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

Best kept secret around. This place is an absolute gem! It's clean, modern, well priced and the food is excellent! Ironically the fish & chips is a bit bland, but I've been there many times since, and everything else I've ordered has been excellent.

We decided to try this place out as we only live just down the road from it and I'm so glad we did. We had a breakfast and were not disappointed. Everything was superb, brilliant value for money and great produce used. And what's more we were really impressed with the welcoming hospitality of the staff. This is rare to find and so pleased when we experienced it. We highly recommend this place and will be returning as a regular for sure with friends and family. Keep up the good work

I’ve eaten here multiple times, last night for our Christmas dinner and a few times for breakfast and it’s always brilliant. Incredible value for money, staff are always great and it’s in a great location. Will be back time and time again 😃

We have stayed here three times since 1980. Still in the same expert ownership. Beautiful country manor house. Well maintained in a discreet style. Fabulous food, interesting wine list with a range of half bottles too. Good value for Londoners!!! Friendly relaxed service. Welcoming sitting room with open fire. Make a special journey to visit if you can.

I have been all over the world and have stayed and dined at numerous hotels. Since 1991 I have stayed several times, every year, at Plumber Manor and I can in all honesty say that I have nowhere felt as comfortable and at home as in that wonderful little Country Hotel tucked away in lovely Dorset. Also the food and wine list are superb and the fact that Plumber Manor was elected best Hotel in Southern England in 2024 is totally justifiable.

We went to Plumber Manor for a birthday meal whilst visiting Dorset. The service, comfort, ambience and food were all exceptional. This is a fabulous hotel and restaurant with a relaxed and efficient style set in beautiful gardens. The menu offers something for every taste and palette, the waiting staff are efficient, unobtrusive and professional. We would definitely visit again and we thank you for an enjoyable and memorable evening. Lin and family.

A wonderful find hidden away at Stalbridge Dorset we have a warm welcome and could sit outside or in the restaurant area, the menu had a good range of meals and the homemade cake where to die for. I am fussy about coffee this was good roosted by readscoffee.co.uk.

We stopped off here for breakfast at the end of a weekend away as we’d heard from our hosts that they did good food and were dog friendly. The food was delicious and great value. The staff were really friendly and welcoming and we managed to pick up a couple of early Xmas presents for hampers as a bonus! Would highly recommend.

Margot has been running her cafe from this site about 8 years,so I have been many times in i think the last 7+ years... I live around 150 miles away,and hadn't been here since Christmas... So I got down about 06.30 this morning and had table booked for 09.30..... I can not fault this cafe,I tend to have the Spire Hill Grill and I have yet to have a bad bit of any meal. With the ever increase in cost of living,I was expecting it to be more expensive than Christmas 2022...but nope,same price,and I think it is amazing quality for a very reasonable price. I was with family that live in Dorset and visit this fantastic cafe often....in fact my sister was in the day before also. The staff are lovely...Margot (owner) is a true professional and has built her business up over the years,take look at the website,and the produce that have,home made jams etc etc,I understand they now have some of the produce selling in a local shop. The customers in the cafe are also friendly,and seem to know each other.... I did a review on TaT before,and I'm doing this update as and edit,my original is below. We had pot of tea and three coffees...the little milk bottles,the glass teapot are just examples of some of the things they do differently...and it all goes to show the love Margot has for food and service to her customers (friends) The head chef Eve (pink shorts ;) ) is also a little star,and has been with TaT from being tutored from as an apprentice to becoming head chef... And is a credit to Margot and to catering... We came away with a couple of pieces of home made cakes....and will enjoy later. I know before I arrive that the experience will be all I could reasonably expect,and could only ever leave a rate of 5 star.... Anything less...I'm my view is unjust. My original review below Brilliant cafe,I always try to visit when in area,it's a lovely place,great food,and staff are greatest

Fantastic gem of a cafe with a great selection of cakes and hot food. Margo the owner is forward thinking and the waiting staff Ollie and Gabby know how to make you feel seen and welcome. Will be back

This was our third time eating here and once again it didn't disappoint. There were 4 of us and we shared a number of dishes, all of which were delicious. The restaurant was busy with a great atmosphere and the staff were so helpful and friendly. Our waitress was brilliant and very patient with us as we tried to decide what to order. The manager was also very friendly, chatting to everyone and making sure we were all enjoying our meal. We will definitely be back.

The food was amazing here with a good choice of tapas. There were a good variety of gluten free options on the menu. The service was a little slow, but they had a huge party of people to deal with and kept us informed. Lovely choice of cocktails and mocktails, too.

Nice little place with a few interesting businesses on site. Ladies beware though as the toilet door doesn't work properly. I walked in on someone and I saw a few others do the same. I

Excellent venue. Has good facilities and plenty of parking. It looked disabled friendly with plenty to look at. Ther coffee shop was busy when we visited with lots of happy customers.

Fab group of independent shops, cafe and services.

Beautiful food, for a wake. Excellent service, and delicious coffee!!!

On the main road which goes through stur. Ideal for a light lunch or snack. Did have a specials board which we sampled two dishes from. Staff friendly and overall it's very good value for money.

Our first visit and it was lovely. The food, service, people and surroundings we so quaint. We will definitely be back.

This is a beautiful little place we found whilst on holiday. We was looking for somewhere to have a full English breakfast and this place delivered. The staff are so friendly and welcoming and the food was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Prices are fair for what you get will 100% return when we next are in the area. Keep doing what your doing it's amazing.

Such a beautiful cafe, full of character and charm. Have visited a few times, with friends and with family. Each time I have visited, the service has been so welcoming, warm and friendly. The cakes are exceptional, the brownies in particular are a must try! The food is great value for money, so tasty and freshly cooked. We are so lucky to have this cafe in our town! (Also dog friendly with a little jar of biscuits on the side which I feel is a lovely extra bonus!)

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.

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.

We had a thoroughly enjoyable and delicious dining experience at the Clockspire Restaurant this evening. Food was excellent along with the service. The old school building has been beautifully restored and creates a delightful surrounding and atmosphere, complimenting the whole experience. This has just become my favorite restaurant. We shall return.

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.

We picked the Golden Fox after reading reviews and we were not disappointed. I felt the bar area was a little dark, but we were soon accommodated in the restaurant. Really good to see that the restaurant is a no dog zone. The menu is not extensive but with the daily specials there should be something for everyone. It's worth noting they do not have a children's menu but modify some of the menu items to make a child's portion. Our 11 year old Granddaughter made short work of the adult 8 oz steak! The food was very well cooked and presented and portions were generous. Staff were welcoming, friendly and attentive. For the quality and portion sizes, the prices were good A great new find to add to our list of "must returns"

Excellent friendly service. Nothing too much trouble. Delicious food sensibly priced. We had Pork schnitzel with a creamy freshly made mushroom sauce. Lovely. Our friends had sea bass and grilled salmon nicoise and very much enjoyed it. Highly recommended.

The welcome, service, food and presentation were all of the very best. We had dinner here last time and this was a lunch visit. Our friends were obliged to bring their very difficult and antisocial dog. Nothing was too much trouble with the staff. . Everything was very good indeed

This was our first visit and we were very impressed. The fish platter had a most interesting selection of fish and was beautifully presented . The service was most friendly and courteous. Our only negative comment was that the garden , where we ate, could have been tidied up with some more colourful bushes.

Had a meal for 2 here. The food was lovely and there were good gluten free options, including calamari. I also had the cheeseboard without crackers and it was huge and delicious.

Stayed in Marnhul for a midweek break, this the local pub. A great social hub. Locals friendly and welcoming. Landlord and staff were great. A special thanks to Mark for looking after us and the dog. It's not very often you get a really good and varied menu nowadays in a pub. This was both. We ate every night and the quality was outstanding. We had a great time.Thanks very much

A great traditional Pub, friendly atmosphere, serves good pub food. We will go again it may even become our remote local.

Lovely little tea room in the Heart of the town, amazing afternoon tea, a varied choice of delicious sandwiches mini pies & quiche, followed by light plain or fruit scones jam & clotted cream and a delicious selection of home baked cakes, a pot of tea or coffee to wash it all down! Amazing value, very friendly & obliging staff, I thoroughly recommend a try if looking for afternoon tea.

Cosy and intimate, this family run cafe is an oasis of calm and an excellent place to recharge between the myriad gifting opportunities of Sturminster Newton’s high street. We came for the car show, headed in for a quick coffee, and felt such a warm welcome, we stayed for scones. Thank you for making us feel so at home.

Wonderful service and amazing atmosphere. Such a beautiful cafe with a gorgeous menu and selection of cakes! I couldn't recommend more!

We use this cafe regularly over the year, never disappointed.. Hadn't managed to visit for a few months due to life taking over but returned this weekend as usual and everyone remembers you, such friendly staff and me and my daughter always feel welcomed. Food always lovely and well cooked too. I would find it hard to imagine anyone wouldn't enjoy the experience Well done and keep it up team. 🥰