The Apple Pie Cafe and Bakery — Restaurant in Great Britain

I had been here before about 2 years or so ago and was disappointed with their slapped on 5% service charge (tip) that you had to ask to be removed. I just thought it was cheeky and put the customer in a bit of an awkward position especially as the place isn't cheap. The apple pie however is very nice.

The process of standing outside to wait to be seated is still a bit... odd. Due to us having 2 dogs, the lady that came out to us said there was already a dog in the cafe and she needed to ask the owners if it was friendly or we wouldn't be allowed in. Not sure how it's our fault if someone else had a reactive/aggressive dog. However the dog was fine so in we went.

I went for the breakfast and they appear to have changed the layout and ordering process. You now go to the counter to order instead of them coming to your table. Although they are still a bit cheeky putting a 'tip' request on the card reader (10%, 15%, and 20% I might add), you can now select 'no tip' without a fuss or judgement.

I had a Full English which was delicious however its an extra £2 for bacon? What's that about? Never known a full English where bacon is optional. There are also no swaps of items. My partner had the American pancakes which she said were very nice.

For drinks I requested a breakfast tea which is usually a small tea pot with a mug, instead I got a small mug with a tea bag in it and that was it. My partner had a hot chocolate which was very nice and well presented.

2 breakfasts and 2 drinks came to just short of £30 so it's not a cheap place.

Staff again seem a bit split. Some are very polite and can't do enough for you whilst others are cold and unwelcoming.

This place seems to take 2 steps forward and one step back, however it seems to be (slowly) going in the right direction.

Maybe I'll return in...

We stopped here for a cup of tea and a cake, the front of the shop looked promising with delicious looking cakes displayed in the window, however this was just the bakery, and the cafe was accessed around the side. We were seated by the staff, who to their credit were pleasant and friendly, and given a menu. We did feel that the prices were quite high at almost £6 each for a brownie and a slice of apple pie, however ordered hoping to be impressed by what we were served. Unfortunately the brownie was tiny and quite dry, and accompanied by tasteless and icy gritty ice cream and the slice of spiced sultana apple pie turned out to be a small square of pie rather than a generous slice, which was reasonably pleasant in taste but very unremarkable, served with some rather tasteless and synthetic like whipped cream. Far from the home made tasty generous portions we hoped for given the price. Had the portions been smaller than expected but clearly high in quality and taste we would not be leaving this rating in our review. We understand that the cost of everything has gone up for businesses, and we don't mind paying more for quality but this was not. The whole experience had the feel of catering for tourists with more money than sense, and paying just over £17 for two mugs of Yorkshire tea and two mediocre traybake cakes left us feeling very disappointed. Not good value for money and just another generic tourist trap among many in the town, which only seems to have overpriced eating places and endless outdoor shops, no real atmosphere despite having some lovely buildings and scenery, a real shame. We would not return to this cafe or...

Good food, decent portions and friendly service, let down by some particularly suspect practices.

In 50+ years of dining out, around the world, the Apple Pie Cafe is the ONLY place where I have ever been asked to pay a tip / gratuity before any service has actually been provided. The options of up to 20% / 25% seem intended to take advantage of our American cousins. Asking for a gratuity in advance not only provides no incentive for good service, but made me feel like a judge being asked to decide on guilt or innocence before the trial, or an examiner being asked to provide an exam score before the exam has actually been sat.

Even more disturbing was the menu "offer" which wasn't honoured. I took advantage of the "soup and sandwich" deal which offered a reduced price soup when paired with the sandwich; however, the soup was charged at full price. Unfortunately, in another unique practice, you don't get to see your actual bill until AFTER paying and I didn't check it until much later (my fault). I can't help wondering if, had I queried it, any refund would have included the gratuity already charged on it.

Having highlighted the less attractive aspects of the place, the food was freshly prepared, of a very good standard and nicely presented. All staff were friendly. The place was clean and busy but we did not feel at all rushed.

I'm very much in favour of places having a "unique touch", but I don't think the specific choices made here are...