Courtyard Café and Tea Room

Enjoy our 17th century courtyard setting for an alfresco dining experience

Whether you visit the Model Village or not, you can enjoy our 17th century courtyard setting for an alfresco dining experience.

We serve Dorset cream teas (we bake all our own scones), breakfasts and light lunches, all made on the premises, and we have enormous cakes made by Jessica’s Farmhouse Cakes in Bridport, with no additives or genetically modified ingredients. We try to source many of our ingredients locally – clotted cream from Blackmore Vale, Dorset Blue Vinney cheese, Craig’s Farm Dairy milk, Dorset Pate and meats – and we grow a lot of our own herbs and salad leaves in the summer.

Our aim is to provide good quality local food at reasonable prices in a relaxed atmosphere. Nothing is too much trouble – unusual requests welcomed! Gluten-free options are available.

We have a table license so you can enjoy a glass of wine, London Pride ale or Somerset cider with your meal, plus a wide variety of soft drinks. We also have Italian coffee, freshly ground, no wishy-washy nonsense here!

There is a lovely terrace in the Model Village where you can enjoy dining with wide reaching views of the Purbeck Hills, the castle and our gardens. The terrace can seat up to 20 people.

We are able to cater for wedding receptions, birthdays or anniversaries, up to 70 guests.

Our opening times do vary depending on the time of year, but we are normally open from 10 am serving freshly cooked breakfasts and baguettes – just phone for more details. Our current menu is shown below.

- All Day Full English Breakfast
- English Breakfast
  Two rashers of bacon, one sausage, one egg, two hash browns, grilled tomato and baked beans.
  Served with toast, marmalade or jam.
  Sausages are from local butcher and eggs are free range.
- Vegetarian Breakfast
  Two eggs, two hash browns, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and baked beans.
  Served with toast, marmalade or jam.
  Eggs are free range.
  Gluten-free breakfast available.
- Breakfast Baguette
- Double Free Range Eggs with Bacon or Sausage
- Sandwiches and Baguettes
  Choose sandwiches on bloomer bread or a 10-inch baguette. All served with a dressed salad. Smaller servings available. Gluten-free options available. Please ask about allergen advice.
- Mature Cheddar Cheese
- English Gammon Ham
- Bacon or Sausage
- Tuna Mayonnaise
- Egg Mayonnaise
- North Atlantic Prawns
  With lemon mayonnaise.
- Pickle, Chutney
  Onion or tomato.
- Jacket Potatoes
  All served with a dressed salad. Smaller servings available. Gluten-free options available. Please ask about allergen advice.
- With Butter
- English Gammon Ham
- Bacon or Sausage
- Cheddar Cheese
- Baked Beans
- Tuna Mayonnaise
- Chilli Con Carne
- North Atlantic Prawns
  With lemon mayonnaise.
- Vegetarian Chilli
- Soup of the Day
- Home-made Soup of the Day
  With crusty French bread.
- Alcoholic Drinks
  Only served when purchased with a meal. Over 18s only.
- Wine by the Glass
- Bottle of White or Red Wine
  750 ml.
- Peroni Lager
  330 ml.
- Applewood West Country Cider
  500 ml.
- London Pride Ale
  500 ml.
- Drinks
- Filter Coffee
- Cappuccino
- Latte
- Mochaccino
- Hot Chocolate
- Yummy Chocolate
  With marshmallows and whipped cream.
- Cafe Frappe, Childhay Manor Milkshake
- Breakfast Tea for One
- Speciality Tea for One
  Earl Grey, Darjeeling, Assam or Lapsang Souchong.
- Herbal Teas
- Soft Drinks
  Coca-Cola, Fanta, Ginger Beer or 7Up.
- Presse
- Apple or Orange Juice
- Still or Sparkling Mineral Water
- Juice Carton for Children
- Cakes
- Dorset Cream Tea
  Two fruit or plain scones, jam, clotted cream, with tea or coffee for one. Gluten-free available.
- Scone and Butter
- Scone, Butter and Jam
- Cheese Scone
  With chive butter.
- Selection of Handmade Cakes
  See front counter for today's choices.
- Toasted Tea Cake
- Hot Buttered Toast
- Gluten-free Caramel Shortbread or Chocolate Brownie
  Please ask for further gluten- and dairy-free options.
- Puddings
- Speciality Ice Creams
  Knickerbocker Glory, Banana Split or Chocolate Nut Sundae.
- Dorset Apple Cake
  With clotted cream.
- Treacle Sponge, Chocolate Sponge or Spotted Dick
  With custard.
- Children's Menu
  Served with a bowl of five fruit and vegetables.
- Mini Ham or Cheddar Ploughman's
- Sandwich
- Filled Half Baguette
- Filled Half Jacket Potato
- On Toast
  Sausage and beans, bacon and beans or egg and beans.