The Acorn Inn

The Acorn Inn is a historic 16th-century coaching inn and restaurant located in the village of Evershot in West Dorset, England. Built from honey-coloured local stone, the inn retains much of its original character, including old beams, low ceilings, oak panelling, flagstone floors and roaring open fires. It is closely associated with the novelist Thomas Hardy, who was born in Dorset and who mentions the inn as 'The Sow & Acorn' in his novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Evershot itself is commonly referred to as 'Evershed' in Hardy's fiction, and the inn's ten individually decorated bedrooms are each named after a Hardy theme — a location from his novels, a favourite heroine, or the author himself. Today The Acorn Inn operates as a traditional village pub combined with an award-winning restaurant and ten letting bedrooms. It is run by an enthusiastic and experienced management team led by General Managers Natalie and Richard. The restaurant showcases seasonal dishes built around the best of Dorset's local produce, and the inn has been in the running for The Good Food Guide's 100 Best Pubs 2026. The pub also offers a range of guest experiences including midweek breaks, gift vouchers, and pet-friendly stays, with dogs welcomed warmly and provided with water bowls, biscuits, towels and treats. The inn is part of a small local hospitality group alongside Summer Lodge Country House Hotel & Restaurant, described on the Acorn Inn website as its sister hotel. Summer Lodge offers additional dining options including a conservatory, an elegant restaurant, a whisky bar and afternoon tea. The Acorn Inn's rural setting in the heart of the Dorset countryside, with easy access to the English coast and a 400-acre deer park at the bottom of the village, positions it as a destination for country pursuits, walking holidays and relaxing escapes.

The Acorn Inn is a 16th-century coaching inn built from honey-coloured local stone in the village of Evershot, West Dorset, England. As a coaching inn, it historically served travellers passing through the Dorset countryside, and its architecture — old beams, low ceilings, oak panelling, flagstone floors and open fires — reflects that long history. The inn is closely linked with the novelist Thomas Hardy, who was born in Dorset and set much of his fiction in the region. In Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Hardy refers to the inn as 'The Sow & Acorn', and the village of Evershot appears in his novels as 'Evershed'. The inn's style is described as little changed from Hardy's era. In the modern era, The Acorn Inn has been operated as a traditional village pub with an award-winning restaurant and ten individually decorated bedrooms. The rooms are named according to Thomas Hardy themes, referencing locations from his novels, his favourite heroines, or the author himself. The inn is run by General Managers Natalie and Richard, described as an enthusiastic and experienced management team. It has been in the running for The Good Food Guide's 100 Best Pubs 2026, and its restaurant is a star attraction in its own right, serving seasonal dishes that showcase the best of Dorset's local produce. The inn is associated with Summer Lodge Country House Hotel & Restaurant, described on its website as a sister hotel, which offers additional dining and hospitality facilities including a conservatory, an elegant restaurant, a whisky bar and afternoon tea. The Acorn Inn also offers pet-friendly accommodation, with dogs welcomed and provided with water bowls, biscuits, towels and treats, and it promotes country pursuits such as walking in the surrounding countryside and the nearby 400-acre deer park.

• Built in the 16th century as a coaching inn from honey-coloured local stone.

• Mentioned by Thomas Hardy as 'The Sow & Acorn' in Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

• In the running for The Good Food Guide's 100 Best Pubs 2026.

A traditional 16th-century village pub and coaching inn with an award-winning restaurant, offering warm hospitality, fine local cuisine and Thomas Hardy heritage in the heart of rural Dorset.

• Traditional village pub

• Award-winning restaurant

• Ten individually decorated bedrooms

• Midweek Break package

• Gift vouchers

• Pet-friendly stays

1. 1The Acorn Inn, Evershot, Dorsetacorn-inn.co.uk
2. 2About The Acorn Inn, Evershot, Dorsetacorn-inn.co.uk
3. 3Pet Friendly Hotel in Dorset, Acorn Inn, Evershot, Dorsetacorn-inn.co.uk
4. 4Frequently Asked Questions, Acorn Inn, Evershot, Dorsetacorn-inn.co.uk
5. 5The Acorn Innwikidata.org