La Fosse in East Dorset

We really enjoyed our short stay in Cranborne and the lovely accommodations get all the credit. La Fosse is a charming establishment with a polished country esthetic and wonderful food. Thank you for a very comfortable stay in Cranborne!

We had a really wonderful evening with friends old and new in the self contained Scandinavian BBQ hut. The food was really special, we found out La Fosse focus on provenance very local, often picked from the Chef’s own garden and ethically sourced. The Charcoals were hot and ready for us to cook, the ambience was hugge with the benefits of WiFi and Alexa to play our preferred music. The chef came out and explained how to use the spectacular bbq grills. We had a range of salads dips, dressings and breads to accompany. A selection of venison, pork cheeks. Chicken, tuna, king prawns, vegetables, stuffed tomatoes and marinated veg. We cooked our own food as we wanted it, tended to by a friendly waitress popping in to check we were ok and delivering drinks. We had marshmallows, marinated fruit and cheese and biscuits to finish. It was a fabulous night to remember

Another fantastic stay at La Fosse in Cranborne! Great food (and plentiful!) from chef/owner Mark using top quality local ingredients cooked with skill and genuine enthusiasm! This was our fourth visit and will definitely not be our last - we wouldn't stay anywhere else!

Will definitely be eating here again £35 for three courses, ample portions well cooked,very tasty, attentive staff what more could you ask for

Based on a chum’s recommendation we gave this place a try. What a find! Where everywhere else is doing fish and chips, burgers, pies and a veggie dish this place is doing an almost daily changing delicious menu. I had lamb kofta with marinaded apricots, melt in the mouth pork belly with pommes dauphinoises, and a superb cheese board. Service was charming and efficient, prices reasonable and the wine delicious. My only minor quibble was the very limited selection of wines by the glass. Having discussed this with the delightful chef patron, it is clear he would like to offer half bottles but is limited by his supplier who does not do halves. Concerted pressure is called for! Absolutely fabulous though and we will be back.

Such a good place to stay and eat. Hosts are top notch, friendly and professional. Food is different level. Michelin standard but not fussy. Our room is superior level. Best bed, luxury bathroom, every element is superb. 3rd visit, will come again soon. The whole building is decorated so well and themed nicely. All produce is local where possible. I’m so impressed again and again.

Lovely stay at this enchanting home from home. Highly skilled cooking with perfectly steamed monkfish, homemade butter and lots of local cheeses.

A great B&B with superb food whether that be one of their monthly supper clubs through to the a la carte menu. The service is always superb and the owners (and chef) Mark and Emmanuelle always make you feel at home and like one of the family. This is coupled by Mark's use of local produce, many from his own allotments and some superb country walks in the surrounding area.

We've dined here many times, with the supper club and tasting menu. The standard of food and service is always faultless because what drives Mark & Emanuelle is passion for these things rather than a wish to separate you from your money. For the price of a mediocre pub meal you can experience fine cuisine in relaxed surroundings. Perfect!

We had a wonderful night at Lafosse once again. We have eaten here countless times over the last 10 years and it is always amazing. Mark cooks imaginative and absolutely delicious food. We attended a supper club last night with the theme of Mexico. It is a set menu to showcase the food of Mexico along with complimenting drinks and lots of information about the menu, history of ingredients etc. Service is always friendly and unobtrusive and it’s a pleasure to sit in the restaurant with its beautiful mural on the main wall. Wonderful night. Thank you xxx

Went here for Christmas Dinner as a foursome. The restaurant has a great ambiance. It's small, only containing a few tables. It's been owned and run for years by a lovely friendly couple. There's a cosy lounge area adjacent to the dining area, where we were shown and where we had our pre-dinner drinks. The quality of the food was excellent. I had soup to start and the traditional roast turkey dinner for my main. They did offer the traditional christmas pudding for dessert. However, I declined this as I had no room left ! I thoroughly recommend this restaurant located in the lovely village of Cranborne. You will definitely need to book before hand.

Fab! We couldn't have felt more welcome! Lovely service, super food - what more could you ask for? If you are considering a visit, don't delay - book! I would highly recommend the cheese board too - that is if you have room for it!

Great night with friends and families from our local ski club at La Fosse last night.The food, drinks and cosy atmosphere was great and well worth the 25 minute trip from Salisbury. Will definitely visit again!

Amazing food, location, beautifully decorated and spotlessly clean! 14 of us had the most delicious meal then played games by the fire and stayed over! Delicious breakfast too ! This was our second visit and I can’t recommend enough :) we are planning our next evening/sleepover already !

We cycled from Wareham to Cranborne and stayed the night. Had dinner , bed and breakfast. Cycled back home the following day. The host was extremely welcoming and took our wet bikes away and stored them safely overnight. Had a delicious evening meal in a very relaxed dining experience. It is always lovely to have a meal and then just wander upstairs to bed. We had a basic room but with cowshed toiletries so a little touch of luxury. Breakfast the following morning was extremely good and when we checked out the host was very friendly and gave us some good tips of other places to eat in the local area. We would definitely recommend.

My partner and I stayed for one night and we could not have been more delighted with our stay. We were on a cycling tour and turned up late. The town was closed up to buy food or have a meal so Mark kindly offered to put us together a cheese board. (Not your typical cheeses board), it was fantastic! The bedroom was clean and comfortable and had everything you needed. Shower was excellent. Breakfast was fantastic, the whole experience was faultless.

We had a wonderful evening celebrating a special birthday. We love the friendly, unhurried approach. We felt like house guests welcomed into the La Fosse home. The food was delicious, the service friendly and knowledgeable, especially about the local ingredients. Don't just go for special occasions, go with the changing seasons and enjoy Mark's creativity and Emmanuelle's warm welcome.

We had a fabulous meal, great range of locally sourced food and excellent value. A lovely homely atmosphere in the restaurant. Well worth a visit.

We revisited this restaurant with “foodie”friends for the first time in 30 years!!! Although it has changed hands in that time, the standards are every bit as good as they were. Goodness only knows why we have left it so long. Set in a pretty village out on Cranbourne Chase it has an atmosphere all of its own. It is small and intimate and is like eating in a friends beautiful home. The menu is reassuringly short but the wine list extensive. The staff are lovely and the chef ( and owner) came out to chat. We will be back soon with more friends even though I am aware that the more we publicise the excellence of places like this , the more difficult it is to get a booking. However, the owners deserve all the success they get. Bon appetite!

If you are looking for something special but relaxed, and that won't break the bank, this is the place for you. From the moment we walked through the door we were made to feel at home - drinks in the garden, dinner in the intimate dining room, and coffee in the lounge area. The food was wonderful, and freshly cooked with produce from the allotment, the drinks menu impressive for a small establishment, and the staff friendly and attentive. If we're in the area again, we shall return!

Excellent restaurant with comfortable, well equipped bedrooms, tucked away in the peaceful village of Cranbourne in Dorset. We stayed for one night and enjoyed a superb dinner and breakfast the following morning. The chef owner Mark and his wife Emanuelle serve fresh food from the local area including from their own allotment. After a warm day's sightseeing it was a joy to sit outside in the little garden sipping pre dinner cocktails and making our selection from the inspired dinner menu. We were not disappointed and will be back asap!

Stayed overnight on a walking break. The accommodation was very comfortable and the food very good. Mark the proprietor is a very talented chef.

For some time we have been trying to arrange a dinner at La Fosse and finally managed to get all together for a very enjoyable and delicious meal. It is an individual setting and the atmosphere is delightfully quirky. The food was very locally sourced,...

5 out of Five Restaurant was very individual and well cooked. Rooms very clean and well appointed Service excellent and they went beyond the expectations

Thankyou for such an awesome evening. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. Superb food, amazing tastes, flavours and choice -so well presented. Thanks to you and your team for all the hard work, preparation and service. Nothing was too much. Very well looked after all night....

Absolutely wonderful restaurant with rooms. Booked for Dinner, Bed and Breakfast. Couldn’t fault anything. Dinner was wonderful, the room cosy and had everything we needed. Had to prebook breakfast, but again, lovely. All the food is locally sourced, on the menu it tells you in...

Odd!!! Firstly the casual seating area near the fire was full as 4 people were sitting there. We waited in what can only be described as an undertakers waiting room. Odd furniture, no music and deathly quiet. Descriptions of the food are not very well...

We visited La Fosse on Saturday evening with our daughter and her family and stayed overnight. We had visited in December for our Golden Wedding celebration but two of our party were unable to join us due to illness so this visit was to make...

The ambience was very nice, with a lounge area at the back for a pre-meal aperitif. The food was ok, but not great. The starter of Cranborne Chase charcuterie was ok but not noticeably different from your standard selection of salamis. The pheasant duo main...

Just back from a stay over at La Fosse - a truly fantastic place! The hotel is relaxing, quirky, comfortable and cosy, and is set at the heart of a small village that feels remote (it really isn't) and peaceful (it really is). The food...

Stayed here in the past. Cranborne feels further off the beaten track than it actually is. Very peaceful English village. The rooms here are en suite and a little on the small side but very clean and comfortable with everything you need during your stay....

Love the area, however disappointed in the food offered locally, until we visited La Fosse. The restaurant provides a pleasant abience with seating for 20. We were offered an outside seating to peruse the menu and wine list (which was extensive), before being seated. Our...

I had an absolutely wonderful time trying the tasting menu with wine flight the other night; the dishes were playful, interesting and beautifully crafted, the accompanying wines, dessert wine and port were well thought out and great value, and the service was relaxed and efficient....

Recommended by a friend so keen to try La Fosse. Sent email as requested. No response. Sent 2 more over next two days, still no response. Rang the tel no which had a recorded message saying send an email. The owners are ex Chewton Glen....

We had a lovely stay at La Fosse, choosing the 6 course taster menu with the flight of wine to accompany it. The food was delicious and service very attentive and friendly, staff chatting explaining each course. Our accommodations was lovely and cosy clean and...

La Fosse has a very good reputation and I can see why. The menu is varied and interesting and the wine list very impressive. What was surprising is the cost for each…. unbelievably reasonable!! The tables are well set out, and the way the food...

I have had the enormous pleasure of visiting La Fosse on several occasions over the years, and it's always an absolute highlight of the week. After our most recent visit we commented that we never have the same meal twice- the menu is always fresh...

Oh so good.The inside provides a calm relaxing and pleasant environment . A decent and quite extensive menu. Amd what a menu:choices of fish and meat,in abundance Enough desserts to satisfy any craving. The menu descriptions were good and what we saw coming out made us want to try all of it. We visited and will choose venison next time its available . All were first class: well cooked, decent portions . The potatoeswere good. Service was nice unrushed and staff excellent. Enjoy the menu and go home feeling replete and contented. We did.

We stayed 2 nights in this very individual and quirky (in a good way) restaurant with rooms as part of a walking holiday. The food was excellent with dishes just a bit out of the ordinary. The service was very friendly. We had a very large and comfortable room at the back. The location is idyllic in this lovely village with the village pub opposite which proves a complimentary experience. Would happily stay again.

We had a wonderful, relaxing evening out at La Fosse. We had had to rebook due to being swept up in the pingdemic for our first booking. It was well worth the wait. A warm welcome, the discreet service, and absolutely delicious food made for a great start to our holidays. Our only regret was being too full to try the cheeseboard! We are plotting our return.

There is a great deal to cover but briefly we stayed for two nights and had the most superb evening meals and breakfasts. The service we had should be described as very friendly, efficient and relaxing.Mark, Emmanuelle nd the whole team are to be congratulated on their dedication. I will probably never look at another cheese board without comparing it with the superb cheese board I had both nights with port.Try the tasting menu and also add their section of well matched wines.Breakfasts were fresh cooked and very wide ranging including fish. The selection of beers and other choices were wide.They detail where nearly all of their ingrdients come from including the allotment. The products are high quality with food miles. They really believe in buying as locally as possible. As an example one simple source for milk and cream is from Meggy Moos of Shroton. I could taste the difference with the butter.They also use provide products such as Cow Shed hand wash soaps etc which they sell along side recycled procuctsThis review could continue for a long time but you get the picture - this is a gem please enjoy it especially if you like walking in the area

We both found the choice and quality of the food to be excellent. The trio of mackeral was delightful as was the smoked pigeon breast.

We spent two nights at this charming guest house/restaurant as part of a walking holiday with Inntravel. We were delighted with our stay. The highlight was the sublime dinner on our first evening, where we savoured every element of the imaginative six-course tasting menu, even coming close to eating all the cheeses that crowned the meal. The wine list was also carefully chosen, and our Sancerre was excellent and very reasonably priced. Our daily breakfasts were also a treat to the eye and the taste buds. During our stay Mark, the chef, seemed to be running front of house as well as kitchen - we wondered how he coped - and we were concerned that the restaurant may be experiencing late cancellations and no-shows, which would be troublesome for a small enterprise at the best of times but, as we emerge from Covid restrictions, is unforgivable. (We had hoped to have our second night’s dinner at the restaurant, but at the time of our (late) holiday confirmation it was already full, so we booked elsewhere. In the event, fellow guests reported that three tables were empty.)

This was our second visit to La Fosse and we very much enjoyed our evening. There was a pleasant atmosphere and we were attentively looked after by Emmanuelle.My wife enjoyed the hot smoked Cranborne wood pigeon breast followed by the (large portion of) very tasty Sole Meuniere with allotment greens, and was delighted by her choices.I had the black pudding on crumpet with eggs Benedict on top, followed by the beef tasting plate, which consisted of braised brisket, a mini cottage pie, kofta and burger with carrots and beetroot. The braised brisket was tender and delicious in its sauce. The piping hot mini cottage pie was a great variation on the English tradition.Mark the Chef, had come up trumps with a well executed menu, and we very much look forward to our next visit to La Fosse.

After reading all the reviews I was really hoping for. Upon arrival there were only two other couples so they were not busy but the atmosphere was like a library due to no music playing. I know it says if your in a hurry to tell them but it took 15 minutes to take our order, the main course didn’t come out until after 9.00pm an hour and 15 minutes after arriving. Sadly the pork was to salty for my wife and my fish was ok but no spice to say it was meant to be Thai style with sweet chilli veg. As the main course had taken so long to arrive we had to decline pudding despite having to pay for two courses there was no offer of being allowed to take a pudding home or slight discount off the bill. I understand it is one chef but cooking for 10 people shouldn’t be an issue especially as I had a cold starter. Sadly we would not return again

I took my husband to stay for his Birthday treat staying over at our favourite B&B, La Fosse at Cranborne - la-fosse.com , with a delicious 6 course taster menu, delicious, as always. Breakfast was delicious as well, lots of choice.What a fantastic place to stay. About time we had some time ❤ together ❤, Such a quiet, clean, homely place to stay with a delicious breakfast and dinner. It's a really nice place, with gentle music, not too many guests, which makes it a perfect place to relax and enjoy time together. The bed was so comfortable, wanted to take it home or move in!!!Thank you Mark Hartstone and your brilliant staff. We cannot wait to stay again, especially the Suite, perfect stay, thank you.Such a beautiful village to walk around, you can get anywhere, like Salisbury, Wimborne, Poole, Southampton, Bournemouth within 30 to 45 minutes.Thank you Mark and Emmanuelle for such a wonderful stay, perfect in every way.We will be returning asap, cannot wait!!

We booked through Booking.com on a non refundable basis and 3/4 days before we were due to arrive we were forced to take PCR covid tests and although negative felt it inadvisable to retain the reservation. On advising the owner and questioning if under the circumstances we might defer the booking to another date were told in no uncertain terms that would not be possible. Totally understand but thought that it might have been more customer friendly to have said yes even if there was a surcharge. Not sure if we will ever consider making a booking with them again.

Greeted on arrival by the very friendly and hospitable owner/chef. Clean, comfortable, airy and cosy room with a large bed which provided a relaxed and restful night’s sleep. Somewhat disappointed with our food choices especially main courses: Sea Bass with potato salad which was cold but also with chunks of raw carrot; Lobster and mussel chowder which didn’t have any pieces of lobster or mussels. Breakfast was hearty but overcooked and we did have to point out that some of the slices of bread on the table had mould on them which was swiftly replaced. All in all for this occasion this establishment for us was a B&B with a restaurant rather than a restaurant with rooms which we what we were expecting.

Lovely food but for the cost I think menu could of been more of a variety. Only set meal I have never seen on other resterauant menus was the spice plaice in chowdry broth with saphrone which was really supreme. Cheese board was lovely, I love cheese and is always my dessert choice. In all fairness we were told we were emailed the choice prior to the evening if the meal but where we were staying we had no wi fi to check email. Was given choice of still opting for the set menu or opting for something off the daily menu but deciding on set menu. Each course was tasty but as already stated could order off any restaurant menu. Would of liked the set menu set out on thier Web site as had choices we haven't tried before, would visit again

Just such a place to chill out. Calm atmosphere. But the food is outstanding! This is our third visit. That says it all. Are you in a stressful job? Three nights here & you’ll come down. Guaranteed. Thank you to Mark & Emmanuelle.

After the turmoil of Lock-down we decided on a local 3 night break. Chose La Fosse and were very pleasantly surprised with the two room configuration and separate bathroom. Everything was in place and spotless. We had booked the room and paid separately for the breakfast, and, due to the Covid-19 restrictions the decision made by management was to have your breakfast delivered to your room. The price being requested for this service was £2.50 per person per day cheaper than we had already paid on line but no refunds were considered. Worst of all; the breakfast (you had a selection to make the previous evening and leave outside your room) was very limited and at no time did they get it right. Dinner was fantastic, excellent choices, well prepared and accompanied by a really good selection of wines. Highly recommend the hotel and the restaurant, hope the breakfast is back to normal.

My partner and I had a meal for two on the last night before lockdown and we had a wonderful meal. The menu I believe changes daily and there's plenty of options available. The cheeseboard definitely lives up to its hype, absolutely delicious and the chef brings this to the table and tells you all about the cheese & its origin. I managed to even buy some of the cheese at the Farm Shop opposite the next day. The venue itself is very warm and cosy and both husband and wife running the place were very welcoming.

Really enjoyed our two-night stay at La Fosse as part of our walking tour of Dorset. Mark is a superb chef and his six course tasting menu is delicious and interesting and also great value. The wine flight is well judged. He is a tireless host producing massive breakfasts under COVID rules as room service. Rooms well-equipped and comfortable. Highly recommended.

The Fosse us a superb restaurant. We spent a lovely relaxing evening enjoying great food and wine with friends. Covid precautions were excellent too. Between us we enjoyed the local charcuterie and trout for starters, the superb venison dish and hake chowder for mains two of the puddings and the amazing cheeseboard. The atmosphere was lovely and the welcome and service was faultless.

This was our first night away for several months and we thoroughly enjoyed it! We were made to feel very welcome by the Harstones and their staff. The room was really comfortable with excellent facilities. A relaxed pre dinner drink in the small garden preceeded an excellent dinner. We look forward to returning as soon as we can.

Whilst you may no be able to eat in at La Fosse mark is producing takeaways on Fridays and Saturdays. The menu changes each week. This is one way to eat locally sourced food excellent cooked.

The best kind of restaurants are the ones owned by the chef. La Fosse is a good example. We wined and dined and then were able to stay overnight in one of the 6 bedrooms. No need to drive home giving us the opportunity to indulge and enjoy. We were not disappointed. We were treated to a magnificent 6 course meal with optional wine flight. The food was superb. Locally sourced as much as possible, even during a wet February, beautifully presented, cooked to perfection and reasonably priced for the quality. Would highly recommend a visit to La Fosse

We met friends here for a get together with back in December and ate off a Festive menu which was excellent value at £32 for 3 courses, we also stayed overnight in one of the rooms which was really lovely. Nothing was too much trouble and the bed was super comfy.We had a warm welcome on arrival and after checking into our room we joined our friends for pre-dinner drinks in the lounge area whilst we made our choices from the menu. The service was friendly but not obtrusive and all the food was absolutely delicious. Gin selection was very good for a small restaurant and great wine choices too.The breakfast was also of a very high quality and the personal attention from all staff was second to none. We would definitely recommend and would love to visit again.

We have dined (and stayed) at la Fosse several times. Always enjoyable, this most recent visit for a special birthday was no exception. The menu choices are varied and change by the season, and feature mostly locally-sourced ingredients. An extensive and reasonably-priced wine list compliments the food, all of which is carefully prepared by owner/chef Mark. Thoroughly recommended !

I had high expectations as I had been there a few years ago. Menu very narrow. No real meat dishes for my partner. Doesn’t eat fish or game. Didn’t like the vegetables choice either. There were ten of us. Not all felt the same as me but wouldn’t recommend it.

Any hotel that provides a king size bed with sheets and blankets [rather than a duvet] deserves six stars!We took advantage of the 'Two Nights Dinner, Bed and Breakfast with Tasting Menu' offer earlier this week, at a very favourable rate. We stayed in the Old Winchester Suite which was both spacious and comfortable.The food, in the interesting tasting menu, was well cooked and well presented, with a good selection of accompanying wines [we chose to have the wine flight].We enjoyed a relaxing break and are very happy to recommend La Fosse.

6 of us enjoyed the delicious meals on offer. Relaxed and casual atmosphere, we all agreed that we would definitely make another visit. Highly recommended.

My second visit to La Fosse but both visits have been superb. Fabulous food, beautifully cooked. Everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed everything they ate. I can't wait to visit again

My husband and I were greeted on arrival by a very welcoming young lady member of staff and shown to our rooms by chef and owner, Mark Hartstone, himself. Mark had selected and prepared a delicious six course tasting menu which took into account the differing dietary requirements of several of our eleven guests and ended with his famous cheese board. The wine flight was well chosen for each course, as were the non-alcoholic alternatives. The service was cheerful and well organised . We all slept well in the well-appointed rooms, and had a very enjoyable breakfast in the morning.

We went to La Fosse Restaurant on Tuesday this week and also stayed overnight. A lovely room with beautiful beamed ceiling and tastefully decorated.Our evening meal was delicious and different. Nice to go somewhere and feel the choice of menu is exciting and different. All ingredients locally sourced and great to have food prepared to such a high standard. My husband and I both enjoy cooking but Mark the chef is excellent at testing your tastebuds to a whole new level.Breakfast the following morning was of the same high standard.Thoroughly enjoyed our stay, it was relaxing from the moment we arrived.Would definitely like to try the taster evenings.Thank you.

I went to la fosse yesterday with my husband- we were so impressed! The food was delicious, such high quality ingredients cooked to perfection! My highlights were hot & cold coppa with melon to start and the chocolate banofee sundae- both were surprising and so delicious. We will definitely be going again! Thank you mark!

An amazing evening in the garden and bbq hut. Fantastic food, atmosphere and staff. Thank you so much for making our party a memorable one

This place was absolutely amazing!!! We hired the BBQ hut and the food was delicious, staff friendly and whole atmosphere was lovely. Can't recommend it enough.

Our return visit to La Fosse was just as superb as the first. Every moment of the visit was a delight, from the bottles of reasonably priced red & white wine to the absolutely stunning cheese platter at the end. My plaice starter was sublime but it was topped by the perfectly cooked pork belly accompanied by a very generous portion of crackling heaven. The attached pictures tell the story. It was a visual & culinary feast. Sadly we lost the receipt with the 10% off our next visit voucher.

Love this place. Tucked into a local village, we love to visit and enjoy a well cooked and presented meal sourced locally. The welcome is always warm and you can enjoy a drink in the little lounge at the front before being shown to your table. The food has always been delicious and the menu selected for the time of year or occasion. We would love to see the Japanese night return but the supper clubs are not to be missed too. Mark always comes out for a chat at the end and the night really feels personal and friendly.

Beautiful venue, lovely people. Can’t wait to go back. Real hidden gem in Dorset. Highly recommended 👍🏻

Superb atmosphere, 100’s year old house. Super food. Amazing ambiance. Worth a destination point !! You drive thru long roads - and the emerge into an amazing village

We'd been looking forward to eating at La Fosse for sometime and had the opportunity to dine there and stay overnight. The staff were lovely and we were made very welcome. However, I found the food mediocre. I liked very much that all the produce was sourced very locally but the food was unexciting. For example, my starter was haloumi with some salad - which turned out to be 2 slabs of haloumi with some leaves. My main course was smoked haddock in a sea food chowder which was OK but nothing special. For dessert, we shared the cheeseboard which was excellent with many local cheeses to sample. For breakfast the next day I had eggs benedict which was barely edible. The poached eggs and rather thick bacon/ham were on barely toasted almost raw crumpets and the hollandaise sauce was poor.

After finding out we had a small window of opportunity to go out for dinner we remembered we hadn’t been here for a couple of years so booked a table at the last minute and boy am I glad we did

We stayed at La Fosse in February and found it so good that I was loathe to write a review too quickly in case I went overboard. I've just sat and read the menu again, and I really can't say enough.

This place is a gem, a real treasure of a restaurant and a most comfortable guest house. The ambience is very restful. Food is flavoursome, beautifully prepared, fresh and local. There is also an interesting drinks menu, with pre- and post- dinner delights. The village of Cranborne is a picture too, and a walk to the woods rewarded us with amzing carpets of bluebells this time of year.

Thank you, La Fosse for the perfect evening, overnight stay and breakfast. It was just the treat we were hoping for.

Welcome drinks in small lounge , then to small dining room .

The owners are warm and friendly, the room was clean and cosy and the food was excellent. I am exceptionally pleased with the choice of this hotel for my stay

We went here for dinner with friends and family, we'd read great reviews, but you never know!

The La Fosse was recommended by Lisa from the All Hallows Farmhouse. The dining room is relatively small and looks like you are sitting in the owner's living room. Very family and rustic. The food is all local and partly even comes from the chef’s garden. The food is of an extremely high standard and can easily compete with excellent award-winning restaurants worldwide. The La Fosse is a hidden gem in this area which is connect to the local food community. It was so good that we had to visit it twice, if there hadn't been a chili festival on the third day where the chef took part, we would have visit the La Fosse three times in a row.

Greeted warmly on arrival. Shown to a sittting room where we chose our drinks . Loved the idea of wooden board games to try. Our meal was a cheese themed evening which was absolutely delicious. We had coffee afterwards by a log burner--a perfect end to a lovely evening! Our hosts said "Good bye " as we left . I would love to come back !

Huge thanks for providing a client perfect hospitality. after booking in important business client at short notice, he could not compliment his stay any more. lovely clean and quiet room. stunning food made using local sourced ingredients, and staff that were the perfect hosts.

We've been to this delightful restaurant a few times usually for special occasions, the last was for our wedding anniversary. The sitting room was cosy and snug with wonderful entrees and an exquisite drinks choice. The menus are created with passion and an excellent food knowledge. We usually struggle to choose the menu as everything sounds delicious.

... for choosing a Monday in Winter at the beginning of December, but sadly we felt a bit let down.

10 friends firemen/ex firemen, and wives spent another fantastic evening at la fosse. The Xmas menu so tasty, and very generous portions. Thank you Mark and Emmanuel fir a very cosy relaxing time. Happy Xmas to you.

Lovely atmosphere, warm welcome and excellent food.we celebrate our anniversary here each year. Thankyou Mark.

We stayed here last night for 1 night with a 6 course tasting menu.The food and service was excellent,we haven’t been back for a couple of years and everything is still of high quality and we will be back .Catered for my wife being a vegetarian with some excellent choices and Mark’s famous cheese board

This is the second time we have visited La Fosse and have been extremely impressed on both occasions. The first was in a big group and the second visit was just the two of us.

My husband booked as a surprise! He had emailed Mark Hartstone, the chef, re a vegetarian tasting menu. We had a varied and innovative menu with the flight of wines. Nothing was too much for chef or staff. We’ll be back soon

Wow, delicious as always, thank you all at La Fosse for a wonderful, romantic evening with my husband. We had the brilliant Taster Menu and wow, that was sure worth having. You could taste every seasoning, spice and flavour in it all.

reviewed as part of B&B-; please read :) It was a beautiful lovely amazing incredible meal I would go back tomorrow if it was closer!!!

Enjoyed a three course menu last night here with a group of friends. The waitressing service was excellent. The menu was great and all of my food tasted sublime! I would highly recommend this restaurant if you just want a quiet dinner for two or as a celebration with a group. Very welcoming and don’t worry if you are a fussy eater (I’m not) they will cater for you.

La Fosse is such a wonderful restaurant, so homely and friendly. Mark & Emmanuelle, the owners and chef, along with their friendly, happy staff, make you feel very welcome indeed. Nothing is too much trouble, if you want something a little different, just ask. They will always check that you are happy with everything, during your meal and after your meal.

We were celebrating our Wedding Anniversary and read the Trip Advisor reviews, which were largely good. Sadly, we were very disappointed. My husband chose to have a duo of pork with champ. The champ was tepid and tasted like it had been reheated in a microwave and not seasoned properly and the pork was dry and over cooked- the crackling being so solid my husbands knife wouldn’t go through it and there was a lump of red veg which I think was over cooked courgette and tomato. I chose the smoked haddock and shell fish chowder which had a good flavour but lacked content. There was some smoked haddock with 6 mussel shells containing tiny mussels (all together they would have filled a teaspoon), two new potatoes halved and a very few beans and bits of courgette. We decided to bail out without pudding for fear of further disappointment.

We stayed at La Fosse for one night after visiting the Dorset Steam Fair. We were met by Mark and shown to our room which was really beautiful. Big comfortable bed, coffee machine and lovely Cowshed bathroom products.

La Fosse offers beautiful accommodation, with cafetière and espresso machine in the room, as well as all the bits and pieces we’ve come to expect - hairdryer, iron, ironing board, TV, iPod player, and books. A sitting room to while away the hours if you can’t find anything to do. And a superb dining room and chef, providing an unexpected level of cuisine in this tiny village in the middle of gorgeous, but very quiet, countryside.

Stepping inside La Fosse for the first time reminded me a bit of Fawlty Towers -- in the nicest possible way -- due to its somewhat old fashioned but homely furnishings; a bar/lounge with well-worn but comfortable leather chairs on one side of the front door and a rather plain but unpretentious dining room on the other. But any similarity with the TV series ends with the food and service. No rude maitre-d or uncooked fish here! The service is brisk and efficient and the food excellent. The mussels in a cider jus was just sublime, soft and creamy and cooked just right. The lamb hogget dish included a tasty kofta and a thick and tender lamb chop, with seasonal vegetables. To finish off, the cheeseboard is almost a meal in itself. The chef/owner, Mark, prides himself on obtaining almost all his food from local sources, so there's a list on the back of the menu showing where everything has come from, much of it from only a few miles away in Dorset and Hampshire. Very well worth a visit.

The accommodation was good. Lovely room (Old Sarum) and nice bathroom products. Breakfast was excellent. We had dinner which was good although we found the duck breast a bit on the rare side for us. Went for the "award winning" cheese board but it wasn't to my taste - tiny slivers of very rindy cheeses. I'm sure cheese connoisseurs would appreciate it but I wished I'd had desert instead! Overall a good place to stay and nice dining experience

Went with a friend to the recent Gin Dinner. A very interesting, well thought through fixed meal paired with appropriate Gins. What a clever chef! The gin infused scallops with gin pea risotto were sublime, and my favourite of this 3 course dinner. Terrific service too. Why haven’t I give it 5*? Probably because duck breast ( main course ) isn’t my most favoured option- I suppose I would have preferred fish ! Great evening though. Looking forward to the next event