Crown Hill, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, England, SP7 0PA
What's nearby
Gold Hill Museum - 8 min drive
Larmer Tree Gardens - 15 min drive
Wimborne Minster - 27 min drive
Center Parcs Longleat Forest - 30 min drive
Longleat Safari and Adventure Park - 37 min drive
Getting around
Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.) - 38 min drive
Gillingham Dorset Station - 16 min drive
Warminster Station - 27 min drive
Templecombe Station - 29 min drive
Restaurants
San Tonino Restaurant - 7 min drive
The Half Moon - 7 min drive
Shillingstone Railway Project - 11 min drive
Amy's Fish & Chips - 8 min drive
The Wild Garlic - 3 min drive
About this property
The Fontmell
Enjoy your visit to Shaftesbury with a stay at The Fontmell. You can unwind with a drink at the bar/lounge, and the restaurant is the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat.
Languages
English
At a glance
Hotel size
6 rooms
Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 3 PM; Check-in end time: 10 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out time is 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Special check-in instructions
There is no front desk at this property
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours will receive an email with special check-in instructions and lockbox information; your host will greet you
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 10 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
For more details, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 18
Pets
Pets allowed (dogs only, 2 total)*
Service animals welcome
Specific rooms only*
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms
Parking
Free onsite self parking
Free offsite parking nearby
Other information
Smoke-free property
Property amenities
Food and drink
Restaurant
Bar/lounge
Barbecue grills
Room service (limited hours)
Facilities
Garden
Library
Accessibility
No elevator (single level property)
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Stair-free path to entrance
Room amenities
Be entertained
Flat-screen television
Cable TV channels
Home comfort
Coffee/tea maker
Iron/ironing board (on request)
Sleep well
Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)
Bed sheets provided
What to enjoy
Individually furnished and decorated
Freshen up
Private bathroom
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Towels
Stay connected
Free WiFi
Food and drink
Free bottled water
More
Daily housekeeping
Fees & policies
Children & extra beds
Rollaway beds are available for GBP 30 per night
Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve cribs/infant beds and rollaway/extra beds
Pets
Service animals exempt from fees
Pets are allowed for an extra charge of GBP 15 per pet, per night
Policies
This property does not have elevators.
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash.
Also known as
Fontmell Inn Dorset
Fontmell Inn
Fontmell Dorset
Fontmell
Fontmell Inn Shaftesbury
Fontmell Shaftesbury
The Fontmell Inn
The Fontmell Shaftesbury
The Fontmell Inn Shaftesbury
Frequently asked questions
Does The Fontmell offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, The Fontmell does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Are pets allowed at The Fontmell?
Yes, dogs are welcome, with a limit of 2 total. There's a charge of GBP 15 per pet, per night. Service animals are exempt from fees.
Is parking offered on site at The Fontmell?
Yes, there's free self parking.
What are the check-in and check-out times at The Fontmell?
Check-in start time: 3 PM; Check-in end time: 10 PM. Check-out time is 11 AM. Contactless check-in and check-out are available.
What is there to do at The Fontmell and nearby?
The Fontmell has a garden.
Are there restaurants at or near The Fontmell?
Yes, there's an onsite restaurant.
What's the area around The Fontmell like?
The Fontmell is located a short 13-minute walk from Fontmell and Melbury Downs.
The Fontmell Reviews
Reviews
8.6
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
8.8/10
Cleanliness
8.8/10
Staff & service
7.4/10
Amenities
8.6/10
Property conditions & facilities
6.0/10
Eco-friendliness
Reviews
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 22, 2022
Perfect little place in a perfect area.
A really nice place with extra little quirky rooms. Perfect for our stay for a wedding. Really loved the place.
Dan
Dan, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
May 30, 2022
Andrea
Andrea, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
4/10 Fair
Nov 15, 2021
There is too much information to fit in this review so I have confined to bullet points:
Complaints, based on facts which can all be evidenced with photographs; receipts; and audio files:
- Room 4 was awful. Decoration and fittings in a very poor condition/ cleanliness / state of disrepair. We were moved to Room 5. Allot better but with cobwebs on bedside and main light shades. Lacked a curtain on upper window which allowed light to come in at unwanted times. Walls were paper thin as the music and noise from a party from the adjoining cottage could be heard in our room, as if it was in our room, to the extent that we couldn’t hear our TV over it and couldn’t sleep until after 2am! We complained but the hotel advised that they could not force them to turn the sound down but had asked to no avail.
- At breakfast the milk was served in a dirty / stained jug, which looked like the remnants of gravy. A young and evidently inexperienced member of staff had filled the cafetière too full and as a result the hot coffee sprayed out when my wife depressed the filter mechanism. Luckily it did not scald her but stained her clothes and covered the table. We reported it and we’re move to another table.
- After the calamity of things issues and the fact that we did not sleep, and my wife’s birthday weekend was spoilt as we were too tired to continue the next day, you would have thought that the Manager would at least be there to apologise the next morning and a good hotel would offer
Justin
Justin, 1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
4/10 Fair
Jun 18, 2021
It did not look like the photos.
Breakfast, they brought out my hot food whilst I was still eating my cereal. You could tell the hot food had been sitting around a while, not freshly cooked.
Room not worth the money, very expensive to drink, London prices £5 a pint of larger.
Very disappointing.
Verified traveler
1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
6/10 Good
Sep 14, 2020
Lovely quaint pub, good food and lovely staff. Issue with no hot water in the rooms in the evening and a dripping tap that kept us awake... but overall a nice weekend!
Manny
Manny, 1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
8/10 Very Good
Sep 13, 2020
Our room was quiet, pleasant, and clean with a comfy bed and the high ceiling the standout feature.
The room had many unique features including a TV from a by-gone era (that's the only critisism but we come to watch TV).
Verified traveler
1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
2/10 Poor
Aug 18, 2020
Ask for a fan!
It was so hot in the room (2), window open Made no difference, no fan, noise from heavy traffic.
Booked a week in advance to have dinner, confirmed when we arrived, to find we were not allocated a table for dinner, but expected to sit on low armchairs with a coffee table to eat from.
When food came it was nice though. Just hard to eat! When I asked, I was told I should have booked a table!
Dawn
Dawn, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
8/10 Very Good
Aug 1, 2020
paul
paul, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
8/10 Very Good
Jul 20, 2020
Overall very nice place for a wkend trip
Very attractive location and property. Friendly staff and good food - English breakfast was particularly delicious! Room 4 was quite snug but suitable for a short stay - however the bed was extremely hard and that sadly resulted in a really poor nights’ sleep.
Stephanie
Stephanie, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 8, 2020
Chris
Chris, 1-night business trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Feb 29, 2020
Unique in having stream fed by Spring Head flowing through the building in feature glazed link to restaurant
Verified traveler
1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 5, 2020
We stayed in room 6 with the freestanding bath and a very comfortable bed. Lovely accommodation with good breakfast options in the morning.
Verified traveler
1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
4/10 Fair
Dec 9, 2019
Don’t visit
Couldn’t even get in. Horrible on the phone
Ellie
Ellie, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
4/10 Fair
Dec 5, 2019
Chased in the car park at 7.15am for payment for meal which was not mine, might be good idea for guests to sign for orders made ! No breakfast available until 8am but uncovered and unappetising bowl of muesli given with unrefrigerated flask of milk
Obviously not counting on return customers
C
C, 1-night business trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
2/10 Poor
Nov 17, 2019
Verified traveler
1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Nov 1, 2019
STAY IN FONTMELL
One night staying in room 1. It was very noisy. On yelling reception I was informed that this was the extractor system from the kitchen. The room was above the kitchen. The noise would stop after service that evening. It did. Not a great issue as far as I was concerned. Had dinner in the hotel it was just excellent
Ron
Ron, 1-night business trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 31, 2019
Fabulous 2 night stay with great service and outstanding food!. Definitely will be back!!
Verified traveler
2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 9, 2019
Lovely place
Amazing. Welcoming. Clean. Beautiful
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, 1-night business trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 27, 2019
James
James, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 27, 2019
Robin
Robin, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
8/10 Very Good
Sep 22, 2019
Verified traveler
1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 21, 2019
Staff very helpful and friendly.The evening meal was delicious and breakfast was excellent.
The internet was down the evening we stayed so the staff were under extreme stress because tills and card payments were impossible but they coped admirably.Well done and thankyou.
Verified traveler
1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 19, 2019
David
David, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
8/10 Very Good
Sep 16, 2019
Weekend Break
Nice location, friendly staff, tasty breakfast! Would come again 😃
James
James, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 16, 2019
Perfect!!
This is one of the best places I have stayed in for ages! The staff were so attentive and helpful. There was nothing else they could have done to make the stay any nicer!
The dinner we had was delicious and our room was stunning.
I would definitely stay here again and would highly recommend The Fontmell to anyone looking to stay in the area.