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

We weren’t staying at the hotel, but had dinner here on a Sunday night during a trip to Wareham/Ridge for my brother’s birthday. The staff were friendly and attentive on arrival, and we felt well looked after. No sign of Chef Carmy but I assume he was busy at the pass. The food was all delicious! I had the pork belly and it was some of the best I can remember having! Nice and crispy on the fat side, not too fatty, and not too oily or chewy. Just perfect overall, and topped with an amazing salsa verde! The accompanying potatoes and veg were also delicious. Everyone else’s meals were excellent, came exactly as asked, and were all well portioned and flavourful. I’d politely recommend The Bear to anyone visiting Wareham, and will be back if I’m ever down in these parts again.

The staff could not be more attentive! The rooms are excellent and the bathrooms are superb. Breakfast was to die for… with Five Star hospitality, excellent accommodation, delicious food, and located in the heart of this beautiful town, we could not have had a better mini-break. Thank you to the Staff at The Bear. If I could, I would have given Six Stars.

Spent three nights at The Bear whilst visiting the area for an Autumn break. Perfect location for visiting the Etches collection, Arne nature reserve and the coast. Lovely decor in the room, very comfy and cosy bed, good quality teas abd coffees provided. We stayed in Fozzie room which was towards the back and very quiet overnight. We used the Autumn offer and had one discounted meal and free bottle of wine. The food was excellent. Also one of the best hotel breakfasts we've had. All the staff we met were so friendly and welcoming, thank you and we will definitely return!

I'm in love with this place. It's adorable and cozy. Food amazing ! You need to try 😉 Definitely recommend.

Lovely pub on the river. Lots of covered seating outside overlooking the river. Also plenty of seats inside. Good choice of food and bar snacks. Dogs welcome. Nice friendly atmosphere.

Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Rather slow service but there were seven of us. Food was good - I had the Hake which was excellent - but the portion sizes could be slightly larger. Would definitely go back another time.

Lovely pub/restaurant set next to the river in Wareham. Good selection of local beers with staff very nice and friendly. Food is plentiful and good quality. Visited out of season, but suspect gets very busy other times, so best to book.

Stayed 3 nights ago. Beautiful pub. Location was great. Room was perfect for my wife, my son & I. Clean and comfortable. Breakfast was 11/10 - was superb. The people were so friendly and helpful - well beyond most locations. Highly recommend The Red Lion.

We are staying at a small campsite not far away and this is the nearest pub so headed down Thursday for a drink with the dog to check it out. Everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming and the food looked amazing so we booked a table for Friday evening. Again everyone was friendly, service was good, the dog was made to feel very welcome too, she was offered a dog bed and given her own doggy menu so it’s super dog friendly which is always a bonus. The food was absolutely delicious, between us we had the smoked pork board and the smoked beef board and really enjoyed it. Always nice to be made welcome when away. We would definitely return if in the area again.

What an absolutely delightful experience! The food is amazing (the pulled pork: Oh, My Word!) the location is beautiful and meeting the owner was an absolute pleasure; she went above and beyond to ensure we felt warmly welcomed and completely at ease. Her attention to detail and genuine care made the experience all the more memorable. We can’t wait to return and would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great food, a beautiful setting, and top-notch hospitality!

My family and I had lunch here, we all really enjoyed our meals. 4 of us had roasts and 2 of us had burgers. The chips were really nice. The hostess was absolutely lovely, really kind, funny and lifted the mood. The young waiters seemed quite new and unfortunately there was a bit of a wait for drinks and the bill, and drinks were a bit expensive (£4.20 for a coke). However, I loved the atmosphere of the pub, it was really pretty and nice and quiet where we sat. Got to see lots of dogs! Wi-Fi is an added bonus :) I would recommend coming here, very good for a large group too.

This was a really good choice for lunchtime. We had travelled to Corfe after visiting Durdle Door beach. This place is much bigger than it first looks. We chose to sit outside as it was such a nice day. It was a very authentic menu but I chose to have a fish burger. It was really yummy so tasty. I thought it worked well. The staff were great considering it was very busy. They didn't miss us away in the corner. Really good choice.

As a party of seven including two children we enjoyed an excellnot meal. The food was great with good-size portions. The service throughout was superb. Everyone present enjoyed their food and drink

Today, we had the pleasure of dining at The Greyhound Inn, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. The atmosphere was welcoming, and we easily found a comfortable spot in the cozy back garden under a pergola. For my meal, I ordered a steak with salad and fries, while my companions chose chicken wings with spicy sauce, salad, and onion rings. We also enjoyed a pint of shandy. The food was absolutely delicious, with generous portions that left us more than satisfied. The steak was cooked to perfection, and the sides complemented it wonderfully. My friends were equally pleased with their meals, praising the flavorful wings and the crispy onion rings. The service was another highlight. The waitstaff were incredibly friendly and courteous, making us feel right at home. Their attentive service added to the overall pleasant dining experience. In summary, The Greyhound Inn offers tasty food, generous portions, and excellent service in a charming setting. We highly recommend it and look forward to our next visit.

Great pub with delicious food. Good children’s menu too. Staff were friendly and attentive. We had the fish and chips, burger and ham, egg and chips. All were good portion and very tasty. The chocolate orange dessert was lovely. The lemon dessert was a little smaller but the staff did let us know when ordering.

Just back from a fabulous 2 nights here. What a lovely place, would highly recommend to anyone thinking of going. We were made very welcome and the staff were so friendly. The food was lovely and my husband said especially the breakfast. I'm sorry I didn't get one of the managers names who spoke to us this morning, just after breakfast, but she was so nice and a credit to The Smugglers. We will be back.

If you're looking for a cozy pub that delivers on all fronts, this is the place! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, perfect for a relaxed Sunday afternoon. The Sunday roast here is absolutely top-notch. The portions are generous, and the quality is superb. What really sets this pub apart, though, is the service. The staff are incredibly friendly and go out of their way to make you feel welcome. From the moment you walk in, you feel right at home. They’re attentive without being intrusive and always make sure you have everything you need to enjoy your meal. Karli served us today and Hebe greeted us. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a hearty Sunday roast in a charming, welcoming setting!

We’ve just returned from a wonderful two-night stay at The Smugglers Inn. On arrival, Lloyd greeted us and made us feel welcome instantly - before any money had even exchanged hands he made sure we were ‘fed and watered’ after our long drive. Nothing was too much effort for any of the staff…. Special mentions to Rafaela our waitress,Ella, and the bar-staff who really looked after us. The Sunday lunch was fantastic, great menu in general and a great breakfast spread! The room was spotless, cozy and well-equipped. It was my partners birthday and they went out of their way to make it special for him. We would definitely recommend staying here and we have already talked about returning one day. Thanks again to ALL the staff for making our stay so special. Sam and Phil

What a lovely place to stay. Room was fabulous, meal was great….but what we were most impressed with was the friendly upbeat service from all the staff members we dealt with. Ben was particularly helpful with our breakfast the following morning (which was delicious). Highly recommend staying as so picturesque. Thanks so much!

Among the best inns I've ever visited. The room was perfectly prepared and we were lucky to have a room with a view on the cove. The complimentary breakfast was incredible. In addition to a bountiful buffet they offer (multiple) warm meals which are all amazing in and of themselves. The service leaves nothing to be desired whatsoever. The interior is charming; there are sundry memorabilia to do with the cove and the place; some of them a good 70 years old. We definitely enjoyed this historic insight. hope I get the chance to come here again sometime.

Friendly, cosy pub with excellent food and helpful staff. Good kids menu and fabulous fish and chips. Good range of beer. Nice place to come to warm up after a walk along the coast.

We very nearly didn't eat here because of some poor reviews but both the service and the food was excellent! We requested a quiet table as we had a dog and were seated in the snug area which was delightful. The food was delicious and there was a great choice of vegetarian options which makes a nice change. The waiting staff were really friendly and attentive and we really could fault nothing so not sure were the bad reviews come from and I would highly recommend eating here.