Where to eat in Wimborne, Dorset's underrated market town

A short drive inland from Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, Wimborne Minster — known simply as Wimborne — often slips under the radar of visitors. But even a brief stroll around the market town’s narrow streets will reveal plenty of places to fill your stomach, whether it’s pubs, restaurants or independent shops packed with local produce.

Tucked away at the end of Mill Lane is a local favourite: the Old Malthouse Bakery. Run by family team David and Ann Mirus and their son, Stefan, it regularly sells out of the delicious, freshly baked goods that come out of the wood-fired oven — so it’s worth getting there early. Be prepared to leave carrying a clutch of brown paper bags bursting with generous-sized cheese scones, crusty loaves and signature cinnamon swirls, dripping with warm sticky-toffee sauce. 

For a morning coffee to wash it all down — and the best location to gaze out at the Minster — pull up a chair at the picturesque Number 9 on the Green. Coffees are made using a blend from nearby Wimborne Coffee Roasters and are an ideal accompaniment to a slab of homemade Dorset apple cake from the cafe’s adjoining bakery.

A moment’s stroll away is the town’s central square. Here, every third Saturday of the month, the small Wimborne Farmers’ Market sets up stalls laden with local cheeses, vegetables, cakes and sausages.

Dorset’s bountiful produce has inspired a new wave of artisans, crafting everything from gin, cider and sparkling wine to hot sauces, pickles and cured meats. Fill your basket at the family-run Farehouse Trading Co, where the friendly team will offer their top recommendations. Be sure to snap up a bottle of the Minster Gin Black, infused with juicy blackberries collected from the county’s hedgerows, and don’t forget to stock up on craft beers brewed by nearby Eight Arch.

If you prefer your drink in a pint glass rather than a can, pull up a barstool at The Butcher’s Dog. This hip bar and bottle shop, all brick walls and low lighting, offers a selection of craft beers and Dorset ciders on tap.

For an unforgettable dinner, book a table at The Wimborne Pig. Mother and son owners Kym Dravecz and Jamie Brooks-Dravecz are truly passionate about promoting local produce, and the regularly changing menu is heavily informed by what they harvest each day at their allotment. Meat from the renowned Keating’s Butchers is smoked on site, as is the fish. 

“People are coming from Sandbanks [on the coast] to our restaurant because of the quality of the fish and seafood we have,” says Jamie. The best way to taste it? The seafood sharing platter, packed with juicy mussels, salmon and crispy calamari.