THERE’S never a better time to visit a Dorset pub than when new licensees have arrived in town.

The Old Thatch in Wimborne is a popular eatery among locals and visitors and has built a good reputation over the years.

At the beginning of July, locals welcomed Bill McTaggart and business partner Carl Anderson to the Old Thatch and the pair have already started their £40,000 makeover to transform it into a Best of British pub.

Plans include fixing and updating the pub inside and out with new lighting, a new smoking area and improved landscaping.

The pub offers a choice of two menus – a bar menu offering traditional pub grub dishes and a main restaurant menu.

The choice of dishes on the main menu was a little limited but catered for all tastes.

To start my friend and I chose the chicken and chorizo skewers, which consisted of two sticks filled with chunks of chargrilled chicken and chorizo and peppers. It was served with a small salad garnish and a very tasty tomato, onion and garlic sauce.

For main I plumped for the 10oz grilled sirloin steak. This is normally served with a stilton sauce but the chef kindly switched this to a mushroom sauce. I asked for the steak to be rare and it was cooked well, as were the salted chunky chips. My plate was also piled with onion rings and peas – a large portion to satisfy the hungriest of pub goers.

My friend chose the pie of the day and lucked in with a beef and Guinness pie. The beef melted in the mouth and the rich sauce was delicious. It was topped with a perfectly crispy puff pastry. Tasty chunky chips also accompanied this dish but the mashed carrots, cabbage and cauliflower were slightly cold.

For pudding we decided on the raspberry pavlova – a nicely sized portion with fresh raspberries, raspberry sauce, crunchy meringue and heavenly cream.

The service inside was good but remember they only serve food until 8pm so make sure you get there in time. It is also running a kids-eat-free offer with every paying adult throughout the summer holidays.

New landlord Bill says he and his staff are currently working on a new menu, which will include top British meals at more reasonable prices.

I look forward to returning later in the year to sample some of their British greats.

* The Old Thatch, 285 Wimborne Road West, Wimb-orne, BH21 7NW. 01202 877192.

The bill: Chicken and chorizo skewers £5.95; 10oz sirloin steak £16.50; Pie of the day £9.75; Raspberry pavlova £3.95; Total: £36.15.