The Horse with the Red Umbrella in West Dorset

We wanted something less corporate for lunch and was pleased to find this cafe as it looked a little more old school and independent. The build your own breakfast offered great choice and when I said I fancied crumpets with marmite rather then the offered jam, was told this was fine. The crumpets came with a generous serving of marmite in a little bowl. This was a great find and having never been a fan of Dorchester improved my opinions if the town (finding the park also helped improve my opinion of the town) .

This cafe was recommended by a neighbouring business, its old school and all the better for it. We had delicious sandwiches and great service. The cakes looked lovely but we didn't have time to sample them. It looks like a "greasy spoon"from the outside but its much much better than that and we loved the fact that its been there for decades doing simple fresh food really well

Avoid unless you want to be insulted.thought I would return here as the owner asked us to make our self known & we would get a meal on the house after a bad meal last time. I made myself known & he didn't apologise or offer us anything . We ordered 2 Belgium buns which were just bread rolls with icing on .no fruit on them really awful . I ordered an almond Danish but it was so dry I couldn't eat it . I explained & showed him the Belgium bun & instead of apologising the owner said we don't make them here we get them in.ill make a note of it . I gave him back my dry almond Danish & my dad left half of his as it was just a plain bun. I went to pay for the hot chocolate & he said I have to pay for the buns too.He said you ate them all despite mine being untouched & dad's half eaten .He took one bun off the bill . Then he said to me 'I know what you are ' Trying to get free food !! I definitely won't be returning as the only reason we returned was because we thought he was genuinely sorry about the appalling meal we had the first time & wanted to apologise to us . There was certainly nothing on the house as he said on trip advisor instead just an insult & no customer service. Never complain in this establishment as the owner will just insult you . I work in hospitality & would never treat a customer so badly especially when the food was unacceptable. Very poor service and food . Just sorry I believed him offering a meal on the house .Complete lies.

We found this cafe/bakery a couple of years ago, so we were wondering if it could be the same. We didn't need to worry, beautiful food, lovely staff and owner, quick service, and sorry, really delicious food. I had cheesy garlic bread, oh wow, it was terrific. My strawberry milkshake was lovely. To finish I had a doughnut man. You really need to have a doughnut man. It was as good as last time. I love Dorchester, there's so much to do in a small area. I love the Horse with the Red Umbrella. If you visit the south coast then I can totally recommend a visit to Dorchester and especially a cup of tea and doughnut man. Enjoy

Mia,our waitress made our visit wonderful with her warm,sparkly personality and enthusiasm for her work .lovely atmosphere in this little café.

Very welcoming, nice food, amiable man in charge, very tasty home-made cakes. We much enjoyed our lunch here. Dog-friendly.

A great little cafe with home made food. We even made a detour to go there on the way home from our hoilday. The service was impeccable, a greeting with a smile, and the Dorset Apple cake was delicious.

Good service, lots of home made baked items. We had Iced Coffee which was Okay but not iced enough accompanied by a Chocolate Eclair and an Apple & Cinnamon Pasty. Both were tasty. The cafe is a little bit quirky and worth a visit. It’s very good value and we’d go back for sure.

From the outside this looks like a basic cafe serving sandwiches, coffee and cake but when we explored we found out they did some special lunches which is what we chose. I had meatballs and spaghetti and hubby had a roast beef dinner. Both were flavoursome, filling and delicious. Great, attentive staff too. Would highly recommend…

What a fabulous find. The food the staff and service was 100%. We were looked after from the moment we walked in and it was packed. We were seated on a two seater in the alcove. When another table became available, we were offered a bigger space. Honestly, the staff could not do enough for us. I didn’t get anyone’s name but they all excelled. If you are looking for somewhere to eat on your visit to Dorchester, do not walk past but walk in and be given 1st class treatment.

Unfriendly atmosphere with pushy staff. Dated, not old fashioned. Drinks were not nice and did not want to try the food.

Visiting the area today and we popped in here . Was lovely , staff friendly and food was superb . Bought some homemade cakes to go and were great . Really nice place to sit and have lunch and a coffee and when in the area we will definitely return .

My wife and I went for lunch, and we were made to feel very welcome with our dog. We had thw days special of bubble and squeak with bacon and eggs. We liked them and also very well priced. We also had a take away cake which was also lovely. We will be going back.

Always our favourite location for breakfast, lunch, tea, in Dorchester. Good range of light bites, snacks and full meals, of very high quality, and served quickly. Friendly proprietors and staff and interesting surroundings in a very old building on the High Street. The range of 'properly' homemade cakes, all of an exceptional standard, sets a challenge as to which to try next. e.g. The Beltane, (nb T.Rex lyric in Ride a White Swan) is to die for. We factor in Dorchester on our itineraries, (we were going to a concert in Weymouth) just to visit The Red Horse Cafe. Marvelous!

Had scone and cream tea here today. What lovely people . We have a Dog as well.’ Nothing seemed to much in here . What a lovely find

I have been having takeaway food from here over the past 20 years and have never put pen to paper but you REALLY should try their bacon rolls and some of their succulent home made cakes. A real credit to Dorchester and great that they still serve takeaway food in these hard times.Thanks for some great nosh guys.

nette Atmosphäre, guter Service, freundliche Bedienung, bekömmliches Essen. Neben englisch spricht man italienisch. Bei Gelegenheit kommen wir gerne wieder

Eat at John and Franca’s last tues, we both had the wonderful Shepard’s pie always very friendly ,great service from all the staff, nothing to much trouble. Highly recommend this great eating establishment. The selection of cakes are marvellous too. See you soon.

On a cold October day you couldn’t want for a warmer welcome. The homemade cakes are Devine, the coffee fantastic and the food menu is enough to make you salivate. John the owner completes the experience and brings his Italian heritage to the menu.

We discovered this cafe en route from Southampton to Torquay. We received a very warm welcome and seated. All “COVID” practices in place. We had luscious latés, made very hot ( as requested ). I will say the best laté I have tasted for a very long time . I had an apple/cinnamon danish, very tasty, Pete had homemade cherry bakewell.We will definitely visit again, maybe nearer lunchtime so we can enjoy something from the tasty menu.Even when we walked passed 30mins later, we received a wave . How lovely.

Stopped off here on our way home, walked past and called in for a quick coffee. Felt so welcomed straight away (we have a small dog and she was made such a fuss off it was lovely) we sat down and ordered a hot breakfast. This was so lovely we then ordered another coffee and a slice of cake each. Our little dog Dharma was given some dog treats and cuddled and fussed over by everyone there. The food was fantastic, good old HOT British breakfast with a great slice of cake, all home made. The staff are friend down to earth and real, normal people. They are not afraid to say hello and have a conversation with you, and they seemed genially interested.This is the kind of place that is slowly disappearing, which makes me so sad and yet so happy this place is still going. Thank you for your warm welcome and very enjoyable and relaxing environment, the best little find ever...please keep doing exactly what you are doing X

Our third visit to the umbrella and we had the cauliflower cheese soup which was excellent. The cafe was very busy but decent safety precautions were in place. Our lovely waitress apologised as we had a long wait for our order due to a” mix up” in the kitchen. This has not put us off as the quality of food and friendly staff make up for this .

Excellent service. Very dog friendly which was lovely as not many places are as welcoming as you was.

We visited for lunch whilst travelling through Dorchester. The Sandwiches where superb, all freshly made. The ladies serving where all really nice and helpful. Highly recommended.

My partner and I had spent the weekend at the Premier Inn and were going to have breakfast there before going home, but there were no tables available. Turns out to have been a good thing as we decided to look for a local independent for brekkie and tried the Horse with the Red Umbrella. We were delighted to see smoked haddock and poached eggs on the menu, so we both had it, although i don't like egg so had mushrooms and a sausage with it instead. A delicious treat we wouldn't have got at the hotel. Friendly warm welcome from the owner, who explained the reason for the cafe's name. Good hygiene measures - hand sanitiser at the entrance and on every table. Took away some cherry bakewell and Dorset apple cake to have at home later, which were scrummy. Will come back because we want to return to Dorchester when the museums are open again.

My son and I visited midweek for breakfast. A great and varied menu. The food came out piping hot, as did my coffee. The staff are absolutely lovely and whilst I did not try any cakes, they looked fantastic. A must if visiting Dorchester at anytime of the day.

A lovely tea room with friendly and helpful staff. After a shopping trip to Dorchester it was great to stop and have lunch. An exciting choice of savouries and cakes. Their milkshakes looked wow too.

Beautiful cafe with friendly staff and great food. Perfect for a quick bit with the family or a full meal.

Such a friendly cafe. Great food, really welcoming to kids. Amazing homemade cakes. Will visit if ever passing through Dorchester again.

Extremely warm welcome and friendly staff. Just went in for coffee but would definitely go back for more. Worth a visit!

No trip to Dorchester is complete without a trip to THWTRU. Tasty food, generous portions and always a very warm Welcome.

This coffee and tea shop also serves very good food. From snack food and wonderful cakes to regular meals. Fast and friendly service all at very reasonable prices. Well worth a visit.

After drawing a blank with 3 shut eateries on a busy Monday in Dorchester we fell on this amazing culinary gem. The food was imaginative and great. Brie and spinach lasagne, goats cheese and caramelised onion tart with walnut and watercress salad, avo and mozzellaro panini.Generous portions. The place had a real buzz with friendly efficient service.

Friendly and welcoming staff, for whom nothing was too much trouble. Tasty food, well priced, and served promptly. I have visited this cafe on and off over 45 years- irregularly, as I no longer live in the area, and it is always lovely to find it still thriving. Long may this last! Thanks to all.

We found this little cafe by the wafting delicious smell emanating from the open windows, once inside we were greeted warmly by the flamboyant excitable owner. We had delicious homemade soup perfectly seasoned, delicious cakes and ginger sponge pudding and custard mmmmm. Excellent, attentive service, we were not rushed and made to feel very welcome. we were even offered a refund for our car parking ticket.We will definitely return again to this fab, traditional tea cafe.

An interesting cafe, my scrambled eggs on toast was very nice, the coffee was too, no complaints about the food or service but the demand for ‘cash only’ was a big disappointment :-((The owner probably has good reason to hate the Banks but why push that issue onto your customers? Three couples came in and each one had to trot off to the cash machine, a real shame. A supplier delivered and he paid them cash too.I’m not accusing of course, but most cash only traders don’t count all the money at the end of each day, or so I was told !

caled in this interestingly named little cafe for a cup of tea and a peice of cake it was well worth the visit we both had the bakewell cake which was an excelant choice the portion was on the large side and it was excelent in taste topped off with a large dollop of clotted cream if in dorchester again we will certainly pay another visit.

Ive been to this cafe many times over the years, the food has always been good. Myself my partner and our sun came in today , had to wait a few min for a nice table which is fine. When we sat down menu and specials where shown. Good selection of food and drinks. I had chicken and mushroom soup which was very nice, son had pancakes bacon scrambled eggs and maple syrup, empty plate after. My partner had jacket potato with tuna, all good. Drinks fine. Puddings lovely, all displayed in the cabinate.The service is very good, except i felt like everything was a rush. It was busy but got quite before we left. Toilets could do with some work, quite dirty and no hand dryer that i could see. All in all a nice place. Cake was very good.

What a fabulous place. Everything about it from welcome, to food, to service. Such a shame we live in Sussex or we would be there weekly. We will be back and I can guarantee the owner will remember us.

This interesting cafe with a great history behind the name, is friendly, has good service and a great choice of cakes and desserts. The breakfast sandwiches didn’t disappoint either, plus we were allowed to make slight changes to the menu without seeing a hefty add-on for doing so. I’d recommend it for sure.

Popped in here with my family for lunch. Really friendly staff, lovely food. Great little cafe with an interesting story

Whenever we visit Dorchester we eat here. We always find the food very good. The staff are friendly and are happy to accommodate any dietary requirements (even when not on the menu). The food served is of a high standard. The owner is fun and friendly. The only downside to this cafe is that the cakes are too nice!

Went for a cooked breakfast and was tempted by the sound of American style pancakes scrambled eggs bacon and maple syrup. When it arrived the 2 pancakes looked like scotch pancakes - about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. They were a bit tough (not 'fluffy') but were fine dipped I. Maple syrup. The so called scrambled eggs were a uniform pale yellow and tasted of egg custard. It was all quite palatable but didn't leave me feeling full. My husband opted for the full English breakfast and said he had no complaints about the food, he do however have a cappuccino with about an inch of froth on it, so only half a cup of coffee. I had the tea which was pretty average.

Tradditional British cafe. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and snacks. Friendly staff. You may need to share your table with other customers, this just adds to the atmosphere. Reasonable prices. Good selection on menu and fresh cakes to view at the counter. I had a 5 item breakfast. It was a short wait and served up piping hot. An enjoyable visit.

Stumbled across this little coffee shop whilst visiting the area and was impressed by the range on offer. Opted for a couple of slices of cake with tea/coffee. Really friendly staff and was made to feel very welcome. Lovely place and would return of I'm ever in the area.

Absolutely lovely cream tea and great service. Staff are very friendly. Only thing I would say is to make it clear on the door that it is cash only as most people don't carry cash nowdays, although they were very happy for me to run across the road and get cash out before paying.

We visited for lunch as a group of 7. The staff and owner were very friendly, the decor is very quirky. The food was amazing, really fresh and tasty ingredients. We are all delighted by our main meals but then blown away by the cakes! Delicious homemade, so many choices and massive slices. I would not hesitate to return, I think it was my best cafe visit ever. The prices are extremely reasonable.

John and his staff are amazing they support the Volunteer Centre Dorset and we love going to this little café where we receive wonderful customer service

Great home made cakes and wonderfull food. Staff extremely helpful, especially the owner who made everybody who entered feel at home and comfortable.

Lovely food and friendly staffed. It was cold weather and quite busy so we both felt a bit rushed to eat and being watched by staff to finish as other people were waiting for tables. Although the food was really hot and nice and the prices were good too. Both of our meals were good portions. We didnt have room for dessert but the cakes looked fabulous. Thank you xxxx

Big choice of food and drink - mostly homecooked. Polite and cheerful staff. Good value for money. Clean & tidy.

We visited yesterday for a snack/lunch. My daughters had jacket potatoes which were huge and very generous portions. I had gluten free toast, slightly over toasted. My husband had a sausage roll and a danish. He enjoyed both.

Popped in here two weeks ago for breakfast, good menu and wide choice also specials, excellent, enjoyed it so much I returned again today. Pleasant and friendly staff and again an excellent breakfast. I don’t get to Dorchester very often but the horse will always be my first choice, many thanks.

Lovely friendly welcoming establishment with reasonably priced food. Had the bubble and squeak- great to find a place that does it! Owner was very friendly and chatty. Would recommend for breakfast.

Although there are lots of lovely cafes in Dorchester the cake selection is always moderate to poor and there is a lack of a personal touch. This cafe is different though! With a lovely local feel, very friendly staff and nice fresh cakes. It’s one of favourites already!

Really nice staff & delicious food! I've tried the quiché and the homemade coffee sponge as dessert and it was delicious. 100% recommended :)

I last travelled down to 'Casterbridge' 8 years ago and left a review of this cafe then. This traditional English cafe has an extensive menu and there is also a 'specials' board so there should be something for everyone. However there is not a menu supplied on each table - I borrowed one from an adjacent empty table and it was taken away before I chose my pudding although I had already made up my mind about my choice and its price. I ate egg on toast with a cappuccino followed by rice pudding - I got change out of £12. It is table service and I received my drink and the food quite quickly. All the food represents good value.

A very quirky cafe with lovely friendly staff who always go out of their way to look after their customers. They serve a great selection of cakes. We come back every year on our holiday.

We stopped here for a coffee and just had to try a piece of cake, both were excellent and the service was very helpful and friendly.

All homemade food and most of the cakes are as well. Very quick service and always busy, which is always a good sign of somewhere being good to eat.

This is a busy cafe and the boss sure does his upmost to ensure people are greeted and seated, I love the bacon & maple syrup pancakes for breakfast but also the cakes are super good. I have had lunch here as well and plenty to choose from, given the busy nature of this cafe service is very efficient.

We love Dorchester and so much choice of where to ea. Our friends love this cafe and we can see why. Although it is fairly small the decor inside is quirky and the homemade cakes on display mouthwatering! We had breakfast you could choose how many items and we sampled most of the full English between us. It was very yummy and we all enjoyed every mouthful. The staff were friendly and welcoming and very attentive. When we left we took a Lardy cake with us and had it later it too was scrummy.

Quite a bit querky. Friendly staff and well stocked with homemade cakes! The menu is good and is good value for money. Staff very friendly and efficient

Very obliging people running this cafe were extremely helpful when we visited twice with a mobility scooter and two dogs yesterday. Yummy cake and good coffee stood out. Tasty lunch. Interesting history with the building added to enjoyable visit during stay in the area

Stopped at this cafe for a coffee and a piece of cake after a disappointing lunch. Excellent range of homemade cakes, good coffee and the menu appeared to offer a good variety of lunchtime meals and snacks. Very friendly staff in a cafe that has a grade one listed front and used to be a theatre. My wife and I will certainly be back when visiting Dorchester. Highly recommended

Was just going to grab something to go, but as the the cafe is dog friendly (I had Rudi with me) I decided to have a sit down and enjoyed a delicious fresh sandwich and a cool drink all served by friendly professional staff. Recommended and will definitely pop-in again when I’m in Dorch.

We popped here for lunch, menu choice was good, we had sandwiches which were generously filled, service was quick and friendly, prices were reasonable , cakes looked lovely, tables a little squashed together

Stopped here in Dorchester on a Coach trip, and found this coffee house in the main street, well worth a visit with good service, and good coffee.

Had breakfast and enjoyed the fact you are made welcome and encouraged to Discover Dorchester with highlights and what was on for lunch later nice touch

We visited this cafe today for a snack. First impressions were good and the staff were very friendly. In fact, it was very good except for the person preparing the cold food. She was clearly visible behind the counter. As I watched her food preparation I saw her adding all ingredients to sandwiches with her hands (no gloves). Unfortunately she was also handling pens, money, a dirty dishcloth which she used to clean a coffee machine and a t towel. Not once did she wash her hands!! The worst was yet to come, as when she was preparing a chicken tikka roll she actually LICKED her thumb and carried on!!! Unfortunately we had eaten by this time or I would of refused the food. I actually felt quite sick not knowing what she had handled before making our sandwiches!

Popped in yesterday for 2 cakes to take home, looked really nice inside with a selection of cake you would usually only find in your dreams, polite man served us,. We will be back

Ideal place for breakfast, with option of choosing a number of items to make the meal. Bacon was very good, not streaky, and generally good selection. Cash only, but this was not a problem.

Lovely friendly, welcoming staff and really nice homemade cakes with loads of choice. Really efficient service and well priced. Will come back for lunch soon.

This is a nice and friendly place to eat lunch. Staff and food both very good! Perfect for a stop between shops! Lunch and coffee - perfect.

We wanted a quick no nonsense lunch and THWTRU did not disappoint. The cafe is dog friendly. We received such a warm greeting and were shown to a table immediately. Service was really friendly and efficient. Our food was really tasty and a children’s menu was also available. Also Dippy the dinosaur biscuits were available to coincide with his visit to Dorchester, (see my review on the Dorset Museum for further details). The lemon cake I had for dessert was amazing. A lovely atmosphere with delicious food. When we visit Dorchester again we will be sure to visit THWTRU again.

We visited this lovely little cafe firstly by noticing the name,just had to go in,we found a table in the corner just right for two.we ordered cream tea for both of us.wow it was very,very crummy on of the nicest we have had for a...

If you want a quiet place for a cup of tea don't go. Hurried service. Loud shouting to the kitchen through an archway even though the order was written down on an order pad. Not a place I shall return to anytime soon.

Having recently moved to the area we visited this tea shop which appeared quirky and different. My Partner is old fashioned in his choice of desserts and went for the home made bread pudding to take home. Well, what a disaster! It was burnt, hard as a rock and as dry as a flip flop in the desert! I went for a fruit scone which would have injured someone if thrown at them!Perhaps this was an unfortunate one-off but there are lots of cafes in the area which are much better. This place needs to up its game as we now wouldn’t risk another visit without reading a lot more positive reviews. Complacency has little chance in a town such as this.

Came here on Saturday just before midday and my friend and I ordered the roast lamb, wish we hadn’t bothered, worse meal we’ve had out, the lamb was tough as old boots, roast potatoes were from the day before, grey in the middle and microwaved warmed up. The lady on another table said she would have liked the lamb, but at midday they wouldn’t have sold out so obvious it was from the day before, told the lady on the next table she was lucky not to have had it. Won’t be coming here again. So if I was you walk straight past this place. Also you are squashed in like sardines on the tables, no room to move. Dreadful place

If you want homemade cake and a pot of tea in quaint and quirky settings, a ciabatta sandwich or are keen to support independent cafes this one will satisfy. But beware, this is food in a time warp, reminded me of now demolished night cafes along York Way opposite the old King's Cross station circa 1993. Scrambled egg that bounced off the fork, rock hard, cold crumpets, microwaved (?) raw-ish yet volcanically hot tomato, deep fried! button mushrooms and bubble with no visible 'green' nor texture. Indecribable

We had a lovely roast lunch with friends, there isn’t too much space here but all the staff are so obliging and the service quick, the food is plentiful and hot and the cakes, should you have room or just to take one home for later, are the loveliest in Dorset.

Lovely quirky place, friendly service, quick, efficient, excellent choice of menu, bubble & squeak breakfast extremely yummy, we will be back! One draw back, they only take cash, would have stayed longer and spent more if we could have paid by card.

A lovely non-chain cafe offering great cakes ,drinks and other food. A friendly welcome in a unique environment.

This is a small cafe in the centre of Dorchester which used to be a theatre at one time. Serves an excellent selection of freshly cooked meals and home baked cakes. Can particularly recommend the chorizo stew as well as the lemon cake. Service was excellent and the owner is very friendly. A member of our party was in a wheelchair and they couldn't do enough to accommodate us despite the premises being small. We were so pleased after our first visit we went back again a couple of days later. Well worth a visit and better than any coffee chain.

Stopped in for lunch. Food was served promptly by friendly staff. Roast chicken and avocado sandwich was tasty with generous servings of both. Breakfast good. American pancakes were laughable. They were 2 of the smallest pancakes (supermarket scotch) I've ever seen beside a good portion of scrambled egg for £5.45. For that price a couple of freshly cooked American size pancakes shouldn't be an unreasonable expectation. I couldn't restrain myself from pointing out the fact that there was nothing American about the portion. The lady didn't look impressed at all with me for pointing it out but did agree to give my hungry sons a couple more.

The lady in charge very kindly opened the door even though they were just closing ! Had an excellent coffee whilst chatting to the very welcoming and friendly staff. A really nice place to stop by.

Great place! very welcoming, friendly staff. Breakfast was great! Recognised us the second time we went and advised us on places to visit. felt so at home. Obviously a nice place to work. Great banter between the staff. Super atmosphere.

Stopped for lunch and could have stayed all afternoon. The food and drink, the service and the atmosphere was excellent. The locals clearly love this place as there was at times a small queue for the cakes. I had the home made rich fruit cake which I would highly recommend. Great selection of home made cakes. Lovely place and would definitely visit again if in the area.

nice quaint place with interesting history, staff very welcoming, had roast of the day and although it was lovely and tasty only had cabbage, carrots and 3 small roast potatoes. Would have expected to have had at least peas. Priced at £7.50 would have expected a little more but it was nice to eat.

This Place Is A Must If your are visiting Dorchester you Must visitThe Horse With The Red Umbrella I have just enjoyed the most delicious apple danish and the best coffee ever Please see pictures John greeted us like old friends after not seeing us for many years with a warm smile We ordered coffee and tea cakes and the coffee was perfect nice and hot the toasted tea cakes where large with a nice size portion of butter and jam In side the decor is quant and cozy with loads of interesting carefully placed around They serve the most amazing looking breakfast and also roast dinners It's just like being at home in here and the staff are happy to help in any way So if you find yourself in Dorchester you must visit The Horse with the Red Umbrella

Arrived exhausted after a long drive. The lady was very welcoming and couldn't do enough for us. My wife is gluten free but this was no problem at all as they had a huge selection of gluten free food (unlike so many other places where they look at you as if you have a disease!). We thoroughly enjoyed the food and we felt they could not have been nicer. The man at the counter was extremely pleasant and most helpful. Will definitely be returning.

This was what me and my friend really needed after dealing with loads of overpriced hipster cafes with snooty staff, obtuse seating arrangements, plates that aren't plates and Guardian-esque menus replete with obscurantist 'pulled pork and sundried squid on aubergine toast' items.The Horse With The Red Umbrella offers simple, hearty fare such as cheese omelettes, Bubble n'Squeak, egg and chips and so on. Hooray! The staff were lovely and friendly, and although the tables are a bit small and cramped, this is a good, basic, unpretentious old-school cafe where a cigar is just a cigar. Thank God for that!

Excellent stop on way to Dorset County Museum We has variety of sandwiches and scones all excellent washed down with mug of delicious coffee

We found this cafe in the pouring rain last year and went straight to it this year when we visited Dorchester. The staff are very friendly and go out of their way to make sure you are happy. The normal menu is the usual breakfast, sandwiches etc but they also have specials. I had spinach and brie lasagne and it was amazing. The cakes are also delicious and everything is home made. Would definitely eat here again next time we are in Dorchester.

I had been there before and I wasn't at all sure about it so I thought I would give it another chance. Despite having a proper coffee machine and an Italian manager, the cappuccino was scalding hot and very thin and milky. The cake I had was overly sweet. I'm glad I have other better options for coffee in Dorchester!

Ate here twice, a breakfast and a lunch on different occasions. Made very welcome by all staff, fresh food, freshly cooked and very good.

Put simply, good grub with amazing staff. They were wonderful at looking after everyone and made sure that everyone was happy all the time. Absolute bargain as well for the normal favourites! Thank you for being so kind.

Taking time out from visiting Dorset County museum , asked museum staff for lunch recommendation and we're directed to The Horse with a Red Umbrella opposite. Braving the torrential rain, dashed in and were seated by the window. Waitress took our order promptly, 2 jacket potatoes, roast lamb dinner whilst our friend settled for 2 of the home made cakes, lemon drizzle and apple with pots of tea . We tucked in to our generous portions of home made style food. Cafe only takes cash.

I had breakfast here, which was ok, a little greasy and the bubble and squeak a little bland, but the service was great and the home made cake selection amazing. I'd definitely go for lunch or tea again, but I wouldn't rush back for breakfast. I don't eat meat though, perhaps I would have a different opinion if I did. I suspect if I'd sat down for a lunch or afternoon tea, my rating would be higher.

Nice authentic teahouse, the right place for our afternoon tea after a day of shopping in Dorchester