King’s Arms, Dorchester: Difference between revisions

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{{coord|50.7157|-2.4359|display=title|region:GB_scale:5000}}

{{coord|50.7157|-2.4359|display=title|region:GB_scale:5000}}

[[File:Kings Arms Hotel, Dorchester – geograph.org.uk – 4042207.jpg|thumb|The King’s Arms, Dorchester, viewed from the east]]

[[File:Kings Arms Hotel, Dorchester – geograph.org.uk – 4042207.jpg|thumb|The King’s Arms, Dorchester, viewed from the east]]

”’The King’s Arms”’ is a [[pub]], [[restaurant]] and 28-bedroom [[hotel]] in, [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]], [[Dorset]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nash |first1=Vicky |title=Inside reopened hotel as customers ‘thrilled’ with venue’s return |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/18728625.inside-kings-arms-5m-transformation-customers-thrilled-hotel-reopening/ |access-date=8 August 2023 |work=[[Dorset Echo]] |date=18 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Russello |first1=Sabrina |title=The King’s Arms, Dorchester: a charming escape two hours from London |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/escapist/the-kings-arms-hotel-review-dorchester-dorset-b1056591.html |work=Evening Standard |date=15 February 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Howse |first1=Christopher |title=”I”ve shared a platform with worse people. As a journalist one cannot always choose’: Christopher Howse’s Notebook |url=https://www.thetablet.co.uk/columnists/3/13558/-i-ve-shared-a-platform-with-worse-people-as-a-journalist-one-cannot-always-choose- |website=[[The Tablet]] |access-date=8 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref> It is grade II* listed.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1110587|desc=King’s Arms Hotel|accessdate=8 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Murphy |first1=Thomas Dowler |title=On Old-World Highways |date=1914 |publisher=Boston, L. C. Page |pages=300–302 |url=https://archive.org/details/onoldworldhighwa00murprich/page/300/mode/2up}}</ref> ”[[The Buildings of England]]” describes its frontage as a “fine expansive…composition”, with an attached [[assembly room]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hill |first1=Michael |last2=Newman |first2=John |last3=Pevsner |first3=Nikolaus |author2-link=John Newman (architectural historian) |author3-link=Nikolaus Pevsner |title=Dorset |date=2018 |page=252|publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven London |isbn=9780300224788}}</ref> It is a former [[coaching inn]] and existed by the eighteenth century.<ref>{{cite book |title=Ryall’s New Weymouth Guide |date=1790 |publisher=J. Ryall |location=Weymouth |page=67 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9hQ-arhnnLUC&pg=PA67 |access-date=8 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Savage |first1=James |author-link=James Savage (antiquary)|title=The History of Dorchester During the British, Roman, Saxon, and Norman Periods: With an Account of Its Present State |date=1833 |publisher=Weston, Simonds & Sydenham |pages=217–218 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-p5YAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA217 |access-date=8 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

”’The King’s Arms”’ is a [[pub]], [[restaurant]] and 28-bedroom [[hotel]] in [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]], [[Dorset]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nash |first1=Vicky |title=Inside reopened hotel as customers ‘thrilled’ with venue’s return |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/18728625.inside-kings-arms-5m-transformation-customers-thrilled-hotel-reopening/ |access-date=8 August 2023 |work=[[Dorset Echo]] |date=18 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Russello |first1=Sabrina |title=The King’s Arms, Dorchester: a charming escape two hours from London |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/escapist/the-kings-arms-hotel-review-dorchester-dorset-b1056591.html |work=Evening Standard |date=15 February 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Howse |first1=Christopher |title=”I”ve shared a platform with worse people. As a journalist one cannot always choose’: Christopher Howse’s Notebook |url=https://www.thetablet.co.uk/columnists/3/13558/-i-ve-shared-a-platform-with-worse-people-as-a-journalist-one-cannot-always-choose- |website=[[The Tablet]] |access-date=8 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref> It is grade II* listed.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1110587|desc=King’s Arms Hotel|accessdate=8 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Murphy |first1=Thomas Dowler |title=On Old-World Highways |date=1914 |publisher=Boston, L. C. Page |pages=300–302 |url=https://archive.org/details/onoldworldhighwa00murprich/page/300/mode/2up}}</ref> ”[[The Buildings of England]]” describes its frontage as a “fine expansive…composition”, with an attached [[assembly room]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hill |first1=Michael |last2=Newman |first2=John |last3=Pevsner |first3=Nikolaus |author2-link=John Newman (architectural historian) |author3-link=Nikolaus Pevsner |title=Dorset |date=2018 |page=252|publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven London |isbn=9780300224788}}</ref> It is a former [[coaching inn]] and existed by the eighteenth century.<ref>{{cite book |title=Ryall’s New Weymouth Guide |date=1790 |publisher=J. Ryall |location=Weymouth |page=67 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9hQ-arhnnLUC&pg=PA67 |access-date=8 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Savage |first1=James |author-link=James Savage (antiquary)|title=The History of Dorchester During the British, Roman, Saxon, and Norman Periods: With an Account of Its Present State |date=1833 |publisher=Weston, Simonds & Sydenham |pages=217–218 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-p5YAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA217 |access-date=8 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

It was bought and entirely refurbished by The Stay Original Company, a Somerset-based operator of West Country hotels, and reopened in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gillilan |first=Lesley |date=2020-12-03 |title=The return of Thomas Hardy’s favourite haunt, the King’s Arms, Dorchester – review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/dec/03/thomas-hardy-favourite-hotel-inn-kings-arms-dorchester-review |access-date=2026-01-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

It was bought and entirely refurbished by The Stay Original Company, a Somerset-based operator of West Country hotels, and reopened in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gillilan |first=Lesley |date=2020-12-03 |title=The return of Thomas Hardy’s favourite haunt, the King’s Arms, Dorchester – review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/dec/03/thomas-hardy-favourite-hotel-inn-kings-arms-dorchester-review |access-date=2026-01-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Pub and hotel in Dorchester, Dorset, England

50°42′57″N 2°26′09″W / 50.7157°N 2.4359°W / 50.7157; -2.4359

The King’s Arms, Dorchester, viewed from the east

The King’s Arms is a pub, restaurant and 28-bedroom hotel in Dorchester, Dorset.[1][2][3] It is grade II* listed.[4][5] The Buildings of England describes its frontage as a “fine expansive…composition”, with an attached assembly room.[6] It is a former coaching inn and existed by the eighteenth century.[7][8]

It was bought and entirely refurbished by The Stay Original Company, a Somerset-based operator of West Country hotels, and reopened in 2021.[9]

It features in Thomas Hardy’s novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge.[10] Casterbridge is the fictionalised version of Dorchester and Thomas Hardy was a regular at The King’s Arms.[11] Other notable guests include Admiral Nelson, Queen Victoria, King George IV, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ Nash, Vicky (18 September 2020). “Inside reopened hotel as customers ‘thrilled’ with venue’s return”. Dorset Echo. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  2. ^ Russello, Sabrina (15 February 2023). “The King’s Arms, Dorchester: a charming escape two hours from London”. Evening Standard.
  3. ^ Howse, Christopher. “‘I’ve shared a platform with worse people. As a journalist one cannot always choose’: Christopher Howse’s Notebook”. The Tablet. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  4. ^ Historic England. “King’s Arms Hotel (1110587)”. National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  5. ^ Murphy, Thomas Dowler (1914). On Old-World Highways. Boston, L. C. Page. pp. 300–302.
  6. ^ Hill, Michael; Newman, John; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2018). Dorset. New Haven London: Yale University Press. p. 252. ISBN 9780300224788.
  7. ^ Ryall’s New Weymouth Guide. Weymouth: J. Ryall. 1790. p. 67. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  8. ^ Savage, James (1833). The History of Dorchester During the British, Roman, Saxon, and Norman Periods: With an Account of Its Present State. Weston, Simonds & Sydenham. pp. 217–218. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  9. ^ Gillilan, Lesley (3 December 2020). “The return of Thomas Hardy’s favourite haunt, the King’s Arms, Dorchester – review”. The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  10. ^ “Thomas Hardy hotel in Dorchester revamp ‘imminent’“. BBC News. 5 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  11. ^ “The King’s Arms Rich History”. thekingsarmsdorchester.com. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  12. ^ “Thomas Hardy hotel in Dorchester reopens after revamp”. BBC News. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  13. ^ “Hotel History The King’s Arms Dorchester”. 23 February 2024.

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