The best restaurants in Stour Valley North Dorset South West

We found this hidden gem a few months ago and absolutely love it here. The food is all fresh local produce and the homemade treats are always so tempting. They serve lovely coffee (the best tasting around) and the fresh tea serve in your own pot is perfect for any time of day. We have been to most of the local cafes and this is bar far the best and the one we would pick over and over again. Margo and her team are what makes this cafe different to others in the area and unique. They always take the time to have a chat and are invested in making you feel so welcome. Would recommend to anyone, they even do takeaway. What more could ask. We will be back again very soon xx

More than just a leading Tea House, Comins Sturminster Newton is a very coeliac friendly café.  Full 5* review at CoeliacwellNES.com.  They have soft doughy GF gyoza, gluten free sweet treats and obviously phenomenal tea.  A lovely place to watch all the comins and goings, will try out the Bath branch soon!

Arrived in Sturminster Newton on a Monday to find many eateries were closed! Luckily Joshua's was open and the food really good and service excellent. The coffee was exceptional!

Great service, lovely meal in a warm and friendly 'real country pub' environment.

Nice breakfast at reasonable price and very friendly staff.

A lovely Cafe. We all had bacon, cranberry and brie Paninis and had some Cake to takeaway. All very nice!

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT: oh dear… Everything about this place now screams: ‘lack of enthusiasm and care’. First off, in this day and age to serve soft drinks from a big bottle is unbelievable. Flat soft drinks from a pub is just not acceptable. Secondly, the Sunday roast is maybe the worst I’ve ever had. School dinners are better than this. Rock solid veg, water disguised as gravy, thrice reheated potatoes… actually impossible to say anything positive about the roast. And I’ve now seen the pictures of the roast dinners served here in 2023 before the new management came in and they looked fantastic. Several steps back. Also we were sat in a cold, echoey barn conversion which doesn’t feel fully converted. All of which is a massive shame as it looks great from the outside and the main little pub building is full of character.

Had some wonderful food and a good pint of Guinness

Really nice meal and lots of it, we had Brie bites and pate to start then decided on a sharer roast for two. It was really well cooked, the staff were attentive and friendly and the sharer was huge.unfortunately we didn’t take any pictures as we were too busy enjoying it. We would highly recommend it, thank you Matt and staff a lovely visit on a horrible wet and windy day x

Although we are local first time in the Olives et Al shop. Good choice of olives either in jars or loose to buy in plastic containers. Nice selection of local made treats eg cheese etc. Some "different" food ideas. Great place would visit again. No cafe available at the moment.

Fabulous extensive menu. Lovely friendly staff. Prices very reasonable. Visited here twice when stopping in Sturminster Newton. Food came piping hot and delicious. Would recommend it most highly.

Have eaten many times before but feel the food is bought in processed and not as good quality as before. My wife had the jacket Potato with coronation chicken some months previous which was so nice with pieces of chicken in a nice thick sauce however this time it was thin with small squares of chicken like the processed food seen in supermarkets, my daughters quiche was also a bought in processed quality product will avoid in future

Sadly the place is between managers/owners and rather neglected. Needs pulling up.

First time I have visited since the refurb, fantastic job. Food was great, staff attentive, well worth a visit. 2 of us had steaks, very well cooked, others had fish with and without batter both lovely.

Popped in on the off chance of a Sunday roast, this seems a common theme wirh us and one where we don’t book, just rock up and see what’s what!! Well…… Lovely pub in a rural location. Clearly obviously lots of summer outside seating to cater for the trailway users.. The decor as expected and the staff really friendly & helpful. Now, the roast. We had beef. It was pink and plentiful!!! The roast potato’s were so soft and fluffy inside and crispy on the outside!! Parsnips & carrots beautiful… We are going back!