The King's Arms

Dorchester, Dorset
Hotel
+44 (0)1747 850580
Visit owner's website

From
£95 - £195
per night

A beautifully restored old coaching inn with a vibrant, bustling atmosphere, great food, friendly staff and super-swish bedrooms

28 rooms

Rooms sleep 2

Children welcome

Pets welcome

Babies welcome

The Experience

You’re well looked after here. This has been a place of succour to the weary traveller for 300 years and and it’s thought that much of Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge was written here. There’s a bright and jolly buzz downstairs: a smoking room with comfortable chairs in pretty fabrics, a gorgeous bar with a green marble top and a restaurant with a partly open kitchen so you can enjoy the performances.

An excellent breakfast menu includes really good veggie choices plus Old Spot pork and sausages from Wedmore, and home-baked bread. A ciabatta menu at lunchtime is popular but you can also get classic pub grub or posh modern British with a twist. Three hand-pumped ales, Jurassic Coast cider, colourful cocktails and a decent wine list mean you’d better stay the night.

Bedrooms come in different sizes but even the smallest have beautiful windows and high ceilings. All have mini fridges, Nespresso machines and Roberts radios. And very good beds.

We think you'll love

People-watching downstairs and sampling the cocktails before dinner
Having an enormous breakfast then setting off on glorious walks, perhaps with a picnic
Visiting all the museums in Dorchester and finding out more about its fascinating history

You should know

Only the smoking room (where you can have meals too) and bedrooms on the first floor are dog friendly
One parking space per room for residents

Essentials

EV charger
Swimming pool
Hot tub
Garden
Open fire / woodburner
Breakfast included
Breakfast available
Meals available
Vegetarian meals
Parking on premises
Free parking nearby
Accessible by public transport
WiFi
Television
Spa
Central heating
Limited mobility
Wheelchair access
Mobile reception
Hob
Bar
Barbecue
Licensed premises
Paid parking nearby
Air conditioning
Relaxation areas
Washing machine
Tennis court
No smoking
Credit cards
Working farm
Owner has pets
Pets welcome

Family friendly

Baby monitor
Books and toys
Children welcome
Babies welcome
Stair gates
High chair
Fire guard
Cot available

Nearby

Pub/bar within 3 miles
Restaurant within 3 miles
Shop within 3 miles

Activities

Bikes available
Food courses
Kayaking
Other courses
Sailing
Surfing
Wild swimming

Pricing

Nightly price: from £95

2 Twin/doubles: £195
3 Twin/doubles: £190
5 Doubles: £95
6 Twin/doubles: From £160
9 Doubles: From £105
3 Twin/doubles: £145

Information

Booking information

Check in: 11am
Check out: 4pm
Closed: Rarely.
No smoking: Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
Dogs: Dogs welcome in 1st-floor rooms, £15 per dog per stay, max. 2. Dog treats, tennis ball & dog food provided.
Meals: Lunch £15. Dinner £25.

Reviews

Brought back to life following a period of closure with serious investment by Stay Original, the eye-catching historic building on Dorchester's High Street is once again thriving as coaching inn-cum-hotel. It's the hub of the community, with a cracking bar and rooms for local events, a place to eat delicious modern British food, and a comfortable base (28 rooms) for exploring the town and Dorset.

David, Sawday's Inspector Sep 2024

A late booking on the way to family. We received a lovely upgrade. The room was immaculate, classic contemporary with a cosy feel. The staff were all exceptional and made us so welcome. The food in the restaurant was amazing and there was a fantastic choice. As this was December, the classic bar area was decorated for Christmas which added to the magic of our stay. We will definitely stay again as this is in a perfect location for our 6 hour drive to see family. Another fantastic Sawday’s recommendation.

Aaron, Helston Dec 2022

The King's Arms was stylish and modern, but without losing its character; the staff were professional, but friendly; restaurant was smart, but informal. My favourite thing, though, was the little carton of real, fresh milk in the fridge so that we could make proper tea in our room!

Jane, Salisbury Aug 2022

We were really happy with the rooms, the staff and the food. Everything was perfect. Communication was really easy and always friendly- Our daughters loved the huge bathtub in the room

Alexander, Tübingen, Germany Aug 2022

Sympathetically renovated, combining the best of the old with the new. Delicious modern menu served from an open kitchen. Helpful and friendly staff. Conveniently situated in the centre of town.

Diane, Bedfordshire May 2021

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Location

The neighbourhood

This is Hardy country and you can't walk through the town without many reminders that this is also Casterbridge – The King’s Arms featured in Hardy’s writing and his life. It's still a busy market town with shops, restaurants and museums. Prince Charles's Poundbury is just up the road and has a superb spa. Weymouth is the nearest beach (25 minutes) but there's also Bridport and the fabulous West Bay.

Local points of interest from Rob & Camille Greacen

The King's Arms was Thomas Hardy's local. It features extensively in his novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge, as well as in Far from The Madding Crowd. He wrote here, dined here and recommended it to visiting friends such as Robert Louis Stephenson.
The King's Arms has medieval roots with the current building dating from 1720. Built on the main route from London to the South West, it underwent a large-scale rebuilding in the early 19th century when it was owned by the Earl of Shaftesbury.
Dorchester, was once a fortified walled Roman Town, Durnovaria. You're at the heart of the town here and its rich history. Explore the Roman ruins and Dorset County Museum, home to more than two million artifacts.
Strike out further afield further to the ancient hillfort of Maiden Castle, or Max Gate, the home Thomas Hardy designed for himself and now a national trust property.
The Jurassic coast is nearby. Bridport is 16 miles east for a fun twice-weekly market and a buzzing art scene, while Weymouth’s old-fashioned seaside charm is 10 miles south.
The brick archways of the restaurant pass are the former entrance to the stables and the stunning headboard in Room 103 is ‘upcycled’ from an Edwardian room divider!

The King's Arms

Children welcome

Pets welcome

Babies welcome

Your enquiry details

Direct with the owner

Enquire through Sawday's

The Experience

We think you'll love

You should know

Essentials

Accommodation

Pricing

Information

Reviews

The neighbourhood

The King's Arms

Children welcome

Pets welcome

Babies welcome

Enquiry details

Your enquiry details

How to book

Direct with the owner

Enquire through Sawday's

The Experience

We think you'll love

You should know

Essentials

Accommodation

Pricing

Information

Reviews

The neighbourhood

Taking you to The King's Arms