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The Red Lion

3.0 star property
Bed & breakfast in Dorchester with a coffee shop and a restaurant

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Photo gallery for The Red Lion

Exterior
Exterior
Miscellaneous
Restaurant
Double Room, Ensuite

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant

Explore the area

View in a map
A352, Winfrith Newburgh, Dorchester, England, DT2 8LE
  • Place, Weymouth Bay
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Monkey World Ape Rescue Center
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Lulworth Cove
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Airport, Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.)
    ‪44 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Double Room, Ensuite

Double Room, Ensuite

Double Room, Ensuite

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)
  • 108 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Double Room, Ensuite

Double Room, Ensuite

Double Room, Ensuite

  • 183 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Double Room, Ensuite

Double Room, Ensuite

Double Room, Ensuite

  • 161 sq ft
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed

About the neighborhood

Dorchester

The Red Lion places you within a 10-minute drive of Monkey World Ape Rescue Center and Sculpture by the Lakes. This 5-room, 3-star bed & breakfast has conveniences like a restaurant, a bar/lounge, and free self parking.
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What's nearby

  • Weymouth Bay - 7 min drive - 3.6 miles
  • Monkey World Ape Rescue Center - 7 min drive - 5.5 miles
  • Lulworth Cove - 8 min drive - 4.9 miles
  • Dorset and East Devon Coast - 8 min drive - 4.9 miles
  • Lulworth Cove Beach - 8 min drive - 4.9 miles

Getting around

  • Wool Station - 7 min drive
  • Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.) - 58 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Hurricane Terrace & Bar - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Orchard Tea Room - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Smugglers Inn - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Lulworth Cove Inn - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Reef Cafe - ‬12 min drive

About this property

The Red Lion

Bed & breakfast in Dorchester with a coffee shop and a restaurant
The Red Lion features free WiFi in public areas and a garden. If you drive, take advantage of free parking.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • A bar/lounge
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant

Family friendly

  • High chair

Guest services

  • No housekeeping service

Outdoors

  • Garden

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • No elevator
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:30 AM

Pets

  • This property welcomes pets for GBP 25.0 per accommodation, per stay
  • Service animals exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for GBP 25.0 per day

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

These fees and deposits will be charged at check-in, check-out, or the time of service.

  • Pet fee: GBP 25.0 per accommodation, per stay
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Rollaway bed fee: GBP 25.0 per day

This list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits might not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards
This property is professionally cleaned
  • Check-in: 3:00 PM
  • Check-out: 10:30 AM
  • Minimum check-in age: 18
Driving? This property offers free parking.

We should mention

Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:

  • Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
  • A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
  • Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
  • This property accepts credit cards.
  • The property is professionally cleaned.

Additional information about polices, regulations, and more:

  • There are no elevators.
  • This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).

Property is also known as

Red Lion Inn Dorchester
Red Lion Dorchester
Red Lion
Dorchester
The Red Lion
The Red Lion Hotel Dorchester
The Red Lion Hotel Bed & breakfast
The Red Lion Hotel Bed & breakfast Dorchester

Frequently asked questions

What's there to see close to The Red Lion?

This bed & breakfast is located in Dorchester, close to Durdle Door, The Tank Museum, and Durdle Door Beach. You'll also find Weymouth Bay and Monkey World Ape Rescue Center within a short drive.

Is parking available on site at The Red Lion?

Yes, self parking is offered for free at the bed & breakfast. Accessible parking is also available for guests.

Does The Red Lion include a casino on the premises?

No, The Red Lion doesn't have a casino.

Is there an indoor pool at The Red Lion?

No, there is no indoor pool at this bed & breakfast.

What will couples enjoy most about a stay at The Red Lion?

Couples staying at this bed u0026 breakfast will appreciate amenities like a bar plus some guestrooms include premium bedding and garden views.

Are there hot tubs at The Red Lion?

No, there isn't a spa tub at this bed & breakfast.

Does The Red Lion have a restaurant that serves breakfast?

Yes, The Red Lion serves free on-the-go breakfast from its restaurant.

Does The Red Lion have connecting rooms?

No, this bed & breakfast doesn't feature connecting guestrooms.

Where is the closest airport to The Red Lion?

The closest major airport to The Red Lion is Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.), which is 28.7 mi away (58 minutes by car).

Are there rooms with balconies that I can book at The Red Lion?

No, you won't find guestrooms with balconies at The Red Lion.

Reviews

The Red Lion Reviews

8.4

Very Good

8.8/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.2/10

Eco-friendliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 121 out of 240 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 74 out of 240 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 22 out of 240 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 16 out of 240 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 7 out of 240 reviews

Reviews

4/10 Poor

Matthew

Business traveler
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Awful hotel - Avoid like the plague!!!

Apart from the brilliant bar/restaurant staff, this was probably the worst "hotel" I have ever stayed in - especially for the money. The food was barely edible, and the room (number 4) was beyond tired. The bed was uncomfortable, and the room was right next to some kind of air conditioning unit that was noisy and made sleep impossible!! The shower was hardly functioning (more of a dribble, than a shower)... Breakfast was overcooked and poor in the extreme. Not the sort of evening you need the night before a business meeting. Staff 5* Hotel 0*
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Mike

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Lovely staff and great location for our activities. Price was great value, but reflective of the age and condition of the property. Included breakfast was good, and the lady serving breakfast on the 4th August was lovely. Thank you 😄
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christine

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a great time, the staff were attentive and friendly. The food was good and the room perfect. We could highly recommend a stay at The Red Lion, you won't be disappointed.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

nicola

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A great one night stay as a family with 2 children. Staff were all helpful and friendly and food was good for both dinner and breakfast. Would stay again and would definitely recommend.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Disliked: Room comfort

Road noise a problem

The road noise was a serious issue for us, particularly as we had requested a quiet room. But the service at the hotel was mostly fine.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Samuel

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Family run pub/ campsite

Run by a friendly family. Room was small but nice funiture/ equiped. An old house bur cosy
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kimberleigh

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff was absolutely lovely. They helped with everything and were so delightful. Im definitely staying there again!
Supercute room
Charm of an old English Inn.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

eugene

Traveled with family
We didn't stay at the Red Lion since Expedia somehow didn't forward our reservation- which we didn't find out until we arrived and they were fully booked. But the hotel bent over backwards to find us a room in a nearby hotel about 10 minutes away and apologized profusely about the error (which was not their fault). 5 stars for their professionalism and customer service. Be warry of booking this hotel through this site though, the Red Lion indicated another potential guest had the same problem earlier this year.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anna

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a lovely few days stay last Bank Holiday, it is a charming pub with great staff, nothing is too much for them, very friendly and breakfast was Best! Delicious! My only suggestion would be to have at least brewed coffee! Beautiful place and very calm even though there is open bar downstairs.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

christopher

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean rooms, good food and very friendly staff
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

andrew

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mr Michael

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely old pub. Staff excellent.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Pleasant Stay

Lovely stay, very friendly staff, rooms comfortable & clean, great breakfast. Nice traditional pub with an Olde World charm. Nice location close to Lulworth Cove & Dorchester
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jevgenia

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Most welcome I’ve ever felt anywhere! Great food and lovely atmosphere.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Simon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

Nithin

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Not worth the money.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Vanitha

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nothing to mention
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

Paul

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service

Dorset stay

Hotel was a little old fashioned, but we enjoyed our stay, it was handy for our visit to the Dorset coast and friends, staff were friendly and accommodating, food was good, plenty of parking
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Welcoming cozy country pub

Very welcoming cozy country pub. Tasty breakfast included - eggs done really well. Gluten free options. Just the base we needed for a weekend walking on the coast nearby
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joe

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
even though i was staying above a very busy pub i could not hear anything once in my room. the food was well cooked and speedy.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great home from home breakfast was a bit overcooked but would happily recommend and will be staying again in the future
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

chi choi

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The host is very friendly, polite
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

timothy

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Great food, excellent bar. V comfy room, very clean and well appointed. Excellent Car Park. Staff were brilliant. I picked this for closeness to our client's premises and will do so again. A real littel gem of a find. can definitely recommend the Red Lion lager!!
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025