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The Fox Inn

Dorset · United Kingdom

Lower AnstyView location

8.8/10Excellent283 Reviews
Cleanliness9.2/109.2
Service9.0/109.0
Comfort8.8/108.8
Condition8.4/108.4
Location7.8/107.8
Neighborhood8.8/108.8
Amenities8.4/108.4
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Room prices, availability, meal plans and cancellation terms are confirmed for your selected dates.

About The Fox Inn

When you stay at The Fox Inn in Dorchester, you'll be 11 minutes by car from Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This property is 13. 4 mi (21. 5 km) from Monkey World Ape Rescue Center and 14. 1 mi (22. 7 km) from The Tank Museum.

Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless Internet access and wedding services. Featured amenities include complimentary wired Internet access, a business center, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Event facilities at this property consist of conference space and a meeting room.

Free self parking is available onsite. At The Fox Inn, enjoy a satisfying meal at the restaurant. Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. Breakfast is available for a fee. Make yourself at home in one of the 11 guestrooms.

Read more about this hotelShow less

When you stay at The Fox Inn in Dorchester, you'll be 11 minutes by car from Dorset National Landscape. This inn is 7.8 mi (12.6 km) from Shillingstone Railway Project and 8.5 mi (13.7 km) from Badger Watch Dorset. Make yourself at home in one of the 12 guestrooms.

Featured amenities include complimentary wired internet access, a business center, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Event facilities at this inn consist of conference space and a meeting room. Free self parking is available onsite.

Popular amenities

Free WiFi
Parking available
Dining services
Entertainment
Non-smoking
Business facilities
Banquet facilities
Accessible facilities

Check-in and check-out

Check-in from 4:00 PM
Check-in until 10:00 PM
Check-out until 10:00 AM
Minimum check-in age 18

Hotel policies

No elevators

Important information

  • Special Instructions
    Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property. Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools.
  • Instructions
    • Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
    • Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
    • Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
    • This property accepts credit cards and cash
  • Minimal age
    18
  • Optional fees
    • Pet fee: GBP 15.0 per pet, per stay

    The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

  • Spoken Language

    English

Nearby attractions

Dorset National Landscape 5.4 km / 3.4 mi
Shillingstone Railway Project 12.6 km / 7.8 mi
Badger Watch Dorset 13.7 km / 8.5 mi
Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum 14.1 km / 8.7 mi
Sturminster Newton Mill 14.5 km / 9 mi
The Art Stable 15 km / 9.3 mi
Hardy's Cottage 15 km / 9.3 mi
Sculpture by the Lakes 15.3 km / 9.5 mi
The Exchange 15.4 km / 9.6 mi
Cerne Abbas Giant 16 km / 9.9 mi
Sturminster Newton Leisure Centre 16 km / 10 mi
Skirmish Dorset 16.6 km / 10.3 mi
Kingston Maurward Park and Gardens 17.2 km / 10.7 mi
Clouds Hill 17.7 km / 11 mi
Dorset Teddy Bear Museum 17.9 km / 11.1 mi

Hotel facilities & services

Services and fees can vary. Check the selected room details and hotel policies before booking.

  • Total number of rooms: 11
  • hotel
  • Check-in hour
  • Check-out hour
  • Wi-fi
  • Garden
  • Newspapers
  • Bar
  • Restaurant
  • Conference room
  • Meeting room
  • Business centre
Show 2 more facilities & services
  • Non-smoking establishment
  • Minimum check-in age: 18
Meal plans

Meal plan types

Meal options depend on the room and rate you choose. Search your dates to see which meal plans are included.

RO

Room Only

Accommodation only. Meals are usually not included.

BB

Bed & Breakfast

BED AND BREAKFAST

Breakfast is included with your stay.

Upon availability

Room types

These are the hotel's room types, rather than live offers. Choose your travel dates to see available rooms, prices and booking conditions. Check availability

  • Double or Twin TWO BEDSDouble or Twin • TWO BEDSDBT.2B

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    The Fox Inn

    Double or Twin TWO BEDS

    Room photos

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Room overview

    Occupancy
    Guests: 1–6 • Adults: max. 6 • Children: max. 3
    Room type
    Double or Twin
    View / characteristic
    TWO BEDS

    Adult and child limits apply within the room's total guest limit.

    Room code: DBT.2B

    Limited room details from hotel

    Available rooms, prices and included facilities are confirmed after you choose your dates and rate.

  • Double or Twin KING SIZE BEDDouble or Twin • KING SIZE BEDDBT.KG

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    The Fox Inn

    Double or Twin KING SIZE BED

    Room photos

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Room overview

    Occupancy
    Guests: 1–6 • Adults: max. 6 • Children: max. 3
    Room type
    Double or Twin
    View / characteristic
    KING SIZE BED

    Adult and child limits apply within the room's total guest limit.

    Room code: DBT.KG

    Limited room details from hotel

    Available rooms, prices and included facilities are confirmed after you choose your dates and rate.

  • DOUBLE SUPERIOR KING BEDDOUBLE • SUPERIOR KING BEDDBL.KG-SU

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    The Fox Inn

    DOUBLE SUPERIOR KING BED

    Room photos

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Room overview

    Occupancy
    Guests: 1–4 • Adults: max. 4 • Children: max. 3
    Room type
    DOUBLE
    View / characteristic
    SUPERIOR KING BED

    Adult and child limits apply within the room's total guest limit.

    Room code: DBL.KG-SU

    Limited room details from hotel

    Available rooms, prices and included facilities are confirmed after you choose your dates and rate.

  • DOUBLE CLASSICDOUBLE • CLASSICDBL.AS

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    The Fox Inn

    DOUBLE CLASSIC

    Room photos

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Room overview

    Occupancy
    Guests: 1–4 • Adults: max. 4 • Children: max. 3
    Room type
    DOUBLE
    View / characteristic
    CLASSIC

    Adult and child limits apply within the room's total guest limit.

    Room code: DBL.AS

    Limited room details from hotel

    Available rooms, prices and included facilities are confirmed after you choose your dates and rate.

  • Double or Twin SUPERIOR KING BEDDouble or Twin • SUPERIOR KING BEDDBT.KG-SU

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    The Fox Inn

    Double or Twin SUPERIOR KING BED

    Room photos

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Room overview

    Occupancy
    Guests: 1–6 • Adults: max. 6 • Children: max. 3
    Room type
    Double or Twin
    View / characteristic
    SUPERIOR KING BED

    Adult and child limits apply within the room's total guest limit.

    Room code: DBT.KG-SU

    Limited room details from hotel

    Available rooms, prices and included facilities are confirmed after you choose your dates and rate.

  • Double or Twin SUPERIORDouble or Twin • SUPERIORDBT.SU

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    The Fox Inn

    Double or Twin SUPERIOR

    Room photos

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Room overview

    Occupancy
    Guests: 1–6 • Adults: max. 6 • Children: max. 3
    Room type
    Double or Twin
    View / characteristic
    SUPERIOR

    Adult and child limits apply within the room's total guest limit.

    Room code: DBT.SU

    Limited room details from hotel

    Available rooms, prices and included facilities are confirmed after you choose your dates and rate.

  • DOUBLE SUPERIOR GARDEN VIEWDOUBLE • SUPERIOR GARDEN VIEWDBL.GV-SU

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    The Fox Inn

    DOUBLE SUPERIOR GARDEN VIEW

    Room photos

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Room overview

    Occupancy
    Guests: 1–4 • Adults: max. 4 • Children: max. 3
    Room type
    DOUBLE
    View / characteristic
    SUPERIOR GARDEN VIEW

    Adult and child limits apply within the room's total guest limit.

    Room code: DBL.GV-SU

    Limited room details from hotel

    Available rooms, prices and included facilities are confirmed after you choose your dates and rate.

Guest reviews

What other guests saying about The Fox Inn

8.8
Excellent
283 Reviews
Cleanliness
9.2 /10
Service
9.0 /10
Comfort
8.8 /10
Condition
8.4 /10
Location
7.8 /10
Neighborhood
8.8 /10
Amenities
8.4 /10
100 reviews shown
10/10
Exceptional
07 Jul 2026
Michael
We love coming back to the Fox Inn every year, even though it’s one night, we always get a warm welcome and the most friendly staff you can imagine.

The rooms are clean, with a good beverage selection supplied and priced very reasonably. Maybe because the location is fairly remote!

The food is stunning be it breakfast or evening meal, and again sensibly priced.

Overall, we loved the Fox Inn and will look to book again for next year.

Highly recommended.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
29 Jun 2026
david
Clean and well maintain property helpfull and friendly staff with a good menu
Friends_and_family Friends
10/10
Exceptional
26 Jun 2026
Melody
We had a lovely time thank you. The breakfast was excellent too.
Partner
6/10
Pleasant
19 Jun 2026
Robert
Bird tripping on windowsill in bedroom staff very good breakfast where ok.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
17 May 2026
Christopher
We enjoyed the well equipped room with a comfortable bed. We ate in the restaurant which had plenty of atmosphere on a Monday night in May. Good choice on the restaurant menu and excellent breakfast. Lots of stairs to climb to our room but we made it😊
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
01 Feb 2026
Takahito
Lovely staff
Family
8/10
Excellent
26 Sep 2025
Sue
Very happy to recommend The Fox. The room was clean comfortable and very nicely furnished. The evening meal was very good match by great service from George the waiter. Breakfast was okay. Scarlett was outstanding, welcoming, efficient and friendly. My one issue was the temperature of the room as the accommodations heating hadn't been switched on despite the colder weather. I was offered additional blankets by Scarlet who did her best to help.
Business
10/10
Exceptional
19 Aug 2025
Rachel

Stunning Location

A great location, really well presented rooms with all mod cons, comfy bed, lovey welcome gift of homemade biscuits and fudge. Delicious breakfast, polite and helpful staff. I would highly recommend this pub/ restaurant/country hotel. Stunning location close to many interesting places in Dorset.
Friends_and_family Family
8/10
Excellent
03 Jul 2025
Andrew
Clean & friendly with good food and a nice bar
Friends_and_family Family
8/10
Excellent
18 Apr 2025
Claire Louise
Lovely quiet stay, really nice room, delightful staff.
Leisure Friends
10/10
Exceptional
13 Apr 2025
Alan J
Great room recently fitted out Friendly service.
Partner
8/10
Excellent
24 Aug 2024
Charles
Quite remote setting, but this was our third visit and we will be back again for a short stay. Always very welcoming.
Leisure Partner
8/10
Excellent
07 Jul 2024
Kevin

One night stay

Stayed for dinner, was pretty poor, both chicken burger and beef burger overcooked and dry. Starters too small and Mains to big. Breakfast nice
8/10
Excellent
18 May 2024
Joanna

Comfortable quiet country pub great for a recharge

The Fox was situated in a very pretty and quiet area. The room was well kept and the bed very comfortable. The food was delicious and served at a very relaxed pace. The staff listened to feedback and gave great service. A perfect place for a rest and recharge.

I would have like to have seen bottled water anda box of tissues in the room for an extra touch.
Partner
8/10
Excellent
22 Mar 2024
Peter
The staff at the Fox were extremely friendly. The Room was a good size and bed comfortable however one of our rooms had very steep eaves which restricted movement without leaning over.
The food was good standard pub food, as was the breakfast, without hitting any heights, hence 4 stars, but service was excellent.
Leisure Friends
10/10
Exceptional
02 Nov 2023
David
Lovely little find in the middle of nowhere.
Good food, bar and open fire. Spot on.
Business
10/10
Exceptional
28 Jul 2023
Ben
super venue, great food, great rooms and friendly staff
Business
10/10
Exceptional
19 Jul 2023
Mary
Reception staff very welcoming, room comfortable and spotlessly clean. Good varied menu in restaurant and excellent breakfast.
Lovely location.
Leisure Family
8/10
Excellent
17 Jul 2023
William
Nice break away in a friendly well kept inn.
Friends_and_family Friends
10/10
Exceptional
16 Jul 2023
Alastair

Great place

Just an overnight stop but the staff were welcoming, the room was excellent as was the food.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
06 Jul 2023
Vivien
The Fox Inn is a beautiful, well maintained property. Our room was spotless and very comfortable on the top floor. We found the staff to be helpful and friendly and both dinner and the two breakfasts we had were well cooked and delicious.
A car is essential for travelling as the inn is situated in a very rural area, but there are country walks that can be taken from the inn itself.
Leisure Partner
8/10
Excellent
23 Apr 2023
John
Very nice
Leisure Family
10/10
Exceptional
17 Sep 2022
Rowan

Friendly & relaxing

Needed to get away to de-stress. So glad we picked The Fox Inn , surrounded by beautiful countryside, rooms very comfortable, I loved the window seat.
Phoebe and Brannon were great, nothing too much trouble and we loved our chats and banter every time we saw them, definitely made our stay even more enjoyable.
Partner
4/10
Poor
26 Aug 2022
JASON
My room was superb. Nice size and a big comfortable bed. Very quiet location. However, I was let down the following morning as the chef failed to show up on time to cook breakfast. Upon check in I was asked what time I wanted breakfast. I went for 8am as I had attended for specific plans the following day. After ordering breakfast at 8, I was told 10 mins later that the chef was late and was only just starting to prep for breakfast. Consequently, I didn't receive my breakfast as I needed to leave. I would have given this place a glowing recommendation had I received the bed & breakfast I paid for but I only received the bed.
Leisure Self
8/10
Excellent
10 Jul 2022
Brian
Very enjoyable stay but could do with a bit more detail in rooms.
Such as phone charging points and not using extension cables to plug in TV etc.

That said would certainly stay again and would recommend.
Leisure Family
8/10
Excellent
09 Mar 2022
Penelope

Nice PLace

Very pleasant place to stay with friendly bar atmosphere and adjacent restaurant.
Booked 4 rooms which were spacious. Food very reasonably priced and had a relaxing evening.
Had a slight issue with breakfast not starting early enough for us and a misunderstanding with the staff about leaving out cereals. The management were very apologetic and compensated us for their error. We will not let this stop us from returning
Business
10/10
Exceptional
29 Oct 2021
Ron
very comfortable room although it had a sloping ceiling and banged my head numerous times! Did not detract from the comfort of the room and i would use the Fox inn again and defiantly recommend it
Business Partner
8/10
Excellent
29 Oct 2021
Verified traveler
Really friendly and helpful staff. Food was fantastic.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
29 Oct 2021
Kingsley
Very friendly and helpful staff. Excellent dinner too
Leisure
8/10
Excellent
21 Oct 2021
Nigel

Good place for a weekend

Great place for a break, not so good for business. Breakfast started at 8.30
Business
8/10
Excellent
13 Sep 2021
Kevin

Lovely place, friendly staff...drive from hell :)

Lovely staff, the manageress was reallybhelpful and friendly. Its a really nice hotel, tastefully decorated, good food and very clean.

We were unlucky and the room we were given (6) had dormer windows that were extremely long and the slope extended over the bed. The tv was very small.

Getting here can be trecherous! If your sat nav takes youdown Aller Lane beware...this riad has a U Shaped ford and a very narrow 3 ton max loading bridge. If you go through the ford in a normal car you are likely to get stuck and need the fire brigade to rescue you. If you take the narrow bridge, booke your car in to get the allows refinished. In short dont go down this road
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
02 Aug 2021
Jill

Excellent Stay

We received a very warm and genuine welcome from the team. The Inn is in a beautiful location and very good parking right onsite. Its a lovely place, with excellent service, staff and facilities. we ate in the restaurant and the food, menu and service were all excellent. The room was very clean, well furnished and had everything we needed. Overall I can't recommend The Fox Inn highly enough. A great find and we will return.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
01 Aug 2021
Janet

Cheeky one nighter

Just a little overnighter - room really nice, clean and comfortable - ate in restaurant in the evening and it was lovely, as was breakfast
Partner
4/10
Poor
14 Dec 2020
John

Room very small

Food was very good throughout the stay. It was disappointing that the smallest room was allocated to the only couple and lead booking for our three rooms and they refused to allow us to change as the computer couldn’t be changed!
Our room was very small no hooks to hang coats etc- water leaked in the bathroom and floorboards were very noisy.
Friends_and_family Family
10/10
Exceptional
26 Oct 2020
paul

The Fox Ansty

Had excellent stay at the Fox lovely room well appointed very welcoming staff helpful and efficient nice restaurant good menu choice
Good choice for Breakfast very nice setting very quiet area very rural and peaceful good walking area
Partner
8/10
Excellent
12 Oct 2020
Christopher

Good pub hotel experence

Staff were excellent, friendly and efficient.
Food was ok, trying hard but guessing the midweek chef was on. Beer was good.
Breakfast was good and again staff eager to help and very accomodating.
Bed was very comfortable, room was quiet and dark and shower hot. ticks my boxes
Business
10/10
Exceptional
22 Sep 2020
Richard Joanne
Lovely dog friendly hotel, friendly staff struggling at times due to covid. food generally good but dependant on staffing. Comfortable room.
Leisure Pet
8/10
Excellent
18 Sep 2020
Carolyn

The fox inn

Lovely cosy pub, lovely garden and amazing dinner and breakfast.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
05 Sep 2020
Michael

Great stay

We stayed for two nights in a superior room. Really big room which was clean and nicely decorated. Tea and coffee ( real coffee) in room. Wifi was really good even in our room. Breakfast was included and consisted of full english, poached egg,cereal. All cooked really well
We ate in the restaurant both nights and had lovely meals. Not as much selection due to Covid19 but something for everyone.
The Fox Inn is in a rural area but the pub was quite busy in the evenings with both locals and guests. There was a lovely atmosphere.The staff were all very friendly and helpful
We would definitely stay here again
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
01 Aug 2020
David
Very friendly and helpful staff, good food and our bedroom was excellent. In the recent hot weather it was nice to have a communal fridge adjacent to out corridor.
Leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
22 Sep 2017
Fred

a brilliant village inn

a great stay in a lovely part of the country. we were visiting the tank museum amd the location was perfect.
10/10
Exceptional
17 Sep 2017
Moyra

Lovely countryside pub

Lovely pub and rooms in a very pretty village. Our room was very comfortable and we had a good night's sleep in the nice big bed.
The pub downstairs was nice. Very dog friendly. We had a great dinner in the evening and breakfast was made from local proper bacon and sausages.
The local area has stunning walks and beautiful scenery.
Will be back
10/10
Exceptional
29 Jul 2017
Alison

An excellent hotel experience

Our stay at the Fox Inn was wonderful. A beautiful location. Clean comfortable and friendly hotel. The food was amazing. The staff were welcoming and helpful. I would certainly recommend this hotel and hope to visit again.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
15 Jul 2017
Bill

Large hotel deep in the Dorset countryside

Spacious and comfortable bedrooms and bathrooms. Very good facilities for dogs with special areas for their use in the garden.
Relaxed atmosphere.
8/10
Excellent
28 May 2017
Fran

Interesting old hotel

We just stayed one night here. It was some way out in the countryside outside of Dorchester. It is a pleasant rambling old building that could use some updating. The entry was not clearly marked and the front desk was surrounded by bags of clean linens that presumably had just been delivered. Our check in was fine and our room was clean and comfortable if a bit worn. There is no elevator and it was a bit of a warren of corridors making it challenging to get the bags up. There was no offer to carry them.
8/10
Excellent
17 May 2017
Guy

Great

Really great room and stay. Good menu and friendly staff.
Partner
8/10
Excellent
15 May 2017
Rob

Great destination which needs organisation.

The fox inn is a wonderful place. Well in the country making it quiet and peaceful but lively particularly at weekends. The food was top rate. Unfortunately the organisation was somewhat erratic especially at breakfast when utensils, bowls, plates missing from tables and the buffet running out of juices and coffee for later sittings. Notwithstanding the staff were very quick to supplement when asked but at an establishment of this quality you don't expect to ask. Also odd but the dining room was not opened throughout our stay and on Thursday and Friday people were being turned away. Lastly the dinner/lunch menu was limited to the same dishes every day we were there with only limited antipasto specials. Notwithstanding this we all had a great time.
Family
6/10
Pleasant
24 Apr 2017
Paul

Nice and clean, but they fail at the basics!

Room was spacious, clean&tidy however the b&b is in the middle of nowhere&a total pain to get to. The closest competitor selling warm food is a 15 mins drive away down horribly tight single file county roads. Staff were friendly but clearly inexperienced& altho well under capacity we still managed to get a couple of elephants move in next door at 9pm which disturbed our sleep until gone 1am. Being an historic pub steeped in history we planned to eat there in the evening upon our return from Dorchester. However the food choice is limited&pretentious&far too complicated for the type of establishment it is. We asked if we could have the elebarate burger dumbed down (replace the veiny cheese with any other form of cheese!) &this was declined, so we ended up driving the 25 mins back into Dorchester to eat elsewhere. Utter madness when the staff were wandering about moaning how quiet they were. Wifi non existent, in room or most of the bar. We did find a thimble area of the bar where it worked but that was it. It was advertised as having wifi on the Expedia site, so a little disappointing when normal phone signal is non existent also. Concerning if anyone needed to get hold of you In an emergency. As I say clean&tidy& pretty spacious room with staff essentially polite. Basic stuff like a half decent menu would have got them additional business. Breakfast was ok,few choices for breakfast none of which included beans which we needed to ask for&no hash brown.Poached eggs v.undercooked
6/10
Pleasant
15 Apr 2017
Jane
It was all a bit odd. We were given initially keys to 2 rooms and the rooms were not made up. Finally the third room was offered but no keys. The next day the room was not cleaned, towels changed and we had to ask for more tea and coffee and wash up our cups. Breakfast was tasty and room warm. Staff friendly.
Partner
8/10
Excellent
10 Apr 2017
Wendy

Friendly location

Pretty location and very friendly, helpful staff. Food good and breakfasts plentiful. Room a little bit worn plus the Bed was spacious but not very comfortable so needed an extra quilt to pad it out, but loved the cuddly Fox left on the bed and the staff were extremely helpful/tried to make things right.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
08 Apr 2017
Jacqueline

Clean and freindly

Our stay was very nice the hotel is being updated the food was excellent
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
31 Mar 2017
Robert
Absolutely fantastic,could not have been more helpful. It was exceedingly dog-friendly, beyond our wildest expectations. I would not hesitate to reccomend it to anybody!
Partner
6/10
Pleasant
27 Mar 2017
jessie

Convenient pub stay

The Fox Inn is a beautiful old building, peacefully located in the Dorset countryside. All the staff we met were friendly and helpful.

We stayed in a king size room, but to be honest, I couldn't see much difference between that and the double rooms.

Unfortunately there was a problem with our central heating in the room, so as we walked in it was freezing cold (we stayed in March) and therefore not very welcoming. After two requests and a couple of hours later the problem was fixed and we were able to enjoy the rest of our trip.

Although the room was comfortable for us, I couldn't help notice that it could have been a bit cleaner. There were tea/coffee stains on the bedside cabinet and the inside of the bathroom door was dirty with what looked like spillage stains, but overall the room was clean and tidy.

It would also have been nice to have some information available in the rooms, with the history of the Inn and the owners, wifi code etc.

We had a very enjoyable evening meal in the restaurant, but were slightly disappointed with our breakfast. I ordered eggs benedict which were described on the menu as coming with 'hand carved thick ham', but when it arrived came with bacon. It wasn't mentioned by the lady serving us so I just tucked in, but I wasn't able to eat it anyway due to the overpowering taste of vinegar.

Overall we did enjoy our stay, I just feel that with a bit of tweaking, our stay could have been 'lovely' rather than just 'ok'.
8/10
Excellent
20 Mar 2017
Verified traveler

Pleasant enough and not too expensive

We spent one night in the Fox en route to visit family. The hotel is quite nice and the room was very clean with a comfortable bed.

Breakfast was excellent.

The only disappointment was the evening of arrival. We decided to eat in the pub. Service was awful, I think they had some new starters, but even so, we waited a very long time to be served our drinks & our food.

What had food wise was very good, but we found the menu very limited and pretentious. Apart from fish & chips and an expensive steak, there was nothing on the menu that was of interest.

We ended up with a starter and a plate of chips. After the 'meal' we went back to our room and ate popcorn and biscuits.

Also we were woken up ta 6.15 on a Sunday morning by the 'noisy neighbours' whose footsteps you could here and the TV was blurting out. Very noisy. I'm not sure if they were particularly noisy or the walls are just paper thin.

I don't think I would stay there again although they are dog friendly.
Family
8/10
Excellent
09 Dec 2016
Mark

Relaxing place to stay

A very relaxing and welcoming stay.
Partner
8/10
Excellent
30 Nov 2016
chris

Nice hotel in beautiful country side

Great place good food except the sausages with breakfast were awful!!!! Would stay again though, just wouldn't have the sausages!!
10/10
Exceptional
21 Nov 2016
Rachel

Lovely pub in the middle of nowhere

This was a weekend away with just me and my husband for my Birthday.When we arrived the pub looked lovely and it was situated in the countryside in the middle of nowhere.Inside it had a cosy bar area and a restaurant further a long...we were greeted straight away by friendly staff who explained about our stay and our room.Our room was very big with a big bed.All very clean and very pleasing..the shower was very nice..the only negative comment would be the reception on the TV was pretty poor but that could have been due to bad weather.We had lunch dinner and breakfast here and it was lovely.You can use their free wifi but if you want to send and receive text messages/calls there is no signal out here so I suggest using Whats App to contact anyone as you can do this through the wifi :)
10/10
Exceptional
10 Nov 2016
Mr SAW
A very nice place to stay, rooms were well decorated and the bed was perfect. I would most definitely stay here again if in the area.
Family
8/10
Excellent
08 Nov 2016
Simon

Friendly service.

Good food from their resturant.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
08 Nov 2016
morrigan

Foxy style and comfort

The bed was enormous., you could sink into the mattress, there was a fantastic view from the windows. The ephemera in the inn was interesting and fun, the food was excellent and there was plenty of it.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
07 Nov 2016
Sandra

Best hotel ever!

Our stay was amazing - will definitely go back
Partner
6/10
Pleasant
05 Nov 2016
GRAHAM

Under new ownership - The Fox Inn at Ansty

The property's condition is tired and very urgently in need of renovation but you cannot fault the staff's friendliness nor the quality of the food. New owners have encouraged locals back into the Inn and Saturday's are buzzing there with a full bar and busy restaurant. Note to the new owners: switch all the lights on, brighten the place up, it has a gloomy atmosphere of shadows and dark wood that is off putting to guests.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
28 Oct 2016
Nick

Lovely country hotel

I had a lovely stay. The room was very clean, the staff were a credit to the hotel and could not do enough to help you. Very friendly. I would recommend and stay here again.
8/10
Excellent
27 Sep 2016
Rae

Pleasant, friendly hotel - very dog friendly

Staff were very welcoming and rooms/beds were generous in size. Beds a little squeaky, and couldn't get more than luke warm water in the shower, but as we were only there one night it was not worth a complaint. The breakfast was tasty as was the evening meal, although there was a considerable wait between ordering and eating. Good value all in all, we would return.
Partner
6/10
Pleasant
27 Sep 2016
ChrisP

Very dog friendly, in the sticks

If you like dogs it's great, it's a quiet inn well in the country.
Relaxing holiday, but access road to main road very narrow which makes for lengthy journeys.
Family
8/10
Excellent
09 Sep 2016
Simon

Good walking at The Fox, Ansty

Enjoyed overall
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
02 Sep 2016
gough

hotel close to dorchester and bournemouth.

after a ride through the lanes we arrived at this delightful inn. made to feel welcome, room lovely and clean. would stay here
again.
10/10
Exceptional
09 Aug 2016
Verified traveler

English countryside

Typical English, rustic hotel in the countryside.
Excellent service, cosy bar, good restaurant and very dog friendly. We have enjoyed our stay.
Partner
8/10
Excellent
18 Jul 2016
Pamela

Interesting hotel in the countryside

Good for seeing Dorset and Dorchester. Good straightforward food and helpful staff
10/10
Exceptional
06 Jun 2016
Colin

Great for exploring rural Dorset

Staff were very friendly and helpful. Brilliant food.
10/10
Exceptional
03 May 2016
Rob

Excellent hosts and staff

A very warm welcome given to their two & four legged guests. All staff are very helpful and cannot do enough to make your stay a pleasant one. The food is excellent and very reasonably priced, the Sunday carvery is a must. Would recommend The Fox Inn to everyone.
10/10
Exceptional
01 May 2016
S

Lovely weekend break

Weekend break with husband and dog. Lovely bright comfortable room on top floor. Very clean large king size bed and modern bathroom. Tasty breakfast. Welcoming staff. Walks directly from the hotel. Extremely dog friendly with garden at the back and dogs allowed in all areas apart from the restaurant. Varied menu including several vegetarian options.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
15 Mar 2016
Dave

Village pub in the heart of the Dorset countryside

Have just returned after a wonderful 2-night stay at The Fox Inn, a village pub in the heart of the Dorset countryside. On arrival, check in was painlessly easy and quick; the staff, very friendly and helpful. The room was very clean, if a little small, but adequate for our needs, with free coffee, tea and bottled water. The bathroom was clean, with complementary toiletries. The bar, restaurant and food were excellent and very good value for money. All the staff are very friendly and helpful and nothing is too much trouble. Although we didn’t have any dogs with us, we could see that others with dogs were being very well looked after, but, if you’re not keen on dogs then the restaurant area is totally dog free. If we are in this area again, will definitely stay here.
10/10
Exceptional
14 Mar 2016
Robert
This was a business trip and I really enjoyed the quiet, very friendly, Pub/Hotel location of \"The Fox Inn\". Food and beer in the bar exceptional!!
10/10
Exceptional
24 Feb 2016
Richard
Very relaxing country hotel. Friendly welcome, great food and lovely country setting.
Also very good price
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
18 Feb 2016
Steven

valentine weekend at the Fox Inn

We stayed at the fox inn for a romantic valentines weekend.The staff were very welcoming and friendly.On arrival we had a couple of drinks in the cosy hotel bar and chatted with a few of the locals the whole experience was very informal and made us both feel very relaxed.We ate at the fox both nights. You can eat in the bar or more formally in the restaurant.we chose the restaurant for Valentine's night along with the valentine menu, and it was delicious.The bedroom was clean and tidy. Overall a great weekend.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
02 Feb 2016
Keith

Quant old inn with plenty of history

2 days here was a real treat and both the staff and the food were outstanding. Bit out of the way but well worth it. Will visit again and recommend to anyone that wants a nice quite break.
Partner
8/10
Excellent
23 Dec 2015
Reginald

The Fox Ansty

I have stayed at the Fox Inn on a number of occasions whilst working in the area and have always found it to be comfortable clean and reasonably priced.
The hotel is off the beaten track and ideal if you like the quiet.
This hotel would suit walkers or people wanting a relaxing time away, not far from other places of interest.
8/10
Excellent
22 Dec 2015
Gez

Friendly staff.

Friendly staff and hotel was dated but clean. No phone signal and Wi-Fi is hit and miss. Food was nice and plentiful, breakfast was cooked from order, so hot. Would I stay there again? yes but I would do all my phone calls before hand.
8/10
Excellent
12 Dec 2015
SARAH

Pub with rooms in a rural setting.

The hotel has a very rural setting, we were staying in the area for a family wedding. The hosts were very friendly and accommodating. Breakfast was average. The room was on the small side but adequate for two people and fairly dated but the bedding was very nice. The shower room was new and nicely done.
Family
8/10
Excellent
10 Oct 2015
Helen

Charming, rural 18th Century Inn

Charming, rural 18th Century Inn with a welcoming atmosphere and excellent menu. It is only accessible via several miles of very narrow, twisting country lanes which can be quite testing for the uninitiated. We were only able to get BBC channels on the TV in the room which may be a problem for tele-addicts!
We enjoyed a very pleasant and peaceful time.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
19 Sep 2015
Mark

A lovely welcoming inn

A lovely welcome from thet landlord and staff. Well worth the journey. Room was of a good size but could benefit from a touch more sound insulation. Was very clean and nicely decorated . Bed was comfortable if a littler smaller than we are used to.

Food was excellent both at dinner and the full English breakfast. Will definitely use again when in the area and will enjoy more of the Dorset produce endorsed by the landlord. Especially the Conkers Dry Gin and Black Cow Milk Vodka which are both amazing
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
17 Sep 2015
Richard
Lovely location, very friendly and clean
Family
10/10
Exceptional
05 Sep 2015
Lee

dog friendly Fox Inn

A lovely experience. Set amongst beautiful countryside. Lovely friendly hosts who want you to enjoy your stay with them. A comfortable country inn serving really tasty food and a good selection of real ales. The pie I had for tea was exceptional. Our dog was made welcome too! We will return.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
28 Aug 2015
steve

Quiet country inn

Quite difficult to find but once there it!s a lovely inn.

Room very spacious and well appointed. On-suite very nice.

Both dinner and breakfast very good.

Staff very friendly and helpful.

Will definetly stay again.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
23 Aug 2015
stevrn

Perfect dog friendly country hotel.

a lovely country hotel with friendly welcoming staff. Cosy bar downstairs with large restaurant. Bedrooms were clean tidy and comfortable. Breakfast tasted like it was fresh local produce. Hotel is very dog friendly hotel but clean and tidy throughout. Will definitely be going back.
10/10
Exceptional
10 Aug 2015
Stuart

Great family run hotel

Enjoyable stay in this lovely family run hotel. Very friendly, good food and we had a comfortable room. Located in a beautiful part of the country. Off the beaten track but close to civilisation.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
07 Aug 2015
Shaun

Brilliantly situated

What a wonderful experience.
We stayed for two nights in this gorgeous inn.
Well maintained, wonderful breakfast; excellent staff, a lovely clean airy room.
And some lovely local real ales.
Ha d a wonderful time and we will return if we are down there again in the future.
We have already recommended them to our friends.
8/10
Excellent
06 Aug 2015
jeff

Good hotel with interesting history

Interesting hotel located in convenieñt quiet location ,very comfortable room with newly refurbished bathroom,excellentchoice breakfast menu.Could not find anything to be critical of
8/10
Excellent
05 Aug 2015
Guy

An interesting hotel in a very rural setting.

A comfortable hotel that serves good food. It is set in a small village in the Dorset countryside. The staff are polite and helpful. I found the stairs very difficult as I suffer from a collapsed vertebra in my spine and we were on the top floor. My only grumble is that it is difficult to locate, even with a sat nav.
10/10
Exceptional
27 Jul 2015
Verified traveler
It was a very comfortable stay in a welcoming Inn in an excellent location. I would recommend a stay here.
10/10
Exceptional
18 Jun 2015
Verified traveler
Excellent dinner and breakfast.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
06 Jun 2015
Mr S J

FOX INN - WILL RETURN

VERY PLEASANT STAY. STAFF EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND FRIENDLY. FOOD EXCELLENT
Partner
6/10
Pleasant
02 Jun 2015
Peter

Well worth a stay

Comfortable enough, but the walls are quite thin, heard snoring from both sides. Staff were excellent though.
Family
8/10
Excellent
18 May 2015
Verified traveler

Great one night stay

Lovely pub. Good food, accommodation, very helpful staff. A really good one night stay when touring the area.
6/10
Pleasant
17 May 2015
Angela

A little off the beaten track.

A little off the beaten track but nestling in the beautiful Dorset countryside so well worth the effort to get to the places we wanted to visit. Rooms large with a good en-suite and king-sized bed. Breakfasts were superb with a choice of three cooked, cereals, fresh fruit, yoghurt, toast and jams etc. Plenty to set you up for the day. Evening meals were ok. Staff friendly and helpful.
Partner
8/10
Excellent
21 Apr 2015
Chris

Quiet country pub/hotel

Very friendly atmosphere.Keith and Sharon were excellent hosts. The room was clean.the bed comfortable and the towels were supersoft. The Fox is in a lovely quiet area with excellent walks all around.The food and drinks excellent.
Family
8/10
Excellent
28 Mar 2015
Martin

.

nice 4 night stay in a very quiet part of Dorset. The only thing I didn't like about this hotel was the lack of soundproofing and creaky floors
6/10
Pleasant
13 Mar 2015
Megan

Quiet hideaway in Dorset.

Nice B and B in a remote location (car is a must). Great base for walking and seeing Dorset.

Bed: Comfortable room. Clean enough but could be better. Bed wasn't the best. Rubbish mattress and squeaked every time you so much as turned over.
Breakfast: ok. Fruit was old and the cereal was slightly stale but they provide a good choice including a fry up.

As a pub, it wants to be a local pub for local people which is fine but seems to need the business of the \"residents\". Most staff very friendly to us but on at least 2 occasions we were left waiting to order a drink while the landlord chatted loudly to locals (having made eye contact and ignored us). Eventually served by \"staff\".

Food was mediocre and over priced. And things on the already limited menu were unavailable.
The menu on the website not even close to what they offer (I'm writing this in March 2015 - in case that changes)!
Except the carvery. Excellent carvery. Good value!

A number of Hall and Woodhouse pubs in the area offer a better menu at reasonable prices with excellent service. We opted to eat at those instead.

All in all we would probably not stay there again.
10/10
Exceptional
02 Mar 2015
Verified traveler

Friendly and comfortable place to stay

Warm welcome. Clean rooms with very nice on-suite shower room. Nice touches included complimentary bottles of water. Great value.

Location & surroundings

The Fox Inn
Lower Ansty, Dorchester, United Kingdom

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The Fox Inn

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