All about the 'haunted' George Inn at Chideock, west Dorset

The George Inn is sited along the A35 in the heart of Chideock and used to be haunted by a woman who was shot in the doorway hundreds of years ago - according to its owners.

Amy Day runs the pub with her partner Jamie Smith, and before a refurbishment several years ago a woman was said to have haunted the 14th century pub.

Amy Day and Jamie Smith with their children outside the George Inn in Chideock (Image: Amy Day)

Amy said: "There was a woman shot at the entrance of the pub who haunted the pub before the refurb eight years ago. We used to call her Judy. 

"I found that out of hours some strange things used to happen, like glasses flying off the shelves. I think it was just her making her presence known. 

"One guest in the cottages opposite said they saw her in the window."

The building has been a mainstay of the village for hundreds of years, acting as its pub since it was built in or around the 13th or 14th century and was extended in the 1940s before its most recent refurbishment.

"It's always been a pub, "Amy added.

"When you look back at old pictures there was no car park, everyone just parked on the road, but you could not do that now."

A refurbishment eight years ago has the inside looking tidy, but without losing the traditional pub feel (Image: Amy Day)

Fast forward to the present day and Amy and Jamie are offering fresh and local food and drink all served with a smile. 

"We have to work a bit harder as we are not on the beach," she admitted.

"Hopefully people feel relaxed and want to come back. We much rather everyone gets really good service.

"Good service is the most important thing to me."

The food is prepared on site using as much local produce as possible (Image: Amy Day)

With Amy tending to the front of house team, it is Jamie who is creating the wonderful home cooked locally sourced dishes from the kitchen.

The duo pride themselves on using Bridport's famed RJ Balson and Son butchers as well as ice cream from Baboo Gelato and fresh scallops straight out of Lyme Bay. 

"It's mainly pub food, on the gastro side," Amy continued.

 "We are small and it is freshly cooked and it is as local as we can be and is all made on site.

"Our burgers are just the best, you can never take a good burger off the menu.

"It's a proper classic thick burger with local beef, local bacon and Dorset Blue Vinney cheese.

"It is one of our most popular dishes, along with fish and chips, which uses local fish."