The Duke Of Wellington, Wareham

Small friendly pub, well-kept, clean and tidy. Good range of ales, and the Ringwood Best I had was perfect. Separate room at one end aimed more at food, but you can eat anywhere if you want.

Attractive and interesting range of meals available - my wife and I had specials off the fish board, and both were superb, as were the accompanying veg. Under a tenner each for very non-standard pub grub. Fresh flowers on every table in the dining room, and decent range of unobtrusive background music.

Well worth a visit, either for food or just to drink

17 May 2012 12:25

The Golden Lion, Weymouth

After trudging around Weymouth for 40 mins trying to find a pub that did some interesting food and wasn't part of a chain (and failing miserably), we needed at least a beer, so went into the Golden Lion.

Big, "open plan" and lots of wood everywhere, looked like it was probably gutted ten years ago and made to look "old". Reminded me of some of the dubious places I'd worked in during the 1970s, where it's empty much of the time, but occasionally packed with young people at night. Looked like it needed a good lick of paint and a really good clean. Toilets were disgusting (apparently the ladies were too).

It was early midweek evening, and only three other customers. Anyway, the barmaid was friendly enough, and I ordered a pint of Greene King IPA for myself, and "scrumpy" for my wife. I took a sip of the ale as I was getting my change and it was like vinegar. She poured me another without question, but that was just the same. I opted for Doom Bar instead, and no probs at all with that. But serious doubts about cellar management.

Saw nothing to suggest you'd want to eat there, and couldn't see anything worthwhile advertised

I really do wonder what the Olympic tourists are going to make of Weymouth - it just doesn't seem to be prepared for anything other than "kiss-me-quick, where's the chippy" English holidaymakers. Sorry.

17 May 2012 12:17