Homemade Cafe (at The Pavilion) — Restaurant in Nottingham

Anticipating a welcoming atmosphere where my child could be his lively self while I enjoyed a much-needed cup of coffee, we decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, our experience was far from the warm embrace we had hoped for.

From the moment we stepped into the shop, it became apparent that their definition of "child-friendly" was not as inclusive as one might expect. Despite my son engaging in typical toddler behavior - exploring his surroundings with curiosity and excitement - we were met with a series of admonishments. Staff members approached us multiple times with requests to "mind my kid" or "tell him to stop" doing various harmless activities.

While I understand the importance of maintaining a peaceful environment for all customers, the approach taken by the coffee shop staff felt unnecessarily harsh and unwelcoming. It's disheartening when a place that promotes itself as accommodating to families seems to have little tolerance for the natural behavior of young children. This experience left us feeling more like an inconvenience rather than valued patrons.

Regarding their offerings, while the coffee was decent, the pancakes left much to be desired. It seems there was a heavy hand with the baking powder, as its bitterness was palpable in each bite. A little adjustment in this area could significantly improve the overall dining experience.

The coffee shop itself boasts a charming ambiance and, apart from the pancakes, offers a selection of presumably delightful treats. However, these positives were overshadowed by our uncomfortable experience. For a town that prides itself on its family-oriented values, it's disappointing to see a local business fall short of truly embracing this ethos.

In summary, while the concept of a family-friendly coffee shop is a fantastic idea, it's crucial that the execution matches the promise. Understanding and patience are key components of a genuinely welcoming atmosphere for families. Moreover, a careful consideration of the culinary craft can enhance the enjoyment of all patrons. I hope in the future, this establishment can find a better balance that allows both parents and children to enjoy their space without feeling pressured or judged, and with a more palatable pancake on...

I have previously liked this place. However, I visited today with my daughter, who has a fatal allergy to peanuts. I do not expect anything anywhere we go to be entirely allergen free, so I often pack my 4 year old a lunch just in case she can't eat anything where we go. My friends and I ordered hot drinks and cake, I noted that peanuts were very present in the cafe, so I did not order my daughter anything. We sat outside, I got my daughter's food out. We were approached by a member of staff who in a very unkind tone told us we were not allowed to have our own food (despite being paying customers) even upon explaining my daughters allergies and that we had paid for our own food, we were still told it did not matter, it was still not allowed. I'm embarrassed to say this made me cry, as it seems we were expected to just let my little girl go hungry rather than let her eat her jam sandwich outside of the premises. The manager explained that it was "licensing" but multiple friends in the service industry have told me there is no way that licensing would care that a child needed to eat their own allergen free food on the premises if they were with paying customers. Will not...

Went last week, staff seemed on the unfriendly side, no one greeted us, I wasn’t sure if we just sit down or if someone will come to us. Then we got told to order at the counter, so we did, my chai latte was horrible unfortunately, I had large flakes of cinnamon in my mouth and it was only a small cup for £3.30. Then I ordered cakes for takeaway and the owner saw my friend and I were having a chat and it wasn’t busy in the cafe ( 3 other people were there ) and instead of just bringing the cakes over she shouted for me to get them. Like jeez i felt like I was intruding their staff outing as they seemed to be far more concerned with each other than their guests. Very overpriced, I feel like value should match quality and unfortunately I don’t feel like it did. I had a cheese toastie and that was expensive I found. £7.50. Kinda expected more. At least have some fries with it … cake was nice though, loved the cake, but staff, pricing and value is just a bit off. Don’t think I’ll be returning for anything other than a cake and maybe a standard coffee. Sorry to leave a bad review as it would be a nice...