The Cricketers

Fantastic beer garden, we just completed a walk and was lovely to sit and have a drink. Ordered two of the "proper" pies. Only staying for the weekend or would be going back.

great service, great food and great atmosphere - enjoyed beers, excellent menu with plenty of choice- food excellent quality very tasty , perfectly cooked and full of flavour - good value - locals and bar staff really welcoming and friendly - highly recommend

Excellent... wow what a welcome from such a nice young guy... first pub after COVID 19.. definitely eating here ... great menu... wonderful place... definitely worth returning

What an absolute gem of a pub. Delightful staff and great atmosphere. Great mozzarella sticks!

I eat here with a friend ,early tea time .the girl who served our table was very attentive, the food was brought to the table quickly. Their were 10 other dinner's too..I imagine we sat in the newly extended part of the public house . As we finished our food their was live music . Clean well decorated with a friendly atmosphere. My friend and I were very happy.

A crackin' food menu, friendly staff, lovely atmosphere!

Absolutely wonderful gastro pub. Fantastic service did was beautiful. Highly recommended, very relaxing.

Driving home from the Dorset coast, we saw the road signs to the cricketers pub and decided to call in and have something to eat. The food was excellent and the staff very pleasant. Will certainly call in again when passing.

Great lunch, great service, great staff, lovely environment, beautifully clean, fantastic specials menu. And a superb pint. What could be better? Highly recommend (and I’m fussy). Also met the landlord and Landlady and they couldn’t have been more hospitable.

Service was second to none. It was such a pleasant surprise. The Sunday lunch was excellent and so tasty, and excellent value for money. An unbelievable change from what we had experienced a year or more ago. Although we sat outside, we had frequent from a member of staff to ensure all was OK. Highy recommended.

Had the most amazing Sunday lunch to celebrate a special 93rd birthday. The staff decorated specially in just the perfect window area of the pub. The atmosphere is so welcoming including kids and even the dogs! The staff and service was just excellent. Sunday lunch we all immediately opted for the Roast beef which was cooked to perfection and comes with a huge Yorkshire pudding, roasties, all your fave veggies and the best stuffing I've ever tasted! Pudding was an easy choice for most with an all time fave of Sticky Toffee Pudding but I chose the Rice Pudding with apples & homemade honeycomb.....every mouthful tasted like apple crumble, it was delicious. Coffee and birthday cake to end a wonderful lunch in a gorgeous setting which even included a quick trip to the playpark conveniently located across the street :) We will absolutely be back!!! ♡

We booked Sunday lunch here as we were going for a walk up the bit hill (Hambledon?) beforehand. We really wanted a roast but were initially put off by some bad reviews. We had starters- both nacho types- delicious! and then based on our waitresses recommendation one of us had the beef roast. It was generous and tasted great. The potatoes were better than the ones I make at home which seems to usually be hard for a pub to achieve with en masse cooking. The other mains were fine/good/no complaints but the roast was the winner. Our waitress was brilliant. She was very attentive, friendly, provided kids cutlery and checked in regularly to see if we had everything we needed. There was a nice atmosphere inside and the playground just across the road was a great plus to enjoy after we'd finished the meal before going home. Thank you

We had the best night at the Cricketers for my brother's birthday. The lady who served us was an absolute credit, she was all on her own but was never flustered and always smiling. She made our evening. She could not do enough and was absolutely wonderful! Thank you :-)

We live a few villages away from Shroton so we don’t come here very often but when we do we always have a great time they do brilliant pub quizzes here on Wednesdays which we enjoy! However yesterday we had houseguests and wanted to eat out which is not easy in Rural North Dorset on a Monday but the cricketers was open and the kitchen was serving a delicious menu! As always the food, service and atmosphere were excellent even though it was a Monday the place did not seem empty although it was much quieter than later in the week or at the weekend. Highly recommended!

I had a lovely time at the cricketers over the weekend while attending their mini festival. It was suitable for all ages and the highlight was the adult silent disco! The food was very good quality and they catered amazingly to my dietary requirements. The drinks were lovely and lots to choose from! The management and staff were so friendly and work incredibly hard, it’s a must visit pub. I look forward to returning soon!

Excellent as always. Very friendly, welcoming and attentive staff and the food is really tasty with lots to choose from on the menu. They have a great gluten free selection on starters, mains and puds. They do burger, steak and pie nights which are a must and a great selection for vegans. Overall a really enjoyable meal at a fantastic little pub, thanks for a couple of great nights.

Had some food in the cricketers recently and the new owners are absolutely fantastic. The food was immense and a great village pub atmosphere. We were made to feel very welcome and will definitely be returning. If you're in the area this pub is a must

I recently visited the newly taken-over Cricketers, and the transformation is impressive. The ambiance is vibrant, the staff is friendly, and the menu offers a delightful mix of classic and innovative dishes. The new management has breathed new life into this pub, making it a must-visit for both regulars and newcomers alike.

We prebooked a table at The Cricketers and mentioned that it was a surprise 90th Birthday celebration for my Auntie. My daughter and granddaughter arrived beforehand after travelling for 3 hrs and had decorations and a cake. They were 'blown away' to see the balloons, banners, flowers and even a Birthday Badge already set up by the staff. This was very much aporeciated and we had a fantastic time making memories with four generations. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and couldn't have asked for anything better. Thank you so much to all the lovely, kind and friendly staff who went above and beyond for us. I would highly recommend a visit for a drink or an excellent meal. This was our first visit but we will certainly be visiting again.

Lovely pub 1st class friendly staff. Food very good fair price. Table cloths on all table and pink roses replaced every week. Disabled toilet. My partner said it was the best cod and chips she had. Lovely little village, with a large green across the road from the pub. Large outdoor garden. Average size car park.

I recently popped into The Cricketers with my wife for a meal, and we were really impressed. I went for the surf and turf, which was cooked perfectly. The steak was juicy, and the prawns had that lovely fresh bite to them. My wife had the burger, and she couldn’t stop commenting on how flavourful and well put together it was. Proper pub grub done right. What really stood out, though, was the service. The young ginger-haired girl working that shift was brilliant. Attentive without being intrusive, friendly, and really made us feel welcome. She kept an eye on our table, made sure our drinks were topped up, and added that personal touch you don’t always get. All in all, a great little spot with good food and even better service. We’ll definitely be back.

We had the pleasure of dining at the Chricketers last night, marking our second visit in just a few weeks. The kitchen staff truly deserve commendation, as my meal—liver—was exceptional, much like the Sunday lunch I enjoyed previously. My three friends also relished their dishes, which were not only delicious but also generously portioned and beautifully presented. The staff consistently provide friendly and attentive service, contributing to the pub's warm and inviting atmosphere. Overall, I would rate this experience a perfect 10/10; it's definitely a place worth visiting. PS. Also very dog friendly. Thanks for looking after us, and a very delicious meal 👍🏻

What a lovely little pub! The team was so lovely and accommodating to us and the food was excellent! Highly recommend a visit if you're in the area

1st time visiting. I had the calves' liver, and it was on point. Full of flavour and tasty as hell. My wife had the catch of the day, which was hake. The fish was a generous portion with a lovely crisp batter. 2 kids had the pasta, which was a very generous portion, and the kids' buger was also good value for money. I have been a chef for 30 years in the industry, and could not fault the food or service. We will definitely return.

Me and my family of 4 went for a Mother’s Day meal, greeted with smiles, service was amazing considering it’s was a busy day and the mothers got gifted flowers after the meal what a beautiful touch! Would like the thank the 3 young lady’s that served us, lily, rose and unfortunately I didn’t catch the other girls name that also served us, we all had the roasts and they were absolutely delicious and the deserts were absolutely gorgeous! 100/10

What a delightful little pub! Well signposted from the road, and perfect when every other pub we'd driven past, had been closed! Although we didn't eat, what we saw coming out looked wonderful. I was most impressed by the ladies (a strange thing to say, I know) there was a box on the back of the toilet that had a selection of sanitary products, for anyone caught short, and then on the sink, a basket of all sorts of essentials, hand cream, Hairspray, a bit of deo, Kirkby grips, hairbands...it was such an act of kindness and a show of faith to others that this was all available and free for anyone to use. Thank you for the lovely experience!

Accommodating to gluten free and vegan very good!

Really friendly pub great selection of snacks at lunchtime, perfect place to stop when on route to some of the nearby historic sights, the food was so good.

Service was friendly and the atmosphere was nice. However the food was quite lacking. The fish and chips ingredients seemed to have been downgraded and tasted like nothing. We were not very happy with the liver and bacon dish either. Everything looked and tasted like it was just taken from the freezer and warmed up. On Sundays they have a limited menu. According to a sign at the door the place is under new management.

Great food and some fine ales.Really enjoyed the London Pride. Excellent fish and chips (the large was LARGE!) Cheddar and stilton souffle starter was delicious as was the baked camembert to share. And the creme brulee with champagne sorbet and shortbread was delicious. We booked a table and it was very busy for a Saturday but there was room forwalk-ins. The pub is much bigger than I remember. Last time I visited was probably in the 1970's ! Staff provided a very friendly service too.

Lovely place for a stopoff. After a walk around Hambledon hill.

A wonderful pub with wonderful staff. Well worth a detour off the Shaftesbury / Blandford road. A great menu selection using local produce. We had The Cricketer and The Fisherman option in malted roll. Both with great fresh ingredients. Will certainly visit again.

just another food pub but the beer selection was great

Exceptionally friendly staff, full of smiles and consideration. Food was fairly priced and well presented. The menu had a typical variation. Sadly the steak was a little over seasoned with black pepper and partially overcooked, but it was not enough to consider sending back. Still enjoyable. I would consider feedback to suggest that the peppercorn sauce is made with green, white or pink peppercorns and the overkill of black pepper was too much. Desserts were great. Starters hot and fresh. Parking only has 1 disabled bay. The place is also dog friendly whilst being cosy and clean.

Comfortable pub with pool table. Quiet. Christmas group dinner there recently. Food was - for typical pub fare - excellent. Cream of artichoke soup. Great turkey with all trimmings. The chocolate mousse’ish cake had a great base but the mousse was far too sweet and was not a dark chocolate. Service was prompt (we were only customers) but she needs to learn to lighten up and at least look interested and friendly - early days. Thanks and see you again.

Just a nice place to meet for Lunch or an evening celebration. Very well laid out, good menu, great food and excellent service. Will definitely visit again with the family in 2026. Regards Terry 🧑‍🎄🌲🧑‍🎄

Food was fine but the 2 men in the party felt that the portions were on the small side for them (they had the Sweet potato curry) and for the price. Felt a bit on the steep price side compared to other local pubs. The main issue for us was the overzealous service, twice they came to clear the table when one of the guests was still eating and instead of stepping back they cleared the dishes. This is basic waitressing training, wait until everyone has finished before clearing the table ! We had to chase for coffees and bill twice. Finally when the bill was presented to us, in bold were the tip options (15%, 20% or 25% !!), again a bit overzealous I would say......

A well presented pub, looks nice inside and out. Food was alright, burgers were nice, moist meat with a nice sauce but very heavy. Scampi was nice and light. Steak was very chewy and didn't look like a nice cut. Pudding however was very nice and tje portions were very big. Service - we were looked after well but the service was slow and we felt like we were forgotten about.

I am so disappointed. Was an awful Sunday roast we have just experienced. The carrot and coriander soup was lovely , just not very hot. The beef was very rare and very tough... I couldn't cut it , I had to pull it apart. The broccoli was tough. It wasn't very hot . No stuffing because they had been busy ? Wouldn't return , what a waste of £90

Came here on a Saturday evening at 18:30. The entire pub was empty apart from one table and now I know why. We ordered the curry from the specials board (smallest portion I've ever seen, no naan bread), a portion of dirty fries and a mackerel and sourdough starter. The entire plate of chicken curry and rice had clearly been microwaved, it had that overly hot and overcooked texture to it. The dirty fries weren't even fresh, a few bits of crispy bacon, all of the cheese lifted off in one slab and the tomatoes/onions were wet and warm, not cooked or flavoursome. I would've been embarrassed to serve those to the children at home. The mackerel. Well it was just mashed mackerel and a piece of sourdough bread with a drizzle of oil across it. Not overly flavoursome. I've eaten here many times over the years and it used to be great. For someone who regularly eats out between Blandford/Shaftesbury and the surrounding villages. I would recommend any other pub you can find. It'll certainly be the last time we ever eat here. Finally finished, plates taken, not a "would you like the dessert menu" or "how was your meal" they didn't get anything right. They will be closed by Christmas if this continues. £44 for 2 drinks, a small bowl of microwaved curry, some chips, a small piece of bread and some mashed fish. Avoid. I don't often feel the need to leave reviews of a negative experience, but if you're reading this, please book elsewhere. UPDATE following response. Not once were we asked by your waitress. Everyone at the table can confirm that! Neither have you tried to address the comments made regarding the quality, portion size or price of your food. It clearly demonstrates the exact attitude and non-caring experience that we witnessed. A slightly sarcastic/passive aggressive response around Christmas does you no favours. If you have one table eating on a Saturday evening whilst every other pub nearby is fully booked, you really won't be here before Christmas. This is a small village and you've set a reputation that sadly, for you, will not recover under your ownership.