The Courtyard Craft Centre in Purbeck

Not quite the options of crafts it used to but a lovely craft centre, and the cafe has certainly been updated and extended. Always have loved this place

Lots of gifts and crafts in a small group of outbuildings converted. Also a great cafe.

Went yesterday for a browse around the lovely craft & individual gift shops. Lots of great ideas for presents! Had lunch at the cafe & even though it was busy, had quick service & a freshly made pasta salad bowl. Which was good value & very tasty!

*Updated* I'm updating my review after my previous visit. A lot of work has clearly gone into improving access. The car park is much safer and the new ♿ loo in the Cowshed is roomy, clean and easy to manoeuvre round even in my chunky power chair. As always the food and staff were lovely, friendly and helpful.A much more inclusive venue thank you Some lovely independent shops especially the Cowshed but the car park is really treacherous for anyone with mobility problems. Large potholes and uneven ground with lots of loose stones and gravel.A site that size with food and drink options also should have a proper wheelchair accessible toilet. I've visited a couple of times but as a wheelchair user I probably won't come back as the accessibility/toilet issues are too limiting.

Had breakfast in the cowshed. Very nice food, menu and staff

They have a lady dedicated to bringing water to the customers dogs....gets my vote then. .......Also coffee and food is really good. New larger car park, so I don't need to park on grass verge any more. Thanks guys !

Love it here. I've used several of the outlets and they're very good. Brand new toilet block and new car park

Dry, stale expensive cake . Weak watery coffee. Disappointed 😞. But Nice friendly staff and good location

Great place for a walk round and food

Not as much variety as there used to be here, the cafe/restaurant seems to have grown much bigger and is the draw that people go there for more than the crafts. There is a pottery that runs hands on craft sessions and some wool and knitting shops that seemed quite popular. Enough parking for visitors with a couple of disabled bays.

Lovely courtyard with a good selection of craft shops and workshops. Great place to meet up with crafty friends or bring the family.

Great selection of local produce.

This is a wonderful place to walk around after a fantastic breakfast. A few little shops with home made bits and pieces.

I love the Courtyard it's on my doorstep and I've always supported it. I regularly have the salmon quiche has always been delicious however this time the pastry was lovely but it was like eating a courgette quiche 1 piece of salmon extremely disappointed. Such a shame as I keep hearing that I'm not the only person who's noticed a decline. I'd rather pay more and have the quality.. Good luck Courtyard less really isn't more !!!

Small independent businesses on the site.

Good food in the Cow Shed, friendly staff, lovely small craft units. love coming here

Just as you walk into the Courtyard you will find a number of different small businesses, what a wonderful little place to browse for Christmas ideas. Loved this shop called Buddy & me , for all dog owners this is a must. Danielle owns the shop and is really friendly and very knowledgeable. I purchased some dog biscuits which my friends dogs loved . Nothing is too much for Danielle and she really goes out of her way to help people . If she hasn’t got what you want she will try her best to get it for you. Excellent customer service . Will definitely be telling my doggie friend owners to visit you .

I visited the Craft Centre Café for brunch during my stay at South Lytchett Manor Campsite. There was a big menu, with plenty of choice, and reasonably priced too. I had the avocado on toast, which was delicious. I had bacon with it, which came at an extra cost, but for me, it was worth it! The café was bright and nicely decorated, with outdoor seating options. I would most definitely recommend. Thank you for our delicious brunch!

Wed 15 Dec 2021. Having checked the website we were disappointed that shops advertised as Open were not. Just 3 retail businesses working (and the Pottery Shop reduced as undergoing refit in main courtyard, plus the sweetshop and florist in the house. Services businesses (in their own area) working. Pet Shop not there.

Nice to look around. Great wool shop and Dylans for something to eat.

So disappointed and upset quite honestly about our visit yesterday. Most of the shops were closed, the cafe all I can say about that is rude and unhelpful, never got round to eating anything as not served so walked/wheeled out. It was my daughters birthday so we came with her husband who is in a wheelchair due to having MS, for lunch. However, 1 half of the entrance door was looked and we couldn't fit the wheelchair through. So I called to a waitress asking can she help as we have a wheelchair, she said be right with you, but she proceeded to go in the kitchen and come out with an order of food, she then went on to serve 2 more tables. I was getting cross by now as we were being totally ignored, so I said This is a waste of time, then hey presto she went to get the key so we could come in. Well we sat and waited more customers came in and orders were taken from them. As for us... Still ignored, so we walked out! Not only did this upset my son in law as he felt it was his fault as in a wheelchair, it upset my daughters birthday treat. DISGUSTING!

Interesting mix of shops & cafe

Friendly & calm, the ideal scenario to learn

Funny little place, worth a visit. Good cafe

Lovely coffee,shame about scones ,but will visit again .

Fascinating little complex of local crafts. And with a very nice cafe.

Unsure that it deserves this rate however, being complimentary. Only one business open, although there's a sign giving an impression that several are open.

Happy Hays, Coralie and Dylan open only

The food and staff in the cafe are lovely

Love this place. Not Just Wool is my favourite shop in the world, I love looking at the wool, and all the crafting stuff, I spent a little and came away with loads, including an Olaf cushion and a knitted cacti in a pot, also loved Dylans, amazing cream tea

Only half of the "shops" were open. Dull, shabby and uninviting.

Disappointed that the chocolate and fudge shop closed at 4pm so unable to get a treat for my wife.

Had lunch at Dylan, which was delicious and my mother got her wool at Just Wool, so helpful and knowledgeable, great shop. Just a shame the gift side of the centre has fallen down a bit.

It is quite out of the way but worth the drive. Full of quirky people making a variety of crafts. This ranges from a tarrow reader to a flower arranger! If your in the area pop in and see what you can find!

Great place to meet friend over a meal then buy some lovely gifts

Could be a great place if they could fill the units ( and then open on time rather than every now and then.) Quite frustrating when you turn up and only 3 units are open! Needs to get back to how it was 5-10 years ago.

Nice little craft shops and café

So much choice a really nice cafe to have a drink or eat easy access for all and good parking

The craft centre is very nice to visit if you want to purchase something a little different. There are lovely bespoke pieces which you can have personalised. There is a little shop which sells wool and items. Another shop sells items such as towels which can be personalised. There are a variety of other small shops which sell other bits and bobs something for everyone. Nice cafe and ye olde sweet shop.

Quirky quiet old style court yard with a few craft shops, a place to eat/drink. Set in the woodland, noise free of the main roads..dogs welcomed into yard probably not the shops.

Great place to shop and eat, highly recommended

Not much open and it's nowhere near as good as it used to be. Found some things were a bit pricey for what they were

Lots of interesting stuff and lovely peiole

Lovely to grab a bite to eat and support our local little businesses❤️❤️❤️❤️

What a lovely find .ladies were lo vely

Had my hair cut at Emma's Elegant Hair today! Very pleased with the service. Would recommend to anyone 🙂

Hardly anyone there. A place with good potential but was expecting to see craftspeople doing.

Lovely breakfast. Will cycle past again!

Sadly in demise. What could be a thriving craft courtyard has fallen by the wayside. A shame as there is potential here.

Not many shops open or they close at 3.30pm which seems early for a Saturday.

A fab craft center for all the family with beautiful handmade items, plenty of parking, great food and in a beautiful setting

Really nice concept to have a number of small craft type businesses in a single place.

Great selection of wool etc great breakfast to

A great cafe few smaller shops parking and dogs welcome ☺

Great supplier of wool located here

Lovely rural craft centre worth a visir

A group of friends (32)and myself enjoyed a very well presented Christmas lunch.We all tried to find fault,as it was our first visit....but couldn't.An excellent meal,great service.Very good.

Very good for arts and crafts also nice café

Lovely place, visited the Wool shop, fantastic selection and very helpful lady, the gift shop has an amazing collection of beautiful gifts and who could resist the visit to the sweet shop, all lovely.

Don't bother the signs invite you in but apart from the cafe and sweet shop nothing bothered opening

Not many shops here. I like the selection of wool and buttons in the wool shop. The lady that runs this shop is very helpful

Good craft shop but avoid pet shop.

Lovely food in the restaurant and bought some fantastic gifts in stitch n bead

Great little craft centre and loads of exotic birds to see in pet shop

Breakfast at Dylan's cafe was delicious and great value for money. Lovely setting and great that they welcome dogs too!

Use the cafe for a club meet.and outlets for purchases.very good allround.sweets.flowers.etc.

Had a lovely breakfast and cake in the cafe. But as to crafts first it was all closed secondly it had nothing that I call crafts jewellery pottery etc it had bridal shop nails hair .so cafe would have had 5 stars but as you have to rate it overall only two.

No cardcraft or papercraft supplies.

Nice place lots of thing to see, great shop's and diverse

Good food ,reasonably priced with good service. Also free parking and dog friendly. What's not to like

Shame it's not like it was 20 years ago

Craft Centre/ Restaurant. Good stuff !

Nice cafe, quite expensive though.

Great little crafts centre with a nice cafe and craft shops, free parking too.

Pixienail appointments by phone only .Lovely young lady (Sophie )

Reasonable amount of parking but not a lot to see here. Good craft shop though.

Friendly local pet shop with good prices and great service.

Good place for coffee and cake and shops too

Cute place hidden in the countryside

Difficult to visit unless you have a car. Not many traders open. Some shops not even craft related. Nice friendly café.

To all those people from Oaktree Park who complained about Saturday Night's H0g Roast. I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED COMPLAINTS DIRECT TO ME AND PETE AND NOT PUT ON THIS SITE TO DISCREDIT DYLAN'S RESTAURANT. THE PROPRIETOR AND HIS WIFE WORKED VERY HARD TO ACCOMMODATE US. Firstly we couldn't hold a function here at Oaktree as there are 287 peopple living on the Park, all of whom had an invitation to participate, the Pavilion only holds 60 and we only have 50 chairs! Pete and I tried our best to find a suitable venue and transport to and from, within the budget allocated to us by Haulfryn's. 6 members of the committee visited the venue before it was confirmed as booked. I am sorry the draught beer ran out; that was partly due to the fact that the owner asked if there were any 'hard drinkers' and I replied that no, all were responsible drinkers. So maybe that was my fault. The fact that cans of beedr were available didn't pleas either as some thought it was expensive, comparing it to the retails price at Tesco's.!!! I am sorry that the vegetarian alternative wasn't ready at the same time as the Hog. It had been forgotten; these things happen when there are just two people wanting something different to 88 others. The problem was alleviated very soon. There was a mix up with the DJ, he turned up at the wrong place, nothing to do with the propietor or me and Pete. He was at the wrong venue. Our DJ turned up on time and was superb., It is difficult to organise a function when you don't know how many people are going to turn up. 287 people got invitations, only 124 replied, 111 said they were coming originally, but only 88 people turned up on the night. I would like to finish by saying MANY people DID enjoy themselves and we have had more 'likes' than complaints. Next time, perhaps those complaining would like to organise something, as obviously they feel they could have done it better than me and Pete. I would like to end by saying a BIG THANK YOU to the Proprietor Richard and his staff who worked their socks off to help us and to keep within budget. PAT DOWELL

Abysmal, attended the same hog roast, the venue were aware of how many it was booked for and didn't put out enough seating although several of our party couldn't make it to the venue we were still short, there was one inexperienced girl on the bar when we started and only one draft beer which ran out in about five minutes and no one could be bothered to put a new barrel on, all in all a very unhappy experience will not be returning and definitely will not be recommending it to anyone, we would have complained on the night if there was anyone about to complain to who actually cared.it was a shame because our secretary and treasurer with other committee members had put a lot of time and effort into this event only to be , in my opinion, let down by the venue by not being able to cope with the number of people

My Wife and I attended the hog roast on Saturday the 15th August. I had already visited the venue with Pat twice and we felt the venue was ideal for the money we had been given for the event! Although there was a problem with the seating I did find tables and chairs for everyone. The food was delicious and plentiful and it was a brilliant disco. Our D J turned up on time, the other guy was at the wrong venue! The drinks were a bit expensive but probably normal pub prices, they do have to pay their staff and the drinks were reduced when we queried the prices of the beer. The majority of the people had a great evening dancing, shame about the others!!!! The owner and his wife worked very hard to accommodate us.

I also attended the hog roast evening and i must say i had a great time. The food was plentiful and very nice with options to go back for more if you wanted to. I don't have a complaint as such but did think the lighting back to the car park could have been better. I do think that complaints about the evening should firstly have be made to those who organised who arranged the evening to clear up any misunderstandings before being voiced here.

went there for hog roast last night with a party of 100, they really shouldn't Have taken the booking the hall was too small for that number of people, although our organisers where assured there wouldn't be a problem. when we got there their wasn't enough tables put out and we had to do it our selves, the bar had no draught beer cans only which where be sold at £3.50.each! until we pointed out that the price list quoted £3.50 a pint it was then reduced to £3.00 a can. they also said they would book a disco. which they didn't. we had to find one at last minuet, The venue was booked over 4 months ago so the managers had plenty of time to make the arrangement's for our party. In fairness the hog roast was very good. But we will not be returning

Great Place to visit, loads of units selling a wide variety of items. Food was great, will visit again. Great Puzzle shop and toy shop got prezzies for the family. Had a great afternoon shopping and chilling.