Cheers to Summer
Raise your glass to the best of Dorset's beer gardens with Cerys Mason, where scenic beauty and local brews unite.
Anchor Inn, Seatown
A wise man once (might have) said that the best beer gardens are hidden down country lanes, and this is especially true for the ever-popular Anchor Inn in Seatown. Its secluded location among the dramatic cliffs of West Dorset hint at its rich past of smuggling fishermen, and makes for a beautifully peaceful day in nature. The pub is particularly famous with Dorset locals who come here to admire the coastline in its modest beer garden, meaning that the Anchor Inn is always busy in the best possible way.
Serving locally sourced food to display the best of Dorset’s produce and conveniently positioned between two sections of the South West Coast Path, it would be almost criminal to avoid stopping at the Anchor Inn after a soulful day of adventure.
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Square and Compass, Worth Matravers
An ode to Dorset’s beer gardens would not be complete without the Square and Compass, a little gem of a pub - and every South West Coast Path regular’s dream - nestled in the town of Worth Matravers on the Isle of Purbeck. Just a stone’s throw from Winspit Quarry, a hotspot for climbers, swimmers, and hikers alike, nothing quite beats catching the late afternoon sun in the Square and Compass’ sprawling beer garden with a pint of home-pressed cider.
Beginning life in 1776, the Square and Compass has undergone many changes and seen a range of faces, from smugglers to physicists to artists. Now, they host live music on Sunday afternoons and on some evenings, and have an impressive collection of fossils to muse over. A rustic collection of stone tables and benches scatter the garden, which overlooks the Purbeck’s rolling hills and ocean on the horizon, making for an impressive sunset. The pub’s setting matches its tranquil and happy vibe, and there is always an eclectic guest to have a chat with. The Square and Compass is truly a local treasure.
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Bankes Arms, Studland
Also on the Isle of Purbeck and with a rich history dating back to 1549, the Bankes Arms boasts an impressive view of Old Harry Rocks and a large field of tables to lounge in the sun all day. It is popular with tourists in the summer after a day on one of Studland’s lovely beaches, and as a result is always buzzing with life. Family-friendly, minutes away from the Coastal Path, and with unbeatable fresh seafood, the Bankes Arms is also home to the Isle of Purbeck Brewery, meaning local beer at its best.
The village of Studland is easily accessible from Sandbanks’ chain ferry but feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of Bournemouth, making a trip to the Bankes Arms not only relatively easy and scenic, but oh so peaceful.
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Chaplin’s & the Cellar Bar, Bournemouth
Chaplin’s may be locally renowned for its weird and wonderful live music gigs all nights of the week, and as such its parties into the early hours, but it is also home to a restaurant and stunning beer garden. The Charlie Chaplin-themed design of the bar is so bizarrely beautiful that you just couldn’t make it up if you tried, and it’s even better enjoyed while the sun is shining - particularly shining through the multicolour stained glass doorway that lights up the whole garden.
The bar certainly attracts a mixed crowd being at the heart of metropolitan Boscombe; young and old, hippies, punks, rockers, the lot. Anything goes in Chaplin’s, and you can definitely feel this sense of freedom in the beer garden on a lively summer evening. Exciting, wacky, musical, and a ton of fun, Chaplin’s’ is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a pint in your hand.
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Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton
As local as they come, the Langton Arms is a 17th century thatched cottage home to a butchery, farm shop and B&B in the heart of the Cranborne Chase countryside. After a day spent at Kingston Lacey, Badbury Rings, Larmer Tree Gardens, or any of the other local nature spots, the Langton Arms offers refreshing pints, ultra-fresh food, and a spacious, sun-soaked area to relax in.
Wedding receptions, seasoned locals, young families, and groups of friends all gather in this lovely beer garden throughout the summer, so hidden in rural countryside that others could easily miss it. While the pubs of Wimborne Minster and Blandford Forum offer their own buzzing nightlife, there’s something very special about the little village of Tarrant Monkton and the charming pub at its heart.
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