Shire Hall Cafe in West Dorset

We thoroughly enjoyed going round the Shire Hall museum and topped it off in this lovely café. My husband had a homemade sausage roll, and I had a slice of homemade quiche. Both were served with very decent salads, not just leaves as you usually get in cafes! The food was exceptional and we recommend it highly. The prices were very reasonable too.

My friend had booked a festive afternoon tea for us. I am vegetarian and was so impressed that my sandwiches were brought out on a separate plate 😊 our waitress Bobby was so lovely and helpful. It was so refreshing to have someone in hospitality who understands that it is not exceptable to put vegeterian food on the same plate as meat items. The sandwiches were very yummy, especially the brie and cranberry. We had more than enough clotted cream and jam for our scones, the only thing I would have liked, is the option to have a fruit scone, as they are my favourite, otherwise, I couldn't fault it. We had a lovely afternoon. Thank you Bobby x

On holiday in the area and a return visit to this cafe, as last year we were serving quickly and food was a good standard, one quiche with salad and coleslaw (£4.50 excellent value for money) and a sandwich with nice bread and fillings again with salad and crisps. Plus two pots of tea.We always leave our visit for lunchtime and this time had to make quick return to car park but on our next visit we hope to make time to have a look around the rest of the building.

Shire cafe is a lovely eatery - the menu has a good range of very attractive and tasty food, the staff were very friendly and helpful and there was plenty of space in the lovely venue.

We visited whilst on holiday in the area and we were very impressed with the staff who were pleasant and helpful. The drinks delivered speedily with extra hot water for the tea. The food (we ordered sandwiches) was bought out to us very quickly and was of a good quality lovely fresh bread and a simple but nice side salad . We considered it to be of a reasonable price.It was lovely and clean and tidy and if we lived locally think this would be our place to go.

Spending the day in Dorchester my friend and I decided to lunch in this cafe. We both had the jacket potatoes with different fillings. We both thoroughly enjoyed our lunches and felt safe in these difficult times. The staff very pleasant and helpful too.

Following a visit to the courthouse museum we decided to have a spot of lunch in the cafe. The menu was very nice and we both opted for a jacket potato. The staff were very pleasant, polite and the food delicious. The only downside was that cafe wasn’t very warm this probably wasn’t helped by the fact that we’d been in the cold dungeons before.

We had afternoon tea at Shire Hall this afternoon and it could not have been more perfect! Delicious sandwiches, a selection of lovely cakes, scones with cream and jam, trifle, prosecco and plenty of tea. The waiter was attentive and nothing was too much trouble. Excellent value.....we will certainly return.

Visited on recommendation from local person and were impressed by food and value. Would definitely go again.

Although I visited while on a visit to the museum I was pleased to find that the café is open to the general public. Although it was lunchtime when I was there it wasn't overly busy. Good selection of food and all reasonably priced. Will definitely be back when going to the museum or not.

First visit to this cafe which is clean, bright and welcoming and right in the middle of Dorchester. You can visit the cafe and museum shop without paying to go round the museum. We had a selection of food. Toasted sandwiches were rated as excellent as were the perfectly poached eggs on toast. We went 1-2pm and unfortunately they’d already run out of jacket potatoes - we were told we should have come earlier if we wanted those. One colleague and I chose soup of the day, a tasty but overly thick curried parsnip soup. You could actually slice spoonfuls of it out of the bowl, it wasn’t soup consistency. Apart from the lack of jackets this was the only disappointment and was served with one tiny slice of toast each - really miserly we thought for £4.95. Gluten free and a hot dish of the day were available as well as a light lunch menu. Drinks were hot and staff were helpful.It was 50% full of mostly older ladies.Portions were not generous but adequate (apart from the soup/bread) and in line with prices around £5 or less for most dishes. It’s definitely a light lunch venue rather than a stuff yourself place. No one had a pudding but the cakes sounded very nice. They do afternoon tea with fizz for £12.50. I would return but earlier than 1pm to ensure I’m in time to be able to choose anything on the menu.

Not many people know that you can visit the cfe at The Shire Hall. It's wonderful for a coffee and a cake.

On our regular visits to Dorchester we try to come here for morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea because it is such a positive experience.My husband usually opts for the £5 lunch and this time had the ploughman's platter. I had a jacket potato. Everything is good value.Service is prompt and always with a smile. The staff are friendly and welcoming.We love this dining room: it is warm in the winter months, light and airy and there are local magazines and leaflets to look at.We thoroughly enjoy our visits: over Easter we popped in for tea and a hot cross bun.

There was a good selection of tea and cakes here. The staff were very happy to accommodate changes/substitutions to the menu and the portions are generous. My lunch companion was not impressed by the special of the day. I recommend the toast-type snacks and scrumptious fillings or toppings. The coffee is good. The newly refurbished facilities are a joy. Parking is pretty awful.

We discovered this café last year and have been back several times since.On this visit, I had a jacket potato with cheese and salad, and my husband had the £5 daily lunch - mince, mashed potato and vegetables.Both meals were well cooked and tasty.The ambiance of this café is excellent, with a mix of dining tables and chairs, coffee table and sofa.The room is clean and warm, and there are newspapers, local magazines and leaflets on local attractions.But what makes this café even better are the friendly staff for whom nothing is too much trouble.They are always welcoming and always smiling. Well done.

Looking around Dorchester we came across this Museum with a cafe. We went ind found a lovely cafe overpowered by staff in the shop downstairs,however the coffee shop was up stairs with good eats and drinks. Well worth a visit.

Very nice cafe wether visiting the museum or not. Only experienced the coffee so far but will be back when in Dorchester no doubt.

Delicious tea. Very reasonable price £12.50 including a glass of prosecco. All beautifully served. Includes a small trifle in a glass! You can ask for a doggy bag if you can't manage it all.

And the toasted tea cake was jolly good also. Next visit will try something else as didn’t have time for anything else being the end of the day

During a trip to the Shire Hall we had a light lunch. Our choice was “best of both” which is a combination of soup and sandwiches. The food was prepared to order, delicious and well presented. The service was good and the staff were most efficient. I would certainly recommend this cafe if you are in Dorchester and if you have time the Shire Hall itself is also well worth a visit.

We stayed for something to eat after touring the museum with a party of 25 people. The hot food was delicious though service a little slow but then we were with a lot of people but they did not all eat there.

Visited on a Wednesday for a quick lunch . A bright airy place. Had loaded potato skins with chilli and meal very well presented. Not a huge choice on the menu but it’s a new place. Staff Were from Kingston Maurward and they were very polite. Fun to visit the gift shop on the way out. Well priced items. Worth a visit

Visited here for first time today. I always like to try out new ventures in town, so pleased to visit. We had a plain glass of water when we arrived, Lovely coffee, and my jacket potato came with two of my requested fillings egg mayonnaise and coleslaw. It also came with other salad. It was all very tasty and served well. Staff very friendly and eager to please. It was quiet (at 12 noon, we left just after 1), but the café is light and airy. Only minus is décor.. its very brown and grey and Id like to see pictures on the wall to add a bit of colour and atmosphere. Will return.

Working in town, we always look for somewhere new for a spot of lunch. Visited at 1:00 on a busy Wednesday for Dorchester. Only 4 tables were taken. After checking out the sample menu online, we were disappointed to find that not a lot of it was available that day. We decided on a Cold counter salad at £10, we had to choose 6 items from the selection... I requested Ham, cheese, salad leaves, tomato, cucumber and egg owing to dietary restrictions, whilst my friend ordered the Quiche and salad. When my lunch arrived I did indeed have the ham and cheese, but also potato salad, peppers, beetroot, carrot and sweetcorn. Whilst this is a great selection, I unfortunately could not eat this.. so was left with just a small amount of leaves, 3 half cherry tomatoes and a sprinkling of diced cucumber for £10!. My friends quiche was soggy but her salad nice.. sadly nothing more than 'Nice'. I feel this cafe could do so well, the setting is relaxing and light and airy, I realise this is also a new venture, so would not wish to complain too much, but rather offer constructive criticism which hopefully can be taken as such, with so much competition in the town, this cafe could do so much more. ..it just needs a bit of 'Oooomph!'

We visited the cafe today on the recommendation of a family member. Our party consisted of two adults and a 5 year old.

Dorchester does not need yet another overpriced pretentious coffee shop.

Having toured the museum I stopped for lunch of a goats cheese and onion panini with a gooseberry chutney in the side. It arrived promptly with a side salad and some crisps, beautifully hot with a generous filling. That was followed by a chocolate brownie and coffee, I think I would have preferred the brownie warm, but in fairness I did not ask for it to be warmed, they may have obliged if I had of asked, I don't know. It was huge, I could only manage a couple of mouthfuls so it came home in a doggy bag and was duly microwaved later which made it beautifully gooey. The cafe was quite busy, seems popular already. Couldn't fault the cleanliness of it or the friendliness of the man who served me. I shall use this as a coffee stop location as the quality and prices were very reasonable for a town centre location.

It's all in the title really. Had a couple of good lunches here, sandwiches and paninis great and recommend it. Good place to meet with friends.