We’re fortunate to have the pick of some truly great pubs on our doorstep here in Dorset and South Wiltshire, and what could be better than living within walking distance of a welcoming inglenook fireplace, a top selection of West Country ales and a scotch egg cooked to perfection?
For thatched rooves, exposed beams and great food, look no further than our top ten.
- Beckford Arms, Fonthill Gifford
Situated on the edge of the beautiful Fonthill Estate, The Beckford might just be the perfect pub. Roaring fires in winter, beautiful garden in the summer, and exceptional food all year round.
- Bradley Hare, Maiden Bradley
New in 2021 and already named on The Times Best Places to Stay list. The recently opened Bradley Hare is well deserving of its rave reviews, both for its very good menu, and its stylish interiors.
- Grosvenor Arms, Hindon
A 17th century former coaching inn in the pretty village of Hindon, The Grosvenor describes itself as a country boozer, and as such is both welcoming and unpretentious. You can’t go wrong with the menu, but the burger is recommended.
- Pembroke Arms, Wilton
Sister pub to the Grosvenor best known for its pies and Nole sourdough pizza, and both are worth the hype. The lively outside tent has a huge roaring fire to keep drinkers cosy into the evening.
- The Compasses Inn, Lower Chicksgrove
With thatched roof, flagstone floors, roaring fires, comfortable rooms and superb food, it’s no wonder The Compasses got the elusive full marks from Giles Coren in the Times.
- The Royal Oak, Swallowcliffe
Part-owned by Top Gear’s James May, The Royal Oak in the picturesque Swallowcliffe is much more than just a celebrity-owned pub. Great food and friendly service makes it a gem of a gastropub.
- The Benett Arms, Semley
Dog-friendly and beloved by walkers and locals alike, The Benett Arms is a great village pub. There’s plenty of choice for beer lovers, and traditional pub grub is served.
- The Forester – Donhead St Andrew
Fantastic food -awarded a Bib Gourmand in 2020- and an excellent wine list. Add to that friendly service and an open fire and The Forester is the perfect pit-stop.
- The Ship Inn, West Stour
A proper country pub with scrubbed tables, an extensive real ale and cider offering, good home-cooked food and delightful views across the Blackmore Vale.
- King John Inn Tollard Royal
Surrounded by great estates, the relaxed King John is a favourite with shooting parties, and you can expect locally sourced game on the menu. Overnight enjoy a very good breakfast followed by some of the best walks the Cranborne Chase has to offer.
Image credit : (https://www.thebradleyhare.co.uk/)
In her recent piece in the Telegraph, journalist Natalie Paris called Wiltshire the ‘underrated South
West county that has been overlooked for too long’, after Avebury and Castle Combe featured at the
top of Which?’s guide to the UK’s best towns and villages. Further down the list you can find
Salisbury, and cross the border into Dorset for Sherborne and Corfe Castle too.
Paris shines a light on some glorious Wiltshire walks, a serious foodie scene and a treasure trove of
prehistoric and medieval sites here on our doorstep, singling out the Cranborne Chase AONB and the
Nadder Valley, as destinations deserving of a second look, and not nearly as overwhelmed with
tourists as the nearby Cotswolds.
There are special mentions for local favourites Messums and its restaurant The Mess, the Fonthill
Estate, Bird and Carter, The Beckford Arms and its sister pub The Bath Arms over at Longleat, as well
as the newly opened and much talked about Bradley Hare in Maiden Bradley. And for garden lovers
there is much to see, from Iford Manor Gardens to Stourhead (famously at its finest as the leaves
turn at this time of year), Bowood and more.
A recommended read, if you’re thinking of making the move to Wiltshire, or even to remind yourself
why you did!
Image credit: https://adrianwroth.com/)
With the urgent need for new housing in the UK, the Government planning policy is one very much of ‘get it done’, to coin an overused phrase.
HOUSING SUPPLY
Lack of supply is a constant driver of price rises and this basic market force is increasingly pricing those with even above average salaries out of the market, so when one talks about urgent action it really is a case of supplying ordinary people with a roof over their heads. The private rental market can only support so much and with record rent increases this sector is also becoming unaffordable.
WHAT TO BUILD
In some rural areas, Strategic Planning is fast expanding the larger conurbations, and smaller Neighbourhood Plans are allocating what is sustainable. The question that house builders must solve, however, is what to build where; what design, size and cost will best satisfy the demand in any given location. It is perhaps an easier question to answer on the edges of larger towns and cities, where the public sector will employ thousands of staff and average incomes are easier to calculate, but the edge of a village in North Dorset, South Wiltshire or South Somerset will attract a very different demographic.
We are often asked by developers, landowners and parish councils to comment on our perception of demand. With the post-Covid era approaching and with it the exodus from Cities, family homes will always be needed, while affordable housing is an obvious requirement to keep young people in the area that they were born in. A sensible mix of these, with additional units is often the answer, but builders must not scrimp on quality; an offence that some have been prone to.
THE BEST DESIGNS
As a rural agent dealing with a slightly more upmarket product we are big fans of the Ben Pentreath style of build, most notably seen in the hugely successful Duchy of Cornwall Poundbury development, and skillfully brought to life by builders CG Fry. We are lucky enough to have a development of similar, vernacular design on our doorstep here in Tisbury and more are cropping up all over the region. The concept of a variety of architectural styles within a constrained area is not only pleasing to the eye in terms of design, but the properties are also solidly built.
We can’t all live in an aesthetically pleasurable environment, but quality and increasingly green credentials are a must to sustain value, environment and enjoyment, so one can only hope that the right builders get the options on developments and manage to produce housing to be proud of.
CG/RV 21
One could be forgiven for thinking that there are very few properties being sold currently in these extraordinary times we live in. Whilst post Covid stock levels are undoubtedly lower than for many, many years, the private market has been as active as we’ve ever known in 25 years of agency. By this we mean selling without a public marketing campaign or using the internet and advertising. In many cases a brochure is still prepared but we offer the property to our hot buyers and contacts first.
The level of demand from buyers has been unprecedented for all the reasons that have been well documented, and they are extremely eager to hear about fresh houses. So far this year 70% of our country sales business has been conducted off market and there seems no let up – it has been a very popular route to market for many vendors.
A recent article in The Sunday Times highlighted “secret sellers” and so we are not alone in experiencing this increasing popularity. We regularly find that it is an exceptional way of achieving the best price in the current market and both buyers and sellers enjoy the discretion in equal measure. If you would like to find out more, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
CS April 21.
A particularly attractive & impressive Victorian family home in a rural village setting with beautifully presented accommodation, extensive grounds & an outbuilding with conversion potential
