went together SO WELL with the gravy, combining the savory with the mild tang of the cabbage. As I was eating it, I was actually surprised by how flavorful the meal was. I can't say I eat duck a lot, but the way they'd prepared it really brought out the salty, savory taste. PROS: -Delicious, hearty pub fare. -Lots of locally sourced ingredients, from the meat and cheese, to the vegetables. -Cozy atmosphere, with a lot of exposed bricks and wood. CONS: -I wasn't a huge fan of the provided crackers... they reminded me of communion wafers, though I imagine there's some specific reason for that lack of flavor (to really highlight the taste of the cheese, perhaps?). -Small parking lot; I could see this place easily getting packed. THE VERDICT: This was the perfect place to stop for a meal after our long day. We arrived hungry, and left satisfied. The food proved to be delicious, simple fare, made from local ingredients and seasoned oh-so-perfectly. A fairly happening spot when we were there, I would definitely consider coming back here again if I was ever in the area.

After a day out sightseeing and driving around the countryside, we decided to stop into The…read moreTaverners to partake of happy hour. The interior is welcoming with a definite quaint, homelike feel, from the rustic beams to the uneven floor (fear not: cardboard coasters are provided with the express purpose of steadying any wobbly tables or errant chair legs). An interesting feature is the large blackboard on the wall indicating via colored dots what is at the peak of its taste and freshness (meat/fish/fowl) according to the season. There is a lot to see here, including pet-owners bringing their dogs to this pup-friendly pub (note: there is a container of dog biscuits at the ready). It seems like this pub also has an international following, as at one point I heard a group of tourists speaking English (but not quite) at a neighboring table. I later found out that they were visiting from Canada. Surprisingly for a pub, the wine list is comprehensive, even rivaling that of some restaurants. As happy hour was quickly morphing into the dinner hour, we decided to take a look at the menu. I appreciated that the offerings were accessible and local/seasonal in nature as it is often tricky navigating a menu in an unfamiliar country. After some deliberation, I decided on the dover sole (excellent and very moist with the bone still in) and my Aunt had the roast with seasonal vegetables. This was a leisurely meal, with none of the rushed feeling or hovering that often evidences itself in dining establishments. I wish that I could magically transport The Taverners to a corner near me so that it could become a new favorite watering hole, especially as the cold winter months approach. For now, I will just have to content myself with filing it away as a quality eating and drinking option for the next time I am in England.

A glorious boozer which in the hour we spent there hosted a very colourful (literally) array of…read morepunters ranging from bikers (unexpectedly, discussing the upkeep of irises), psychedelically dressed hippies and a bunch of visiting golfers in smart shorts. A great place to stop off to experience a slice of Ventnor town life. They have an ample, varied and well-kept selection of ales on tap, and a 8% cider. There's also a fair range of whiskeys and decent looking wine (I saw a cotes du rhone).

So you get bored of the seafront pubs and bars in Ventnor and you want to search for a decent pint…read more Head for the Volunteer, a TINY pub in the backstreets of Ventnor, a block away from the cliff. Sit quietly in the corner and enjoy the local conversation with a pint of something real - always 4 or five real ales on (or at least whenever I've been there), usually including at least one from the local Ventnor brewery. Repeat.

Bonchurch Inn is a quaint old multi-roomed pub with some decent wine (house white was French…read moreburgundy) and some local ale on tap. Food wise the garlic bread was yummy but I was disappointed with the bland crab spaghetti, although as bf rightly pointed out seafood pasta always disappoints! I would recommend instead the lasagna which was much more tasty. The zablaglione dessert was sensational - it basically tastes like hot liquid boozy meringue and don't get it if you don't have a (very) sweet tooth, but for those who do it is a must try! Staff were very friendly and it's a convivial place to spend an evening, I imagine it's especially cost in winter.

I would like to put a shout out for the Bonchurch Inn for doing a great job of accommodating us…read morevegans without any advance notice! We went there knowing the menu didn't have much that would work, but my brother was staying at the Inn, so we figured we'd eat chips or something. Anyway, the cook's sister-in-law happens to be vegan, so he was used to thinking up ideas. He created 4 "vegan surprises" for us. They were delicious. Curried quinoa with jackfruit. (I mean, who happens to just have jackfruit kicking about the place?!) Really tasty, and great, personable service. The others seemed happy with their pizzas and stuff, too, but mostly I wanted to share about our positive vegan experience. Nice little Inn, a good local beer from the barrel, and good selection of wine and kids' drinks.

Great place, super location; super menu local style food- fresh and very well prepared; well…read morepriced; service super; Worth a visit - had lunch there; live music Sunday evenings!

3 stars for the food, 1/2 star for the space/location, 1/2 star for the view! superb meal of lamb…read morewith gnocchi, peas, fine beans and lamb jus - gorgeous gorgeous pieces of lamb, perfectly cooked and accompanied with sautéed gnocchi and veg with their light and delicate flavors shining bright (peas never tasted so good). absolutely dreamy view of countryside at sunset. definitely would have you given a rare 5 star if not for the casual level of service - certainly not terrible or even bad, very easy going and friendly, perfect for small town.

This has to be in the top 5 best pubs in the UK!…read more Truly exceptional drink, food and service. I would be going here more often if I lived more local to it. It's a little tricky to get to, narrow country roads, etc, but we'll worth it. If you wanting to eat I would advise booking and this place gets busy from the second it opens. Caters to all, especially families and has a wonderful garden and patio. Tim Gray is the landlord of this gem and is hands-on and welcoming. You will not regret visit this amazing pub.

Very pleasant atmosphere, very warm and welcoming staff. Great food…read more Starters we ate the scallops and black pudding scotch egg. Delicious.

great pub ,extensive menu, excellent range of beers, situated in alovely quiet part of dorsetread more

The Square and Compass is such a gem if you're looking for an authentic pub experience in the…read moreEnglish countryside! The views alone are worth the visit, but the unique character of the place makes it even better. From the beer garden in the back to the small museum of fossils and local artifacts, it really has a one-of-a-kind charm. One thing I loved was the quirky "Woodhenge" sculpture in the parking lot--made from tree trunks, it's been standing since 2015 despite the local council initially wanting it taken down. It's still there as of my recent visit, and it's a fun little sight that adds even more personality to the place. The menu is limited, but that's part of the charm! I had the sausage roll, and it was sooo good! The warm, flaky crust and flavorful sausage made for the perfect pub snack. We sat inside since it was a warm day, and the locals couldn't have been friendlier. My friend and I (a pair of Americans) were welcomed like old friends, which made the whole experience even more special. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area--especially if you want to enjoy the local history, great beer, and a fantastic countryside view.

A couple of friends and I once went for a hike along the South West Coast Path in Dorset. It took…read moreus a couple of hours and was really nice: good weather, beautiful sea views, rolling pastures, and a great pub at the end. That pub turned out to be the Square and Compass. When we arrived it was warm and sunny, and most people were sitting on the dozens of outside tables, rocks, or just on the grass, enoying the sunshine. Oddly, a large number of chickens were strolling through the assembled patrons, but no one - drinker nor chicken - seemed to mind. There was a band playing some Beatles covers, too, though they finished shortly after we arrived. This is a proper country pub, long, low and very old wood and stone. They keep kegs of real ale and cider in a pump room here, so you order at the hatch. Check the Dinosaur Room while you're there. I won't say any more, since it deserves to be a surprise. I can't imagine a more relaxed, laid-back, country pub. The only downside was that although we'd planned to take a local bus back to Swanage, where our car was parked, those services don't run on Sundays. The day was so nice we decided to walk back anyway (along the road, though, a much shorter trip than the coastal path). EDIT: I was back again today, and despite the weather being crap - or maybe because of it - this pub was even better. We walked down to the ocean, to watch the surf pound the cliffs by the old quarry. We wedged into one of the tiny rooms and ate pasties and drank Ringwood ale. We gazed in wonder at the bizarre little fossil-and-beach-item museum at the back.

WOW!! I hadn't been in here for a few years despite living nearby, but I called in for Sunday lunch…read morea few weeks ago after my dear mum said it had changed hands and things were on the up. I have to say the food was superb, at the time I think i even said it was the best sunday lunch i had ever had, I think I was a little taken a back by the quality of the food on offer. They have successfully managed to retain some of the old charm and proper pub feel, while making the dining a cosy, friendly experience that is all about locally produced food. The lamb had already sold out (turn up early or book on the phone if you don't want to miss out) so the three of us had duck, chicken and beef. Each dish was cooked pretty much to perfection and the home made yorkshire puddings were great. Sunday lunch just how it should be! This pub focusses on local, fresh produce all of which is prepared on site and served in simple, traditional dishes. The menu is short, but in my opinion that is the way it should be, as it means each dish excels. It is always so disheartening to find a pub that has 30 dishes on the menu as you can almost guarantee each one will be mediocre. Not the case with this pub. To top it all off the ales are well kept, the Bowmans "swift one" was a very refreshing pint and anything on tap from Hopback is a safe bet. All in all this pub comes very highly recommended, great food, nice atmosphere, good beers and friendly service, what more could you want?!

What a hidden gem of a pub, recently reopened after many years. It has been fully refurbished with…read moretouches of rustic wood and is a very comfortable, warm pub with a lively atmosphere, down a Dorset lane. All home cooked food, quickly prepared and brought to your table. There is a menu of light meals but more substantial offerings are on a blackboard above the bar, such as: roast pork with vegetables, Boeuf Bourguignon with vegetables or cauli/broccoli cheese crumble with/without new potatoes to name a few. There's also a special puddings menu. Delicious coffee is served with Pringle type mint chocolates. Prices are very reasonable. Upstairs is a complete surprise, with lots of comfy chairs and books to browse. This floor leads onto a large decked, roofed area which would be ideal in the summer of a leisurely evening drink. The loos are great too! Well behaved dogs allowed and are even given a few chews as a reward. Highly recommended.