Need advice where to eat in Corfe

[Bev]

Hi

 

A group of us will soon be on the Jewel of the Seas. When we stop in Portland, we will be taking a tour of the Jurassic Coast. One of the stops will be in Corfe and it has been sugested that we make that our lunch stop. The tour company has suggested a few pubs such as the Bankes Arms, the Greyhound Inn, the Castle Inn and the Model Village Courtyard Cafe. They have also said there are a couple tea rooms but didn't provide any names.

 

We'd appreciate any advice or recommendations.

 

Thanks!

 

Bev

[handfordr]

If there are a group of you at lunchtime the problem maybe finding a spare table(s) at lunch time. It may not be a thing of choosing a place but somewhere that has room as none of the T rooms ae that big.

Depends what you want from a T room. For a group without booking the safe bet would be the National Trust T room at Corfe Castle itself.

If you want bone china and all the trimmings I think you need to work with the tour operator and reserve tables.

[goldencup]

The Bankes Arms is nice but it's at Studland and quite a walk from Corfe! The Greyhound is ok but I agree with handford that it might be a case of going wherever you can get in.

[John Bull]

The Bankes Arms is nice but it's at Studland and quite a walk from Corfe! The Greyhound is ok but I agree with handford that it might be a case of going wherever you can get in.

 

Different Bankes Arms.;)

There's also one in Corfe, opposite the Greyhound & right by the entrance to the castle. The Castle pub is actually furthest from the castle, a few hundred yards furtheron, toward Swanage.

But sorry, haven't eaten in any. Best bet is to check out Bankes & Greyhound & tearooms when you get there, all close together.

How many in your party? And what day/date?

 

JB :)

[Bev]

Different Bankes Arms.;)

There's also one in Corfe, opposite the Greyhound & right by the entrance to the castle. The Castle pub is actually furthest from the castle, a few hundred yards furtheron, toward Swanage.

But sorry, haven't eaten in any. Best bet is to check out Bankes & Greyhound & tearooms when you get there, all close together.

How many in your party? And what day/date?

 

JB :)

 

Thanks! There are 27 of us arriving on Sunday September 2.

 

Bev

[John Bull]

Thanks! There are 27 of us arriving on Sunday September 2.

 

Bev

 

 

27 of you - ouch! :eek:

early september - ouch again!! :eek:

on a sunday - ouch, Bev, you sure can pick 'em!!! :eek:

 

Whilst the main meal in the UK is generally in the evening, on a sunday its often the sunday lunch. Pubs & some tearooms put on sunday roasts, and even in a tourist haunt like Corfe there can be enough locals to book-out tables, though most book only a few days ahead. You'll probably not want a roast lunch & there are alternative lighter options, but you'll still need to sit.

 

If you want to eat as a group, I suggest you contact the pubs & tearooms to see what they have to offer & whether they can fit you in.

Best done by asking your tour operator to make a few phone calls, stressing that you'll be on a timetable & not lingering. They might also give some thought to other places in the area, such as the buffet at the Norden railway station (operated by a steam railway preservation group), or Morton's House Hotel in Corfe or Clavells tearoom at Kimmeridge or the Lulworth Cove Inn, though you'd need to book as a group at these.

 

If you can eat early, at noon, that would make a big difference. As would splitting your party, say half eating at noon while the others tour the castle, then swap around 1pm. Or if your folk want to eat at will & explore the castle at will, they'll doubtless find room in twosomes & foursomes at the Greyhound, Bankes Inn, the Fox Inn, the Model Village tea-room, Marblers tearoom & the National Trust castle tearooms, all within a 100 yard radius. The Castle pub, despite its name, is a five minute walk - ok if you can get a table, but a waste if you can't.

 

JB :)

 

(ps away from my computer now til the end of the week)

[Bev]

Thank you so, so much for your advice John. I think we'll let everyone split up and I'll let them know the places you mentioned. Your information has been extremely helpful and I can't thank you enough!!!

 

Bev

[BlueVinney]

As earlier posters have said, providing seating for 27 visitors at Sunday lunch at any of the venues mentioned will be a challenge. For instance, the station buffet on the Swanage Railway at Norden only serves snacks and drinks with seating for around 25 people. (For anyone interested in steam trains, there are good views from the Castle ruins and Corfe Castle station itself is a walk of only around 300 feet from the Castle entrance for a closer view.)

 

I would suggest also checking out Wareham, which has more restaurants and pubs than Corfe Castle. The journey from Lulworth to Corfe Castle will pass the outskirts of Wareham so it would not be a particular inconvenience.

 

Wareham was built as a fortified town and port by the Saxons in the 9th century. The walls are not spectacular to modern eyes but the substantial earthworks topped with a wooden palisade proved very effective at the time and now provide a pleasant walk around most of the town. The Saxon churches of St Martin-on-the-Walls and Lady St Mary are both still used for worship in the town. The port was particularly important in the 11th & 12th centuries as a principle international gateway to Europe, although you wonder how with such a small port area.

 

The Quay Inn plus La Trottolina, Olde Granary and Priory restaurants are located on the quayside. There are also many other pubs (e.g. Black Bear, Red Lion, Duke of Wellington, Antelope and King's Arms) and restaurants within a five minute walk of the quay. In addition there is another Kings Arms, reputedly built in the 12th century, located just across the water meadows in the village of Stoborough, which has a good reputation.

 

The suggestion of having your tour operator check out the the options and help with arrangements is very sensible. But JB always provides top class solutions.

 

Hope that you have an enjoyable time during the day in Portland and your journey around this very pretty corner of England.