Where to Stay in Dorset, England – Hunters Moon
West Country Inns with Hotel Accommodations Include Historic Pub
Sep 19, 2009
Visitors wondering where to stay in England’s West Country will find the Hunters Moon in Dorset a comfortable and inviting choice. About 10 miles north of Dorchester and 6 miles south of Sherborne on the A352, the Hunters Moon is located in the village of Middlemarsh, called Marshwood in Thomas Hardy’s novel The Woodlanders.
A traditional mid-18th century coaching inn formerly known as the White Horse Inn, the Hunters Moon was completely renovated and renamed in 2000. Visitors to the pub will find photographs of the old inn and the surrounding village on the pub walls. Today the Hunters Moon offers a bit of local history along with modern accommodations, fine ales and excellent dining.
Owned by Dean and Emma Mortimer, the Hunters Moon is a family run pub and it, along with the couple’s young daughters Amy and Neve, keeps the Mortimers busy. Dean is a third generation publican and an executive chef. His grandparents owned three pubs in his native Yorkshire and after working in hotels in several countries, including Australia, Dean decided it was time to do it for himself.
Hotel Accommodations at the Hunters Moon
The Hunters Moon offers eight en-suite rooms accessed through a separate entrance from the pub.
- Four standard double rooms for singles or doubles with shower, television and tea and coffee making facilities
- Four extra-large rooms with king size beds, sofa, shower, television and tea and coffee making facilities.
The extra-large rooms can accommodate singles, doubles and families. All rooms are tastefully decorated and some offer views of the surrounding countryside. The rooms are suitable for one night stays or longer, and can also be reserved for groups. Rates range from £50 per night for single occupancy to £85 per night for a family and include breakfast.
Pub Food and Facilities at the Hunters Moon
In country inns, where to stay also means where to eat and the Hunters Moon has a delicious answer to that question. Although able to fill in in a pinch, Dean employs a full time chef for the daily lunches and dinners.
Browsing the menu, starters include such treats as cheesy garlic mushrooms, traditional prawn salad, and warm smoked duck resting on a stilton crouton. Char-grill items include steaks and fish, and Great British Pub Favorites feature breast of chicken filled with mushrooms and bacon, slow roasted lamb shank in a rosemary and wine sauce, and of course fish and chips. Pizza lovers should not miss the eleven inch thin-crust pizza with roasted vine tomato and basil.
The pub is filled with horse brasses, china, old photographs, a collection of antique sewing machines, and lots of mini bottles. The bar and dining areas offer seating for 100 and the outdoor beer garden seats 68. The pub is pet friendly, kid friendly and offers ample parking for cars and coaches. In winter, there are real log fires.
Attractions and Things to do in Dorset
The nearest town is Sherborne with its ancient abbey, two castles and great shopping. Dorchester, the County Town of Dorset, offers several outstanding museums including the Dinosaur Museum and the Tutankhamun Exhibition. The nearby town of Cerne Abbas is where the famous hillside chalk giant can be seen, and just driving through the lanes in Dorset looking at thatched roofed English country cottages and the panoramic views from the hilltops is a treat.
In the middle of it all is the Hunters Moon, an excellent base for exploring Dorset and the West Country. For more information on hotel accommodations, pub dining and facility hire, contact Dean or Emma at the Hunters Moon. In England, call 01963 210966.
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