Masons Arms

This was our 4th visit to the Masons Arms at Branscombe and it has always lived up to our expectations. Last week was no exception. From the cheery reception of Imogen through to the very comfortable bedroom, the fabulous food , the best pint of Proper Job , the varied selection of wine by the glass and the great welcome to Lola, our loveable Bernese, the experience was one we can’t wait to repeat.

This was our second stay at the pub. First time round we had a ‘Snug Room’ which was exactly that - compact but comfy. Only downside was it was right above the kitchen and so was a bit noisy. Second stay we had the opposite end of the scale, a ‘Branscombe Room’. It was huge, super comfy and super quiet - we absolutely loved it….only downside was it was just one night!!!! The pub is great-big but still feels intimate and snug. We really enjoyed all the food we had there (dinner and breakfast) and would recommend booking in advance especially Friday-Sunday. Parking can get busy, and the access roads are pretty tight so keep in mind if you have a big car!!!

Stayed for couple of nights - room 12 in the cottages was just stunning - huge bath, outdoor patio with beautiful views, such a comfy bed & so spacious. Best room we have stayed in for a long time. Really clean & so pretty. Love the beams & high ceiling! Luckily had prebooked dinner for both nights - wonderful food beers wines & service. Breakfast brilliant & all the staff were all just so friendly & helpful. Ideal setting for the beach & walking. Highly recommend & can’t wait to stay again.

Just got back from having a fantastic couple of nights away staying at the masons arms, food, room and staff impeccable! Cannot recommend enough!!!

Just had a fabulous lunch at the Masons Arms with family.😋(I recommend the chicken curry...delicious)...service was excellent. Care and attention to detail always.👌 Olde world surrou dings, lovely oak beams in abundance, and a cosy log fire! What more does one need! Thank You for making our day.

The staff make this place They are incredible nothing is to much trouble right from check in we were made to feel welcome I think his name was connor, the room was the best I have ever stayed in, the food was incredible, the staff in the pub, special mention to Michael who served us, he was the best, also the head houskeeper suzie the room was spotless. I have and will continue to recomend this place, please book in advance for dinner as it gets very busy and when you go you'll understand why.

Often stay here when we visit the area and it’s always 100% perfect. Great staff, amazing food and the most comfortable bed!

Fantastic stay. Being personally greeted and shown to our lovely room by Imogen. The room was very clean and bed very comfortable. We then had dinner where Izzy looked after us, the food was sensational.

We stayed at The Masons Arms with friends and small children and had a brilliant time. The rooms were spotless and super comfortable — perfect after a day out. The staff were super helpful and welcoming throughout our stay, and the General Manager,David, is clearly doing a great job running the place — everything felt well organised and friendly. The food was a real highlight by chef Adam . We started with mussels, followed by a perfectly cooked medium-rare steak, and ended with an amazing sticky toffee pudding. Absolute treat! Mornings came with great breakfast smells and a very enthusiastic rooster providing our wake-up call 🐓. The location is peaceful and full of countryside charm. The beach is within walking distance, cows were grazing in the nearby fields, and in the evening we even heard an owl after sunset. At night, the sky was filled with stars — truly beautiful. A relaxed, family-friendly place with great food and a lovely atmosphere. We’d happily come back!

Rooms and staff are the best, food is amazing, big thank you for such a warm welcome from Connor and Imogen, we will definitely be back and we will bring some friends next time

We stayed here in August and had an amazing break. We stayed in one of the cottages outside of the pub. The room was lovely. Had a Sunday evening meal in the restaurant which was excellent and the breakfast was equally as good. I must admit we have fell in love with the Masons Arms & Branscombe. From the lovely walk down to the beach and the beautiful coastal walks either side. We have already booked to come back in November and we cannot wait.

The hotel and staff were excellent. Rooms would benefit from better lighting especially in the wardrobes and the addition of drawers.

Fabulous posh pub with rooms! Delightful building with easy access to beach and plenty of parking. Stunning room with bath and shower and lounge area in room 10. Staff fab and helpful re walks and gluten free options. Nearby Beer is a fun place to visit. Food at breakfast and dinner good and wide choice of drinks at bar. Another fab visit to a St Austell pub who clearly know how to do posh pub with rooms well. This is my 10th St Austell pub with rooms . Highly recommend ❤️🍺🍾🥂

We had a very clean room , but , being a person needing an accessible room and facilities to have to walk up a slope or 6 steps and the across to the far corner of the car park to find our very nice accessible room was hard work and detracted from the old world ambience of this lovely Pub /Hotel. The Staff did for warn us of the steps at the time of booking. There was no Dedicated Parking bay for disabled patrons any where near the Accessible room that we were allocated. If at all ! We enjoyed the menu and all the staff were very attentive to our needs and most welcoming. We enjoyed our stay despite the above but with a little more consideration in design from Management on the issues raised above this could have been a brilliant experience.

A really cosy and lovely traditional old inn with mod cons and a great atmosphere in a beautiful location great for long walks in the countryside and by the sea. Helpful friendly staff, very comfortable, cosy rooms, parking and a very good restaurant. Recommended.

Amazing hotel in a beautiful setting with an incredible team running the place. Nothing to much trouble for anyone there could not fault anything

Room was fabulously clean and decorated lovely. Staff were very friendly and couldn’t do enough for you. The food was delicious. The location is great, very peaceful and quiet. Great walking location. You will need a car to travel to nearby Sidmouth and the surrounding area due to the location.

Fantastic accommodation and friendly staff. Food in Masons Arms of a very good standard.

the standard rooms are small!

Lovely room, great food. Very peaceful location and a short scenic walk to the beach. Great stay!

Very enjoyable stay in comfortable clean surroundings. Excellent staff and great food

We had a lovely stay at The Mason's Arms. The staff are just lovely. Our room was quite compact, but had everything you need. Very comfy beds. The location is good for an easy walk to the beach. Parking can be difficult, as its a popular place for food and drink, and we did visit on a bank holiday. But we had a lovely weekend stay.

We wanted somewhere special for our 40th wedding anniversary and we certainly found it here. A beautiful setting, characterful building and thoroughly professional staff.

Connor in his shed was particularly welcoming and thoughtful, we especially loved the private garden. Although a single night the Masons will remain a highlight of our trip to the UK.

Everything excellent. Beautiful, comfy, spacious accommodation, with a lovely patio outside room. Staff ALL very friendly and helpful. Food excellent (dinner & breakfast). Pretty, peaceful location with nice walks. Could not fault. Highly recommend.

Amazing stay with friends for a birthday celebration- we stayed in one of your cosy rooms and it was exactly what it says on the tin- cosy and delightful:) thank you to the kitchen for accommodating my pesky allergens without fuss! We will be back x

I spent a couple of days in Dorset as a quick getaway and this hotel could not have been better. Lovely rooms.Landscaped terracing with loads of space for groups to sit. Great breakfast and St Austell beer (I had Anthem, which was clear as a bell). Fifteen minutes walk to a quiet beach. Think I'll take my wife next time.

The staff and the customer service is exceptional, we had a lovely stay and the food is delicious!

Beautiful setting. Wonderful atmosphere.

Fantastic hotel. I typically stay at modern 5 star hotels with work and this was a great place (and I (unfortunately) have a pretty snobby taste). Staff great, older look but modern facilities.

Oh wow. We stayed here for four nights in July 2025. We had room 17. What a lovely room, so well decorated and a lesson in design. The room had a lovely large bed with opening windows on two aspects and a door that opened onto a private patio with luxury wooden sun beds and a log burner for any chilly evenings. A large bathroom with a walk in shower and all the amenities you could wish for. The bar and restaurant were as good with a great range of real ale (for me) and a great selection on the dinner menu. The breakfast was great too with a buffet continental along with a great cooked breakfast ( we were never asked our room number for breakfast so maybe anyone could have walked in and enjoyed it). The only slight downsides for me were the very difficult journey into the village with only three roads in and all were single track for at least a mile so if you can’t reverse this may be a difficulty. The car park was ok and I always found a space but it was tight. We were there four nights and for the first two we were not offered a special on the dinner menu which made some decisions a little difficult only to see the specials menu on the bar the next morning. One real advice to the restaurant is please replace the salt and pepper mills as they are awfully sticky and feel bad and whilst I am sure they are not they feel dirty. Would I return. If it weren’t for the road in and out I would in a heartbeat but may not as it is. We will though explore other hotels in the group.

Wonderful place to stay - from the attentive staff to the exceptional food we couldn’t fault the place. Highly recommend

Charming little pub stay good beer and food and in a lovely area close to beach and lovely village and challenging coastal and cliff walks. Our only complaint is that our room 25 was almost unbearably hot at night even with the Dyson fan going all night. Not sure if all rooms are as hot but understand that they all have the fans!? Will likely return in the hope that another room is cooler!?

We had a lovely stay. The Mason’s Arms is definitely the crown jewel in the centre of Branscome. The outside area is cute and well maintained. Thatched roofing giving the place a traditional English feel. The team were very welcoming. The room and decor was fabulous. Upgrade was very much appreciated. Bed and duvet was amazing. The Dyson air conditioning was a nice touch since we stayed during a warm snap in the UK. Breakfast and dinner was delicious. Great location for a peaceful few days. Beach was a 15 min walk away. We will definitely return!

First srsy at The Masons Arms. It was the perfect break, and could not fault The Masons Arms. It was beautiful, friendly sraff, excellent accommodation,

Very nice property with excellent restaurant

Staff were pleasant but very slow in everything they did. It wasn't even busy. Check in was good. Room was a dream. Evening meal was good. Breakfast was nothing to write home about. I had Eggs Benedict. Nothing special Check out was efficient. It was a good stop on my way through walking. I probably wouldn't choose to go stay there.

Great stay.

Great night in a lovely hotel. Room was amazing. Spacious, vintage decor, large bathroom, very comfortable large bed and great view. Service was excellent from a very friendly team. Food was great and the location was beautiful. Not something I say often but it was outstanding. Definitely want to go back.

Stayed for a week. Had a fabulous time on all fronts. Room was superb, best mattress ever and immaculately clean. We were in one of the cottages, worth it! Staff were the highlight- coped with burst water mains in the village with aplomb. A really friendly, professional smiley bunch who were very tolerant and calm despite a full house! Enjoyed the lovely food, a cut above other pubs. Beautiful gardens too. Hope to be back.

Another fantastic stay here, 2nd time we've visited. The pub and restaurant are excellent, the best scotch egg I've ever had! Beautiful surroundings for country walks The staff were very friendly and helpful We've recommended this place to friends and family

Lovely stay at Mason arms, marketing team is.in point with all the littke touches to the room and cute extras such as postcards, printed cycling routes, relaxing sleep pillow mist and more. Was rwally impressed by the room and service from the staff. Dinner and breakfast were really tasty. One of the nicest vegetarian sausages ive ever eaten! Branscombe was also beautiful to walk and explore.

Brilliant place to stay would recommend it to all. It was very hot when we stayed could have done with a fan in the room. Staff were great and attentive

Brilliant weekend- eight of us and made us feel most welcome. We loved our huge room- most comfort in.

Very friendly and processional team

Had the most Amazing Easter weekend staying here. We stayed in a Classic Room (no pets) and was allocated room 32. It was a wow moment walking into the room which we was showed to by Connor with some milk to be able to make teas and coffees. The room lovely and warm and we had the most relaxing weekend. Food including dinner and breakfast were Super. I'm very grateful to Sophie for reaching out regarding bookings for the restaurant in advance. Staff in the restaurant were wonderful and work so hard. The walk to the beach is about 10 minutes which we loved. We didn't venture far and made the most of the location to have a restful weekend. We cannot wait to stay again. Thank You, I can see why you have won awards.

Good food and service. Comfortable room.

Amazing place - lovely staff, great food, quiet accommodation!

This was our third trip to The Masons Arms and we would happily book again. Food and accommodation and staff all excellent.

No bath availability

Another fabulous stay at The Masons Arms, great rooms, great staff and delicious food

We were welcomed on arrival, taken care of during our stay & was just a joy of a visit. Fantastic room, great food, great service & that location is peaceful & beautiful with lots of walks close by. Will definitely be staying again very soon & bringing friends.

Lovely location ; excellent food; staff all efficient and friendly .

Beautiful accommodation and friendly staff, would definitely stay at The Mason's Arms again. What a find !!!

Lovely old building in quaint seaside village. Nice friendly atmosphere. Room and bed rather small but maybe to be expected in such an old cottage type property.

Room was good but first offered one on the second floor of a cottage in the next village. Good idea to take a ball of string to ensure you can find your room a second time. The food was disappointingly average, the steak was okay but would have been improved by a pepper sauce or cheese sauce or even beetroot mayonaise. The wine was scandalously over priced and pretty poor!

Beautiful hotel, beautiful location, (roads are a bit rough getting down to the village but worth it ) fabulous staff and food, can’t recommend enough we will return

Wow absolutely lovely room to stay in excellent staff bubbly nothing to much trouble comfy bed amazing toiletries food good excellent breakfast so much to choose from like Christmas again totally recommend staying here Thankyou for a lovely stay shame we’re not here longer 100% place

Peacful rooms, quiet location, lovely walk to the beach.

Faultless all round, friendly staff make you feel at home, wonderful food, spectacular rooms, we will return, thank you

Excellent service, lovely rooms and the staff were fantastic with myself and my two cocker spaniels! Thank you for a lovely getaway. We have already rebooked with Daisy for the summer. Tip for guests- book early for the restaurant! They are surprisingly busy even on weekdays.

Beautiful location and beautiful room. Roll top bath an extra treat overlooking the countryside. Staff lovely, professional and welcoming. Food in the pub was excellent. Beach, forge and church a must see. We loved our winter break and didn’t want to leave. Great location to visit Sidmouth, Beer and Lyme Regis. Book up - you won’t regret it.

Staff gave us a lovely welcome also call to see if we like to book evening meal with them. Super Meal and breakfast all outstanding . So inviting the bar and people . A wow all round thank you all

We have just stayed for two nights, but I wish I had booked for longer. We wanted to get away from work and relax, and that’s exactly what we achieved. The Mason’s Arms is a cosy country pub, but with all mod cons. All the staff were very helpful and friendly, as were the locals we spoke to. There’s very little phone signal, but the pub and rooms have good WiFi. We ate in the pub both evenings, and the food was excellent. Good choice of drinks available too. Try the Lyme Bay rosé brut, it’s delicious! Branscombe is a quiet, sleepy village, so you feel like you can really relax. This is the second ‘St Austell brewery’ pub we’ve stayed at, and they seem to run their pubs really well, with great staff. Rock Point Inn at Lyme Regis is worth a visit too. I’d describe them as a pub version of the Pig chain, without the hefty price tag. Book your stay, you won’t regret it.

Absolutely first rate, room was beautiful and ultra comfortable xx fabulous walk along to Beer from pub.

Great breakfast, comfy bed, helpful staff

The property is in the middle of nowhere but beautiful and maintained very well. We could not make it to dinner on time and so the kitchen closed a little too early. It was very inconvenient because to grab a bite literally had to drive about half hour away. So be on time to dinner. Breakfast was absolutely wonderful and the chefs creations were scrumptious.

We went for my partner's 70th with a surprise of friends joining us. From the room, to the pub, to the staff & our dining experience, the Masons arms excels in all. Thank you, we felt thoroughly spoilt.

A quaint traditional pub in the Devon countryside with fabulous contemporary accommodation. We stayed in one of the refurbished apartments, whilst still on site, was only a few metres away from the pub. The food was lovely, and the staff were were both helpful, friendly and funny. An enjoyable experience. There is a path that enables a pleasant walk to the beach, or it’s ideally placed if further walks are desired.

Great place great team and even better food. We was absolutely stunned with everything we had the food was top notch and the service even better. Please keep up the amazing work it's so rare these days to actually find staff that care and food to match. We will be back that's for sure.

This was our fourth visit to this charming pub/hotel, and it continues to impress. If you’re looking for a cozy, fireside retreat with a welcoming atmosphere and a friendly, attentive team, this is the perfect spot. The rooms are both stylish, and comfortable, featuring high-quality bedding and luxurious toiletries that add an extra touch of indulgence. Highly recommended!

we visited on candlelit Thursday and the pub looked beautiful. The service from Izzy, Maddie and Dana was lovely, and nothing was too much trouble. The stuffed squash and turkey cooked by chef's Will and Sabu were excellent! Thank you Team Masons :) See you again!

Everything was to a high standard. Highly recommended

Very friendly, with well equipped clean rooms

Good location, comfortable spacious rooms parking can be tight

We stayed at the Branscombe Arms in late October. The accommodation was gorgeous and the food delicious. Do book a dinner reservation, as there is no other option in the village itself. It has on-site parking and is in a great location, only a 10 minute walk from the beach and walking tracks. I would highly recommend it!

It was disappointing The room was very noisey the fire alarm above the bed went off at 7/8 both mornings The breakfast room was like a Zoo with so many big dogs the waitress couldn't get to our table I was hoping for a cosy pub with rooms and a old English stay but I won't be recommending It was too busy for what the staff could cope with The staff in the bar were lovely.

Here’s a polished and grateful version of your review: --- We had an absolutely amazing one-night stay at The Masons Arms in Branscombe. On Saturday evening, we enjoyed a dinner that was hands down the best meal we’ve had in the area. The staff were incredibly humble, kind, and attentive, making us feel so well looked after. Being pregnant and traveling with our lively toddler, it was such a relief to have such caring and accommodating service. The food options were beyond impressive, with generous portions and a fantastic kids' menu. I even had a little peek into their spotless kitchen when I got slightly lost, which just reassured me of their high standards. Our bathroom was similarly spotless—immaculately clean and well maintained. Both the bar and kitchen staff went the extra mile, checking in to see if we needed anything else and ensuring we were fully enjoying our experience. We stayed in Room 17, which had a spacious private patio complete with a wood burner and a cozy little wooden hut. It was the perfect spot to relax with a few drinks. The room itself was immaculately clean, tastefully decorated, and featured an impressive minibar and a spa-like bathroom stocked with beautiful bath products. It’s clear they leave no detail overlooked. We’re already planning a longer stay here, as every member of the staff is so warm, and their dedication to making everything perfect is truly charming. Breakfast the next morning was equally wonderful—an impressive range of options and superb quality. Our time at The Masons Arms made our trip to Devon that much more special. Thank you for a lovely experience!

WOW! I was completely blown away by the whole trip. The Masons Arms is a beautiful pub in a stunning location with attentive staff serving the best food I’ve had in a very long time. Patsy and Joao were so lovely and we wanted for nothing as they really looked after our every need. The accommodation was stunning, immaculately clean and had everything! i cannot wait to book another visit to see David and the team again. Absolutely perfect.

Absolutely beautiful room, lovely and warm especially after arriving cold from our motorcycle journey. Interior design was well thought, well stocked fridge with complimentary lager.sat on the roof terrace on Halloween listening to the owls in the woods , breakfast was great with a good choice, will definitely be back

Fantastic stay! Pub definitely had that cosy, old fashioned vibe with friendly attentive staff! Food was excellent! Overall a fab few nights away and will definitely be back!

I loved this Inn. It was isolated but the pub was still lively until 9:00 p.m. and then it closed for the night. The restaurant serves excellent food. The staff is friendly and helpful. The environs of Branscombe cannot be beat for a restful, stunning location, very near nice pebble beaches. I plan to go back!

I cannot recommend The Masons Arms highly enough. Beautiful location, beautiful buildings and wonderful staff. Nothing was too much effort. The room was utterly charming and attention had been paid to every detail. We will be back.

Loved our stay so much! Amazing staff and service in an unbelievable location. We will be back soon!

Delightful Inn. Wonderful staff and food. Very cosy pub and interesting town. Highly recommend.

Cute little village and the room was beautiful and roomy. The food in the restaurant was delicious and the service friendly and welcoming. The parking lot is a tight squeeze but it worked out. We will definitely return as we don’t have too much time to really check out the town.

Great ,quiet country location , with ten min walk to the beach. Great food and super service .

I haven't stayed at the Masons Arms for around 20 years. I saw it is now owned by a brewery so thought it would have a corporate feel rather than the family atmosphere I used to enjoy. I also noticed that they no longer have a separate pub and more formal restaurant menu - which they used to do. Also they no longer roast meat on the open fire which they used to do 3 times a week as a feature. Well 20 years is a long time and it's natural to hark back to nostalgia. I needn't have worried. Personal service at its best and I am totally confident now that the brewery who own it don't operate like a stuffy chain. In fact, I will now pro-actively hunt out their other properties. Excellent food. Hope the specials change frequently to ensure there is variety since I plan to return soon for a longer than 1 night stay. Loved the fresh milk in the room, excellent coffee machine, water in the fridge - and 2 complimentary beers from their brewery. What's not to like! Rooms were excellent with everything you could possibly want. Well thought out. Elemis pillow spray a great touch! Everyone I spoke to - including the receptionist who called on the day to confirm requirements, landlord who welcomed us, bar staff, waitress, housekeeping and check out - were excellent. Caring and motivated. If I had to criticise anything, an 11am check out always irks me a bit. Can't wait to be back with my dog next time who will love it as much as we did....

Loved our stay at the Mason Arms, could not fault it!

We absolutely loved our stay at the Masons Arms. We came down at lunchtime for an evening event we were going to at the Branoc Hall. We had lunch at the Masons Arms before heading up to the Hall. The lunch was superb, all the staff were friendly and bent over backwards to help us. Our room was delightful with a water feature outside of our front door, such a shame the weather hadn't been better as we could have sat outside and had our morning coffee. We had the full english cooked breakfast which was amazing, cooked to perfection. We would not hesitate to book in again if we need to be in that part of the country. We might even book a night away there as a treat at sometime in the future. I would highly recommend.

Excellent Quadruple room above the bar. The Village and hotel look exquisite! Both evening meal and breakast were wonderful. Only two issues. The room is rather dark with no bright light near a mirror. Some noisy music from below in the evening and morning, I think while closing and opening up the bar. When paying the rates for this stay, I would not expect these minor issues.

Lovely pub , good beer, good food, lovely location.

Fabulous room. Lovely comfortable bed. Short walk to a pleasant beach. Breakfast was excellent.

Lovely meal light and tasty in great surroundings. Went for a late Saturday lunch so pleased to find it open and welcoming late in the afternoon. Would thoroughly recommend if you find yourself in Louth. Waitress service was attentive and efficient.

I almost don’t want to give this little gem 5 stars for fear we’ll never be able to get in again but it is a real delight. The rooms are amazing and the pub just out of this world, it’s a lovely retreat, a place to wind down and only a few minutes walk from the delightful shingle beach. I’ve said enough!

Gorgeous hotel & location.

Great pub hotel with excellent restaurant, best in this area

We had read the recommendations for the Masons Arms in the guest book of the cottage we were staying at in Beer . It was our wedding anniversary on the Sunday so we booked for Sunday lunch and walked to Branscombe to work up an appetite. We were not disappointed the food was superb and my husband said the beer was excellent. The waiting staff were efficient and friendly. We then called another day for a drink because my husband had enjoyed the beer so much!! A lovely welcoming pub!!

The staff and the food was excellent . Exceeded expectations and the location is lovely . Unfortunately the room was a real disappointment in that it was dark with one little window . The lighting was orange/warm lights that made the situation worse and hard dark furniture/ walls . Also not well kept as ceiling damaged and looked a mess. Bathroom was beautiful and bright. Quite the opposite of the roo. Which I found depressing . Such a shame as staff food,location spot on but with room we were given I wouldn’t go back

Loved the room we stayed in. Friendly staff nice food from the masons arms definitely stay again