Love food? Then you’ll absolutely love Dorset! Our stunning county is renowned for its exceptional local produce, and it’s easy to see why. From the rolling green hills and fertile farmland to the pristine coastline stretching for miles, Dorset offers a rich natural environment that produces some of the finest food and drink in the country. Whether you're sampling freshly caught seafood, indulging in creamy cheeses, or enjoying seasonal fruits and vegetables, the quality and flavour of Dorset’s produce is second to none.
With over 8,000 years of farming and fishing heritage woven into the fabric of this diverse and beautiful county, it’s no surprise that Dorset has developed a vibrant and varied food culture. The county’s lush pastures provide the perfect conditions for dairy farming and livestock, while the surrounding waters are teeming with fish and shellfish, making every meal a celebration of local ingredients.
From traditional recipes passed down through generations to innovative dishes crafted by passionate local chefs, the culinary scene here is as rich and rewarding as the landscape itself.
Whether you're visiting a farmers’ market, dining at a coastal restaurant, or exploring one of Dorset’s many food festivals, you’ll discover a true love for food that runs deep in the heart of the community. Dorset isn’t just a place to eat—it’s a place to savour, celebrate and fall in love with food all over again.
Enjoy Dorset's local produce
Dorset boasts many specialities from Dorset Knob biscuits to Portland Dough Cakes and tingling Dorset Naga chillies plus a whole heap more! Experience what makes Dorset so special by sampling some of our local, delicious offerings; we promise you won’t regret it and that you’ll be asking for more!
A trip to the seaside also wouldn’t be complete without a cone full of delicious local, handmade ice cream…we promise that it’ll be some of the finest ice cream you’ve ever tasted!
Dorset is a foodies Paradise
Whether you want to enjoy a riverside picnic, a seaside lunch, a top-notch meal at a high-end restaurant or simply just buy local ingredients for a tasty evening barbecue, Dorset’s friendly farm shops, farmers’ markets, cafes, restaurants and pubs will provide you with mouth-watering food made with the finest, most delicious produce in Dorset.
Local farm shops and farmers’ markets are crammed full of some of the tastiest and freshest local food - the most difficult thing will be knowing what to choose!
Try one of Dorset's locally produced drinks
All this delightful food will need something equally delicious to accompany it. Good job we also have a fine selection of Dorset brewed ales, ciders and award winning wines!
Palmer’s Brewery is among the UK’s very best small independent brewers, working to traditional methods with the finest ingredients – why not give their Dorset Gold a try?
If you prefer a bit of fizz then you should try some Langham Wine Estate, English Oak Vineyard or Furleigh Estate wine. Those dinosaurs who wandered this land millions of years ago have laid down their bones to make the perfect soil to grow world class still and sparkling wines.
Why not take a brewery or vineyard tour and discover how our fine wines and sumptuous ales are produced…you might even be lucky enough to sample a glass or two!
Dorset food festivals to tickle your fancy!
There’s always a mouth-watering abundance of local produce on offer at country fairs and food festivals which frequent the Dorset events calendar.
Dorset Food & Drink
Many of Dorset's local food and drinks are truly homegrown on the soil of Dorset and are recognised as 'Dorset Food & Drink' - look out for the logo to find products accredited under this scheme or visit their website.
