The Best Restaurants in Alton Pancras, Dorset, United Kingdom (2025)

Food is tasty. Highly recommend the hand made pasta. Nice outdoor garden for seating

We ate here for our 2 year wedding anniversary, and were served by the lovely Claudia who was super friendly. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. Will definitely be back again soon.

Visited today ( sat 5th oct) and enjoyed good food and service. The young ladies who were serving were extremely polite, good knowledge of the food offered, and had a good sense of humour. Compliments to the kitchen staff as the food was great, and just enough for lunch. There is no doubt that my friends and I will be revisiting this lovely establishment.

Went couple of days ago with husband and a friend and had a lovely meal. Food was delicious, although the stuffing in my friends chicken breast had a strange taste. Portion size generous, Mia our waitress was fab! Just moved to the area so a nice find. Will definitely be back.

Exceptional food, locally sourced and foraged. The chef often came out to serve the dishes and was more than happy to talk about the ingredients, where he had foraged some of them and how the dish was made. Every plate was well conceived, light and tasty, even the bigger dishes such as the ox cheek or venison. Wine suggestions were excellent and every wine we tried was surprising and delicious. Staff were friendly and helpful, the venue small and welcoming. This rates as one of the best food experiences I've had. Get there now while it's still small and relatively undiscovered because it deserves to get better known and booked up months in advance.

Upscale menu in an unpretentious basement "cave." Small plate (and I mean small!) offerings of exquisitely executed dishes that present a culinary experience for the palate. I wish there were 30% more on every dish we sampled (wouldn't really describe it as "ate," given the amount). But... they were all quite well done. You just need to order a lot of dishes. We had the Flatbread w Pickled Ewe's Cheese, Fig & Roasted (yumm) Pumpkin Seeds, Beetroot Carparccio (outstanding take), Soused Mackerel, Dartmoor Lamb (tender), Polenta w Girolles (mushroon), Ricotta & Cheddar, Fennel Truffles (not to miss for a chocolate lover) & Apricot & Thyme Sorbet (the only small miss: would have preferred a gentler herb like mint).

We didn't book, and the restaurant was full, but the server offered us the bar table or outside dining, and as it as a sunny warm evening we landed on the outdoor dining. This is a rare find. Not only was the outdoor dining stylish and intimate, it offered wonderful service, and a 10/10 experience. The dinner was wonderful, from small bites all the way to the main the meal was wonderful. The menu is seasonal and delicious, this was a menu that didn't offer comfortable favourites, but diverse delicious plates that we talked about all the way home. They even made us a tailor made cocktail which was spicy and lovely. We had 3 servings. We are thrilled we got in, and would recommend it to anyone who is a food lover.

Came here for dinner for my partners birthday from London. Fantastic little restaurant in a great location. Beautiful, simple decor and super friendly staff. Lovely seasonal menu with a great selection of vegetarian, fish and meat fishes from the area. The 'soused mackerel' was my favourite and the frangipane desert were exquisite. The wine was local and divine. Great experience and a great meal.

This is an absolutely amazing place. The staff were extremely attentive, the food was phenominal and definitely worthy of a Michelin star and excellent value too. They really care about service and quality here . The best food that I have eaten in a long time. Thank you so much.

Yalbury Cottage is a place where excellence, friendliness, and quality come together seamlessly. As someone who loves travelling and exploring new cities and places, I have stayed in numerous accommodations, but none compare to Yalbury Cottage. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and look forward to returning to the area. The staff at Yalbury Cottage consistently went out of their way to be friendly and did everything possible to ensure our stay was exceptional. The room exceeded my expectations significantly, with its stunning and unique view. We truly felt as if we were at home, but in a setting with beautiful new scenery. Situated in Dorchester, Yalbury Cottage offers a perfect base to explore the area and nearby cities such as Weymouth. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, have recommended this place to others, and will continue to do so. The bed was incredibly comfortable, and everything was spotlessly and well-organised. Additionally, the thoughtful touch of leaving brownies in our room upon arrival exemplifies their dedication to Yalbury Cottage and their commitment to providing each guest with an exceptional experience. I personally can't wait to return to this charming cottage for another uniquely wonderful stay.

Absolutely wonderful overnight stay, with excellent breakfast and dinner, extremely comfortable accommodation, highly professional and friendly staff... need I go on? I would unhesitatingly recommend this charming hotel.

Have a lovely lunch here with my godmother. We had pork belly and it was very tender but abit too salty. It’s ok when eat with the mashed potato, it’s balanced out. Very friendly and attentive service 👍🏻

Visited by chance on a wet Wednesday and so glad we chose Al Molo. Restaurant was busy but staff were excellent, very friendly and attentive and despite being rush off their feet always available when needed. Food was fabulous and when we visit Dorchester again will definitely be back.

Beautiful food had 3 courses and all were beautiful, service was well paced and not fast so you get to enjoy the dishes . Steak was more than an 8oz fillet and my wife’s seafood linguine was in her words divine. Waiters were lovely and honoured to meet one of the chefs . Thank you

This place is remarkable. I honestly feel like I have to leave a review because I had a private room booking for party of 7 (engagement celebration). The team took care of us extremely well and I want to give special honour to our hostess Verity, so sweet, so patient, clear in her communication- 5 stars for her. The food was gorgeous and pretty affordable in my opinion . Some portions were small but I understand that it is more on fine dining side. The only critique I would give is about some cleaning aspects in which the rooms had like old cobwebs, spider webs on the windows, just could use a deep clean.

A perfect place to stay and visit the beautiful Cerne valley and the surrounding area. we loved the very comfortable beds big fluffy duvets and perfect pillows. Great bar and restaurant amazing breakfast with a wide choice of dishes. Annette and Julian with their team deliver fantastic service. Highly recommend.

The most amazing quality for the money.. we stumbled across this pub on a wet Wednesday..even though it was 2 pm, the kitchen was open and all the menu was available. I was blown away with the quality of the food and hospitality..

We stayed over the bank holiday in Aug and it’s so quiet and peaceful. Food was amazing and my husband said it was the best breakfast. All the staff went above and beyond especially Haley and another lady whose name we didn’t know. Fantastic little find.

My husband and I were on holiday in Cerne Abbas and came across this very special place on our first day walk. What a wonderful find, we were warmly received by Annette and Julian, who showed a great interest in us and where we had come from and checking out where we may visit while in Dorset. We loved this place so much we visited 4 times for evening drinks and meals. The recommendations for local beers, wine and Gin were excellent. They were always interested on our daily adventures. We can honestly say the place had a wonderful vibe with pleasant background music not to loud, and listening to the local banter was heart- warming. Also lovely to see all dog visitors getting doggy treats from the owners. Always served with a smile The food was absolutely delicious, they have a very talented chef, the presentation and food portions were spot on and there was no waste from us ! Thank you for a marvellous time at The new Inn and we will be back again soon and will definitely book a stay as well . If we could give you 6 stars we would

Fabulous gastro pub. We enjoyed the food so much we went there for a second evening whilst staying overnight locally. Really good value for money with generous portion sizes 😁 If you have the fish Friday, which includes a drink, you need to ask, which ones are included before ordering. We didn't realize that at the time and ordered drinks that weren't included.

Selfishly I would like to keep this little gem to myself so that I can always go when I want but in the spirit of generosity (and because these guys are so brilliant) I felt I needed to leave a review. All of it is outstanding - the food, the service, the ambience, the wine - and I’m a hard person to please! I have been for a quick soup and a sandwich, full-blown Sunday roast and a mid-week supper. All superb, freshly prepared food. Yes, maybe slightly pricier than other pubs, but if top quality food and a genuinely friendly service is your priority this is the place to come!

Lovely couldn't fault anything the food was delicious as were the desserts..Staff very friendly and welcoming..Definitely will be visiting again soon

Really enjoyed our meal, great atmosphere and lovely food, not just the usual stuff either, some really interesting dishes. Staff were friendly and helpful.

We booked to go for Sunday lunch. The food was delicious and hot. Vegetables cooked to perfection. Cosy setting and quiet atmosphere even though fairly busy which we like. Staff friendly and attentive. Recommend.

We visited on a weekday. We chose this pub over others in the village because of the reviews and because the food looked good value. There was one bartender on quite a busy lunchtime. She was good humored and efficient, taking drink and food orders, and delivering the food to the tables. We ordered our food and took drinks out to the garden at the back. Our food soon arrived despite being warned it might be a time. Simple fare, but generous portions. I ordered ham, egg and chips. The ham was delicious, three thick slices cut from a ham leg. Not the normal plastic ham in a prepacked plastic container. My partner had Nachos with a vegetarian chili. She enjoyed it. After lunch we walked around the village and came back for another pint before leaving on the bus. Good collection of beers including a local beer brewed in the village The pub has music events as well.

Absolutely delicious Sunday lunch. The vegetarian options were just as good as the meat roast options. Treacle tart pudding was wonderful. So glad we stumbled upon this little gem!

A group of 4 of us came in today at lunchtime, including a very disabled gentleman who is in a supportive wheelchair. Great choice of food and we all enjoyed it. Briony was serving behind the bar and bringing our food. She was so very helpful, friendly and attentive, we were really impressed. We'll come again!

We did enjoy coming here, however the food wasn't up to par this time round. It was super busy ( Christmas) and for the price, I expected something more treat worthy. First time we visited. The food was tremendous, hence the revisit and I felt spoiled which is how we should feel when choosing to eat out. This saddened me because I thought we had found a real gem 💎. Sorry guys x

Excellent pub with high quality food, good beer, service and a lovely ambience. Was staying at TDOC Poundbury. This place was far better for food, drink and price.

What a lovely place in a picturesque setting. From the initial welcome we were made to feel right at home. The staff were brilliant and very helpful. We had the Sunday lunch which was great value and delicious. Top marks for the cauliflower cheese! 👏 Really enjoyed our visit and will be going back.

Lovely Christmas dinner. The food was very nice but there was so much of it it was hard to enjoy it. My feedback would be to have the veg in dishes on the table so we can pick out how much we need. Would save a lot of waste and far easier to eat as not so much. The staff are always very welcoming and friendly x

We met friends here today for lunch, on their recommendation. Absolutely delicious food, beautifully cooked and served, excellent value for money and lovely, friendly staff. My new favourite place, especially as it's only 10 minutes away!

Charming olde world pub. Great food and friendly staff. Our room was lovely.

Amazing food, we went for the Sunday carvery and there was a good choice of meats , plenty of vegetables and condiments including crackling for the pork. The staff were very friendly and helpful . Parking was easy, very family friendly will definitely be visiting again!

Our visits to The Halsey Arms in Pulham are always nothing short of exceptional! We are delighted by the fantastic carvery, kid-friendly atmosphere, and the wonderful beer garden. This hidden gem, just a short 14-minute drive from The Victorian Barn, is wonderful. The carvery at The Halsey Arms is a culinary delight. The selection of succulent meats, accompanied by a wide array of delectable vegetables and flavourful gravy, makes for a truly satisfying meal. The attention to detail in every dish is evident, and the flavours are simply outstanding. What sets The Halsey Arms apart is its warm and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for families with children. The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive, ensuring that our little ones feel comfortable. One of the highlights of The Halsey Arms is its picturesque beer garden. The beautifully maintained outdoor space provides a relaxing setting to enjoy meals while soaking up the lovely surroundings. It is the ideal spot to unwind, sip on a refreshing drink, and enjoy the company of family and friends. The close proximity of The Halsey Arms to The Victorian Barn, just a short 14-minute drive away, makes it a must-visit destination for guests staying at the barn. Whether you're looking for a delicious carvery or a family-friendly atmosphere, The Halsey Arms offers the perfect combination. In conclusion, we wholeheartedly recommend The Halsey Arms for an outstanding dining experience. From the mouthwatering carvery and kid-friendly atmosphere to the charming beer garden, every aspect of your visit will be superb. Take a short drive from The Victorian Barn to The Halsey Arms and treat yourself to a memorable meal that will leave you wanting to come back for more.

Great location, good beer, really nice coffee with excellent service and reasonable prices, didn't try the food. Camping space behind, ideal for events.

Lovely food and service. But if you eat in the big room it feels a bit like a canteen of refectory. There is a smaller room the other end which is nicer. Otherwise excellent.