The second instalment of my Dorset Diaries series involves a local trip to the Barn Cafe and the tiniest but most characterful garden centre called The Old Piggery.
I love exploring my home county and finding new places to share with you. For so long I have taken where I live for granted, but in more recent times, thanks in part to blogging, I have become so much more aware of the beauty of home and feel compelled to share it far and wide.
When I am planning trips I always take to the blogosphere to get the local low down. After all, you can’t beat a local tour guide. This is why I have started my Dorset Diaries series. I want to share with you all the lovely things that Dorset has to offer, the things that only the locals know about or the things that don’t always make it to the TripAdvisor top 10 (but should have).
Today I’m telling you all about a delightful spot in Lytchett, The Barn Cafe and The Old Piggery.
The Barn Cafe
The delightful Barn Cafe is as it’s namesake implies, is a cafe in a bar. But come and have a look around. This cafe has character in abundance and once inside you are transported.
Food options are plentiful with vegan and gluten free choices. We stopped for a slice of cake and a cuppa but you can while away a lazy lunchtime her quite easily.
Opening hours are 10 through to 5pm, booking isn’t necessary, but I’d suggest booking to avoid disappointment on the weekend.
The cafe is set within an old farm courtyard and the adjoining buildings house a mix of retail and business units.
Open to visitors is the Gilded Lily, a fresh and dried flower boutique which also sells vintage bric-a-brac.
There is also a French antique shop, Bergère, which has the most covetable pieces of French furniture.
The potting shed sells vintage home and garden pieces, all delightful and just asking to be taken home with you.
The Old Piggery
My favourite spot here is The Old Piggery. Again as the name implies, it was a former piggery, complete with vintage Pig sty all kitted out with plants and decorative garden ornaments. Most of the decorative items suggest a French origin.
We whiled away an hour looking through the plants and wondering at how we might use the ornaments in our own outside space.
You can expect to spend an hour or 2 here depending on how leisurely your lunch is. It’s a delightful stop off en route to Poole or heading out towards the West of the county. Make sure you stop by if you’re passing, tell the locals I sent you.
4 Comments
This looks like such a lovely place!! Lovely photos too! xx
What a delightful place. Set in deepest Dorset is this charming, very popular little cafe. A great visit if youre looking for something just a little bit different for lunch or breakfast even. The delicious food caters for all tastes dietery requirements and all prepared on the premises. While waiting for lunch your eyes are drawn to the interesting objects scattered around the interior, standing or on walls or roofs or in alcoves. The furniture is all different too like the adapted old sewing machine stand which was our table. Just keep looking and there will be yet another surprise around the next corner. The food is lovely and freshly prepared and cooked for you by staff who are quietly charming and efficient. You can easily spend a couple of hours here as we did yesterday. Being a Saturday it was very busy and it is best to book, specially weekends but even weekdays if you don’t want to be disappointed. Some people had to sit outside and although beautifully sunny it was the beginning of February and a little chilly – we even saw one of the staff taking two hot water bottles out to customers brave enough to stay outside – well, we assumed they were for customers outside.
Well worth a try, you will not be disappointed. If you have to wait a while for your table, have a meander around the courtyard and visit the various rooms surrounding it. The are some wonderful pieces of old French furniture for sale and objects. There is also a small, I can only describe as bric-a-brad room but very tasteful and a charming nursery garden in the Old Livery, all with a slight French theme. It’s delightful. Go and visit – you won’t be disappointed.
What’s the ladies boutique called please ?
I’m sorry Jill I can’t recall the name of the ladies boutique. I did pop in recently and there were some beautiful items of clothing, delightful jewellery and accessories too. It is a lovely place