Square & Compass

Unchanging country tavern with masses of character, in the same family for many years; lovely sea views and fine nearby walks

Features

Speciality beers
Cask ales
Live Entertainment

Bar food times: all day

  • Speciality beers
  • Cask ales

Price of cheapest bitter: £3.80

Name of cheapest bitter: HB Moonlite

Live music weekend evenings

Child restrictions: Children welcome

  • Dogs allowed in the bar

The good pub guide review

The same family has run this fascinating and hospitable pub for more than a century. The local area's famously diverse geological history is celebrated in the pub's (free) fossil museum, the outside furniture is made of local stone and there's even a summer stone-carving competition in honour of the many chisel-wielders who come searching for treasure in the locality. A couple of simple rooms have straightforward furniture on flagstones and wooden benches around the walls, a woodburning stove, a stuffed albino badger and a loyal crowd of chatty locals. Regulars Hattie Browns HBA and Moonlite are on handpump and a couple of quickly changing guests, such as Hattie Browns Kirrin Island or Dog on the Roof and Trumans Zephyr, are tapped from the cask. This is the place to come for the taste of West Country orchards: up to ten farm ciders (such as Kiss Me Kate, Sat Down BeCider) are passed through the two serving hatches to customers in the drinking corridor; also, 20 malt whiskies. There's a fantastic view from the front terrace over the village rooftops down to the sea. There may be free-roaming chickens and other birds clucking around. Wonderful walks lead to some exciting switchback sections of the coast path above St Aldhelm's Head and Chapman's Pool ' use the £2 honesty box 100 metres along the Corfe Castle road for parking if you're coming by car.

The good pub guide food review

Bar food consists of pasties and pies (usually home-made but sometimes bought in, if it's really busy).

2021 Awards

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Contact Details

Square & Compass, Worth Matravers, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 3LF

(01929) 439229

Opening Hours

Weekdays: 12-11