The Best Cafes in Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset, United Kingdom (2025)

Found by chance when perusing the menu of a more expensive establishment. Inside was too busy for nine of us but in the small yet quaint courtyard we managed to shuffle a few tables together to accommodate our needs. The food was delicious and reasonably priced... the pot of tea was enormous and required a strong arm to lift and pour! The staff were very friendly especially one gentleman in particular who instigated much banter. Would definitely visit again... highly recommended.

On a recent trip to Bridport we were introduced to the Green Yard. Great coffee, fabulous food (generous portions) and wonderful friendly service. We went back 3 times! Highly recommended!

Absolutely fabulous. Beautiful home made Dorset Apple Cake. Strong and tasty Latte. Staff are wonderful, friendly and Caring. I will be back. Thank you. ❤️❤️🌻🌻

excellent venue , clean and well presented . i always check the toilet , spotless. the food is great and the atmosphere is fantastic. we have booked for christmas . thank you for going out your ti help us mike. see you all soon

We loved our weekend away in the shepherds hut! The hut was so cute, very comfortable with thick mattresses, nice bedding & pillows. It is very basic, no electric but there is a portable loo behind & kitchen with fridge, water, plug points etc. They give hut visitors access to a main toilet & shower in the pool area from 8pm to 7am. But if you book an hour slot at the pool during the day, you can use those facilities too. The hosts were fantastic, I struggled to book a slot at the pool/jacuzzi when we arrived on Friday evening so they kept the pool open from 8-9pm for us to use. The hut is in the alpacas field which is great as they wonder around but don't be scared as they are very calm & wouldn't let us touch them. You can feed them whenever you want plus the sheep & chickens. You have to park at the main car parking but you get a wheelbarrow to bring you stuff to the hut which we found quite funny. It was very quiet at night which amazing sights of the sky & stars. They give you lots of wood to do fires & use in the log burner in the hut. I would highly recommend for something different & stress free.

Great hosts and Baabara the shepherds hut was a great adventure for me and my son. We had to share the double bed but we slept really well as the beds are comfy, the field is really peaceful and frankly we were pleasantly exhausted from the animal feeding, fire making, swimming and walking. Such a lovely spot with great views and skies and the wildlife all around us including the friendly sheep, Alpacas and chickens. There was plenty to keep us occupied and lots of quirky details that were fun. The pool was great, the games room also. All you need for a fun weekend.

Great chilling out location. 1st full day here, cottages are very clean, kitchen area a little dated but everything in good working order. Pool is excellent, jacuzzi a tad cloudy and foamy. Would have been five other than those two minor blemishes.

Heaven in England! At a time where we all need a break from our 4 walls & still trying to be safe, this is the BEST place to be! Self contained quaint cottages. Private, clean indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi & sauna (with an excellent booking system). Games room & a few animals for feeding all homed in an idyllic, natural beauty - what more could you ask for? Friendly, welcoming people maybe? Well that's there in abundance! Seriously, you may think initially when booking - cor that's a lot for a UK holiday - but it's worth every penny! Some tips for you - *five bells pub - do visit it! Food is lovely. *do pop to the shops B4 u arrive! The nearest shop really is a drive away! *do use Kelly from the beauty treatments list - she's amazing! *go to Lyme Regis - it's beautiful! Park in the b&b car park diagonally opposite the Cobb Arms, just up the hill. If they've any free spaces it's only £3 all day! *Don't eat at the Royal Standard - it's nowhere as amazing as The Cobb Arms! *Do visit the animals at Berehayes! They're wonderful! *Do read the amazing website with all the info u need on it! Makes life so easy! Thank you Kevin & Hayley! The A-Team had the best time! (and mama even managed to squeeze in 3 massages by local masseure Kelly of @Lyme Bay Beauty too!)

Great experience learning some new games with the staff speeding up the process by explaining the basic rules to us. Incredibly delicious pizzas - classic options like pepperoni and BBQ chicken and other more unique ones such as Mediterranean and spinach and mushroom. Booking is a must as it's a very popular venue and 3 hours is recommended as the time flies!!

Had a lovely relaxed Saturday afternoon eating tasty food, discovering new games and drinking a very tasty milkshake! Good vegan options (I'm dairy free so always look out for them!) and friendly staff. Will definitely be back 😊

UPDATE: Since I wrote the review below, Board Cafe have started doing food, and it is excellent. The sourdough pizzas are among the best we've had anywhere. You're here for the games, and they have a super selection of quality games in very good condition. You want to be guided in how to play new ones, and the staff are genuine enthusiasts and generous in the help they offer. You'll sustain yourself with decent drinks at a good price, and they've got that covered - the coffee is barista quality, and friends who like that sort of thing said they love the milkshakes. There are alcoholic treats, too ... perhaps for customers who aren't as competitive as us! They are building a kitchen upstairs to do food in future, and in the meantime they have been inventive with the cake selection and snack menu. We got the "three bowls for £5" offer this time - sour jelly sweets, chocolate buttons and Doritos, which helps create a party atmosphere. We've been here with a group of 10, twice in a group of 4 and today as a couple, and each time we've had a great experience (see picture of Wingspan, a lovely game based on the idea of building a bird reserve). Book your table in advance - this is a very popular place.

An eclecticly decorated cafe with a good selection of food. It does a good trade in takeaway cakes and pastries but we decided to eat in, a very helpful staff member found us a table and took our order. I was offered a selection of breads to have with my cooked breakfast, I was so pleased to be given a gluten free option. We had a bit of a wait, as they were busy, but it was worth it as the food was delicious. It was useful to use the cafe's WiFi too.

Very nice skating and surfing decor and the food is decent. They are baby-friendly too :)

Great little quirky café. Very friendly staff and dog friendly as well which was great as it was on and off showers the day we went. The coffee and hot chocolate were great and very hot, which is not always the case in lots of cafés. We had some lovely cakes but the food looked good as well. Very generous slices as well.

Super friendly staff, relaxed nice atmosphere, fantastic allergic options ! Great coffee

Great little cafe just off the beach, right by all the attractions. We sat at a window looking at the fossil shops and the sea which was very wild today. Lovely food, great quality and portions were perfect. And the staff couldn't do enough for us happy to chat and tell us information. Coffee was great as well. Thank you for a great breakfast x

Been to Lyme so many times...first time here ..it was the rain and the wind that drove us in but the menu caught our eye. Friendly and accommodating staff,great atmosphere with history....the views from the window are great. The home made soup was out if this world...the best Mushroom soup I've tasted in a long while🎉🥳🎉 came with a huge chunk of tasty warm bread with plenty of butter and a cheese panni which I was not expecting which was lush,no cheap plastic cheese.Tasty mature Cheddar....5 stars‼️

Great cafe... doggie friendly... just what you want for on the coast bacon breakfast or more (indoor or outside seating)... even with a dog treat 🐾

Brilliant! Great service, very accommodating for my gluten free requests and lovely views. The breakfast was delicious and my boys ate everything on their plates! Can't wait to come again. Such amazing service the lady let my little boy sit wherever he wanted as he wanted a window seat! And treats for the dogs! Our last holiday breakfast was one to remember thank you xx

Excellent and tasty Cornish pasty and sausage rolls... Id drive there again just for lunch (80 miles away). All cooked on site too. Thanks guys for a really good food experience.

Beware does not take cash. Reasonable pasties and a decent cup of tea.

The Cornish Bakery holds a special place in my heart for its unparalleled food quality and exceptional customer experience. Whether it's an early Sunday morning breakfast or any other time, their wide selection of freshly baked delights and aromatic coffee never fail to impress. The warmth and friendliness of the staff add to the overall charm, making every visit a delightful culinary journey.

Great Bakery, with a great choice of reasonably priced savoury tasty pasties and pies along side cakes and tarts, etc. There is seating inside, where pets are welcome. However this is a very popular cafe, where you well may have to queue. It can be so busy that the staff haven't the time to clear tables, or check the toilets, as these are very busy too.

Family run, friendly. Thoroughly enjoyed the home made scones ❤️. Very generous portions! Thank you for staying open even after closing time. Would definitely recommend if visiting the area.

We stopped for a scone on the way back to the car after spotting the tea rooms menu. When we arrived a sign said to sit at a table and you will be served from it. We knew what we wanted and were quickly greeted by a friendly lady who had observed we were ready and ordered 2 Dorset Cream Teas. Our food and drink was served within minutes and I couldn't actually believe the quality and quantity of the order for just £6.96 each! Absolutely delicious, will return for sure.

Amazing lunch but the best was the cream tea! I actually went to The Ritz in London a couple of days later for afternoon tea and the scones at West Bay Tea Rooms were better than theirs.

Absolutely loved it! The staff were lovely, the food was impeccable and the tea room itself was immaculate. The sandwich and the scones on the cream tea I ordered were massive, really worth the price! And was no problem when I asked for something to take half of me meal away when I couldn't finish it 😅 A must visit at West Bay!

Great biker themed cafe in West Bay. Good food, friendly staff, great outlook. Will definitely be back. Good stop off heading to Devon a d Cornwall.

Came here on a recommendation of a family member and I was glad I did! It was a busy day and the staff were clearly rushing all over the place, with our food taking quite a while to arrive. However, our breakfast was fresh, hot and most importantly; extremely tasty! Great quality sausages (a big hit for me) and thick cut bacon. Minor complaint that I received fried bread instead of toast, but it wasn't enough for me to raise it at the time. Nice coffee too! Even had some colouring bits for young kids, which is a nice touch.

It was windy inside but a hellabullo outside...great cafe with great views. Great menu and service was prompt and with a smile. Our dog loved the attention and the doggie sausage which was a nice touch. Food was well presented and tasty and hit the spot. The cafe has an extension menu and do great breakfast upto midday. Lovely cakes too but we were full from our lunch. Recommend the coated chips with. Cheese and pulled pork...yum 😋

I think we paid around £10 for 3 babyccinos, a double espresso and 2 packets of biscuits, which given today’s prices is pretty good 🙌🏻 Side note: the Babyccinos are awesome. They’re £1.45 and you get frothy milk with marshmallows but a cheaper version for kids. Highly recommend and the kids loved them👌🏻 I could imagine that it would be quite relaxing and enjoyable, but we had 3 kids. Sitting in a cafe is generally not all that enjoyable with kids but they were quite bearable and no one died. And big up to the member of staff that took the time to have a chat with one of our kids and even gave them all paper bags to collect treasure in from the beach 🙌🏻

We love this place! We recently were holidaying close to Lyme Regis and this became everyone’s favourite place to head to for food. Everything is outstanding, coffee is incredible, food is amazing, super friendly and helpful staff and outdoor and indoor seating. Their portion sizes are very generous and the quality of food is very high and everything is delicious. Highly recommended!

We had a delicious and filling brunch with fabulous coffee. The team was very nice and accommodating with the kids. Definitely a place to go when in Lyme Regis- we will be back!

My third time in Lyme but my first visit to Town Mill Bakery...I am half in mourning for all the times I could have come and half in celebration of trying to fit five more visits in the next 7 days! The portion sizes are so generous but it's the quality of the produce that really stands out. Attention to detail is spot on and exemplified by the dressing on the side salad...really delicious! I had chicken, bacon and smoked cheese with a pesto mayo/sauce. Perfectly balanced flavours...considering the punch from the cheese and pesto. Brilliant place, relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. Highly recommended 👌

We had the crab sandwich with salad and the green brunch on wholemeal granary sourdough with a flat white and a sea buckthorn tea with wild mint, fennel and chamomile. All of the ingredients were spot on and generously proportioned. I am very picky with my coffee but this was just as good as it looked. All that and really efficient, incredibly friendly service.

Nestled in the beautiful Dorset countryside, Washingpool Farm Shop & Cafe is a hidden gem that offers a delightful farm-to-table experience. My recent visit to this charming establishment left me impressed with its warm ambiance, friendly service, and delicious offerings, and I am excited to share my review. Upon arriving at Washingpool Farm Shop & Cafe, I was greeted by the serene and picturesque setting. The farm shop and cafe are located on a working farm, surrounded by rolling fields and stunning countryside views, creating a peaceful and inviting atmosphere. The rustic and cozy interior of the cafe added to the overall charm of the place. The farm shop at Washingpool offers a wide variety of fresh produce, meats, dairy products, and other locally sourced goodies. It was a joy to browse through the shelves filled with fresh vegetables, fruits, homemade preserves, and artisanal cheeses. The quality and freshness of the products were evident, and I appreciated the emphasis on supporting local farmers and producers. The cafe at Washingpool was equally delightful. The menu featured a range of homemade dishes made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. From hearty breakfasts to delicious lunches and tempting baked goods, there was something for everyone. I opted for a farmhouse breakfast, and it was a delicious and satisfying meal. The food was cooked to perfection, and the flavors were outstanding. There's also a great playground for the kids.

Lovely farm shop great variety of fruit an̈d veg . And amazing baked potatoes ! Would definitely recommend

Beautiful Spot! We sat on the terrace with our coffees and enjoyed the sunshine and the views! Staff were lovely, menu is a little pricey, well very pricey. We had a pot of tea for two, and we each had cake with clotted cream on the side, it cost over £17! I will say however, the cake portions were humongous! I've never been served a slice of cake that big in my life before! And it was very very delicious! The farm shop is beautiful, a gorgeous display of fruit and vegetables and a great selection of local produce. I very much recommend a visit!

Stayed nearby. Amazing place so much more than a farm shop, deli has an extensive range of chutneys, spices, jams, rice wine, vinegars, etc. Meat is from their own farm as is most of the veg. The fruit selection is very good and of a high standard. The curries from the freezer are superb. We had lunch today, ham, egg and chips and a cheese and spinach soufflé. Both lovely. We'll stop for breakfast another day. Here we are again, July 24. Been many times since last review. Cafe is still as good and the shop still the best farm shop we know.