


The Bull Hotel
Comments from members who have stayed at The Bull Hotel
Whenever you book a stay through us, we’ll invite you to comment when you get back. Read the Guestbook entries below to see what real-life Mr & Mrs Smiths have said about this hotel…
Stayed on 6 May 2013
This hotel is perfect for...
• Honeymoons • Romantic breaks • Gourmet getaways • Active escapes
What I liked
The atmosphere and service were second to none. Staff were extremely friendly, helful and attentive. Car parking is right round the back of the hotel and is limited, but when we stayed we didn't have a problem. We asked for a quiet room, which we got, with wonderful views over Bridport and the surrounding countryside (207). Food is totally delicious and in good portions.
What could be better
The water pressure on the second floor was poor at peak times, especially in our room, which was the furthest point away from the main entrance. However, I was told that the hotel were aware of the problem and that improvements were in the pipeline. Dining chairs could have been more comfortable: hard wooden seats were difficult to relax in for a long period.
Local recommendations
Hive beach café on Burton Bradstock beach.
Stayed on 8 Feb 2013
This hotel is perfect for...
• Romantic breaks • Lazy days
What I liked
The decor was lovely and the room was really comfortable. We had two evening meals and they were both really enjoyable. The cocktail bar was lovely and the staff very attentive.
What could be better
More than one tea bag in a pot of tea for two. We didn't get the Mr and Mrs Smith extra of a glass of champagne with our meal.
Stayed on 2 Sep 2012
This hotel is perfect for...
• Romantic breaks
What I liked
A really nice, homely, friendly place. The Red room was terrific - really pretty - although it does look over the High Street. The food was really good and it's a great place to stop if you're on a Dorset discovery trip.
What could be better
They were incredibly busy when we arrived (Sunday lunchtime). It took a while to check-in and get served lunch. It's probably a symptom of success, but it did feel a bit fraught. That said, the staff were very friendly. It's no big deal, but they also forgot to give us the champagne freebie we'd been offered from Mr & Mrs Smith...
Stayed on 20 Aug 2012
This hotel is perfect for...
• Family holidays • Romantic breaks
What I liked
Lovely hotel with real quirkiness and character. We were upgraded to the Honeymoon Suite so our room was fantastic, but I suspect all the rooms are equally gorgeous! We couldn't have been better looked after.
Stayed on 19 Aug 2012
This hotel is perfect for...
• Family holidays • Romantic breaks • Peace and quiet • Active escapes • Lazy days
What I liked
Free room upgrade, very helpful and friendly staff. Great location. Lots to do if you check the local arts centre and music guides.
What could be better
More fish choices on the menu.
Stayed on 23 May 2012
Ian says
On arrival the reception staff were very friendly and showed us personally to our room, which was very comfortable. Meals in the restaurant were excellent, particularly the home-made bread and cakes. A slightly quirky hotel, but very comfortable, and friendly staff made for a very enjoyable couple of days away.
Stayed on 10 May 2012
Louis says
A really great hotel – shabby but in a nice way – with outstanding service from great staff, a fantastic breakfast and the restaurant was way above average.
Stayed on 23 Mar 2012
Kirsten says
Beautiful hotel and really friendly staff. We stayed in a family suite; grandparents, myself, my husband and our 20 month old daughter. There was plenty of space and a Z bed, lovely books and toys for our daughter. We were hungry and tired when we arrived after road works which delayed our trip and the lovely lady who checked us in kindly arranged room service pizzas from the Stables restaurant for us all – delicious with interesting combinations of local ingredients. Breakfast was a beautiful array of yoghurts, bread, pastries and fruit and the most wonderful cooked options. We spent most of the day deliciously full. We had dinner in the restaurant which was nice but not outstanding, however they were truly happy for all five of us to dine in the evening and our daughter was delighted with the food and the books which kept her entertained. All round a lovely hotel, beautiful town and close to the beach. We hope to go back again soon.
Stayed on 16 Mar 2012
Zoe says
The Bull Hotel was a warm, welcoming place to base ourselves for a break on Dorset's beautiful Jurassic Coast. The restaurant was fantastic and reasonably priced with excellent service, and we loved having our Smith member offer of a glass of champagne to accompany the meal - a lovely touch. We would really recommend Lyme Regis and the wonderful Hix Restaurant and Oyster Bar with a beautiful view of the bay at sunset, a real treat. Sunday was spent eating a delicious Mothers Day meal and exploring River Cottage, based on a working farm, only 30 minutes from the hotel. Fantastic food in a beautiful setting. The beaches are fantatstic too. Try heading to Eype, Beer, Burton Bradstock and Seatown, all a short drive from the hotel. A lovely relaxing stay with great food and fabulous countryside. Highly recommended.
Stayed on 10 May 2011
Gary says
Stayed on 8 May 2011
Miranda says
Stayed on 16 Apr 2011
Jeff says
Stayed on 4 Feb 2011
Kim says
For a great walk with a rewarding (indeed award winning) lunch at the Hive Beach Cafe, try Burton Bradstock beach. Invigorating whatever the weather!
Stayed on 1 Jan 2011
Julia says
Stayed on 18 Jul 2010
Rachel says
The Bull Hotel is located in a classic market town in Dorset. When I arrived, there was a lovely group of people sitting in the garden and sipping bloody marys enjoying the last sun rays of the day.
The garden has long tables and comfortable chairs to make you feel like you are in your own backyard. There is also a salon before the garden where families were enjoying afternoon tea.
For the evening, the staff made a reservation for me at the hotel for dinner. After spending time walking down South street and enjoying the sun, I returned to freshen up and come for dinner. The dinner rooms had a great ambience full of dark violet and brown velvety hues. I was served oysters with a crisp Chenin Blanc and then enjoyed a whole Sea Bream that was grilled with crab and coriander. The fish was extremely refreshing alongside the richer taste of crab. Lastly, I was given a selection of local cheeses, chutney and fruit with a nice classic French red wine. The service at the restaurant was impeccable and the quality of the food rivals those of restaurants in London's West End.
Upon returning to my room, I had a delightful bath in the Neal's Yard bath gel left for my use. Then I enjoyed my rattan bed and had a wonderful night sleep. I would highly reccommend this hotel to anyone, they go out of their way to accomodate all your needs.
Stayed on 1 Jul 2010
Celia says
We had such a wonderful stay at this hotel. It is just so child friendly. All the staff "like" children, so smile, entertain your child, as opposed to some hotels advise they are child friendly and it just means they have high chairs!
We ate in the Pizza, Pie & Cider House which is part of the hotel at the back and it was great. The pizzas were truly fantastic, Jason had a lamb pizza which he said would never have crossed his mind to make but it was excellent (in fact he talked about it for the rest of the weekend). Elliott our 15 month old, ate the Cider House with us, they supplied a high chair, a baby apple juice (so diliuted) and his own little pizza plate and he flirted with everyone who went to the bar (he loved it).
The room was great, we were on the front of the building and opposite is a fabulous little bakery, they open at 7am and do lovely crossiants and pastries just the think you need when your little one has been up since 5.30am. Jason was also very impressed with the prices at the bar, very reasonable and a good selection of drinks.
All in all it was a truly wonderful stay at a great hotel that we would throughly recommend to anyone who wanted to visit Dorset.
Stayed on 26 Mar 2010
Helen says
A fabulous weekend was had by all. If you love beaches, then this is the area for you.
We headed down from London and straight onto Hive Beach. You can't get a better location for a crab sandwich than the Hive Cafe. Make sure you get there during lunch hours for this as they only serve cakes and drinks later in the afternoon.
If you are a foodie, then head to Axminster to the River Cottage cafe. Go early to avoid queues. Lovely food in a low key setting.
We can highly recommend the Bull Hotel. Friendly staff, very childfriendly and brilliant food. Our complimentary cream tea was so huge, the kids had it in place of their evening meal! They were a little disappointed as they wanted to go to have pizza again at the hotel's Stables restaurant. Rowdy but enjoyable - parents can enjoy a glass of cider whilst kids scoff crispy pizza from their woodfired oven.
We must admit that we were a bit overfed by the end of our 3 days. The breakfasts are not to be missed - glorious choice of cereals, fruit, yoghurt, pastries. As if that is not enough we managed to have cooked breakfast too! Then lunch out followed by a 3 course dinner! You need the walks and fossil hunting on the beaches to prepare for each meal!
Stayed on 26 Mar 2010
Gerda says
We had a lovely stay at the Bull Hotel in Bridport and a memorable meal in their restaurant. However, on the first night of our stay, we came across a little gem of a restaurant right across the road from the hotel. It is called the Montien Thai Restaurant and their set meals are lovely and excellent value! We chose the at £20 per person which included starters, soup, main and side dishes, dessert as well as tea or coffee! The food was delicious and the service excellent. We would certainly recommend it to anyone!
Stayed on 23 Nov 2009
Jemima says
What a wonderful hotel! The complimentary cream tea is simply the best I have ever tasted. The bedrooms were fantastically unique and the breakfast delicious. I thoroughly recommend a walk along the clifftops and if possible, jump in the car and take a trip to Lyme Regis and the neighbouring little villages. If you decide to eat in the Bull Hotel's restaurant have drinks at the bar by the open fire and dinner in one of the booths. Well done Mr & Mrs Smith – good recommendation!
Stayed on 18 Sep 2009
Rob says
We had a great little 'minimoon' here after our wedding in September and the food and service was great! When we arrived they told us to visit the Venner Bar (in the hotel) where they were serving some lovley canapes and a vast selection of cocktails :)
The hotel also recommended a walk up to Thorncombe Beacon, which was an amazing 'away from it all' mile-long walk, with beautiful views that get better and better as you get higher – very romantic (once you catch your breath!)
The Saturday 'antiques' market in Bridport was a nice way to spend a couple of hours – we managed to find a nice pair of 60/70's Portmeirion bowls and some early space Lego for the kids – not quite 'Lovejoy' but fun all the same!
Stayed on 5 Aug 2009
Stephen says
Don't forget to pop down to the harbour. It's a bit of a walk, so probably best to jump in the car. There are plenty of good restaurants just around the corner, but I would recommend the Bull Hotel on Wednesday. It's moules frites night! Brilliant value.
Stayed on 5 Aug 2009
Jane says
Stayed on 27 Feb 2009
Patricia says
Leakers Bakery, just across the road from The Bull Hotel, was a visit back to my childhood when bread was traditionally baked in a brick oven and tasted divine. The choice was immense and exciting, ranging from traditional wholemeal loaves to specialities such as pesto bread or New York rye and crunchy date, also known as 'Jurassic Foot'. Then there were the cakes, biscuits and pies, sheer heaven. My poor husband had to restrain me from buying out the shop! Suddenly he was glad we had brought the mini. At least there are gorgeous long walks to justify one's indulgence. This is one bakery no one should miss.
Stayed on 7 Feb 2009
Catherine says
We arrived in Bridport tired and frazzled from a busy, freezing January. We had read about The Bull Hotel on Mr and Mrs Smith and it seemed to offer us exactly what was needed: a quirky, boutique hotel with excellent food and lovely rooms! And, true to form, that was JUST what we found.
We turned up on Saturday afternoon to our complimentary cream tea (courtesy of booking with Mr and Mrs Smith) and retired to the lounge to watch the rugby. We hadn't booked dinner at The Bull for Saturday night, instead we planned to eat there on Sunday night (for a well deserved 'treat dinner') planning to find somewhere in town on Saturday night. There were, as the reviews had suggested, lots of choices in Bridport, but we had left it too late, so returned slightly apologetically to The Bull, where we were made very welcome AND where we could have just what was wanted – a main course of steak and crayfish- delicious!
Sunday, we had a lazy start and a gorgeous cooked breakfast, followed by a long walk on the beach (returning just before the tide came in!) and ended the day as we began, eating wonderful food in the Bull's restuarant. The reviews are spot on – food is fresh, lovely, bistro in style, with friendly staff and a lovely boutiquey atmosphere: welcoming but special, cosy but uniqe.
We headed off on our travels on Monday morning after another leisurely, beautifully presented cooked breakfast – our only problem emerging? We could get used to this!! We highly recommend The Bull and will definitely return.
Stayed on 24 Dec 2008
Jody says
The lovely manager at the hotel recommended a nearby country pub called the Three Horseshoes in Powerstock, about 15 mins away. The food was delicious with at least three imaginative vegetarian options. In Bridport itself, the hotel is the best option for food.
Stayed on 29 Sep 2008
Fran says
We arrived on a cold sunny September day and headed to Burton Bradstock. There overlooking the beach is the Hive Beach Café. Lovely seafood! Definitely worth a visit
Stayed on 25 Feb 2008
Andrew says
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Smith extra at The Bull Hotel
A glass of champagne each with dinner

