The Ilchester Arms

Had better food & service in the past. My fish was overcooked and quite small for the price. The burgers and pork my companions had were much better. So, the high prices nowadays cannot be used as an excuse!

We dropped in for a quick bite one Friday lunchtime off the A303. It was easy to find, the parking could be a problem at busy times, we didn't have trouble. A warm welcome obliging service and a delicious panini made for a very pleasant interlude in a long journey.

Stayed for a wedding reception. The reception was lovely, all staff were fantastic. The evening food was great, as was the breakfast. We stayed in 'the cottage' which was lovely but lacking the adding touches to be a £160 a night room. We were expecting a private courtyard as advertised which there is not. However, the shared courtyard is sweet. The front doorstep could do with coverage for rainy evenings. Definitely worth staying if you're attending an event here but needs some extras putting back in, like: updated sofas, soft furnishings in the lounge, the TV in the bedroom reinstated (the old sockets are still on the wall but no Tele), a door mat on the inside so you don't traipse wet shoes around the lounge, a curtain/blind on the front door, some form of artwork in the lounge and bedroom as these are very bare. The bathroom is great, lovely shower, just need to bring the rest of the room up to that standard to warrant the price ☺️

Well what can I say, I held my wedding reception here this week and after been let down not once but twice before by other venues the staff at the Ilchester Arms were just fantastic, they were extremely accommodating, reassuring me everything was being dealt with when I got any sort of worries. very flexible when I changed things around a little.

I can't recommend The Ilchester Arms enough on the night the staff were friendly and helpful and took things at our pace there wasn't any rush to do things like speeches or the first dance it was really chilled and just a completely wonderful evening. All staff members were very tolerable of my son who has special needs without any prior warning to them at all helping tie his shoelace and dancing with him and completely accepting of his screaming without so much as a complaint.

My new husband and I stayed the night along with some of our family and friends and not a bad word was said in the morning about anything everyone was very pleased with their rooms. The beds were so comfortable and the rooms were clean and bright.

The food was honestly to die for and also some specially prepared for a child with a dairy allergy everyone told us how tasty the food was and breakfast in the morning was also incredible.

Also flexible after a friend of ours broke his knee the night before and they asked to move rooms which was no bother to the staff at all.

The Ilchester Arms is definitely and highly recommended by us and our family and friends.

thank you so much to all of the staff for making our night one to remember will definitely come back.

Great breakfast and evening meal. Staff always smiling and helpful. Room is a little small but good nights sleep. Overall very happy.

Oh this place has so much more potential than realised on this visit. On that basis I will not discount s return but the magnetism from this particular experience is not strong. Food was ok, Proper Job Ale kept well, service fairly disjointed.

We have a late year holiday on the Tall Chimneys farm just outside of Dorchester and always book an evening meal at the Ilchester Arms. Great food and homely service, well worth a visit.

Excellent food and good service. I think the fact we travelled 20 miles to dine there speaks for itself. And it was well worthwhile.