Reviews of Ramblers Retreat. (Coffee Shop) in Stoke-on-Trent (Staffordshire).

Ramblers Retreat

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388 Comments

Coffee shop

Coffee shop

Red Rd, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4BU, United Kingdom

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Information of Ramblers Retreat, Coffee shop in Stoke-on-Trent (Staffordshire)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

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Open hours of Ramblers Retreat

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Reviews of Ramblers Retreat

R. C.

A gem of a place! The menu caters for everyone and has lots of different choices from light snacks to full meals. I chose a cream tea with a blueberry scone and it was served with lots of butter, jam and whipped cream. It came with a lovely pot of tea with extra hot water for topping the pot up. The staff were so lovely and friendly. I sat inside but the gardens outside were beautiful with a little waterfall. It had lots of seating including little summerhouses to sit in. Absolutely beautiful place. It has a disabled toilet too.

L. G.

A lovely little cafe with plenty of seating inside and out. Went for afternoon cake and tea with the family. Staff were friendly and helpful. Cake was fabulous. Would recommend the scones and lemon meringue. The staff even gave my daughter a box to take left overs home. A great place to visit. We will certainly be visiting again

C. M.

Lovely tea room/café in the middle of a beautiful walking spot. Fantastic location with beautiful gardens and plenty of outside seating. Lots of choice for food and drink and much of it is homemade. The Lemon Meringue is out of this world! Access via car is a little tricky as the roads leading to it are overgrown single lanes with unsighted corners. Drivers do seem to approach slowly and there are plenty of passing spots along the lanes. Parking is free. Can get busy on sunny days. Dogs welcome.

R. D.

The food here is amazing, the sweet menu is a real treat and the savory selection is all excellent quality too, so whatever you are in the mood for. If you are planning a walk through the area, this would be an excellent place to stop for lunch. Dine inside or out, and you can dine outside regardless of the weather too, as they have a beautifully set up garden, with cover in some areas and lovely little weather proof booths :)

A. W.

First time visiting yesterday and already made plans to return! Free parking, child friendly! Seats outside were amazing! They feed wild birds which js amazing, the Robins get so close too! The hot chocolates were better than Costa and Starbucks! We didn't try the food but it looked and smelt amazing! Very very good!

V. S.

Great place to stop during a walk. The flapjack was to die for! Probably the best I've ever had. Garden area is gorgeous too with lots of places to sit and it's so friendly

N. H.

Excellent sandwiches (tuna mayo & cheese with chutney) Good coffee. Cakes, a tad over sweet for my taste. All to be enjoyed in the eclectic and joyful garden. You can of course eat inside if you want. But that's boring you do that any time everywhere else, so it's nice to relax surrounded by nature and the sound of running water.

A. N.

We had afternoon tea here and it was delicious. We had to book in advance and pay a £5 deposit per person, which is normal really. The food was delicious and the scones were the best I had ever tasted. You do normally have to order your food outside, once you have a table, so if it has forecast rain, you are best to bring an umbrella. There is some cover outside, but not in all places. I would definitely come here again, I saw the lemon meringue pie and it looks delicious - so maybe next time!

A. M.

Prices for food and drink are on the high side, however the surroundings make it worth the money. In the summer when you're able to eat in the gardens you have a beautiful area with a variety of shaded and non shaded areas. Free water refills are available to help yourself which is ideal if you're planning on doing one of the long walks in the area. Dogs are also welcome and they have water fountains with bowls close by to give your furry friend a drink. (Dogs are only allowed in the outdoor seating areas). Dog ice creams are also available for the warmer days which our dog absolutely adored. The food can be expensive but the portion sizes make it good value for money. They have an all day brunch menu as well as the lunch menu covering a wide variety of food options. There are also plenty of drinks to choose from and the coffee here is more than decent. They do however lack a children's menu (none existent). They do have specials which do not appear on the paper menu so it's worth taking a look at the blackboard by the order window before deciding. Staff are friendly, food is tasty and the surroundings are gorgeous.

M. “. C.

Lovely place to stop and eat surrounded by the beautiful garden area with shaded areas, open tables and wonderful scenery. Very popular with walkers and families on days out walking.

B. b. “.

What a wonderful place !! It's tucked away in the country side and the walks are superb 😊 As for the café it's fabulous to say the least. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area 👍👍👍

S. L.

What a lovely little hideaway after a forest ramble! We had a lovely experience here, great food and drinks on offer. A must for all ramblers in the area! Very dog friendly too and a lovely outside seating area also.

H. T.

Lovely place, friendly staff and lovely food. Will definitely go again. And a fantastic place to enjoy walks to and from.

J. R.

Been here many times, excellent service, beautiful place. Afternoon tea wonderful with everything you would wish for. The person who said don't order it must not have ordered the right thing. We thoroughly enjoyed ours yesterday, plenty for us all. Everyone I know loves this beautiful place, built with love by a wonderful couple,Garry and his late wife Margaret. Family business now run by their lovely daughter Helen. 💕

D. M.

Absolute diamond of a find! After two hours walking, fantastic place for a pit-stop - very friendly staff, beautiful food and lovely outdoor seating in little pods - perfect for dogs, whatever the weather. Highly recommend!

l.

Unfortunately, was closed. Open wed-sun. But, I could see the outside dining area which looked beautiful and serene. Met the owner, very nice! Surroundings also very nice. Looks well worth a visit. We came by foot, not sure how easy to come by car, but there were several cars in the car park, so I assume it's easily accessible.

V. G.

Setting is beautiful. We reserved a table our food was ready really quickly and the staff were all super attentive and friendly which resulted in a lovely atmosphere. Will definitely return. We had a baby with us and the staff made a fuss over him.

P. P.

Really nice place lovely location food excellent especially the desserts 😋

C. G.

Visited here during our walk in the local area. Lovely place, very friendly staff. There is a lot of seating indoors and outdoors. I was in a queue for a while, but it was Bank Holiday, so to be expected. Even so, the lady who served me still apologised for my wait. She was very friendly and bubbly. Well worth a visit, we will definitely visit in the future!

K. G. (.

Today was my first time visiting this lovely place, having read other reviews i decided to give it a try so after dropping the children off at Alton Towers closeby i stopped here to have some breakfast. What an amazingly magical place! The outdoor seating area was perfect and although it was absolutely pouring with rain everywhere was really well sheltered. There i was sat on my own enjoying my breakfast and cup of tea taking in the surroundings and astoundingly beautiful scenery when a gentleman who the restaurant had arranged arrived to play his guitar for the customers. He was a super lovely chap and we had a little chat and he began to play. When i tell you that the music he played was nothing short of pure perfection and fitted perfectly with the ambiance. The rain in the background and the sounds of the birds and wildlife just made my morning. I literally could have fallen asleep listening to him it was beautiful, so much so that to show my appreciation i bought him a piece of victoria sponge to go with his coffee 😊. I will definitely be back and to anyone who reads this and knows who this chap is please tell him from me that he absolutely made my day, i had a smile on my face and still have when i think about those few moments when i was transported to another place that was peaceful and calming. 🙏 The people who have carefully restored this place from its state of disrepair have done an impeccable job. Well done. I look forward to my next visit already. Kim 💫

A.

Lovely sandwiches. Cakes were a bit to sweet

J. W.

This is a cafe, not a pub and I was there with some fellow walkers...Had a lovely lunch. Highly recommended. The drive to the venue is slightly difficult, very narrow country lanes! But doable.

J. F.

Excellent. Suitable for families, ramblers and cyclists. Dog friendly

A. E.

The walk and pub are good, however it’s a nightmare to get to! And if you arrive later than 10am on a nice day you will have no chance of parking the car, not really the fault of the pub or walk, but there are easier places to get to that are on a par if not better than so just a 3* from me.

T. K.

I'm only giving 4 stars because of queue length, that is the one and only reason because everything else is perfection. The area, beautiful, layout and declare is amazing, cakes are to die for. The non-cake food is good too but I'm a vegetarian so my experience of their menu items is limited. Any meat eaters I know have had no complaints. I do think it's a shame that they are seasonal as they would be a delight all year round. Now to the queue, it's October, not peak time but still 30mins to queue to order, a full 30mins standing outside. It was busy and we are glad we booked a table or we wouldn't have got one. We arrived at 1:30 on a Sunday but didn't actually get to order until 2pm! Food was quick enough to follow though and the staff were giving it their all. I do appreciate their quality over quantity approach. They may have taken longer but everything was worth the wait.

E. G.

Beautiful setting and a lovely garden. Wonderful cake selection. But the queue to order is so long, which isn't great when you have kids.

A. P.

Another lovely visit whilst on holiday in the area. Pleased they have gone back to “proper crockery “ as I hate plastic cups and plates and wooden forks. We arrived just after 11am and it was quite quiet so served very quickly. A lovely outdoor setting. Cakes were fabulous. Highly recommend the Lemon Meringue Pie- very light considering its size.

S.

Beautiful little cafe. We were staying nearby and came here to start a walk. On our way back we decided to drop in and grab a cake to take back to our tent. If you like cheese cake, i highly recommend the biscoff cheesecake it is absolutely the best and id go as far to say it is the best cheesecake ive ever had. The only downside is that you can't eat in or use their toilets due to covid which is annoying but at least food and drink is still served including ice cream!!! Carpark also available although it is small.

A. W.

Lovely family run cafe in the middle of some beautiful woodlands. Wonderful to go to during seasonal events such as Christmas! They really do put in so much effort with decorations and the menu was also fantastic! Quickly becomes fully booked because of how popular it is! Very romantic but also a lovely destination for families, and groups who wish to go walking around after a yummy lunch!

T. M.

Lovely little cafe, just a short journey from Alton Towers. A real gem, great cafe set in lovely grounds. Lots of seating inside and out. Perfect on a summers day to sit in the garden by the waterfall or ponds. Lovely homemade food at reasonable prices served by friendly happy staff. The cafe is also very dog friendly. Paths lead off in all directions from just outside the cafe with some lovely circular walks, some do make quite a steep ascent though, but well worth the effort.

K. B.

We came for breakfast with Santa and it was brilliant, how they've decorated makes it feel magical, the breakfast for adults and kids were lovely and the staff were top tier! Thank you

J. W.

Service with a smile and value for money food. Fabulous Christmas decorations added to a great atmosphere too.

S. H.

Consistently good food. A great selection of food including separate menus to highlight dairy free, vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. Staff are friendly and the garden has a fantastic atmosphere. Xx

S. H. C.

Great place to stop off for a bite to eat in one of the most beautiful areas of Staffordshire. Why not Walk one hundred yards up the lane from the Ramblers and see the Black Swans on a fabulous picturesque lake. Highly recommended peaceful retreat on our own doorstep. Amazing Place Lovely friendly staff too. Take your dog and sit outside in their wonderful garden. Have a cuppa and a cake. Highly recommended.

K. H.

Beautiful home cooked food so tasty and with ample portions the most dog friendly place I've ever been plenty of outdoor tables under cover if needed. Natural water fountain for dog water. Got round ok with my buggy too. Try the lemon merrangue

B. O. (.

Beautifully set out. Really picturesque gardens/seating areas. Garden sheds set up to sit and eat in (great idea) the burgers are delicious. Highly recommend eating here.

J. R.

Lovely quirky place, lovely food and drinks. Plenty of dog friendly space here whilst you eat and the scenery is beautiful. I had the bacon and cheese toastie with a gingerbread latte. We sat in one of the cute potting sheds with the dog. It’s nice to see the story of the lodge too and how it supports local farmers and business with the ingredients. The walks around dimmingsdale are amazing too. Highly recommend.

i. h.

We arrived to the restaurant four adults and a child, after visiting there yesterday, but arrived too late in the afternoon, we have tried our luck again today, and our perseverance paid off! The steak pai was delicious, the wine was decent and the deserts where large and of a great quality, which we find hard to find those days around here... But more than everything the atmosphere and stuff are surprisingly welcome, flexible and generous. Our waiter was older happy and cheerfull chap, that made us feel as nothing bothers him, in a positive way of course and the smiley lady that appeared to be the daughter of the founder was kind enough to check how did we like out launch and how did we manga the night before. Highly recommend this family homey place, combine with a nature walk around it! Tgank you for the great experience.

G. C.

Lovely setting and ideal for dogs outside in the little huts, good food and selection of drinks

K. E.

A first time visit just stopped off when passing for a coffee. Cosy and well planned. Lots of seating spread around in garden under canopies in conservatory and sheds. A one way system in operation which was easy for my husband on a mobility scooter. Prices a bit expensive but food was good. Caters for different dietary requirements.staff helpful and friendly. Very clean and tables cleared promptly. Will definitely be visiting again and taking friends and family.

A. M.

Great walks .great place to eat even sitting out side in December they provide blankets lovely place menu lots of choice .in the restaurant inside lovely atmosphere .one of our favourite places ....

M. H.

Super Vegan Friendly!! Although we visited in the peak of winter we sat outside on this parculiar mild day purely because the garden has a beautiful rustic secret garden feel to it 👌🏼 The staff were super friendly with many vegan hot drinks to choose from. We tried the traditional Staffordshire Oatcakes (again all with vegan alternatives) which are freshly made & really delisious so all around we were super happy. To top off a lovely visit, we were lucky enough to enjoy the beautiful wildlife with rather bold Robins, Finches & Bluetits.

R. T.

Fabulous finish to a stroll with the dog and kids. Glorious lemon meringue ☺️ beautiful settings.

J. W.

Beautiful place to drop in after a relaxing walk through the woods. Gorgeous countryside and this lovely place has indoor and outdoor area to relax in. Food is superb especially the cakes 😋. A must place to visit

E. M.

I'd heard that Ramblers Retreat were renowned for their cakes, but have always returned from my walks far too late to sample them. Actually made a concerted effort to go for lunch recently with a friend visiting from out of the area and she STILL talks about the delicious lunch we had! The staff were friendly, took the time to chat and ask if all was well with our meals (I'm hoping my gerbil-like cheeks stuffed full said more than I could have at that moment!) Literally a slice of Heaven! We will be returning!

S. S.

Lovely location, pleasant staff. We were disappointed though having driven out the after seeing on Google maps a photo of their full English breakfast. They do NOT offer this on the menu (Any more) though the ingredients are all there to plate it up. Would happily pay £8 for a full breakfast.

G. A.

Been coming here for years, never gets old and there's always something new. This time, this little robin was patiently waiting for some crumbs.

T. S.

A lovely cafe with outdoor seating as well as inside, serving lovely cakes as well as many other meals. Superb walks surrounding the cafe through the woods or along the trails.

E. B.

Lovely little place to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat after a muddy walk with the dog!

A. K.

One of the best cream teas we can remember. Tea in a pot with extra water and decent cups. Too many supposedly quality cafés seem to think a mug of hot water and a tea bag is acceptable. It's not! Pleasant and polite staff and the setting is lovely. We cycled there but there appeared to be lots of parking as well. Will definitely return.

H. P.

We loved it. Absolutely stunning. Dog frendly, quality place with nice foods. Staff are very frendly. The landscape view stunning. Highly recommended!

G. G.

Excellent coffee, scones and snacks. Service a little slow because so busy. Lovely environment and close to easy pleasant walks

K. E.

Superb food very friendly staff and in a great location. Not to mention the best lemon meringue ever.

L. M.

It was my first time and I absolutely loved it. It's one of the prettiest places I have been. The service was excellent and the lemon meringue was to die for.x

D. W.

What a well run place, very efficient staff. A beautiful peaceful place to visit. Also, great food.

s. b.

Great place for a post walk hot chocolate and cake. Great atmosphere and location.

A. P.

Beautiful for naughty day time treats and scrumptious lunches during a day out in the sticks. Visited here since I was a child, never disappointed.... I'm touching 50. 😂

S. D.

Food excellent and reasonably priced. Set in lovely surroundings. Dog friendly. Free car park next to the cafe

G. T.

Well set out, a little slow at busy times but we'll worth a visit ham roll was good size and tasty, dogs welcome in outside areas

I. S.

Always good food and service. Lovely family atmosphere. Dogs welcome aswell. Seating inside and out. A visit is a must!

m. h.

The food is brilliant and the staff are very helpful. The Bakewell tart and custard is to die for.

D. B.

Great place to go before or after your walk. Nice food , lovely people and they even serve "dog" ice-cream.

B. H.

Lovely place to visit the food is really delicious .staff are really friendly and helpful .the scones are the best we have every tasted and lovely walks to go on before or after your meal .

h. j.

Spot on historic cafe, lovely tea, cakes, sandwiches, homemade soup, Good system for knowing when food is ready. In an idyllic setting.

S. B. M.

Great setting lovely gardens. Food good without being spectacular. On the expensive side but you're a captive audience.

K. R.

One of my favourite place to have lunch. Friendly staff. Lovely food. Well worth a visit.

A. S.

A busy but friendly place for walkers, cyclists and dog walkers to stop for beverages, desserts, afternoon tea or even drive upto for a hot meal in the restaurant (inside, no dogs). The gardens and pots are stunning and attract a number of garden birds including the friendly Robin. Well worth the visit.

M. D.

It's been many years since I have been here. It was well worth the 100 mile cycle ride there and back. Fabulous location and food.

A. A.

Great menu, well cooked and prepared food. Popular with shaded outdoor space and dog friendly

d. s.

Beautiful outside space on a beautiful day. Good food great ambience, thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

D. F.

The Ramblers Retreat as its name suggests is geared up to catering for Ramblers and dog owners who can sit outside in the quaint garden rooms after ordering from a window. Had a brisk walk with our two dogs along the disused Churnet Valley railway line from Oakamoor Station to the Ramblers. Sat with the dogs in a private little summerhouse and had a welcome cup of coffee and bacon sandwich; both of which were very good. For those without dogs or muddy boots the inside looks very nice and an attractive place to have lunch or afternoon tea. Note that the Ramblers now closes on Mondays - it used to open 7 days a week. PS don't forget to try their famous lemon meringue pie

J. B.

Great place to pause after walk! Dog friendly. .good choice of food..and friendly staff.

T. A. R.

Way out of housing area but loved the food and a very pleasant atmosphere the amount of ramblers out there was surprising and they had a chap there playing his guitar was very good 👍

m. w.

Great setting with lovely gardens, and little sheds, pagodas, etc to sit outside in. A conservatory provided seating inside if colder. Food was ok, and lots of nice cakes and ice cream.

G. W.

We went for afternoon tea, food very tasty and good service. Settings out in country very pleasant.

R. W.

Stopped off for breakfast after a night of glamping - had the filter coffee (their coffee is excellent!!) and french toast with bacon and maple syrup. Beautiful place, lovely food and *very* pet friendly. Only grumble would be the waiting time (no table service outside, and queues to order at the hatch can take a while) and that the toilets are quite grotty and could do with a makeover. Will definitely come again when we are in the area next.

J. R.

We visited Ramblers on the Saturday of Easter Weekend- having emailed ahead to pre book we had a beautiful little gardening shed for 9 ladies and a dog! We were so well looked after and had some amazing food. Great service and with a smile- despite lots of awkward dietary requirements and fussy eaters! It was part of a hen weekend and definitely a highlight. Will definitely be back for some more lovely lunch and cake!

J. E.

Amazing cute and cosy place. Amazing food. I've now been twice in a week. Zuko the pup loved their ice-cream. We only went on a short walk because we had a puppy but it's nice to stop at the cafe and sit outside. Plenty of garden birds fly in and out which makes it even more enjoyable. Toilets were clean. Easy service, they have an interesting but easy and practical service. I highly recommend this place for having a walk and a chill out time.

h. h.

Lovely cream tea in beautiful garden setting. The. A lovely walk so we could earn one of their amazing milkshakes. Well worth the visit. Dog friendly.

S. S.

Had a festive afternoon tea. Food was fresh and delicious. Fab service too.

M. B.

Famous as a walkers place to stop for a snack or drink. Great food and very friendly staff. Just near Alton Town.

g.

Lovely little place to get a great cuppa. It may seem busy at times, but there always seems to be a seat open when you get there

B. T.

Fantastic area for a nice walk and some adventure

S.

We had breakfast before our walk then had lunch when we got back. Food is excellent.

E. A.

Very nice food but not very good table service. Had to wait a very long time for food. There attention is mainly to give the bigger party's better table service.

m. m.

Another beautiful day in a little bit of heaven on earth. This place is so special, there really is nowhere like it. Food is always excellent, consistency guaranteed, local produce to, made fresh to order, no fast food rubbish here yet service is at a good pace, be prepared to wait a short while when it's busy, it's worth it. The Summerfruit punch is verrry moreish! If after the main you have room for dessert there's an excellent menu to tempt. The family are welcoming and have worked hard for many years sharing The Ramblers with thousands of visitors to the area, please be respectful and observe the obvious areas that aren't accessible to customers, it's not a free for all.

T. W.

Had a really tasty lunch there today. Lots of people there but didn't feel manic or busy. Lovely tranquil gardens with plenty of seating. Long queue for ordering hatch which went quickly. Expected a wait for food but was surprised at how quickly it came. I think they have got it down to a fine art. One ordering hatch and a slower queue means they can keep on top of the orders and not get swamped. Food was lovely too! Ploughman's is well worth it.

L. M.

Bit out of the way however free car park and clean toilet. Theeeee best lemon meringue pie I've had in forever 😋 Operating a one way system for Covid. Ate the pie, couldn't wait...

M. w.

always a 5 star rating here when eating or drinking indoors or outdoors. a perfect piece of paradise In the Staffordshire countryside. a takeaway hot choc this time while waking the dogs xx

G. C.

Absolutely brilliant lovely setting and great food thoroughly enjoyed the experience

A. J.

A little gem! A friend recommended to us and we were not disappointed. Started with a Staffordshire Breakfast. Then did the 5 mile circular walk recommended on the leaflet from the website. Finished back at the retreat with a welcome cappuccino. Highly recommended.

P. U.

Nice food, social distancing well done. Plenty of outside tables. Very busy when we went so expect some queueing in busy periods. Worth making the effort from one of the nearby walks.

M. B.

Lovely place to grab some food, drinks or just an ice cream. Nice garden to sit in. Great service.

M. S.

Lovely place, the ice creams are delicious and there’s even some for dogs !

L. S.

Lovely place for a bit to eat - a varied menu and generous portions

P. G.

Quite remarkable place to rest weary legs or to load up the calories prior to a trek in an utterly beautiful part of England. “Hidden Gem” is an overused superlative... just wait till you happen across this delight. I had never been before but was gobsmacked by the location & set up. Amazing Derbyshire Breakfast, free parking, & THE place to put your walking boots on & go explore! We came across an abandoned Caravan holiday park on our travels - eery, bizarre & fascinating! 6 of us, incl. young kids & were catered for in the “potting shed” for big beltin’ brekky! Loved it!

N. m.

Decided on a trip out to this location on the spur of the moment. The Sat Nav took us down some very narrow roads to get to it, but which did have the odd passing layby to squeeze into but once we got there, there was a fair bit of free parking to use. There are plenty of outside seating areas, with some gazebos to sit under and small potting sheds to sit in if the weather is bad. We had hoped to sit inside the main building but there was a notice on the door saying fully booked, which was disappointing but will teach us to book next time. Dogs are allowed in the outside areas. There were two outside serving hatches, one to order and pay and the next to collect your drinks. You are given a tag that buzzes when your food is ready to collect at the same window. Didn't have to wait long. The Retreat is situated in a lovely area to walk around after, some of it hilly. Well worth a visit.

N. N.

Dogfriendly cafe, serving the most amazing milk shakes and lemon meringue pies.

J. M.

We sat outside but there plenty of sheltered outdoor space. Lovely and relaxing. Staff are fabulous and you don't feel rushed. Had lunch with my girlie friends and the pasties are good.. Topped off with a country stroll. Excellent day.

L. P.

Great hidden place with great menu, friendly staff & plenty of seating

r. b.

Lovely place food great staff very friendly And lots of nice walks around the area 👍

P. D.

Lovely food and nice place.to chill however so painfully slow in serving food.. make sure if you are taking children they have snacks . Most of the staff are nice but caution there are a couple of Karen's working in the back ..

M. N.

Visiting the area with local friends, this place is fantastic. The walk was a great way to build up an appetite. The choice was fantastic but the outside environment is unlike anything I've experienced. It feels like you are surrounded by jungle! With masses of well placed outdoor covered patios. Best bacon roll for some time. Recommended.

J. G.

Lovely toasties - salad accompaniment rather sparse. Queueing can tale a while if you arrive at a busy time. Friendly staff. Good stop for ramblers and cyclists. Disabled loo.

K. B.

Wonderful cafe with indoor seating and a beautiful garden with benches and covered seating scattered around outside. The owner and staff are friendly and helpful, menu choices varied and the coffee is excellent. The car park gets busy (free), dogs welcome outside. Highly recommended.

L. F.

After a long walk with my husband, daughter and two dogs we stopped for lunch Lovely food and ice cream suitable for the dogs 😋

G. F.

. Queue was slow and long which can only be a sign that this place is awesome. I have to say it was worth the wait. Excellent food. Yumyum. Staff was friendly.

C. H.

Stunning walks and a great place for a cheeky oatcake!

P. T.

Great food and beautiful gardens. Worth a visit for tea and scones, or a full meal followed by a walk around Dimmingsdale

L. H.

Friendly and helpful staff. The restaurant is offering outside eating and take aways but not indoor eating. There is an one way system outside. You are expected to wear masks in the queue when ordering food. There is hand sanitizer at different places in the gardens. The food and drinks are good quality. They offer vegan choices. They offer the opportunity to refill your water bottle for free. Dogs are welcome in the gardens.

A. C.

Family run, and can be relied upon for tasty treats, a hot drink, lunch and more.

S. J.

Lovely cafe, fabulous setting. Great food. Can get busy but that's purely because it's so popular and good.

K. W.

Amazing food in the heart of beautiful countryside. An absolute hidden gem

A. B.

If you like a good walk, lots of routes to take on foot or mountain bike. Some have quite a steep incline/ decline depending not which route to start off with. Nice place that has a rewarding eating area for homemade food and a good choice of drinks

A. G. M.

A nice stop if on a walking or afternoon tea. They do a great Sunday Roast as well. Nicely situated and full of Country sounds. Highly recommended.

D. M. H.

Took my son and my 2 black labradors for a lovely walk. Then enjoyed a hot chocolate each in one of the chalets. Dimmingsdale is always clean,pleasant folks always say hello and you can stroll upbank and take in the lovely surroundings. A lovely place

V. P.

Beautiful, cosy and family friendly place. Staff is very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed our meal after long walk. In my opinion only one issue no mains, sandwiches only (so 4 stars not 5) But it didn't spoil our evening. Thank you so much! We definetlly will come back.

A. W.

Great food with a friendly service. Defiantly try their lemon a merang pie

S. B.

Lovely location with great food. Unfortunately very busy and had to queue for a long time before we could order our food. However once ordered it arrived pretty quickly and was very tasty and reasonable prices.

E. M.

Beautiful place to eat, and a gorgeous location to go for a wander too!

A. B.

What a fantastic evening shared with family at the ramblers retreat for our annual Christmas meal which we missed last year due to covid. Again the service was first class and the food was delicious. All done in the ambience of an idyllic Christmas setting. A three course meal whilst being serenaded buy a solo guitarist. A fantastic atmosphere. Not to mention this is a lovely place following a walk in the local surrounding area of dimmingsdale light bites warm drinks available and dog friendly sheds within the grounds to sit and relax. If you visit during the summer months please do not block Red Road has this can get congested following the car park being filled up up remember emergency vehicles need to access.

P. L.

Wonderful find. Shot in the dark to look for this place, but great walks, nice photo opportunities, luvly cuppa & free parking. Will be back

S. “.

Beautiful location with a wide variety of walking routes. Plenty of seating both inside & out, great service and lovely grub 👌. Dog friendly with dog friendly treats available as well 👍👍

B. C.

Nice place but hellishly busy on Spring bank holiday Monday (what do you expect I hear you say!). Was going to eat here but queue was to long so just had a milk shake as could get that in separate area with no queue. There for about 40 minutes and, in that time we saw other groups there before us, who had one person in queue returning after 20 minutes or so, still waiting for their food. Having said that, it's in a lovely location and food prices looked quite good, but didn't see any brought out in the area we were sitting in. Would be a nice stop on any other day with fewer people I'm sure. Local to the local cycle way (disused railway line) and the chained oak tree so a nice outing

t. a.

I found it a little expensive, but the portions were a decent size which suprised me. The garden is beautiful and the staff were exceptionally nice and friendly, a rare find.

C. H.

Don’t order the afternoon tea. This place is lovely, the food is high quality and reasonably priced but they do not know what an afternoon tea is. What you get is essentially a sandwich and a piece of cake on the same plate. No sharing selection, no scone. As I say it was delicious and value for money just not an afternoon tea and caused disappointment as we were here for an anniversary.

M. H.

Great place to walk to. Nice gluten and dairy free cake too. Lots of under cover seating outside

P. B.

Love this place, gorgeous surroundings, lovely food and pleasant service. Haven't been for a while and so pleased it hasn't changed 😁

J. W.

Fantastic place. Phil was very attentive. Excellent food too! Thank you.

A. K.

Ramblers retreat is a lovely cosy country tea rooms / restaurant. I came here after a long walk around the local area. It's perfectly situated to cater for ramblers as the name suggests. During my short stay here I noticed the majority of the clientele seemed of the older generation, the food looked lovely and they seem to have won many food quality award's which are displayed along the walls. The service was polite and friendly. I only had a coffee but noticed the menu was plentiful. I wish I had the time to stay and try something more.

S. H.

Lovely quaint place with endless walks around

I. “. B.

Always a favourite place. Menu is limited. But a lovely location

D. W.

I really like this place. Hidden little gem in a beautiful area. They offer a nice selection of food, coffees, ice cream and cakes- I recommend the Lemon Meringue. What I like the most is the outdoor eating area, it's a beautiful relaxing area with plenty of seating.

a. w.

Enjoyable food, but very slow service.

A. B.

Amazing food, amazing service! Highly recommend!

I. F.

Great value for money and the food is fantastic! Especially the homemade steak and ale pie, non of this pastry lid on a dish here! Pastry bottom and sides. Absolutely delicious! Thanks for making us so welcome after a long and very wet walk, we will definitely be back!

L. H.

Beautiful place, loads of little spaces to sit inside and out. Very cosy. Food very nice and service excellent. When we went there was a a lovely man playing the guitar beautifully while we ate.

I. S.

What a gorgeous place, the garden is an oasis of tranquillity with Robins coming up to your table...the blueberry scones were gorgeous as were our coffees...such a lovely place to be...thank you.

A. C.

Not as good as it used to be, the menu used to be so much better, but such as it is when different people run it .

M. H. (.

Amazing day out highly recommend. Dog friendly.

M. B.

Excellent food and service, good value

a. w.

Maggie's famous lemon meringue, very yummy and worth a visit just for it but there are many more lovely options on its menu.

R. W.

Excellent service and really lovely food.

L. M.

Really friendly family run business. Choice of outdoor (majority with some cover) & indoor seating area. Heavenly scones, cakes and puddings. Welcoming to all ages & dogs too. The perfect pitstop after a stroll around Dimminsdale.

L. H.

Great for a drink/ cake /snack or larger meal . Gets very busy at weekends . Lots of outdoor seating for dog walkers etc .

L. P.

Lovely place to take your Dog and the most amazing food and Scenery, unspoilt by time and like going back to how it used to be

M. G.

Brilliant service very helpful and will cater for all dietary requirements

K. L.

Had a lovely meal here before going for a nice walk. The car park gets very busy, but is free to park. We hadn't booked a table and lots were reserved due to a family function, but we still managed to get a couple of tables. It is quite small inside. There are lots of tables outside too although we didn't sit out there. Ideal for the particularly muddy, or those with 4 legged friends accompanying them. Lots of cover on the outside tables too by the looks of it. The staff were very friendly, and lovely with the children too. The chocolate orange cheesecake was DIVINE. I would give a 5* review for that alone 🍫🍊 Wondering whether it's acceptable to go back for just that...!

H. K.

Stopped for a warm drink here after a lovely walk this afternoon. Excellent one way system and social distancing in place given the current circumstances, along work friendly staff and quick service. Wide range of hot drinks and food, we all enjoyed a festive drink. Highly recommend and will be back - thank you!

v. a.

Great place to have a break along the walk

K. W.

I've always loved the Rambler Retreat! We visit frequently throughout the year. There's plenty of seating outside with many areas covered with gazebos and cosy little summer houses. You can sit inside but I would recommending booking as it is usually fully booked. The food is great and the cakes are divine. The owner and staff are extremely friendly and welcoming. Highly recommended!

m. w.

Simply stunning location luscious home made food, excellent, friendly and professional service.

G. B.

My blueberry scone was larger than average and good, cappuccino good. Other cakes were also larger than average.

J. H.

Wow!! First time here and will not be the last. Considering we are still under COVID rules, very well run and super clean. Now to the main point - Food. We all enjoyed our oatcakes and what our 12 year old described his pasty as a Sunday lunch. All came out quickly. Desert - Bakewell tart was fab, everyone finished them all off. With a super background, great staff and food we will certainly be back.

J. C.

Staff friendly and efficient. Had lovely coffees and ice creams. Sandwiches were a bit basic, nothing to get excited about. Indoor area decor is dated and the ladies toilet has had better days, could do with a bit of TLC but the outdoor space is AMAZING and defiantly the highlight of the cafe and very dog friendly

S. S.

Really friendly staff with the food to match! I ended up wolfing down two meals worth of food. Plenty of walking routes in the area and more than adequate parking facilities :)

G. H.

Brilliant as always. It was a shame that some of the other customer's manners left a lot to be desired. Didn't spoil our visit, food, drink and staff were exemplary as usual.

A. C.

Only place for refreshments. Good food and drinks. Very busy. Need to book an inside seat.

R. B.

Nice place but very very pricey for a cafe £4 for a very small slice of cake Probably won't go back even though we walk in Dimmingsdale every week

P. M.

Tea and cakes after walk with dogs can sit in outside area has covered areas to get out wind or rain. Check on web site for opening times

C. T.

In the area, went for a ramble, popped into the Ramblers Retreat for coffee and cake, polite staff, yummy tiffin with honeycomb.........very nice!

K. B.

Oh what a find! An oasis of taste and beauty in the middle of a forest. A picture box outside seating area, with a wide selection on the menu at staggeringly competitive prices. Trust me, we'll worth the detour.

S. F.

Beautiful place with some of the best woodland surroundings I've ever been to. Great mountain biking and walking routes, very well kept. Good prices, AMAZING cakes and really friendly staff. Dog friendly and clean...parking can be difficult at peak times.

M. O.

Coffee and cake after a walk, lovely would highly recommend.

J. T.

We always like to call here for a coffee and something to eat when out walking in Dimmingsdale. The toasted sandwiches are really delicious as are the cakes. It's great news that they're staying open for takeaway at the moment but we do miss being able to sit in the beautiful garden.

C. A.

Wow, a way down some narrow roads and off the beaten track but what a lovely place and setting in the woodland. Very attractive, clean and well kept, staff friendly and helpful. Good food and drink too. A walkers paradise but just as good for those out fora leisurely drive. Quite a bit of history to the place as unusual building which has been superbly restored. Interesting information available for you to browse over your food and drink ☺️

P. C.

Great place to start and stop from at dimmingsdale. Loads of outdoor, distanced seating available. Very dog friendly, they even serve dog safe ice cream! Tasty, well made food and cakes, huge variety of drinks for all.

M. B.

Really love this place. Lovely family own cafe/restaurant. Lovely walk to get there. Can be on the pricier side, but if that helps keep the place alive I'll always happily pay it.

J.

Great car park location. Why don't you open on Mondays though? :( Can't wait to come back and try it out properly

A. R.

Very popular venue and the car parks get full quite quickly. Food was good and there was an fairly extensive menu despite being limited due to Covid 19. Social distancing is being observed well with hand sanitiser available just before you get to the order point. Any food and drinks need to be consumed in the garden which is okay but with Winter coming soon it won't quite so nice before too long.

K. B.

Food is very good staff are very pleasant. You just need to make a reservation can't just go on speck to eat inside.

C. H.

Stunning location surrounded by dozens of beautiful walks. Whether you book in for a 3 course meal in the conservatory, or simply pop in for a coffee and a sandwich, nothing is too much trouble. The garden is perfect for dog walkers as there are plenty of seating areas including the heated 'potting shed' that allows dogs inside. If there is one thing everyone must do, it is try their lemon meringue pie, it is a local legend!

A. F. B.

Amazing place to drink a tea and eat a delicious cake or pie after a long walk in the trails around. The place area is amazing. If the weather is nice you can seat outside and enjoy a relaxing and pretty garden . The salon is a great choice too, very confortable and decorated with the English style. A lovely experience in this small town.

L. B.

Beautiful setting, which lifts the rating up. The good The garden area is really lovely to sit in, even with a bit of a chill in the air (and there are blankets provided for if there is). The waterfall and pond are delightful, and surrounded by pretty bushes and flowers. The staff are also very friendly, and the garden area is well suited for people with dogs without having to compromise on anything. The not so good It's a bit expensive for what you get. Ordered simple beans on toast for nearly £5 and while the portion of beans (normal Heinz) was generous, the toast had barely seen a toaster and hadn't been buttered. The coffee is nothing special. All in all, a great jumping off point for a walk starting and/or ending with a drink and snack, or if you want something in beautiful surroundings, but the food on its own isn't reason enough alone to go.

S. R.

Slices of cake that will keep you filled up for hours. Great chocolate orange hot chocolate and set in great surroundings to relax after a walk around the local area

J. R.

It good. On busy day it is to much for the staff

S. J.

Nice little cafe, plenty of seating. Great atmosphere, relaxed and friendly. Great food.

J. H.

Strawberry pancakes were some of the best pancakes ive eaten out for a very long time, if not ever. Service times can be quite slow when it gets busy though, have to get here early!

S. C.

Theres lots of little sheltered places to sit outside in which is nice, you can feel like you have your own private little space. Quite a big selection of food and drinks what we tried was pretty good. Food ordering system is a bit annoying, had to queue to place my order and again to collect it but that's a fairly minor gripe.

S. L.

Lovely hidden gem in dimmingsdale. Great place to finish up after a walk for a rest and brew. Lots of outdoor seating in anything from a small gazebo to a summer house and even an outdoor heated building small but adequate enough for 15 people or so. Brilliant food and very dog friendly as expected. Right on the dimmingsdale walks car park. Does get busy even in winter but well worth a stop off. Indoor seating also.

M. S.

A month at unusual setting and a memorable place to visit. Best seating is outside, but only in dry weather. Food good and service very homely and friendly. Will visit again. Walking is good here too. Lovely part of middle England.

C. B.

Gorgeous place. It's worth a 45min/1hr drive for the nearby walks and the delicious end point. Welcomes all audiences, including the four legged variety. It's not about speed of service here it's about quality and spending time to enjoy the scenery. Winter or summer it's an absolute gem.

A. G.

Excellent place to visit with good food and varied menu. Lots of individual seating areas and shelter in the gardens. Dog friendly with ice cream for dogs which ours liked immensely! Lots of great walks locally alongside rivers, through woodland, nice views over countryside...Great!

C. W.

The desserts are incredible! Extremely friendly staff and dog friendly. The gardens are beautiful and it’s lovely to sit outside rain or shine!

D. E.

This place has been going for over 40 years and as part of a Derbyshire rambling group we go as often as we can. In a lovely setting and good walking area. Really lovely family and well run. Cakes, especially the lemon meringue pie are to die for. Absolutely recommend this place, 37,000 people called in last year!!

M. K.

Lovely setting. Quality food.

f.

The 3 stars are for the location and the place its self. Very nice indeed but they know how to charge for that. £7.20 for a mug of coffee and a piece of cake which I ordered from an outside serving window and sat outside to eat and drink. Nice though the outside area was still a bit steep on the pricing. The cake was scrummy but the coffee was average.

C. I.

A lovely place to walk your dog. A very nice place to have a bite to eat. Toilets too!

R. T. D.

Really nice food in a lovely location. Staff are friendly and welcoming. The garden eating area is very pleasant. Heartily recommend the full English breakfast. The walks nearby are wonderful and dog friendly. Use sat nav post code ST10 4BU. Ps closed on Mondays check on bank holidays but they are usually open.

N. W.

Great icecream. Fantastic outdoor area. Little slow to purchase as long queue, but it felt like they were down on staff numbers like a lot of places at the moment

J. R.

Great setting friendly staff and fab food

S. J.

Very nice. The weather was good too. So it made xx

S. R.

Great food. Wonderful staff

M. G.

Absolutely stunning setting. Beautiful food, friendly helpful staff and lovely tranquil atmosphere. Food was so fresh. Lovely to see somewhere so welcoming to dogs. Soo relaxing. We will definatley be regulars...Can't fault it a bit xxx

R. H.

It’s so difficult as a coeliac to find a good place to eat - this place is brilliant! So many options and very good food! My husband would also highly recommend the (non-GF) ice cream sundaes. The gardens are so beautiful to sit in.

E. D.

After a lovely walk round the Dimmings Dale Valley, we stopped for lunch.. Homemade sandwiches were great

S. 3. V.

Super lovely staff , Helen the owner & Tracey who served us are so warm & friendly. Amazing location and stunning gardens with a whole menu of vegan and vegetarian food, great value , you will not be disappointed! Perfect for walks with the epic historic chained oak very close by.We be back.

I. F.

Magical place. Family run for last 30 years. Gets really busy. Recommended starting place for some of the best walks in North Staffordshire. Proper home cooked food.

M. B.

Explained about my daughter's peanut allergy and the staff were incredibly understanding and genuinely polite. A lovely place to visit, with beautifully happy staff. I cannot recommend this little sanctuary highly enough.

Z. H.

Lovely stop on our walk while on holiday. Lovely staff, beautiful facilities and great cakes! Highly recommend. Very accommodating to muddy boots, paws and little feet too.

D. S.

Beautiful location-always a treat to come here and have coffee&flapjack(really tasty!)

D. J.

Great food in beautiful surroundings, ot would get 5 stars but the parking can be really bad at busy times. At these times patrons start parking all over the place meaning you may need to walk around the tables to ask "who's car I'd blocking yours and can they move it". Other than that almost top marks.

T. E.

Friendly staff, cosy little cafe, which also has beautiful outside seating area... food lovely, well worth a visit or two... does get busy. Popular with walkers. You can book ahead if you wish, to save any disappointment. Would definitely recommend.

K. M.

A super tearoom and restaurant in the middle of wonderful woods, great walks, small reservoir pools, great service with a friendly welcome and delicious food. What more could you want.

K. R.

One of my favourite places to stop after walking around Dimmingsdale. A family run business, the food is lovely, the gardens beautiful and always a friendly atmosphere. It is a wonderful place to relax in after a long walk but does get busy so enjoy the atmosphere while waiting for food, the lemon meringue pie is famously fantastic! !

B. B.

Amazing little place with great food and seated outside area. The food is delicious, a must try is there lemon meringue. Outside are is nice to sit in autumn as well as summer. They have a fairly good choice of food.

R. M.

Fantastic place, we went for a family meal and the food and service was excellent. There is also a serving hatch for walkers grabbing something on the go.

M. V.

I visited on a very sunny and warm Friday. There weren't many people about so there was plenty of space. It was peaceful and clean. I had the Eaton mess sundae, which was great. I'd imagine it would be busy at weekends or holidays. Yes, I'd recommend this so off.

D. G.

Great place to start and finish when enjoying the Dimmingsdale area. Good selection of drinks, snacks, meals, ice creams & desserts. Well run, friendly staff, great surroundings. Can be very busy at peak times. Dog friendly too!

R. P.

What a treasure this tavern is! Delightfully set in the Churnet Valley, very close to Alton Towers, though so secluded it could have been a million miles away. The staff are very friendly and pleasant. They cater very fully for walkers, dogs and allcomers, there being a substantial car park too. We walked along the old railway line to get there. The food supplied is different, wholesome and delicious. A lot if thought as gone into the menu and the use of ingredients. Vegans and vegetarians are catered for. There is substantial accommodation for diners both indoors and out, with small individual cabins for those wanting more intimate privacy.

R. L.

Owner is great to chat to, amazing history to this place, ask him about it! My father visits almost everyday of the year, cheap hot drinks. A pot of tea will do 5-6 cups and only costs about £2. Food is also great, families very welcome

P. E.

This place is great for something to eat after walking round Dimmingsdale. Or just go there to eat and no walk. Food is very good quality and the staff are very friendly and helpful. And you must try the lemon meringue pie. It's both delicious and enormous. It's that popular though so can get busy. Fortunately if the weather is dry there's plenty of seating. I can highly recommend this place.

P. M.

Amazing place, amazing food, it's a great location, one of my all-time favourite places to go.

h.

Great tasting milkshakes and the ice cream is lovely. The water could have been colder as after a long walk ice cold water is a must. Very good polite service. Would recommend.

g.

Always call here for coffee and cakes after a walk around beautiful Dimmingsdale. The cakes are fabulous. Meals served too which look very nice. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. Recommended.

m. g.

Beautiful and peaceful. You go for walk before or after you treat to the wide range of tide bits to go with your tea or coffee. Wonderfully arranged.

A. E.

Fantastic place ,food is first class and it’s in a beautiful location

R.

Great for breakfast! Very covid aware and they have clean toilets. Come early for a parking space and you got to wait for the food but it's worth it!

N. A.

A beautiful place Food was great

E. B.

Lovely setting, lovely staff. Great place to take friends/dogs for a mid-walk coffee and cake.

P. W.

Been coming here for more than 40 years on and off, always worth it especially after a walk round Dimminsdale.

S. R.

Absolutely idyllic setting and outside seating. Food is fine, and comparatively good value, but the setting and garden are what it earns it's 5 stars for

S. H.

Great little start to a walk and a little treat or drink afterwards, picked up a takeaway mothers day after noon tea. It was lovely and plenty of little treats.

b. d.

Beautiful setting in Alton. Lovely seating areas inside and out even for dirty walkers and their equally dirty dogs. Lovely food stop at the end of a good walk

S. C.

Twelve members of our family met up at the Ramblers Retreat today. It was absolutely fantastic, I cannot praise it enough. The staff were so friendly and attentive,nothing was to much trouble for them. The food was delicious chosen from a very comprehensive menu. Prices were extremely reasonable. We most definitely will be meeting up there again. A gem in the middle of glorious countryside. Many Thanks Sue Cornes

C. B.

Lots of outside, covered seating areas, little huts and corners for dog walkers. Lots of blankets available also. Inside seating for non dog people. Queue at serving hatch was slow unfortunately, then have to carry your own tray through the garden, round other people , as I'm not skilled in this I spilt a lot of coffee. It would have been impossible to do if I was by myself with dogs. No toilet paper in toilets and an odd window.

C. W.

Very friendly place. Good food at fair prices. The best part are the outside covered tables and the summer houses, which are less formal so you don't have to worry about kids, dogs, muddy boots etc. Strongly recommended.

G. H.

Great place dog friendly nice food

P. M.

Good food; good ale; fair prices; interesting gardens; eat inside or out under cover; great table service. Ideal for a rest after walking or maybe leave walk until later to cope with large portions.

A. C.

Atmosphere was great and the decorations were impressive. A good place to start a walk with three different walks by it. The burger was tasty and the lemon merangue was all around amazing.

P. M.

Lovely place to visit. Wether it be after a long walk around Dimmingsdale or just for a drink and something to eat. Freshly made Baguettes, fresh food. Seating inside a Summer House for up to 6 people,viewing the well kept garden. Dogs welcome. Always BUSY. Can reserve a Summer House if you wish. Highly Recommended.

M. S.

Great place. My wife had the best scone she’s ever had! Nice staff, great drinks and cakes etc. The main meals smelt very nice, we’ll certainly be back!

B. Y. S.

What an amazing place. The name says it all. I went for a trek at the tooth hill and approached this place on the way down. I spent some quality time here. A great place to sit and enjoy a cuppa hot chocolate or (anything to your interest). The service was amazing especially the owner (who built the place) is very friendly.

D. E.

A well known secret gem, tucked beautifully in the staffs moorlands. Our favourite place.

S. P.

Very nice surroundings, friendly staff. But the food wasn't very good. Burger was very plain and the chips we're very dry. Shame as it a lovely place, next time we will stick to a cake and a cup of tea.

R. J.

This is a great place for a refreshing stop after a hard days hiking or a day visit to Alton Towers. Superb location in what feels like the middle of nowhere. Friendly staff, and the food portions are huge. Great value.

S. l.

Just called in for a takeaway coffee. Have dined here before. Great place for lite lunch. Cake and coffee. Loads of outside tables with canopy to shelter diners from English weather. Dogs welcome. Great

D. G.

Lovely garden surrounded by lovely woodland. Good service. Good options for special dietary needs. Nice food. Relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

P. B.

Lovely bowl of soup on a walk. Super place fully recommend. Wish we had booked a table but used the potting shed which was heated. Good food good service

G.

A good pot of tea and excellent cakes.

J. T.

Brilliant little woodland Cafe, been going here most of my life as I'm local to the area, lovely walks, friendly staff and good food. They are obviously pet friendly so you can take your furry friends with you!

D. H.

Excellent food and drinks with stunning outside setting.

A. C.

Great range of food have only visited during lock down but definitely going back when we can dine in great location for so many walks and a rest

B. S.

One of my favourite places to visit for some food and drink. Beautiful outdoor area. Staff are always friendly ☺️

D. C.

Wonderful food and the best service I've ever experienced. The owner went out of her way to get us a summer house because we told her we had a nervous dog. Exceptional.

R. S.

Great restaurant/café - ideal pit stop when walking in the local area. High quality, homely food. Can get very busy during bank holidays and there is limited parking.

J. A.

Lovely cafe with lots of thought has gone I to it's surroundings. I loved the Vegan milkshake xx

C. R.

Beautiful setting, friendly staff, great cakes!

b. 1.

Top job .. quality venue ..say no more

D. B.

Great place to start and return to after a walk along the pathways through Dimmingsdale. Lovely food and settings ... even if it's a little wet - there's covered seating in the huts out in the garden.

C. B.

An excellent location for walking and building up an appetite for a visit to the "Rambler's" you won't be disappointed. But if looking to have a meal it's vital to book first it gets very busy.

J. S.

We went but im sorry went away disapointed ,we have given it 3 stars for its location and the happy chap with the smiling mask on ,not for the food .

A. M.

Lots of parking, nice place to have icecream or afternoon tea after your walk. It is quite hard to find, and about a mile or two along Red Road, which is single track with passing places, so be careful.

D. G.

Fantastic area and a nice place to warm up after a dog walk. Good value and lovely food. Will go back for more.

S. B.

One of our favourite spots for lunch and/or cake. Pleasant short walks in the woods or along the old railway track, and dogs welcome in the garden or inside the outdoor huts.

M.

This is a delightful place to eat and drink inside or outside, even if it's raining there are ample shelters in the garden . Ideal pit stop for walkers enjoying the local countryside. highly recommended

M. B.

The Staffordshire oatcakes are great, and, if it were possible, the puddings & cakes are too big! Fantastic setting, with your own cabins in the gardens to eat your grub after a good walk

R. M.

Simple, but good menu. Great oatcakes. Enchanting little water garden out the back. The definitive place for a coffee break in the Alton area.

S. E.

Had a lovely walk followed by a fab lunch Highly recommend

F. J.

Love this place Gets busy but lovely walks and views. Cafe great all year round. Can do card payments and dogs very welcome. Great for all the family.

J. N.

Lovely ice-cream and beautiful surroundings

W. B.

Only sat in the pretty garden with an ice cream this visit but will def be back. Dog and muddy boot friendly so an ideal place to stop for refreshments before or after a ramble.

H. R.

We love this place,such a lovely setting and food is yummy

L. D.

Lovely location with goods quality of food. Expensive but enjoyable

e. r.

Lovely place lots of choice on the menu with tables inside and outside food is all homemade especially nice are the cakes of which there is a good variety

C. H.

Great, beautiful spot for walking with or without dogs. Lovely restaurant, with a walkers entrance at the rear. Forest, rivers and ponds. What more could you need :)

W. L.

Gutted that you were closed today, even the dog was trying open the gate. We usually stop for tea and yummy cake after our walk.

Z. R.

1st time visiting lovely place hidden way. Small car park so may struggle for parking at peak times. Will come back and recommend to others

L. S.

Lovely sandwich and coffee cake could of been better not like the pictures, but great to finally get out and meet friends.

M. L.

Only had a quick stop after a walk. Had a lovely hot chocolate in the garden which was really peaceful. Prices were very reasonable. Probably even nicer in the summer.

D. J.

Delicious food, enormous cakes, phenomenal milk shakes and the staff were really helpful & friendly

P. D.

Very nice and simple place to relax and chill out . Staff are nice .. but bring your own food and water as service is soooooo painfully slow.

K. H.

We love Oakamoor, we take our dogs regularly and the Ramblers is a perfect half way point to have a coffee and a cake. Dogs are allowed in the gardens and summer houses and theres a jar of treats and blankets to help yourselves to.

S. E.

Lovely food, beautiful garden, staff very friendly.

A. M.

Wonderful restaurant meal in idealic surroundings. Efficient relaxed service with pleasant staff. Great restaurant as well ample facilities outside for the ramblers.

R. V.

Lovely little restaurant, amazing puddings and walkable to from alton. Ideally placed for other walks around the area. Good selection of hot and cold foods

p. g.

Despite current difficulties serves up quality food at fair prices and a happy staff to make a pleasurable visit.

Y. K.

A very lovely place to take a quiet walk and enjoy the scenery. Cafe closed to lock down but a very nice place .

A.

Great food and drink for those who require a long meal or a quick pit-stop when walking. Relitavely cheap as well. Highly recommend this cafe.

a. h.

Another lovely walk today in the sunshine. A stop off at Ramblers for a take out coffee and bacon roll. 😋 . Lovely as ever .

G. R.

A real gem of a place to visit when exploring Dimsdale. Dog friendly with dog ice creams on the menu capachino's outstanding.

K. E.

We had a lovely meal in a beautiful winter atmosphere. The food was excellent and the staff could not do enough for us. Can't wait to go again.

A. P.

Excellent food. Great staff. Great guitar. Lovely location. Fantastic outdoor area for dog walkers and ramblers.

D. F.

Great as always even in the rain

M. M.

Always a nice place to stop after a long walk through Dimmingsdale. Highly recommend the hot chocolate and the flavored lattes.

K. W.

Great food, beer, tea, coffee and ice creams are also available from here. It’s a great place to visit, especially for the walkers and dogs walkers. It’s also Pet friendly 👍👍👍

A. F.

Loved the different sheds and gazebos to eat in a gorgeous socially distanced way. Food and ice cream delicious

D. W.

Lovely place to visit.

T. N.

Very efficiently run 60th birthday party. Catered for my girlfriend's nut allergy very well. Great food in a great setting.

J. W.

Great food, good service and love the sheds and outside seating so brilliant with young children and dogs. Good value in a lovely setting.

A. L.

A gem of a find and a great place to have a drink or lunch. So nice when the sun is out to sit in the gardens. Very unique place.

G. A.

A little spot of tranquility, in beautiful scenery, at the side of a single track road, many may not even know it exists, re-opening soon to serve food etc to ramblers, cyclists and the odd passing motorist.

C. P.

Lovely place for a a coffee or meal, I particularly like eating out side in the garden, so quirky and beautiful. And it's pet friendly!

A. P.

A welcoming cafe/restaurant at the head of Dimmingsdale, good range of food and drinks, looks like it could get busy during the spring and summer months, however there are also plenty of outside spaces too.

A. W.

Great place to stop after a good walk. Great for hot and cold food, hot and cold drinks. A varied menu to suit all.

J. B.

Lovely garden in which to enjoy drinks, cakes or snacks. Dogs welcome too and blankets to wrap up in on an autumnal day.

R. C.

Fabulous cake and ice cream... just gets a bit busy so you'll have to queue for a while

c. j.

Lovely Sunday lunch in a lovely setting staff really helpful highly recommended still as fantastic as ever and the Lemon Meringue is to die for.

A. H.

Lovely place, great food. Queue’s for food are usually long, the only draw back.

J. K.

Lovely place to take your pets or even just for a walk. The foods amazing too.

R.

I highly recommend coming to Dimmingsdale, especially in Autumn as the colours are unbelievable. The Ramblers Retreat is a great place to park up, grab some food and a drink and then head off exploring. I believe the building used to be a lodge of some kind, so there’s a bit of history to go along.

A. D.

Ramblers Retreat is perfect for a rest when out walking in the area. It's a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and has outdoor seating in a beautiful garden area for warmer days.

P. W.

Because I came up from Lancashire to see my friend and I picked your place to come and visit my meal was 100% clean tidy loved the huts and the gardens thank you I will come again soon x

D. L.

Lovely cafe, perfect place for before or after a fairly short nearby walk. I can highly recommend their hot chocolates to warm you up in winter.

s. s.

Perfect place for an icecream for all the family after a nice walk. In a perfect location. Good for dogs and the stuff are so friendly and helpfull.

R. B.

Lovely location at the bottom of Dimmingsdale with a nice out door seating area to enable you to enjoy the wonderfull wooded Churnet Valley. Food is very nice and well presented with pleasant service.

P.

Nice for food. Alcohol is served with food only. Nice walks to take dogs. Free carparking as well. Take boots or walking boots can be moody on walks.

A. Z.

Nice location and atmosphere. Food is reasonably priced and freshly made. (waiting time is 15-20 minutes) Free parking.

E. B.

What a delicious homecooked lunch - thank you! Very welcoming and great service. Delicious food, generous portions, outstanding puddings :)

J. L.

Beautiful place. Lovely food.

A. W.

Great food and coffee, clean and excellent service.

D. M.

Great place to visit after lockdown although getting there in a big 4x4 is not for the faint hearted. Delicious coffee and cakes.

M. S.

Very nice and quaint place. Excellent food and atmosphere. Sometimes a bit crowded and slow, but worth it.

N. M.

Fabulous place to stop after a lovely dog walk, very dog friendly & a wonderful variety of food/drinks at a very reasonable price, we are regular visitors.

E. K.

Great service and food in a lovely location.

S. M.

Good food, good service, beautiful spot.

H. A.

Lovely cafe to walk to from our cabin lodge. Definitely worth visiting, although the waiting time to be served can be very long.

M. S. -. P. P.

What a treat, a very well hidden place that serve wonderful food! Love it

Y. V.

Excellent food. Particularly the desert selection and ice cream choices! 😀 Delicious. Never had anything less than excellent.

J. C.

Went a walk around the forest didnt go into the cafe so cant comment but the woods are a really good walk with the kids and really good for dogs

R. l. C.

Very lovely the staff were amazing it was my son's birthday and they gave him a birthday card

I. S.

This place is amazing for food, the biscotte cheesecake is highly recommend! Really nice for sitting out with your dog after a nice walk.

L. W.

Perfect location! We visit a lot to walk the dog, the food is brilliant and it's lovely to sit outside with the pooch.

D. M. B.

Great home made food served here, also good for families to stop for refreshments. Dog friendly staff, and lovely views

U. A.

Limited hot savoury food during Covid. Good place to have desserts, which are all top notch.

M. l.

An absolute oasis for all walkers would reccomend a visit it's so lovely

J. M.

Lovely food in a great location. Good value too.

A. G.

A cracking place to stop for refreshments, tucked away in a beautiful valley, plenty of parking, all Covid restrictions observed, toilets clean, good food, highly recommended

C. s.

Excellent service excellent staff, wonderful food and drink, exceptional covid safety measures in place felt really comfortable, well done everyone.

W. D.

Good place for a cup of tea or coffee after your Sunday stroll lots of places to sit inside or out. Car park can be busy at weekends

D. M.

A lovely place to take a break from all of the wonderful walks and amazing views. A definite hidden gem.

S. U.

Amazing. Service. Food. Location. It's a must to visit. Large and amazing selection of gluten free cakes also.

A. M.

Fantastic service, really well organised team, great job at creating a covid free environment, menu is amazing

I. B.

Absolutely fantastic, narrow single track road and then opens up to a fantastic spot with this FANTASTIC cafe👍👍 Great food, nice coffee and super milkshikes👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

S. W.

Lovely food good friendly service will go again when all restrictions have gone

L. B.

Lovely Halloween special, well done food and drink wonderful, thank you

F.

Lovely place to sit down and eat, but very expensive for what you receive. £5.75 for BLT sandwich with 2 tiny pieces of bacon

M. I.

Great location. Nice atmosphere. But it only feels like it's open a handful of hours a week (exaggeration) so check the times.

A. J.

Really nice and clean little cafe. We had the blt sandwich after a 9 mile walk.

M. B. (.

Absolutely fabulous!! Wonderful setting and fantastic food....it was an idyllic setting for lunch ..great 🍰 too 😊

L. S.

Great walks all around and great cakes

B. P.

Very nice food, outstanding service. Grate experience. Id go any time and advise more people to go

I. C.

It was a lovely place to stop on our walk to have refreshments. Beautiful surroundings and great service.

S. T.

Fair selection of gluten free options and lovely spot for a coffee.

U. S.

Lovely cup of tea and delicious cake as a treat after a cold, wet but great walk!

G. L.

A welcome stop on our walk. Unfortunately only one toilet so a bit of a wait and for service. Otherwise no problems.

F. A.

Lovely setting, great food.

S. A.

Really great place in the summer. Not as nice in winter as you don't get to enjoy the outdoor seating and surrounding walks.

P. S.

Really friendly nice food and good hot drinks what more can you ask for.

V. L.

A unique and lovely way to spend an afternoon - can get busy, but that's only with good reason.

T. P.

Excellent food and service as usual. Helen and the team do a great job, providing real food in a lovely setting!

K. S.

Such lovely gardens with amazing cakes

c. w.

Lovely hidden Retreat. Lovely food with good choice on menu. Great walking area.

C. M.

Perfect place for an afternoon bit of food. Awesome country garden. Plenty of walks and bouldering around.

B. B.

Really good food service is great can't do enough for the diners.have been for the last 4 boxing day and will be back next year.

D. H.

Fab walks and lovely food including vegan options

D. T.

Wonderful place for tea and cake or even a hot meal after walking in such glorious countryside. I would really recommend a visit.

S. M. (.

Absolutely lovely place to walk with dogs and have food which is fantastic and very friendly staff

I. J.

A lovely breakfast but one small thing could make it even better - HP brown sauce rather than the very poor substitute we had.

J. B.

Food and service excellent and the staff were very friendly. Would definitely recommend and will be visiting again.

t. f.

After a long walk a great place to have a cuppa and a sandwich. Lovely friendly atmosphere and great staff

J. H.

Love this place and recommend to all . Food excellent. Caters for dog walkers . Love it

T. S.

amazing, family run, quaint little spot doing all the right hearty pub grub! also, vegan options. 🌱👌

T. M.

They serve some seriously good cake that's perfect after a walk around the trails nearby

L. B.

Absolutely lovely place with delicious locally sourced food and great staff! I'm so glad we found it.

a. c.

Love going here when walking the dog - such a lovely place to sit and enjoy a warm drink.

S. S.

Fab place pleasant staff plenty to see and eat very quaint would highly recommend if you want somewhere nice and quiet will go again.

J. Y.

Beautifully decorated for Christmas. Perfect stop off after a winter walk for a decaffeinated gingerbread latte and chocolate brownie (both highly recommend)

A. P.

Simply 💛 this place .. nothing better than a hot chocolate treat on a cold winter doggy walk and omdayzz their homemade lemon meringue is absolutely fanominal :)

S. M.

A perfect location to unwind before or after a walk through dimmingsdale and beyond, with the added bonus of great food and a large variety of seating areas and things to experience such as waterfalls and cabins

M. B.

Lovely cafe with great gardens. Loads of lovely walks nearby including the chained Oak

T. T.

Dimmings dale in the Churnet valley. Served by the Rablers retreat, very good food at a reasonable price. Good for families plus dog friendly.

R. M.

Unique menu, lots of choices for vegans and vegetarians, very friendly host, will love to go there again

D. W.

Ramblers Retreat is a hidden gem of a restaurant / cafe and the perfect place to refuel after a lovely walk through the forest area of dimmingsdale.

D. S.

Very nice place to relax and have a drink after a hard and long walk (also after short easy one's too)

D. U.

Excellent place, you just have to visit if in the area. Quality food and beautiful outdoor area to eat and drink

A. F.

Really well set up for distancing and cleanliness. Great ice creams set in a beautiful area.

A. M.

The service was very friendly and efficient. Fresh home cooked food tasted amazing and I would definitely recommend to anyone nearby!

l. r.

Nice for refreshments..slightly pricey..wasnt impressed with the small scones.iv tasted better...lots of walkers use this cafe..

s. e.

Nice food at decent prices Nice vegan menu options Very friendly staff

A. Q.

It's a wonderful place for coffee and cake and a walk haven't a meal but I bet it is good

A. B.

Great food excellent covid measures in place ! Looking forward to a return visit .

L. S.

My family and I often choose to visit Ramblers Retreat for family occasions, or just a spot of lunch on a day off...the food is excellent with service to match..it is set in its own gardens with waterfalls, bird feeders and rose arbours just a few of the attractions...undoubtedly though, Dimminsdale with its breathtaking views and walks gives this venue its edge...

D. W. (.

Lovely place for some food. Setting of the location was amazing, very impressed.

L. M.

Beautiful setting, friendly visitors and staff alike...food is lovely...a must for walks and lunch afterwards

S. M.

Absolutely fabulous - place, people and food. Go now - enjoy both the delights of the Ramblers Retreat and Dimmingsdale in true autumn glory.

K. K.

Nice tea rooms with fantastic gardens. Worth a visit. Close to Alton Towers, and next to a woodland walk.

M. C.

Great food selection, top notch quality at reasonable prices and friendly staff

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