The Orchard Tea Garden

Avoid at all costs. Dirty floor, dirty tables, unwashed glassware, wrong order, non-functioning toilets. An embarrassment!!

Very historic place, bet it’s very nice in the summer. Bottom room I would avoid it’s run down and tatty Top room has a good atmosphere is warmer and looks maintained. Staff OK but the lad who served us didn’t know what the soup do the day was which is pretty basic stuff to know. Food was all good, only criticism was the sourdough toast (though very nice) wasn’t buttered on the breakfasts which made it dry. Coffee was nice middle of the road on taste, eggs sausage and bacon all very pleasant. Soup and cheese scones amazing I am told. Only thing would make it better is to do some work on the bottom room, sort plasterboard damage in roof, get it painted up as it looks neglected, add fix log burner or heating as it was drafty and cold down there and butter the blinking toast or at least ask offer butter. Having avocado with the Breccy I had never had before and it was decent and much enjoyed. Food was pretty nice and it is definately worth a visit and walk (summer months especially I would think) Dog Friendly too

I hate to write such a negative review of somewhere I have enjoyed visiting many many times but I have to ask the question 'What on earth has happened to the iconic Orchard Tea rooms '? It was once a place that we loved to take friends we took friends there on Saturday but it was such a disappointment . It was very sad to see. On a positive, the Avocado Toast with Poached Egg was Ok but the tea was cold, service was very slow and I don 't know where to start on the toilet facilities looked like they had never been cleaned and one cubicle had it 's handle missing which made it virtually impossible to lock the door . If the loos are a reflection of the kitchen cleanliness it 's a real worry I cannot believe the loos in their current state would pass Environmental Health Officer muster! . The place looks unloved :

Be aware, very aware of the service charge of 12%, which was not worth it. Waited a while to be seated, menu I assume, as it is Christmas, is limited. Three of us had soup, which was good. One of us had a breakfast but does not eat eggs, so asked for Avocado £3.00 extra) Milk alternative 40p extra. Total bill £61.15. I know that most people who would go here are very wealthy and would not bat an eyelid but I am just warning any of you who have to watch the pennies.

I went to Granchester recently with my disabled mother. Parked in a blue badge bay. A sign said to give numberplate at the till but there was no clear way to do so and no one asked for the number plate so assumed not needed. 1 week later £100 fine. Couldn’t be bothered to challenge it so paid it but did challenge the lack of clarity with the management and got a sneering and rude response. The place is anyway not very disability friendly with few suitable chairs and as others have observed the price has risen and the quality is average at best. The queues are endless and they don’t employ enough staff. I won’t go back though, due to the sneering response from the management when I suggested they could make their process clearer.