The Crown Inn at Marnhull is a family-friendly village pub & inn that is both steeped in general history & literary history, as well as being located within the beautifully scenic Blackmore Vale of North Dorset. Opening Hours
Friday - Saturday: 12:00pm - 11:00pm*
Sunday - Thursday: 12:00pm - 10:00pm*
*Please note our closing time is subject to change
Food Service Hours
Monday – Saturday: 12:00pm
- 2:30pm & 5:00pm - 9:00pm*
Sunday: 12:00pm - 2.30pm & 5:00pm - 8:00pm*
*Please note our kitchen closing time is subject to change, please book a table to guarantee the kitchen will be serving at your desired time
The Crown Inn offers the comfort & quality of the 21st century in a timeless setting. There’s always a warm welcoming atmosphere with characterful dining areas, as well as comfortable & individual guest accommodation. The thatched part of the building dates back to the 16th century, with original wooden beams, flagstone flooring, inglenook fireplaces, a feature priest hole & the Plank & Muntin wooden wall, giving the inn a unique character, charm & an inviting country village feel. The Crown Inn also features in Thomas Hardy’s famous ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ novel, where he named it the ‘Pure Drop Inn’ & set it in the quaint village of ‘Marlott’ (Hardy’s name for Marnhull). The bar has remained largely untouched since Hardy himself regularly frequented the premises. Now, The Crown Inn is an award-winning pub under the management of experienced publicans, Gemma & Monty, who’ve run the business since September 2015. Recent awards being the Hall & Woodhouse Business Partnerships ‘Public House of the Year Award’ in 2017; the Hall & Woodhouse Business Partnerships ‘Community Asset Award’ in 2019 & a special Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement during 2020/21. The Crown Inn offers an extensive range of main meals & snacks, as well as specials, so there's something to appeal to all tastes. We also cater for varying dietary requirements & have a children's menu, so the whole family can enjoy dining together. We pride ourselves on the quality of ingredients we use, many of which are also locally-sourced. On Sundays we offer our signature plated ‘Crown’ roast, offering a choice of three perfectly cooked meats, served with roast potatoes, homemade Yorkshire pudding, stuffing & all the trimmings, of course. Our delicious food can be enjoyed inside in The Library, in one of our other cosy dining areas, in the ‘Pure Drop Suite’ or in the ‘Hardy Room’, each of which offer their own distinct character. Weather permitting, al fresco dining can be enjoyed within the beautiful walled garden, perfect for children & dogs & in our courtyard areas. We also offer takeaway meals 7-days a week for you to enjoy at home. We’ve also a comprehensively stocked bar, offering a wide range of award-winning Dorset-brewed Hall & Woodhouse Badger Ales, refreshing lagers, Guinness, draft & bottled country ciders, a wine selection chosen collectively by the villagers of Marnhull plus a choice of soft drink, spirits, liqueurs, ports, sherries, brandies & top-shelf whiskies. Our gin selection is also particularly impressive with around 50 gins to choose from, including Dorset-produced brands. We’ve also a selection of freshly ground coffees & speciality teas to enjoy on their own or to round off a meal. Our warming hot chocolate with fluffy marshmallows also has great appeal on those colder days. The Crown Inn offers both comfort & quality in its guest accommodation, making it perfect for tourists, business travellers & anyone seeking a relaxing country break. We have 7 characterful en-suite guest rooms, each of which is tastefully furnished, with some rooms featuring natural beams, stone walls & deep roll-top baths. We’re also easily able to accommodate larger family groups as well as guests requiring easy access facilities. With its location offering a rural retreat, wonderful scenery on the doorstep & many other nearby attractions on the Jurassic Coast, The Crown Inn makes for a perfect, relaxing getaway, ideal to explore the area & villages of Hardy’s Wessex. We pride ourselves in the catering & hospitality that we provide & also go that extra mile to ensure all of our customers & guests enjoy their visit to the utmost. So, whether you stay or dine with us, enjoy drinks with us or just pop in for a hot beverage, we’re sure you’ll have a quality & memorable experience. We hope you’ll visit us soon.
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EVENTS
The Crown Inn also specialises in catering for hog roasts, BBQs, high teas, buffets, birthdays, weddings, Christenings, wakes & other catered events or occasion.
