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.

Reasonable prices and very nice bartenders. I went to this bar a few times during my week long…read morevisit to Isle of Wight.. I was going through some things and the bartender was very consoling... Great bar to visit while in Sandown...

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.

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

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.

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.

One review? Ha! Well here is two. I get why there is only one. This is a hidden gem. You have to be…read morewith locals to find it. But, if you are lucky enough to find this charming country pub, you are in store for the perfect English pub experience. This centuries old homestead still oozes that ancient feel. The dishes are not only classic English but also have exciting takes on Korean and Indian fare. I say stick with the local drafts on tap and the classic English dishes. My favorites were the pea and ham soup (If you add a dash of Worcestershire sauce to put it over the top) and the local sausage and mash is on another level. The gravy is to die for!

Set in a beautiful village, this lovely old 16th Century pub has quite a substantial following and…read morewas Lord Oliviers' sort of local. As an Art club, we used it when out painting in the area. With friends and family, it offers the that lovely warm, cosy feeling on Winter days/nights. The Christmas Day menu/price works out at £60.00, could be seen as pricey but I've seen some at £85.00. Lunch and Dinner prices are around £11 £16 for Mains. Plenty of parking. If you coming from the West via A24, there is a lovely drive from The Old Barn nursery which brings you out nearly opposite The Fountain. Bit of winding lane though, so Vorsicht!!

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?!

Five colleagues and I, at the end of an amazing week at a work conference, we're in desperate need…read moreof some food. Getting in a little late to go to London, we turned our attention to something close to the Gatwick airport. After finally sorting our Uber rides, we were off to The Farmhouse. First impressions were of a traditional British pub experience, which was a good start. Our clumsiness of grabbing a table and figuring out whether we needed to go to the bar to order or wait to be served, surely gave us away as "not locals." Our server was friendly and provided us with our menus and took our drinks order. The one shortfall was that the menu had a number of items not available and with an assist from a customer, two of us needed a rethink on their meal. In all, it was 4 Fish & Chips, One Farmhouse Burger, and a Battered Halloumi burger, plus an order of calamari, and 4 tomato and garlic soups. There were zero plates taken off the table that were not empty! I had the Halloumi burger, which had a great, crispy batter topped with some guacamole mayo with a red sauce on the side. Really good. Then we doubled down and hit the dessert menu! Two warm chocolate brownies with salted caramel ice cream and four plum tarts. We asked for some custard on the side because who doesn't like custard?! Save for the debate about whether it was more a pie than a tart, another set of empty plates were the only evidence left. Would definitely recommend The Farmhouse!

A few years ago, I had an 8 hour layover at Gatwick, so we decided to pop out and go to the nearest…read moreplace for fish and chips. They were out of fish but the chips were excellent. We also go the Camembert, olives, and some ciders. This was definitely worth the effort to leave the airport, get an Uber, and then return to the airport. Cute place with good food.

If you're down in this part of Dorset, everyone's going to tell you to go to the Square and…read moreCompass. Which you should do. It's old and lovely and a fantastic destination pub. But you should make a point of heading to this place as well. Perhaps the friendliest landlord I've seen in an age. Serving a wide selection of very well-kept local ales, with his thoughts on the condition of each. And really fab food. There's a very standard pub grub menu, but we ordered the specials. I was fabulously full but he said "try the Shepherd's Pie". Which I did. And it was, quite honestly, the best shepherd's pie I have ever eaten. I am still, 24 hours later, recovering. Fabulous food, service, beer, etc. This is a local pub for all sorts of people-- local or not. It's unknown but it shouldn't be.