The Beckford Arms, Wiltshire

Overview

Close to the bustling town of Tisbury, the Beckford Arms is a country pub reinvented for the 21st century, with a relaxed atmosphere, easy-going service and just the right amount of 18th century eccentricity. Its glorious rural location, on the edge of the Fonthill Estate, makes this a superb spot for a little rest and relaxation.

Enjoy lunch on the terrace or while away the sunny days in a hammock. Sunday nights are reserved for movie nights, watching an old movie with a glass of wine and some comfort food. There's a boule piste for those wishing to flex their ball skills or mosey into local Tisbury, a charming town with plenty to see and do.

Make sure to check out the Beckford Bottle Shop, run by the owner's Dan and Charlie. With a fantastic selection of over 300 wines from around the world, as well as craft beers, ciders and boutique spirits, you're sure to find your favourite tipple from the inn to take home with you.

Rooms from

Doubles: £95

Good to know

All major credit cards accepted
Parking available
Private dining
Water and bones are provided at the bar for your four-legged pals, and there's even a dog bath to hose down muddy pups.

No car needed
You can arrange to be picked up from Tisbury Station by the pub's Landrover - the inn's just a short five-minute drive away.

Family favourite
Families very welcome across the inn - attic rooms are ideal for little ones.

A touch of culture
With Salisbury Cathedral and Wilton House closeby, there's plenty to keep history buffs and culture vultures happy.

Rooms

Head up the grand Georgian staircase to eight gorgeous bedrooms. With their simple, unmistakably modern feel, you'll feel like you're in an upmarket hotel rather than a country pub. Rooms are kitted out with all manner of creature comforts, from Egyptian cotton sheets, Siberian goose down duvets and Vintage Welsh wool blankets.

Bringing children? We recommend the attic rooms, which spread out over two bedrooms, one with a free-standing bath. For those seeking a little solitude, there are two stunning lodges a ten minute walk across the estate, each with a simple kitchen, wood-burning stove, and gorgeous mezzanine views. If a little indulgence is what you're after, make sure you book an appointment with one of our highly qualified masseurs for an in-room massage.

Restaurant & bar

Taking full advantage of the surrounding countryside, the kitchen celebrates local ingredients, favouring simple, seasonal dishes. The rustic bar menu offers a range of upscale snacks and jazzy pub staples, including homemade sausage rolls, pheasant fingers, cottage pie, crab cakes or braised beef. Come Sunday, feast on roast chicken or Yorkshire puddings. In warmer weather, guests spill out into the garden, tucking into pizzas from the outdoor wood-fired oven.

For those heading out and about, the inn offers hampers, wine glasses and picnic blankets for guests. For larger parties, they are happy to drop off a picnic at a pre-arranged time and place, to make the experience as easy as possible.

Amongst a large range of ales, The Beckford Arms exclusively offers the Beckford Phoenix ale, designed by nearby brewer Keystone. For wine drinkers, house choices include a local English white - a Seyval Blanc from nearby Fonthill Glebe wines.

Things to do

Not for the faint-hearted! Larmer Tree Gardens on Cranborne Chase offers hot air ballooning, with stunning views of Wessex and southwest Wiltshire from the air. The trip usually lasts between three and four hours and offers a rare opportunity to see this vast landscape, known for its ancient sites and enigmatic crop circles, from a totally different perspective. An exhilarating experience!

Spend a day in gorgeous Wilton House. Home of the Earls of Pembroke, the house was designed by Inigo Jones in the 17th century, and later remodelled by James Wyatt. Inside is the Double Cube Room, which contains a famous collection of Van Dyck paintings. Look out for the former riding school, a Tudor kitchen and a Victorian laundry. There's an incredible adventure playground to keep little ones occupied for hours.

Immortalised in John Constable's famous painting Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows from 1831, don't miss Salisbury's staggering cathedral, with a spire that's the tallest in the country, painted in 1831. The cathedral was begun in 1220, finished about 1280, and includes a medieval frieze and an original copy of the Magna Carta.