Smuggler HQ at Dorset inn

Earlier this year, Cap’n James Summer, whose journal can be found on page ten of this issue, and his fiancée, Pirate Rose, were passing though the village of Osmington Mills on the Dorset Coast and, being lunchtime, they stopped off at the village pub. This is the aptlynamed Smugglers Inn situated in a fold of the cliffs on the South West Coast Path overlooking the Isle of Portland. A member of the Hall & Woodhouse family, it has a beautiful garden to enjoy during the Summer and its cosy oakbeamed interior offers the comfort of roaring log fires when the mist rolls in from the sea on Winter nights.

Originally built in the 13th century, with a brewery at the rear, it was created by joining three fishermen’s cottages together and because of its position in a steep-sided valley with winding lanes that led down to a sheltered beach, it became a major landing place for contraband goods in the 17th century.

An infamous smuggler called Pierre Latour, but better known as French Pete, made his headquarters at the inn, which was then named The Crown. He smuggled brandy and other illicit cargoes on his boat, L’Hirondelle (The Swallow), a fast, lightly-armed cutter wellsuited to the smuggling trade, and worked closely with landlord of the inn, Emmanuel Carless, to distribute what he brought ashore.

The Revenue made many attempts to capture French Pete, but with the support of local people he managed to evade arrest. There is a tale of one Revenue Officer who hid in the fireplace to capture him when he arrived, but when he strode through the door after another successful trip across the channel, the landlord offered him gin instead of his usual brandy and pointed silently to the fireplace where the officer was hiding.

Pierre announced that he had a chill in his bones and asked if the landlord would light the fire. The man was soon smoked out of his hiding place and having been told hair-raising tales of the smuggler’s exploits, he accepted a glass of brandy to calm his nerves and fled from the inn followed by the mocking laughter of the locals!

These days, the Smugglers Inn provides a friendly welcome to guests staying in its choice of four nautically-themed, en-suite rooms equipped with smart TV, digital radio and free Wi-Fi. Food is well above the standard for pub grub and its favourite Steak & Tangle Foot Pie is to be recommended. There is also a range of tasty sandwiches and a traditional Sunday Roast to savour. More information from www.smugglersinn osmingtonmills.co.uk