King's Lock Tearooms — Restaurant in England

Call me a grumpy old man if you like. I don't usually write negative reviews...but on this occasion I will personally feel much better if I get this off my chest. Take it or leave it if you must. Just returned from a walk through Aylestone Meadows, along the canal to King's Lock Tearooms. We parked the car at the Evesham Road end of Aylestone Meadows. Why has it suddenly become a dumping ground for takeaway packaging and empty drink cans I wonder? Walking through the blue gate, taking the footpath to the canal, it became obvious that dog walkers in this area haven't heard of disposable dog poo bags. Apart from the scruffy graffiti on all the walls and bridges, some parts of the canal walk towards the tea rooms was quite pleasant. Looking forward to a coffee and a snack we sat down at table No. 16, checked out the menu, went to the kiosk to place the order and pay. Three young girls, who would have looked quite pretty if only they smiled, were delivering orders and cleaning tables. After waiting 30 minutes, and noticing that people who came in and sat down after us were getting their food and drinks, we accepted the fact that we must have been forgotten? My wife went up to the kiosk, and quite pleasantly, with a smile, mentioned the fact to one of the young girls who said she'd look into it. She disappeared, and left my wife standing at the kiosk waiting for an answer which never came. My wife returned to table No. 16 and continued to wait with me in the hope that when the came it would be worth waiting for. We were both ready to ask for our money back and leave. We gave it another five minutes, then a young girl came up to us and apologised for the delay, informing us, without a smile, that our order would arrive soon. A further ten minutes later our food and drinks were placed on the table. Problem was my wife ordered a tuna sandwich on brown bread with no butter. It came on white bread with butter. The young girl took it back while I tucked into a sausage and bacon cob and a flat white coffee (in a mug☹️). Problem was, I asked for brown sauce which never arrived, and by the time I took all the fat off my bacon, I ended up with no more than a sausage cob with bacon bits. Which to be fair, was quite nice. Then my wife opened her re-issued tuna sandwich with the question "Spot the tuna!". I searched. I did find a small amount in the centre of one slice of the brown sliced bread. To be fair, her cold, fizzy rhubarb drink in a can was very nice. Kings Lock Tea Rooms was once an institution. Now the only word that comes to mind is 'destitution'. Call me a grumpy old man if you like. But at least I feel better now for sharing my disappointing experience. Thank you for reading my review. Pull your socks up Kings Lock...

The best scones north of Devon - highly recommended!

I've enjoyed coming to Kings Lock regularly for many summer seasons. It's a peaceful place in an attractive setting; sitting outside looking out at the fields and trees and (sometimes) horses and herons, it feels like you're out in the countryside when you're really still within the boundary of the City of Leicester.

You do have to make sure you come when the tearoom is open - it's a hidden treasure that you have to work at to find. It's a short walk up the canal from the Marsden Lane/Sanvey Lane car park (there's no direct road access), and it's only open in the summer season (from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October - from when the clocks go forward to BST until when they go back to GMT) - and then it's only open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10.30am till 3.30pm, and Sundays 10.30am till 4.30pm (and Bank Holiday Mondays 10.30am till 4,30pm too). Also, if the weather is bad and raining, they will sometimes close. Check their Facebook page for the most up-to-date information on whether they are open.

I've gradually come to know Peter and Fiona, the owners, who are friendly and helpful. They also employ young people as servers - students and high-schoolers - at busy times. You place your order (and pay by cash only) outside round the back at the wooden window hatch - or if it's a bit chilly, inside the front door at the serving station where the display of ice cream tempts you. Then you take a seat, and your food and drink will be brought to you.

The cafe is very welcoming to dogs and their owners, and water bowls and doggie snacks are easy to come by from the staff who are happy to help - just ask.

The tearooms offer a range of pre-packed cold drinks plus hot drinks like fruit & herbal infusions, teas (including Earl Grey), coffees (with an espresso base), and hot chocolate. Also a simple range of hot and cold homemade sandwiches, baguettes, and toasted sandwiches: fillings include sausages, bacon, fried eggs, and baked beans, as well as cheese, ham, tuna, lettuce, tomato, and egg mayonnaise. The homemade soup (whatever the favour is that day) is really good, and they have a particularly good variety of homemade cakes - all really delicious.

The highlight for me though is their homemade scones with butter, jam, and clotted cream - ask for a "Cream Tea" to get the works, with a pot of tea that gives you 3 cups. Enjoying a cream tea in the sunshine (whether it's actually warm or not!), with a lovely view, and noises only of nature and the other people at the cafe, is a lovely way to spend...

Visited here with my partner for a drink and a tea cake. The bottles of lemonade we bought both had best before dated scrubbed off and sediment at the bottom, we should have pointed it out to the owners but we thought how bad can out of date lemonade be? Subsequently we both had 24 hour stomach aches. Very dissatisfied with the king's lock tearooms, any place that leaves you with a stomach ache needs calling out. If it weren't for the stomach issues I wouldn't have written anything. If you're planning a trip to the canal...take your own food and drink. The tearooms don't deserve the 1 star I gave them.

(Edit) Of course the owner responds and of course the customer is wrong. We, I repeat "we" both had stomach issues after visiting the tearooms. Sell by dates are there for a reason and it's the seller's responsibility to make sure goods are within date and that dates are legible. I only have the owners word that it was a printing issue. An apology would have been better than a tap dance and it's only libel when it's not true. And as a note to the owner, we've both recovered thank you...