The Best Restaurants in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, United Kingdom (2025)

This place is truly exceptional, offering much more than just a pub experience. From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed with attentive, friendly service in a beautifully designed, cozy setting. I visited on a Friday at midday and was lucky to find a table. The menu offered a wide selection, but I chose the three-course lunch special for £25—and it exceeded my expectations. Every dish was outstanding, with each element perfectly balanced and cooked to perfection. I only wish I’d had more time to explore the menu further, as the food and drink selection was impressive. It was definitely worth the journey, and I’d return in a heartbeat. Kudos to the entire team for creating such a memorable experience!

Came here for Sunday lunch and it didn’t disappoint. Lovely little village pub, I believe made popular now James May co owns it. Friendly service, great food, we both had roast dinners and they were lovely! Good atmosphere. I would definitely recommend. Can’t comment on the rooms as I live local and didn’t stay.

Located in the countryside, it had the local pub vibe, everyone was nice, the place was warm, the drinks were cold and the food exceptional. Could not recommend something in particular, because we had few dishes and one was better than the other. Also pets are allowed inside, which is awesome. Not regarding the location, if you are not staying at the Royal Oak, you need to book some transport in advance which is pretty expensive(we paid 65 pounds for a local gentleman to take us to and from the pub, for 8 miles in total). They have suggestions on their website.

Permission to say oh cook! I've been a big fan of Mr. Slowly for many years; I was super excited to try out his restaurant. I knew it was going to be delicious, but it completely surpassed my expectations. All of the food we had was divine, as was the James Gin cocktail. I flew all the way from North Carolina to come visit, and it was so worth the trip! I highly recommend The Royal Oak!!

We stumbled across here as were caught in floods in Yeovil & was hungry after long drives, so headed to sailsbury. Such a delight, the decor is amazing & so cozy, the staff were very welcoming & we were well looked after, and the home made food especially the soup with warm fresh bread was perfect . Thank you & we will be coming back !

Great camp site with really clean toilet/shower facilities and a good restaurant. Recommended.

What a fabulous place to stay. Plenty of space between each unit, restaurant serves excellent food. Lots of places to visit too.

Fantastic place. Lovely staff. Lots of space. Great atmosphere. Fair prices. Definitely recommend it to everyone. 5/5.

Great old pub. We had a lovely lunch here, looking after our 1st grand daughter whilst her Mum & Dad went to a wedding. The food was delicious, the staff were very friendly, with a good choice of drinks, they even had zero beer on draft. We would highly recommend this place to everyone

In a time where everything feels like you’re being ripped off, this beautiful little B&B/pub was a welcome surprise. Genuinely great value for money where the little details stand out - decor, full English breakfast and cosy perfectly formed rooms being the highlights! Jane was a wonderful host who really looks after her guests and staff with real warmth and hospitality (again, becoming rarer and rarer).

Found the queens head on a whim. We went for a 2hr loop walk and were ready for a drink and chips! Had a lovely pint of crisp cider and beer! Chips were hot and crispy which hit the spot! Staff were lovely and welcoming! Wish we could have stayed longer! We will be back!

This is my second stay and have to say it’s my favourite in the area. The staff are all very friendly, welcoming and helpful. The rooms are tastefully decorated, very clean and very comfortable beds. Room have tea and coffee facilities with home made biscuits and water included. The food is excellent! A great menu and wine list. The bar area has a lovely atmosphere with friendly locals. Breakfast is also excellent. Looking to book my next two visits already! Thanks for a great stay!

A previous frequent and regular stop for us on our way West. Now returned after a few years since moving to Dorset. We love the location and the ambience hasn't changed at all. A hearty and friendly welcome by Tim, but entirely appropriate and not overfriendly. Excellent and a credit to the pub. Served by Shannon who was equally superb and dealt with our difficult friends very well indeed. We will definitely return soon, but on our own........... Thank you for an excellent lunch and superb service.

We stayed in one of the feature rooms. Beautiful and roomy. The shower was a bit temperamental but wasn’t a problem. Room was clean and the bed was very comfortable. The food was of a very high standard (breakfast and evening meals). And the staff were exceptional. We would highly recommend staying here in a very beautiful part of the world.

On a rainy , windy day we were made to feel most welcome. The rooms were comfortable , clean and well appointed, with everything you needed and more. Lovely biscuits and fresh milk to accompany teas, coffee etc. The evening meal was excellent with all round fresh ingredients; the pie was sensational. An ideal place from which to explore Dorset and beyond. I can highly recommend it.

Very tastefully decorated and homely village pub. We had Sunday lunch which was very well presented and taste lovely. Staff really helpful and good natured. Lovey warm greeting from the owner, Margaret, on arrival. Kids potions available. Very enjoyable.

Stayed at the cockerel for a night when exploring the new forest. This is THE BEST spot for an authentic pub. Hosts were really welcoming and loved the quirky features inside and out. Food was also delicious! Wish I could give more stars!!!! 10/10

The Cockerel is an absolutely pub located out the back of wimbourne. It’s nicely hidden away but a lovely location to be. The pubs service was amazing, the bar tender was funny and charismatic and was a joy to be served by. The food was incredible, great prices and really tasty! There was also a fire on for the duration of our meal which gave the pub a really nice atmosphere. The pub is quite small so make sure to book in advance!

We have just met some friends for Sunday lunch at The Cockerel. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. We had a lovely table that was not crowded or too close to other people. The Sunday roast was excellent. Beautifully cooked beef, six veg , roast potatoes and an enormous Yorkshire pudding. The vegetarian option was a mushroom and spinach wellington which was really tasty. We all had sweets which were equally good. We will definitely make the trip out to this fantastic pub again. Thank you

Just had our Xmas day lunch at the Monmouth. And guys you did yourselves proud!. It was delicious, and plentiful. Crispy Roasties, moist Turkey, the Trimmings, and loads of different vegetables, it was awesome. Starters were tasty, and it finished off with a lovely pud. Staff were fab, and worked really hard to keep us fed and watered, & they all were great fun. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Great place to eat, drink and relax. All the staff were fantastic and couldn't do enough to make our visit amazing. Even our dog loves it here as she gets just as much attention.

Camping nearby, we had 2 meals at the Monmouth Ash. I recommend the baked camenbert sharer it's delicious. Service is good. Lots of choice on the menu. Plenty of parking.

The Monmouth Ash has a really cosy atmosphere, making it a very pleasant place to eat. The menu is not huge, but the choices available are all top quality. Prices are a little higher than we were hoping for, but not ridiculously high, and they were definitely justified by the quality of the food. The staff are very friendly, courteous and inviting. We'd definitely go back there if we're in the area again.

As we walked in the pub looked lovely. The tables were set with nice cutlery, glasses and napkins. However, the room was smokey, there was an open fire that wasn’t drawing well. Although the hearth was large and it was a cold day (it had been snowing) the open fire was very disappointing. The pub was cold and the radiators were not on. The meals were excellent, good flavours and well presented. The staff were friendly and we were well looked after.

Cosy, local village pub with overnight accommodation. Received a very friendly welcome, overnight rooms were to a high standard. Had a small issue at breakfast, poor chap was rushed off his feet and a few options not available, but would definitely return. Pub food was also very good!

Stayed with friends at the Hotel for two nights. It was our first visit but on leaving hope it will not be the last! We soon felt very much at home due to the friendly service of the staff. The chef even made me a special Gluten Free Apple Crumble, showing their aim to please. Can highly recommend both the Restaurant and the Hotel

A beautiful building in a lovely setting. An extremely warm welcome, the staff were friendly and very helpful: they resolved all our requests. No problem was too difficult for them. The food was delicious and the menu offered an interesting choice. Worth going out of your way to stay here.