The Best Restaurants in Hooke, Dorset, United Kingdom (2025)

Fantastic food! Really delicious. We will definitely return on our next trip to the area. The staff are lovely and welcoming, and we felt at ease for the whole visit.

Overall is good, the quality it's top as the price and service. Lovely place with good atmosphere. If you're on rush, don't go, take your time and enjoy the food.

Really nice experience. The decor inside was very appealing and comfortable. Went for the 3 course set menu and the food was very well presented and had a lot of flavour. Waiters/waitresses polite and attentive. Will recommend to friends/family.

Oh my! ♥ What a magical experience visiting The Clockspire was. Where do I begin to describe the care and detail oozing from both the staff and the food, it truly is clear to see, even the toilet hand towels were folded beautifully! We decided to opt for an expensive treat due to a special birthday, but the restaurant also offers a very affordable day menu, so I would recommend for both a stunning meal out and for celebrating occasions.

What a little gem this place is, decor was very cozy and very well done, food was outstanding, lovely cocktails, nice selection of wine, owners and there team were friendly and on hand to assist with any queries, can't recommend this little gem of a restaurant any higher. We will return

Came here during our bank holiday weekend escape from London, and what a gem it turned out to be. It’s tucked away in a little alleyway but easy to find. We were seated in the downstairs bar area which has a mix of high and low seating, with just the right balance of cozy and charming. I didn’t catch our waiter’s name but I believe he’s one of the managers. His service was impeccable from start to finish. We loved all the food but the charred pork belly is a must try. You can truly taste how much love goes into every dish. We got to have a chat with the chef, Brendan. His warmth and passion for his craft shone through, making us feel incredibly welcome. The folks at Dorshi genuinely care about and love what they do, and that made for an amazing experience. Can’t wait to come back!

Everything was amazing. Between 2 of us we had almost all of the dumpling dishes because they were so good. The staff are brilliant & the drinks were exceptional too. Could not recommend it more.

This is mine and my partner's favourite restaurant. It was recommended to us a few years ago by the owner of another one of our favourite restaurants in Birmingham, when he heard we'd be holidaying in Dorset. It does not disappoint! The restaurant itself is well decorated with cosy isolated booths upstairs, ideal for couples or small groups. The branding is unique and well thought out, using a nice green across menus, decals and merch as well as fun iconography that feels authentic to their South East Asian roots. This is often overlooked by a lot of independent restaurants. The food is delicious across the board with complex flavours and textures. I couldn't name anything I tried that would rank below a 7/10. Our first visit we sampled everything we could with helpful recommendations from the staff. Crispy fried fennel with crab mayo being a personal highlight for us. So much so we (unsuccessfully) tried to make it ourselves at home. Originally when we came the menu felt like a South East Asian tapas with a diverse selection of small plates. However on our most recent visit the menu has been streamlined towards a more typical starter and main arrangement. The starters being a tasty array of steamed or fried dumplings and the mains being either a noodle or rice bowl, with the addition of some small side plates. I'd be lying to say that this wasn't a little disappointing but given the current cost of living crisis and increasing supply costs for independent businesses I can totally understand why they would switch to this approach. It certainly won't deter me from returning and I can only hope that one day they bring back my beloved crispy fennel.

We were visiting family and travelled from quite far so we aren't familiar with the area but this place seems like it must be a local gem. The staff were amazing and so friendly, they couldn't be more helpful. The atmosphere was great and the food was so good. The price was so reasonable too for the quality of the food. Would recommend this place to everyone and will definitely visit again when back in the area. Thank you for a lovely lunch!

We visited Beaminster today for the first time. Nice church with a friendly 'Walk in Wednesday' group. Several interesting shops. We looked at several cafes before going into Dexters on the main street just almost opposite to the square. Only small with about 8 tables but with a French bistro look. Very clean. Friendly staff. They are open for breakfast, lunch and evening meals. Several people came in to book tables, so it might be worthwhile to do so on the busier days. We both had 'small breakfasts' with a pot of Clipper tea. It was enough for 2 cups each. The breakfast was piping hot and comprised of toast and butter, hash brown, beans, tomato, fried egg, sausage, mushrooms and bacon. All cooked to perfection and well presented. At only £6.50 ea. for the breakfast and £2 ea for the tea, we thought this was good value. Well worth a visit!!

Just a quick visit loved it.

Absolutely amazing lunch today at Parnham Park in Dorset. With a menu full of locally sourced ingredients combined in incredibly simple yet elegant ways, and a cocktail list to match, it is one of those rare places that has you planning your return visit even before the dessert course has arrived. A beautiful restaurant on the grounds of a gorgeous stately home, it is an experience not to be missed. And I haven't even mentioned the service, helpful, thoughtful and attentive staff that are a credit to the establishment, you are made to feel welcome from the moment you arrive till the time you regretfully leave.

Great boatyard, friendly, helpful staff. Good facilities.

Gorgeous house with abundance of history. I went there for the antiques fair, on the last day so there was barely any thing left, but as we went to walk around, it was just stunning. The nature, the bathroom was oddly amazing (old paintings, a globe, antique furniture etc), the views, and most of all Parnham House, we got to see all sides of the manor, and every side was beautiful. I knew a lot of its history but to be there was something special, after all it was attacked by fire during 2017, but the walls that stood the test of time were nice same with the front of the house. The front of the house was the main thing that drove me to go there, it’s truly, truly gorgeous place, too see it on the screen and to see it in real life was once in a lifetime experience, I would recommend it for any history enthusiasts or a simple trip with companions. Got to meet the owner, James Perkins, big burly bloke who was very kind, offered to answer any questions but sadly we had to leave because I went to see the Robison memorial in the main town, one of the owners, Vincent Joseph Robison, erected it for his wife, Elizabeth Julian Robison. I went to see the church but an interruption that hindered me from going to see the strode memorial, owners that held that house for hundreds of years. Overall lovely day, can’t comment on the food because I didn’t eat, but the rest was just show stopping, so worth it for prior mentioned history enthusiasts or just a nice day out. Review from a real Parnham.

We had a fabulous 2 night stay here. It's in a lovely little village, very quintessentially English. Staff were really lovely and couldn't do enough for us. Our room was really lovely, with a welcome drink and snack. We also tried a treatment in the spa and really enjoyed that too. There was even water and a cookie for our journey home.

My partner and I spent three wonderful days at Summer Lodge to celebrate her special birthday. The staff were consistently courteous, professional and friendly: we were received with a special birthday tea and a lovely welcoming message from the managers. Our room was perfect, the meals were delicious, the grounds are delightful and the location is ideal for exploring the glorious Hardy Country (incidentally, Thomas Hardy was an architect who designed a wing of Summer Lodge). We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and will certainly return. Stephen Friar

Excellent place for an idyllic stay. Staff would go above and beyond to ensure every need was catered for. Breakfast in the garden terrace was superb, excellent dishes prepared with local ingredients. The spa area was tidy and the pool temperature was just right.

We had Sunday lunch here last month. This is a lovely pub, great lunch and most of all great service. Made our Sunday and fully recommended.

Lovely Atmosphere, the Food was delicious at very reasonable prices and the Bar Staff and Landlady very pleasant. And exceptionally Dog Friendly. Well worth leaving our village and travelling a few miles.

The food was delicious. Great customer service. Very nice pub and beautiful garden

Stopped off for a cold refreshing cider was lovley and very tastefully decorated to a high standard food looks amazing too would definitely recommend 👌

I visited this pub on Sunday on a staycation in Dorset, we just popped in, and were very pleasantly surprised. A girl named Ruby served us & recommended some cider for us (as we’re not from the area) which was great. She was so personable and helpful and made our experience great. Amazing service, thank you for your hospitality.

After an emotional day, my partner and I decided we would stay over and booked our room on line. On arriving quite late, we received a very warm welcome and despite the kitchen having already closed, were offered fish and chips without hesitation. Our host did check with the kitchen first but it seemed absolutely no trouble. The rooms were worthy of the most historic public house but still provided all the home comforts one could wish for. After a comfortable nights sleep, interrupted only by the effects of alcohol consumes throughout our day, we descended the stairs to have breakfast. Eggs Benedict and cooked to perfection. The spread was fantastic and would satisfy the biggest of eaters and overall, the standard of what was offered was far in excess of expectations. Would recommend without hesitation and when we return to this quaint little place, we will definitely be booking our room here!

We popped in for Guinness at lunchtime and really enjoyed our visit primarily because of the very friendly locals. It was my birthday and we decided to come back in the evening for dinner. Unfortunately our second visit was completely different from our first. My partner had anchovies for a starter which were lovely and beef scrumpet for his main, I had rump steak with chips. We had never heard of scrumpet, it was a thick square of brisket that had been coated in breadcrumbs and fried. I asked for my steak medium rare, but it was dry and over cooked. I had mine returned to the kitchen so another could be prepared. This meant my partner ate his dinner on his own. My dinner returned and it was perfect, but I ate mine on my own. It wasn’t the birthday dinner I had hoped for. No discount was offered, or complimentary dessert. Very disappointing!

We popped in for a spot of lunch while visiting sights around Dorchester. The landlady of the cottages we rented highly recommended the pub and even contacted them about allergens in their foods to help support one of our party who is suffering some medically induced food issues at the moment. The staff were absolutely superb and did everything they could to ensure we had an excellent experience there. The food was typical pub grub, but at its finest and the prices were absolutely spot on. We will be visiting again.

A stellar experience. Lovely service from the team, who clearly are passionate about what they do. The steak I had was maybe the best I have ever been served - a lovely cut and cooked perfectly. Just a great experience.

Went for a Mexican and half price cocktails on a Wednesday evening. Mexican is cooked in a van in the car park, but served in the bar/conservatory - excellent food (real cutlery but takeaway boxes).

A lovely place which such an amazing team! We were well looked after celebrating our first wedding anniversary and the crispy lionsmane mushroom dish at the restaurant was one of the best I have ever had! We had the most perfect stay.

Had lunch one day and drinks another. Great place. Nice atmosphere. Pleasantly upmarket without being pretentious.

We stayed here due to a burial the next day. Rooms were lovely and bed was very comfy. Would definitely stay here again. Staff were very friendly and nothing was too much trouble.

Lovely location, very nice pub, friendly staff. We stopped off for a quick pint randomly but we're probably going to visit again after our break as the food looked very nice! I would definitely recommend it if you're in the area.

What a find! Great food, welcoming environment and team, dog friendly. Stayed in the area and this was our local. Settled in for the evening with decent beers and board games. It didn't disappoint. No food pics as it looked so delicious, we tucked straight in. Cheers lads.

Good food and a very comfortable dining experience. Service was excellent and food is always served freshly cooked. Plenty of seating outside with views across the whole valley. Great place to watch the sun go down. Dog friendly and a good children's menu. Recommended to book for an inside table or larger group.

The Fox Inn is hugely popular with the locals and is a quality, idyllic, thatched roof pub with a historically top reputation for all the points that matter.. including open fire in winter and antique taxidermy! Quaint and tidy with different pleasant spots to sit and gather. Conservatory is popular for meals. Outdoor picnic tables under trees, by the stream are inviting on sunny days. If it turns chilly, Throws are available and Games too. Dog friendly for friendly dogs and there's even a jar of pet treats available. Brews rotate covering local beers/ales and ciders. Choice of spirits including the locally conceived Black Cow vodka. Lovage liquor (Shhhh) is a sacred favourite with a few locals but currently sourcing is an issue. Meals have been good .. prices all over the country, if not the world, have jumped and it's now circa £20 for a meal. Roast on weekends. Music on Sundays. Closed Mondays. Plenty of parking out front & rear. A place like this needs a jovial and engaging publican at the helm and they have it in Graham. This place and it's people will forever hold a special place in my heart ❤️.

Lovely hospitable pub, staff/owner very friendly and helpful. Food was absolutely lovely! Understandably quiet for a mid-week evening but perfect for the first night of our holiday. Only slight down side was quite a few little annoying fruit flies around the place, seemingly wherever we sat we couldn’t get away from them! Staff very apologetic though & explained that they’d only appeared in the last couple of days.

It was our first time dining at The Fox Inn. The grade II listed pub that greeted us was a fantastic start. The Oyster I sampled was excellent. The Sunday Roast was the best roast I have ever had. The potatoes were amazing as was the beef and pork. The team were very accommodating with our 4 year old daughter. Being from London meant the prices were on a par with pubs that offer average at best roast dinner’s. Would highly recommend. Only minor feedback would be to make the dishes holding the vegetables warmer other than that it was flawless.

visited twice for a meal whilst on our holiday in Corscombe, the appeal of the pub from the outside is more than matched by the authenticity of the inside, with friendly staff, great beers and lovely pies