The Fontmell
The Fontmell descritpion
With a stylish library-themed restaurant serving a seasonal menu, The Fontmell also has individually designed bedrooms. Local real ales and unusual wines are served in the modern and eclectically furnished bar.
Full English breakfasts are served in The Fontmell’s dining room and a light lunch menu is also available. A babbling stream runs between the bar and the restaurant.
Each contemporary and elegant room has free Wi-Fi access, a flat-screen TV and a DVD player. A range of films on DVD can be borrowed to watch in the room.
Free private parking is available and fishing is possible on the lakes at Todber Manor Fisheries, just a 10-minute drive away. Shaftesbury town centre is also within a 10 minutes’ drive of this guest accommodation. The ornate Larmer Tree Gardens can be reached after a 15-minute car journey.
Recommand
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The staff speaks English——The Fontmell's staff speaks:English
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Facilities of The Fontmell
Outdoors ：Grounds
Pets ：Free!Pets are allowed on request. No extra charges.
Activities ：Library
Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar | Restaurant with Dining Menu
Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Parking ：Free!Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).
General ：Newspapers | Non-smoking Rooms | Heating | Hypoallergenic room available | All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)
Reviews for The Fontmell
Review 1：Absolutely nothing - completely faultless
Review 2：Absolutely superb, from check in with friendly staff to superb luxury accommodation. Absolutely loved the crisp linen bedding and down quilt. And for gorgeous fluffy towels Excellent tea and coffee tray with fresh milk concluded with a superb breakfast in an ambiance akin to the title . We had a pet dog with us that received the same welcome and gave us the confidence to visit many times
Review 3：Mostly to do with the eating experience : long waits for food; disappointing evening meal and breakfast was ordinary.
Review 4：We were upgraded because equipment on our allocated room did not work. Our room was lovely; spacious, light,comfortable and quirky.
Review 5：Very noisy of a night.The room which we had was dog friendly. It was quite small. Our friends room was bigger and would have been much better suited to someone travelling with a dog.
Review 6：Good restaurant and bar with friendly staff
Review 7：Evening meal poor quality, when helen ordered the duck breast and asked for it to be cooked so not pink, chefs answer we only do it pink, No side veg, waitress not good, needs training, Breakfast when brought to the table looked delicious but all the food cold, Waitress really charming,whatever you do don't criticise the chef, he thinks he's something he ain't , they need to look at there customer relations,
Review 8：The room,
Review 9：We weren't staying longer
Review 10：We were made very welcome on our arrival by Ed and Justine; all through our stay and on departure it felt like we would return very soon...!!!
Review 11：The noise from a wedding party at 1.30am which woke us up. Also the waitress in the morning was not very attentive at all - we waited ages before she asked us what we wanted to eat and the service after that was not good. The staff in the evening were very good though.
Review 12：Loved the location, the bedroom and the food.
Review 13：There was a mix up with our room to start with as someone else's luggage had been left in there. It took a little while for the staff to work it out, but they were so apologetic about the confusion and offered complimentary drinks and graceful apologies while the mix up was resolved. Victory snatched from the jaws of defeat! Thanks and well done.
Review 14：The room (the Papillon) was directly over the bar, which was advertised as closing at 11pm on a Thursday. Unfortunately, a member of staff decided to have a lock-in with his friends and at 11pm they cranked up the music. The music went off at midnight but they continued to talk loudly until 1am despite me going down to the bar at 12.30am and telling them that we were being disturbed. We informed the waitress/receptionist/cleaner of this at breakfast the next morning. On checking out she advised us that management had authorised a 20% discount off our room rate, but there was no apology from, or discussion with, management. Just seemed unprofessional and cold, which was upsetting given that we had explained to them that this was a rare night away from our two small kids (so were hoping for a good night's sleep) and was booked in celebration of our wedding anniversary.
Review 15：Lovely room and bathroom, comfortable bed, very hearty full English breakfast in the morning nicely cooked. Restaurant food was nice but not spectacular and, in my opinion, over-priced.
Review 16：The coffee pot in the room was not cleaned out so the grounds remained. Would have liked an earlier breakfast at the weekend.
Review 17：Excellent breakfast. Ground coffee in the room. Separate shower. Friendly staff.
Review 18：On busy well travelled A350 road. Steep stairs to rooms and narrow steep stairs up to MallyShag room.
Review 19：Very comfortable bed and clean well appointed room. Nice pub with enthusiastic staff. Nice Restaurant
Review 20：The room we were in was the Mallyshag and it was stunning with a very comfortable bed it was the perfect place to end our wedding day. The staff were very accommodating with a key early in the day as we wouldn't be able to arrive in time later to check in and the breakfast was delicious
Review 21：Rooms heating system was centrally controlled leading to a v hot room. Hotel was being renovated (scaffolding outside) - didnt affect stay but would have been nice to know
Review 22：Good food, Friendly staff
Review 23：Lack of information at Salisbury or Gold Hill information centre and some confusion as how to get to the location.
Review 24：Lovely staff, food,rooms and locale.
Review 25：No shaver point to plug our electric toothbrushes in to. If you could provide a two pin plug adaptor in each room that would be great.
Review 26：The staff were very friendly and helpful. The breakfast was extremely nice and the dining area very relaxed and attractive. Our bedroom was in a lovely shabby chic style and the en-suite very attractive, modern and clean.
Review 27：The staff acted a bit like it was their first day. My other half was offered tea or coffee at breakfast but I wasn't. We weren't given any toast. Plates were whipped away with lightning speed. The portions at dinner were rather small, although the food itself was delicious.
Review 28：Lovely old building Beautifully decorated, well-appointed and comfortable room Interesting menu with local produce
Review 29：Even for a "bargain" room, disappointing! shower shocking, tiny wash basin, excessive noise from refrigeration machinery on roof! Shame as a little more attention to detail would make the size of the room not matter, as furnishings so good.
Review 30：lovely staff, especially in dining room, great feel about the place, dinner excellent and breakfast even better. Good variety of real ales. Bed really comfortable, quality!
Review 31：The room had suffered a leak two weeks prior to our stay so bad musty smell. This was dealt with quickly and we were given that night for free which was satisfactory. Fresh juice at breakfast would reflect better the standard they are trying to achieve.
Review 32：The room was large with a bathroom to die for. Nicely decorated and incredibly comfortable bed. Breakfasts were good.
Review 33：Upper room very hot (30 degrees) Overpriced. Felt we had to ask for everything (milk for coffee, toast for breakfast etc) It was great as a place to eat but no a good place to stay (they deposited glass recycling outside our window at just gone midnight!!) This really is a pub with rooms not a boutique hotel.
Review 34：Food was lovely.
Review 35：Nothing - perhaps if being picky - new carpets on the stairs/ landing leading to the rooms.
Review 36：Our third visit and looking forward to our fourth. The room we booked wasnt available due to a plumbing issue but apart from that, everything else was perfect. Staff are fantastic, food excellent (breakfast and dinner) and the service was first class as usual. We feel very well looked after at The Fontmell and will definitely return.
Review 37：Fan in bathroom wouldn't turn off. Kept me awake all night. Shower in poor repair.
Review 38：The food was very impressive.
Review 39：the draughty staircase
Review 40：the food and service
Review 41：helpful people and location
Review 42：Bit noisy in the bedroom until the bar closed at 11pm
Review 43：Rooms were lovely and very well presented. Food was great and staff friendly but professional
Review 44：The food was excellant
Review 45：Nothing
Review 46：Food, drink and quality of rooms
Review 47：Room size a bit too small to be comfortable. Wifi poor.
Review 48：Dining room and evening meal excellent.
Review 49：Terific room with huge bath which was fabulous and the food - wow!!!
Review 50：Beautiful room, excellent food and very friendly staff and locals
Review 51：Quirky boutique like hotel decor. Wonderful food. helpful and very accommodating staff
Review 52：Too near the road. Steep stairs with little help to start with and then when leaving.
Review 53：Restaurant and food excellent. Friendly staff.
Review 54：Excellent food, staff and setting.
Review 55：I had to go to work every day
Review 56：Nice rooms, nice staff, nice food, lovely beer and friendly locals
Review 57：beautifull room lovely staff and lovely breakfast
Review 58：It would have been better if on the site there was a note that evening meal should be booked beforehand. Although we ate well it was not possible until later. Shower not brilliant, would have liked a wardrobe not hangers on hooks.
Review 59：The staff very friendly. We had an evening meal which was very good indeed.
Review 60：We have been unfortunate to stay in a small room with a baby cot. But we will come back again and book a bigger room right from the start.
Review 61：We loved the very friendly staff, noting was a problem
Review 62：Nothing at all.
Review 63：What's not to like? My wife and I loved this quaint hotel that was ideally suited for us both in location and what it offered us in terms of comfort and excellent food. The staff were quite excellent and took care of our every need. We stayed in an amazing room with a huge really comfortable bed and a very large free standing bath which we took advantage of. Walking over a stream to get to breakfast was really novel and the full English was so worth waiting for, served by a lady who cleared enjoyed working there. Highly recommended and we hope to stay there again in the Summer.
Review 64：Being picky: there wasn't a power point for my hair dryer anywhere near a mirror. An oversight as the room in all other respects was superb.
Review 65：Free room upgrade was offered without a request from us as there was a mix up with our booking. The food was superb and service outstanding.
Review 66：No info in rooms re 'check out' 'breakfast' ' wi fi log in details' or a contact Tel No of staff i.e Welcome Pack
Review 67：Fantastic food Wonderfully comfortable bed and super room Pleasant plummer!
Review 68：An excellent hotel! Beautiful room with a lovely personal touch to each room. Gorgeous location with spacious car park. Staff were approachable, friendly and welcoming. Dinner and breakfast were both delightful and the value was exceptionally good - highly recommended!
Review 69：they forgot milk in our room with teaset.
Review 70：mallyshag room was excellent. loved decor and very high standard breakfast with exceptional presentation. very impressed.
Review 71：The set menu on New Year's Eve was a bit too pretentious for our taste. We ate lunch there the next day though and the food was delicious.
Review 72：The Mallyshag room was the most beautiful hotel room I've stayed in. The bed is huge and comfortable and the room had everything we wanted. We actually got engaged at The Fontmell on New Year's Eve so our whole experience was pretty magical.
Review 73：My only fault was the staffing. They forgot to give us towels for the room, at dinner they were slow and took 15 minutes to Lear our empty plates. Also at dinner they wore polo shirts and I think more formal attire would have suited the atmosphere more.
Review 74：The room was absolutely adorable and the giant bath was amazing! The whole place had a wonderful up market yet relaxed feel to it.
Review 75：The trend for not providing wardrobes is mystifying. Along with no provision for a shelf to put toiletries on.
Review 76：The Staff were a credit to the Fontmell.The breakfasts were 1st class. Room was very comfortable.The Fontmell is located in a lovely quiet picturesque spot just outside the wonderful town of Shaftsbury. Excellent shower, TV and Video facility and library to choose from.
Review 77：A minor point - the entrance to the rooms could have been a bit smarter - it was through a back door next to the kitchen and up a stairway with grubby carpet. It didn't match with the décor of the rooms and the sophistication of the restaurant.
Review 78：We were stopping here en route to a cottage break and found an excellent restaurant with superb food, comfortable room decorated in a contemporary style and friendly staff. Tasty breakfast in the morning too!
Review 79：my only fault on the hotel is bad signal - however the hotel allowed me to use the phone in the room at no extra cost!
Review 80：I have previously stayed with this hotel and decided to re book on the account of how lovley the hotel really is
Review 81：Landlady not that welcoming, restuarant staff not that professional, rooms unbearably tiny. Shower very difficult to work. Lack of nice touches
Review 82：Food was quite good. Beautiful village
Review 83：The only one fault I can pick out is the location...the only reason i say this is not generally because it is far away from anywhere but because you can not get any signal on your mobile phone... however a member of staff allowed me to use the phone in the room free of charge ! so no complaints !
Review 84：I absolutly loved my stay at Fontmell and have already booked to go back for my next business trip! . The Food is amazing and the staff were very helpfull. My room was very comfortable, felt like you were staying in your own room rather then a hotel!
Review 85：Room tiny. Could hardly move. Bathroom small with dust and hair all around the shower area. No storage space. Told on arrival they couldn't serve us dinner, despite being residents. Fully booked was the reason given. Had to argue with the manager to get a table. Service very slow. Poor quality for circa £200 paid for 1 night stay.
Review 86：Food was excellent. Very nice dinner.
Review 87：There was nothing of great issue, but a lightweight duvet would have been good or a sheet with the existing duvet. It was a fab duvet but far too heavy in hot weather. A minor point, the waiting staff would look better if smarter as we believe image and presentation to be of great importance. Toast was always pale barely toasted and the chips oh dear almost white ,no colour at all and in our opinion too skinny, but some colour and crispiness would be nicer. We were not told on the 1st evening that the daily menu was served u till 7.30 which was cheaper.
Review 88：we liked the fact they upgraded us to a luxury room at no extra cost.The décor was very nice indeed and we loved our room at the top Mallyshag. THe bed fab and the slip bath wonderful, am definitely going to get one at home.Would definitely go back we did like it a lot.
Review 89：Noisy on Friday evening As residents, unable to get an evening meal because very popular locally as an eaterie so we had to go into Shaftesbury to find somewhere to have supper which was inconvenient
Review 90：Convenient location Nice ambience in restaurant Good breakfast although some fresh fruit and BROWN toast would have been welcome
Review 91：Nothing at all! We hope to return!
Review 92：Our rooms were delightful, not large but with such attention to detail. Ultra comfortable bed too. The staff were all very helpful, and the food was excellent. The location makes a great centre for touring Dorset.
Review 93：The pop music in the dining hall (but when we were the only guests, itwas kindly switched off on our request).
Review 94：Almost everything. The room was spacious, the bed excellent, food great,staff very kind . We were at the Fontmell during the heatwave and thestaff had kindly provided an airco of sorts working well in advance, sothat the room was not too hot.
Review 95：Our shower had a broken riser. Ceramic control broken, just internal screw to use for control! Riser again had been damaged from being dropped!
Review 96：Staff were very friendly and accommodating
Review 97：we had three rooms. Two were great ... ours was above the kitchen and the ventilator fan roared rather. But we had been told about this when we booked the room so we were not surprised. The hotel itself has limited outdoor space (it does have outside tables) but the village is lovely and there is lots to do around.
Review 98：great location, great staff, excellent dining-room and bar and very good breakfast. The village and surrounding country side are very attractive
Review 99：Access to rooms passed open door to kitchen - noisy at night and didn't really need to know what the chief thought Lack of information about the establishment - what time was breakfast etc.
Review 100：Restaurant and bar very good Excellent food 10/10
Review 101：Nothing to say, everything was great and just as we expected.
Review 102：A beautifully quiet location but with easy access to local towns. The Fontmell was a wonderful place to stay; very clean rooms, friendly staff and superb food in the restaurant. We will definitely return when staying next in this tranquil corner of Dorset.
Review 103：Very tasty meal, good breakfast (especially whisky porridge), kindly staff, very nice room design , interesting location, small stream flowing through the yard and big glass windows to look at it- very nice view
Review 104：Food was OK. No fruit at breakfast. Tea making facilities but no milk. No mirror for hair drying/shaving except in shower but no power socket. Light not working above mirror. Smallest room we have ever stayed in. No room for wardrobe, had to leave clothes in suitcase.
Review 105：Bar
Review 106：Could hear upstairs walking around, very noisy! Road directly outside but was quiet overnight. Blind in bathroom was long enough so people outside could see you on toilet...had to put cushions on sill for privacy!!
Review 107：Boutique deco, bathroom beautiful
Review 108：Wasn't anything we didn't like! We can't wait to go back!
Review 109：We stayed in the Mallyshag room and it was just beautiful. Huge bed - probably the most comfortable I've ever slept in! Plus we ate at the restaurant and the food was very good. The place had a nice relaxed atmosphere, and all the staff were welcoming and attentive. I will definitely stay here again.
Review 110：Breakfast was different from the menu with items missing and not made up for, boiled eggs with soldiers were hard
Review 111：Very homely, relaxed atmosphere, amazing interior, spacious room, great bathroom, comfy bed, value for money, well kept and clean, really good bar
Review 112：Perhaps lounge bar area could be a bit warmer,cosier, welcoming? Leathersettees replaced with softer furnishings?
Review 113：Lovely country decor; spotlessly clean; with crisp sheets andbeautifully soft white towels. Staff attentive and breakfast excellent.
Review 114：Friendly country hotel with style. Excellent food well sourced and imaginatively presented. Rooms warm, very clean and comfortable. Responsive, thoughtful staff polite and helpful. The management takes customer satisfaction seriously. Location is excellent, centre of lovely friendly village with marevellous walks on the doorstep. Ease of access to shopping in interesting places such as Blandford Forum
Review 115：no cupboard in the room no cell phone connection which could be a good thing on occasion
Review 116：welcom and staff excellent, very personalised, had my birthday and was offered champagne, but everyone could not have been more helpful very stylish hotel extremely well restaured a real pleasure for the eye
Review 117：Room was a bit tatty- eg. shower flex broken. Wake up call didn't happen!
Review 118：Dinner was excellent- locally sourced ingredients of an exceptionally high quality.
Review 119：The staircase to the rooms had a very dirty carpet, as guests have to come in from the road this may be unavoidable but a darker carpet might not show up the dirt. The toilet was right next to the window but not frosted glass.
Review 120：We loved our room (papillon) which had a large bathroom, the bedroom itself was a good size and very nicely furbished. The dining room was very attractive as was the bar area. The staff was very friendly and helpful.
Review 121：That I had to leave.
Review 122：This place is a gem. Welcoming staff - the service was excellent rightdown to organising an earlier than normal breakfast. Really good foodserved in a really nice pub atmosphere, though a restaurant space isalso available. Comfortable and really well presented room. I wish therewere more places like this around.
Review 123：We stayed in the room over the bar which was very noisy. We were movedthe next day with absolutely no fuss whatsoever though. Little touchesin the room were missing for us females like tissues and a shower cap.
Review 124：Room was lovely and comfortable, all staff were very friendly andattentive will definitely go back
Review 125：We were able to have a lovely family celebration with you
Review 126：From the welcome, through out our stay all our home comforts had been thought of and provided
Review 127：The food was brilliant and so was the wine. Cosy room - just perfect for a weekend get-away!
Review 128：Nothing!
Review 129：Fab stay, lovely friendly people
Review 130：We were made to feel very welcome. The food was amazing.
Review 131：Really enjoyed our stay at the Fontmell. Lovely clean and beautifully decorated rooms and delicious breakfast. Would highly recommend!
Review 132：Our room was quite small.
Review 133：Restaurant was fantastic! We were able to have our dog stay with us also- a real bonus! A very comfy bed too.
The Fine Print
Please note that dogs can only be accommodated in 1 of the Standard Double Rooms. Please contact the property for more information.