The Old Inn in East Dorset

Excellent food with good service, slightly pricey for pub food but was warranted as the food was superb. Only downside the ‘pizza terrace’ was a little chilly for our liking.

We were visiting a National Trust property in the area and booked the Old Inn for lunch for 4. The pub had indoor and outdoor seating, outdoors was nearly empty, well it was rather cold. Inside was packed and not a spare table. Service was good, the food was excellent, I can recommend the pork belly, & shared a knickerbocker Glory with my wife ( I have not seen that dessert on a menu in years!!!) it was good also. Not the cheapest pub , however it was worth it for the service & food.

Wonderful food, excellent service, good wine and comfortable seating and lovely atmosphere . Highly recommend the Old Inn. We will be back.

We have been here several times. The food is still quite good but the prices have now gone past the point of being acceptable. £22 for a curry that wasn't significant and consisted of curry and rice only, just seems excessive. There are other good choices locally and we won't be returning sadly. It was also the first time we have been able to find a table at short notice. I can see why now.

Visited for valentines evening meal. Food was good. Pub was welcoming and warm. Unfortunately we were seated right in the far corner of what appeared to be an anti room to the left of the front door. It was wood panelled and resembled a sauna, no windows, no view. We were informed we would be joined by others. One couple did, ate and left reasonably quickly. They actually left with their drinks to go and sit in the bar ….Another couple did arrive and the 4th table was never occupied. We could hear the laughter and general atmosphere of the pub but could not see any of it. We are local, have visited for many years and actually had no idea this small anti room even existed. Part of the visit to the pub for us is to make an effort to get dressed (I work from home), experience the chatter, hustle and bustle, maybe bump into local people, we know, “people watch”etc. none on offer last night. Then to top it all we got someone else’s bill. We did point this out as it was clearly 50% less than ours. What a shame. We were genuinely disappointed. I hope we return, but only to sit outside in the warmer weather. Not in what I felt was something akin to my garden shed (that has windows and more atmosphere), Make sure you check out where they seat you.

Great food large portions good menu loved the house wine with great atmosphere priced reasonable for these modern times.... we defo be back

Really nice restaurant. Delicious food, fairly priced, excellent staff, friendly environment. Really attractive exterior, great interior, plenty of parking across the road.

Went for a family Xmas meal. The food was excellent but what was more impressive was the service. Each staff member was polite, attentive and nothing was too much trouble. They were efficient in clearing tables without feeling rushed. It was a change to see a pub with the right amount of staff to cope with Sunday lunch the weekend before Christmas. You pay a bit more but I'd prefer that than to have mediocre food and service. Well done from someone who has been in customer service for 50 years.

As always, great food, good value, excellent service and a delightful setting. I can'tthink of anythingthat could have beenimproved. We'll be back soon!

The food was delicious and the service was impeccable and efficient. We had the roast and two had the sea bass, which we all loved.

Absolutely fantastic! Sunday lunch for 11 people. It was a busy day and they still got everything absoloutely spot on! Food was fantastic, drinks were flowing and the service was brilliant. All of us agreed that it was probably the best Sunday lunch that we had had out in a very long time.

Sunday lunch with friends , lovely staff . I had the roast beef which if I'm honest I thought was a bit "lacklustre " for the money , 3 pre cooked hard roast potatoes, a boring side of cheap veg and about 4 very thin pieces ( can't call them slices) of beef , and the Yorkshire pudding had obviously been cooked ages ago and kept warm as it was very rubbery. Such a shame as my French Onion soup was a delight . My fellow companions had the pork or turkey- all of which looked a lot better than the beef- so although on the whole I would recommend this lovely place, I would suggest that the roast beef is probably best avoided!

Highly Commendable for excellent quality , friendly atmosphere and comfort The surrounds are a perfect setting . There is ample parking spaces opposite Easy access to the ' Dinning area including the ' Bar ', restroom etc. We had a table for four near the fire and the window side . This was our choice . The meals were top class as well as the service . We , will certainly go again for a special occasion . A little above average price but, worth every penny. This , is only a review at 'HOLT ' near Wimborne , Dorset . There are other places ' THE OLD INN ' . ( for your guidance ).

We had a lovely evening here, food was excellent and so was the service. It is a little expensive but worth it compared to most pubs in the area.

From the warm welcome from staff, to the prompt service and excellent food we had a lovely family evening. My boys and I choose the pizza and all agreed it was one of the best pizzas that we’ve had in a good while with crisp base and great taste. My wife had the scampi which she also enjoyed. For dessert one son and wife had the pecan pie which they both polished off. I had the knickerbocker glory a favourite of mine and left me very satisfied. Thank you Old Inn Staff, we’ll be back again next month! 😁😍

Loved it! Staff were very welcoming, the food was lovely, service was spot on. I loved the flowers and seating area out the front. Good parking for less able customers. I don’t mind a service charge - you can remove it if you wish - if it goes to yard working staff it’s worth it. Definitely will come again…

Called in for drinks on our way home from holiday at the coast Wow Should have read the reviews beforehand Especially the answers from Simon So pint of beer £5.70 Glass of wine £11.50 That’s London prices not middle of no where in Dorset prices Though Simon says we need to pay the 12.5 service charge for his staff ( saw three , one in an apron one in a flowery shirt and one older lady laying tables under the trolleys ) I used to cater for weddings and never got a tip 12.5 % to serve a drink I was in the wrong business

What a fantastic experience. Having visited before but not had a proper meal, thought we’d treat ourselves. The place looks great with covered outdoor dining. We were later lunch diners but were welcomed and seated straight away. The service was really good and nothing too much trouble. I had the salmon - just wow! Exceptional. Hubby had the belly pork which I assume was delicious as he almost licked the plate! So, it is slightly more expensive than other pubs but, honestly, it’s worth every penny. We would definitely recommend and have already booked to return with friends. Go and enjoy it.

Excellent venue. Very expensive. Not helped by 12 & half % service charge added to all our drinks. Didn't realise until we got home. Punt of Amstel & 250ml Pinot Grigio, £17.50. Wont be back. Blatant profientairg. Be up front.

Excellent food, good service and lovely covered outdoor eating area. Really enjoyed our meal there. ☺️👏 we had a selection of food - pies, pizzas, pork belly, fish and it was all delicious!

Great food fabulous friendly staff wonderful atmosphere . Have been several times never disappoints Sunday roast is a must

Over priced food , long wait times , you can get better steak much better priced at other local places

I've often eaten here and the service and food never disappoints. When I visited on Saturday it was really busy but the staff didn't let it show in their attitude or ability. Imogen in particular was bright, friendly and positive even as her shift must have been coming to a close. The Pizzas (as ever) were superb, as were the deserts

The refurbishment since I had last visited has made a great improvement to both the interior and the exterior. The seating and tables looked attractive and welcoming. The waiting staff were attentive and pleasant. However, I think the wine by the glass was too expensive, there should be a cheaper “house wine” or carafe option. My meal was liver and bacon. I would have much preferred a plate, not a bowl, and for proper tasty onion gravy to be served on the side. The individual elements were ok but the execution, plating and attention to detail were lacking in my opinion. Had it been served on a decent flat dinner plate, the food would have been easier to cut and eat and would not have ended up squashed in a mushy pile all on top of each other in the middle of the dish; and had the bacon and onions been crisped up for some texture, and the liver properly caramelised AND it hadn’t had gloopy thick generic gravy blobbed atop it would have looked and tasted MUCH better ! For £22 I expected something a lot more refined to be honest.

We booked a family Sunday lunch for 11 people to celebrate my husband’s birthday. The staff were attentive and very friendly and helpful. The food was superb and everyone was very impressed. We will definitely be returning and would highly recommend.

Have heard great things about this place so was pleased to visit last night for some drinks. It was very busy - which is a good sign! The staff are all absolutely amazing, service is 11/10. So friendly, chatty and welcoming. Great atmosphere too. It’s a lovely place! Coming back for food here soon. What a joy! In the warmer weather there are lots of outdoor tables too. Plus a cute little semi outdoor area at the back with a wood burner and sofas. I’ll be coming back regularly. Can’t believe I’ve not been here sooner!

Very good food and excellent service. Lovely atmosphere, and the fire made it warm and cosy. Definitely worth visiting!

Lovely location, really pretty traditional pub. Great facilities with outdoor indoor dining. Nicely decorated chilled vibe. The staff are absolutely lovely, professional and attentive. I would have given a 5 but my chicken Thai green curry was watery and the chicken was very very dry. Not succulent chicken with a rich green curry sauce. The prices are in the high side.

We were greeted by very friendly faces. The restaurant was not very busy which was fortunate because seemed short of staff. Our orders were taken quickly but we had quite a wait for the meal. When it did arrive the food was great. All in all a good experience and we would return again.

It was a busy Sunday, and hubby went to get drinks at bar, but was ushered back to table, as tables outside the front (patio) are not numbered. Waitress took drinks and food order. There was a little wait, I had large Chardonnay, brand on menu not listed other than from Chile, £11. London prices! Food was fine, hubby was presented with the reader and he paid. Then he was given the bill, They put 12.5 percent service charge (for a couple) at a pub on bill. Too late to challenge. Lovely view. We do tip, but not usually on drinks at a pub where we tried to go to bar ourselves, and drinks were not cheap to start with, wine was previously £9.50 at the start of summer.

Greeted at the door by friendly faces who showed us to our table and orders immediately taken for drinks. Service and food was most excellent and all add ins/changes to our orders dealt with without a problem and with a smile. Service was very prompt and all dishes were beautifully presented and delicious and piping hot. Beautiful surroundings and cannot fault The Old Inn in any way. Will definitely be returning and hope to enjoy the outside area soon

Beautiful pub, service was good. We went as a family group of 6. One of the party had pizza which looked amazing. Three of us had the roast. For the price it was the meat was lovely but not much of it and the veg were very bland and hard. Shame as the rest of the evening was lovely.

We decided to have the Roast for Sunday Lunch. We thought £24 each was a little steep for what you got. The beef was so thin and pink it nearly moo'd, the carrots where so hard you couldnt stab them with your fork. But on a good note the roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding was lovely.

We had 75 people to a special celebratory party and had ordered a buffet meal with all soft drinks, draft beer and house wine included. What we were given well exceeded expectations; food was lovely and the staff incredibly helpful. The venue, a back bar plus garden and covered area for the music was perfect. Many of our guests commented on both the lovely venue and the excellent standard of service by every single member of staff. Cost was as quoted, just under budget. The whole package gave us a memorable day with family and friends.

Having scoured the Internet for a good Sunday lunch, we came across this little beauty. The service was impeccable as was the food. Dog friendly with plenty of space between tables. Definitely will be going back midweek.

The many staff here were really friendly and helpful, the interior is lovely and promises a lot. I couldn't quite work out why our dinner just wasn't particularly to our taste. Great to have so many vegan and gluten-free options. We'll come back when we are here on holiday again maybe.

Fantastic food, wonderful staff. There is a great menu to choose from,with changing specials. the staff are very attentive without being overbearing. There is such a lovely ambience about the whole place. My partner had the pork belly, which she let me try, melt in...

Walked here with our dog and so glad we did. From the very outset we were made very welcome. The pub and setting was lovely, so well kept and cared for. We sat under the shades at the front. The staff were all very friendly...

Great pub and restaurant in an amazing countryside location. Had the fish and chips which was excellent. The waiters are brilliant..polite..friendly and helpful. Definitely a return visit !

Excellent pub for a pleasant evening meal. The service throughout was very friendly. Although we sat inside there is plenty of comfortable seating outside. Varied menu at a reasonable price using lo cal produce, including great tasting pizzas. Strongly recommend.

We were a party of 7 for a birthday celebration, booked at fairly short notice, so only outdoor seating available. What an amazing evening! After such an horrendous dining experience at another establishment last weekend, faith restored with a team of professionals who clearly know...

We were a family birthday party of 7 @6:30pm. From start to finish, we all had an excellent time. The menu choices we had didn't disappoint, and the portion sizes were generous. I can recommend the BBQ ribs from the specials section, absolutely delicious. All...

The staff were friendly, happy to have a Britstopper to stay. The pub had a great atmosphere with lots of happy customers, and I was served a lovely cup of tea.

What a fantastic place, I was coming in late, and there was no table online so made a call, very polite and accommodating. I asked if they were still a stopover pub they was and I was asked what I would like. I went for...

Really gorgeous area- nice pub, great service. Quite expensive though, Lunchtime specials quite nice, although could really taste the taste of the oil on the fried

Four of us for a meal to celebrate my birthday. The food was good but a bit pricey especially for the size of my steak and ale pie portion. It was the first time in approximately 4 years I have visited. I was surprised to...

We had a family meal tonight & everything was 5☆ . Service was excellent, the staff were all friendly & attentive. The food was delicious & well presented. The pub was spotlessly clean. Everything was top quality from the food to the paper towels in...

Visited today for Sunday roast, after previously several months ago having a good roast meal here. They have changed the beef, it’s now sliced really thinly, similar to what you would buy in a supermarket for sandwiches, previously it was cut generously and very tasty....

Menu is good, gives a range of food choices. Prices as per other good standard pubs, eg pie chips & peas £18, but the pie is home made and not in a small foil container with a lid! Service is very good. Surroundings can cater...

Have not been here for years & years so it was a surprise to see the refurbishment & how it has changed for the better. The decor & ambiance is outstanding. We called in early without a booking & with our dog. Greeted by very...

Booked a last minute 60th birthday meal for my dad. It was absolutely perfect. There was a big group of 30 people and it was just fantastic. We were in the conservetory/garden room, it was so warm and ambient with all the fairy lights. Food...

We celebrated my birthday at The Old Inn with 20 guests and had the best time possible. The food was simply delicious - hot, tasty, appealing, fresh and served with a smile. Everyone was served in a timely way and the variety of the meals...

This pub is located near Wimborne on a country road but with GPS it’s easy to find. The food was good and the service was excellent. Friendly and helpful wait staff assisted with menu choices . The atmosphere is very pleasant with an outside sitting...

We were lucky enough to book lunch here for Christmas Day. What a meal! A welcome glass of champagne on arrival followed by smoked salmon and pate starters which were all delicious. It was nice we could choose when we were ready to put the...

Today January 1st 2023 we visited The Old inn .. my son booked the reservation for his birthday today . Arriving at the pub and going inside looked really inviting.. we then followed the pub assistant through the pub and out the back door which...

We had an excellent Christmas lunch yesterday at The Old Inn. The staff were attentive and pleasant, the food was tasty and plentiful. It was our first visit but we will definitely be returning. Can recommend the Roast Turkey and also the sea bass. A...

Attended yesterday for Sunday lunch in a large group including children. Food/service & Ambience absolutely outstanding. We are hoping to make this our annual location now. Literally couldn’t fault a thing. Thank you for making our afternoon so special!

We booked the Old Inn for a catch up lunch, 5 girl friends. Three of us had never been here before. What a find. Everything from the service, table, food, atmosphere was just perfect. We live in Wimborne and simply can't understand why we haven't...

pleasant situation and good service. meals were very good with a nice selection but a little overpriced

I booked a family meal for 16 and obviously I was asked to submit our menu choices a few days before. A couple of people asked for things that were not on the menu but that was ok as plenty of notice was given. Due...

We have just returned from the best meal out of 2022. Superb staff, lovely atmosphere and delicious food. They have so many things right here, from decor to wait in between courses. I would not hesitate to return and next time will be bringing the...

A friend took me to this place . I’ve never knew it was there. A lovely looking pub from the outside. Then went inside and saw how beautiful it was. Shining glasses over the bar clean and fresh. Warm welcome from the staff. Plenty of...

Visited this pub over decades now and then. It is trying to become a boutique pub but people want friendly service, local produced food at a good price, staff not very friendly and some of the food was rather tasteless let’s bring back good pub...

We moved from Surrey to Dorset 8 weeks ago. The first pub we went to on day 3 was The old Holt inn. The staff we outstanding, and the food was good. We have been several times since. We have been twice for Sunday Roast....

Four meals and a takeaway whilst on a two week holiday. All food was very good, the salmon main especially. Staff were helpful and efficient. Indoor and outdoor options to dine were appreciated.

We are not locals but often stay at a campsite close by…however, the standard of service is such that after a single visit the team remembers you, your preferred drinks and greet you like old friends. They are dog friendly and automatically bring a bowl...

Lovely location Lovely pub We had the Sunday roast (beef) all cooked well and served very well Very nice outside eating area at the front Very nice menu Would definitely return if we were in the area again

What a fantastic meal! Best meal we have had since we have been down on holiday in Dorset. The old inn pizza was probably one of the best pizzas I have had outside of Italy. Took all The family tonight including three dogs and we...

I read the reviews of this place , i found nothing bad at all here , i found a very pleasant very knowledgable man behind the bar,a great range of drinks in a very relaxing enviroment,a very nice menu and plenty of staff it got...

4 friends got together to celebrate a birthday. The staff were very welcoming and service perfect. Our starter, main course and puddings were great. Pricey but so is everything at the moment. Good food so worth it

We held our 30th Wedding Anniversary Lunch at The Old Inn yesterday. Our 17 guests were warmly welcomed by the fabulous staff. I’m sorry I’ve forgotten the name of the duty manager (it may have been Annalee) but she was absolutely fantastic. They were two...

Lovely setting for a pub, however, the food is overpriced, and some items were not as described on the menu. £30 for a steak & plate of chips, Banana split was ice cream and squirty cream, with three or four pieces of tinned fruit. It...

Had a fantastic evening here tonight. We were a party of 9 for dinner. I emailed a few days beforehand to ask for a quieter area as one of our party has hearing loss and o received a prompt and courteous response along with a...

Awful food and way overpriced!! We gave our opinion to the waitress about our Caesar salads which were half eaten and were told she would let the chef know. No one sent to our table to discuss the issue . The starters and mains were...

The meal itself was lovely, it's a shame we booked when they had a table of 16, so wasn't a nice peaceful meal, we couldn't hold a conversation because of the noise. It was very expensive so would only return for special occasions and I...

Great location, attractive setting, great atmosphere. The Old Inn has obviously taken great care to give their customers a good dining experience. The Sunday roasts were excellent, quality food , well cooked , well presented and properly seasoned. The desserts were delicious with good choice....

Visited with friends and was very impressed overall. The food was delicious (the chicken Green Thai Curry was AMAZING) as was the wine- and we loved the outdoor seating area, perfect on a warm summer evening. On the whole staff were attentive and welcoming; but...

Went for a birthday dinner. First of all the setting is lovely, the gardens outside the Inn are fantastic and the outdoor seating area is very well set out. Inside the furniture was clean and rustic in style. Staff were nice however food was very...

Visited yesterday as a family of 4 following a recommendation from a fiend who lives locally. The pub is beautifully presented, clean and served a warm welcome. The outside front area is great whatever the weather due to the large umbrellas and sliding screens. The...

We have just returned from celebrating my Mother in law’s 92nd birthday, and we have all had a fantastic time. The staff are so attentive & could not have done anymore for us (especially our Spaniel, they love giving him treats) , the food and...

Called in on spec last Sunday tea time. We were given a table at the back of the pub which was quite pleasant. I ordered sea bass with ginger and saute potatoes. Husband had steak pie. The food was absolutely excellent. It tasted so fresh...

As an old Wimborne resident, know the pub well. I now meet up with family here and it certainly has improved with age, With the added outside spaces all nicely finished with umbrellas and glass screens (great for weather protection) matching chairs and tables. The...

Had a great meal at The Old Inn,big portions,well cooked and well looked after by the attentive staff,will definitely be back.

The staff were very welcoming and had a great outside seating area to enjoy the warm weather. Great food choice and although a little pricy the quality certainly made it value for money. Friendly atmosphere and would certainly recommend

Extremely busy evening but still great food & staff as polite as always. Lots of outside seating so perfect for a summers evening

This is our second submission as the management got this removed by Tripadvisor claiming our experience was fake. This is not about the quality of food which is fine, albeit is now somewhat overpriced for what it is in our opinion compared to other pubs...

We found the atmosphere very pleasant but the food, fish and chips for my wife whilst I had a burger, to be very average and expensive. I mean £18.00 for a pizza ! Would we visit again? No.

We had garlic bread, pizza, and drinks I found the food delicious and it was awesome service too so I love this restaurant and I’ll definitely be back thank you

Wonderful birthday meal here last night . My first visit to The Old Inn and certainly not my last . Everything was spot on .. the excellent staff .. delicious food and fabulous setting . Yes .. it’s not cheap but worth every penny ..

Thankfully we ordered Pizzas to share. Would have been left. Definitely would not recommend. Expensive and tasteless. Oh! And 10% service charge added.

Hadn’t visited this pub for many years and a surprise visit on a Sunday night surpassed all expectations. I had the Roast pork which was delicious followed by the Pecan pie. It is refreshing to find food that is home cooked and tasty served by...

Lovely village setting ,ample outside seating and indoor seating plentiful, good drinks selection, my only gripe was lack of sandwiches on menu, although that said the pizza i ordered was great,

The Old Inn was lively and welcoming with a great atmosphere. We ate outside in the evening on a sunshine-and-showers day, and as the sun was in and out the waitress was really attentive to whether we (and other guests) were warm enough as the...

What a nice lunch we had today. Served quickly by young bubbly staff and everything was delicious. Have just moved nearby and very happy to discover this on my doorstep!

We celebrated my daughter's 30th birthday here. The staff were so helpful right from the initial booking, providing helpful suggestions to make our celebration a success through to providing amazing service on the night to our party of 18 . Special mention must go to...

Excellent food, excellent service all provided in a upbeat modern environment. We chose the old inn at holt to catch up with our friends and had a fabulous evening from start to finish. The service was warm and friendly, we started with GnTs very nice,...

Once again a wonderful meal, always a pleasure to dine here. The staff are very welcoming and efficient. Will be back soon.

Wow! We found this fab place during a short break and we are so glad we did. All of our party enjoyed the food, and for what we had we found the price really reasonable. If we are staying in/around the area again we will...

Went to the Old Inn for lunch today. If you like good food, some of it not too hot, and you don’t mind waiting an hour and being served by rude staff, this the place for you.

I have been here a few times for some casual drinks and £5.00 for a pint has been pricey but fine for me. However, came with my girlfriend and a double gin and tonic was £13! How on earth is a small bottle of tonic...