Market Place Tea Rooms — Restaurant in England

I saw the tearoom when walking in st ives and decided to give it a try as from the outside it looks very pretty and inviting. However, that was where the pleasantries ended. 2 of my friends and I tried looking for a table of 3 however all the tables in the tearoom seemed to only be able to seat 2. A friendly customer gave us one of their chairs and we sat down. No one came up to us to give us a menu or tell us how the tearoom worked. We went up to the till and ordered there however when the owner asked what table we were on and we answered, she freaked out saying only 2 people should be on that table - baring in mind we looked for tables that could seat more than 2 and there were none - it wasn’t even busy they just don’t want to seat more than 2 people by the looks of how the tables were laid out. She then went to look to see if we were blocking anything and we weren’t so she let us sit as a table of 3. This left us feeling unwelcomed and like a pain in her backside. When our food came a table near the pretty tearoom window came available so we went to move and as soon as we did we were met with an abrupt yelling off of the owner telling us we couldn’t move to the window seat as we’d be blocking the way. Ironically after they cleaned that table they moved the seats so they blocked the entry way 🤣. Walking through the tearoom to the toilets we also saw the kitchen which was extremely dirty as well as the back of the tearoom where it appeared the floor hadn’t been swept or mopped in months. Having previously worked in a tearoom, I spent time cleaning in all of my shifts making sure it looked clean so there is definitely time to do it. Unhygienic and unfriendly - will not be returning and would rather go to one of the stunning cafes near the...

We were made to feel unwelcome before we had even sat down as we were told there was not enough space when we could see that there were 3 tables free. It is our fault for continuing to give them our custom. Upon being served we did not receive an apology for the long wait and had to witness, who I assume is one of the owners talk down & bully a young member of staff who looked visibly upset. We were eventually greeted with a passive aggressive attitude when served. A member of our party (as shown in the photo) had other customers dirty plates etc left next to them as they were eating and told “expect dirty plates to be left on this table as this is what it is used for” said table had a table number which indicates it is for customers and dirty plates should always be taken straight to the kitchen from my experience. It’s a shame the woman who I assume is the owner doesn’t take more pride in her customer service as the decor is cosy and in lovely location including nice cakes tea and coffee.

EDIT IN RESPONSE TO OWNERS COMMENT:

The young lady appreciated outside food could not be eaten in the cafe and respectfully stood outside to finish her pasty. As a large party (6) with limited spacing we had to spread across 3 tables, this does not make it acceptable to use it for dirty dishes. Your response clarifies your attitude to customers along with the many other reviews where people have had similar BAD experiences with rudeness, hatred towards tourists, aggression towards staff including racism in one review. I would have NOT visited if I had seen the...

My husband left a review a couple of days ago, about our visit and the fact there was an issue with an order of 2 non vegan hot chocolates. I'm not reviewing that because his review already says it all. I'm writing this review because the owner replied to his review, stating I was shouting swearing and berating her young staff. She also falsely stated we went back to her shop 4 times and that I threw litter and drinks at them.

I actually spoke coherently and politely to this woman trying to get a refund or a replacement drink for her staff's mistake when taking our fully vegan order. I could see she was rushed off her feet and already seemed stressed. I did go back into the cafe one time only, after my son popped into a different shop, to ask for a receipt so my husband could claim the cost of the 2 hot chocolates back through the bank, but she refused. I left the cafe frustrated and confused, I have never had this issue and appalling service in any food place in my entire life. I was more than amicable and respectful even though the same can't be said for the owner. I've had a read of other reviews and I'm glad she hasn't just been rude to me, and outright lying about my actions in her cafe really shows her character, and what a bad one it is. I resent ever setting foot in her cafe and crossing paths with this...