Barnshaw Smithy in Cheshire East

Absolutely disgusting customer service from the manager "LISA" today. The second time we have been to this cafe and both times we were served by the same manager who has a complete attitude problem. The food was burnt and the managers attitude to our complaint was appalling. We also overheard her cursing all the innocent customers who were walking through the door as if it was a complete inconvenience for her to serve them. She should be sacked!! AVOID this cafe at all costs!!! We certainly wont be returning, an extreme disappointment.

I love this place but was so disappointed with such grumpy service. Lisa was so rude to a large group of us this weekend. We felt so unwelcome, which is not how it should be. We weren’t the only ones who received this reception.

Went here for my birthday. Good atmosphere, friendly service, would definitely go again.

Cakes were average. No great taste to make you think must come back here . Coffee was ok but nothing special. Service is not warm and welcoming. Staff are very busy and work hard. I would not recommend to others.

I have been visiting here for about 7 years and until now have never considered writing a review for one of my family’s favourite go to places. Over the years the food quality has been top notch. Service is always magnificent and attentive. There is always a buzz about the place. Today my two daughters and I had a variety of offerings. Pancakes with syrup. Poached eggs on sourdough with a sausage and I plumped for the Eggs Benedict. All delicious as expected. Barnshaw Smithy has consistently served up some of the best food we try in our travels around the local area. Well done everyone. See you all again very soon.

First visit. Loved it. Food was lovely. Made a change from going to the local pub.

First visit to Barnshaw and received a shocking service or lack there of. As we had cycled there we sat outside and only actually wanted a bacon sandwich and a coffee, was told they would come out and eventually a waitress did to tell us they were not serving outside today (Saturday) as expecting a big party in. She offered us a table just inside where someone was just leaving, so we came inside and waited, to then be told by another waitress that she had just offered our table to someone else already seated who wanted to move, so we couldn't even have that table now! Told there were some couches upstairs. Not made to feel welcome at all, not sure it was because we were cyclists but it certainly felt like that! They need to remember cyclists are not always on bikes and like to visit places they find on their travels with their friends and family. Would definitely not recommend a visit as a cyclist! The place came across as arrogant and rude. We won't be planning a stop there again.

Gorgeous little place, lovely staff and great coffees and breakfasts, this place feels really special- highly recommended!

Gorgeous hidden gem! Recommended to come for lunch and what a delight. Gorgeous food, great service and a homely feel. Will be back soon !

Bang on every time. Attentive staff, lovely surroundings and consistently good scran. Great for dogs too

Lovely place and professional staff. Highly recommend for breakfast or brunch. Dog friendly as well!

I have heard so many positive reviews of this venue and was not disappointed on my first visit. The restaurant/cafe was 100% full and it isn't possible to reserve a table so we were very happy to be welcomed. We ordered a full English and it was fresh, presented beautifully and delicious with fresh juices and freshly brewed coffee. The menu is extensive for breakfast, brunch and lunch.

Great food in a lovely building with excellent service , we will definitely be back !

Usual quality food. Great service.

I really like this place but today was a real letdown, it was to busy not enough room for everyone it was to hot, I'm sure there is more tables in there since the last time I went in, it should be quality or quantity the parking was terrible and the food was a real let down won't be going again

Lovely peaceful cafe with tasty food and drink. Can't wait to return, first visit of many today.. must arrive earlier to have a try of the cakes!

What a brilliant find! We were looking for good coffee and something for breakfast and this place had plenty of super yummy options for every taste including vegan, great coffee and a range of milks including creamy oat milk, a really lovely ambience, tables in the sun or inside, easy car parking right outside and so well worth the 6 mins drive from Knutsford. Open early on a Sunday morning too!

called for breakfast with a friend We had 1 large breakfast with extra of black pudding 1 small breakfast no egg or mushrooms 2 latte coffees Total bill came to £38.89 This includes service charge of £3.54 We were charged full price for small breakfast even though we didn’t want egg or mushrooms and no alternatives were offered I thought It was good food and good quality, freshly cooked but nothing overly special and absolutley not worth the price we paid Since when did a glorified cafe charge a service charge very pretentious but I guess this is Cheshire I wouldn’t go back as I don’t believe it’s worth the price

this is unique restaurant to which we go regularly the staff feel always like friends ..we get a warm welcome every time we go they are efficient and charming the atmosphere is unique we regularly see friends here nobody does Welsh rarebit better the coffee is excellent a perfect place for lunch or brunch

I stopped here for a coffee en route to Knutsford. It is a delightful Café in a rural setting. There are plenty of seats and tables if you prefer to sit outside. The place simply oozes charm.

Visited on Sunday at 1.40. They had an event that afternoon. The sign said order by 1.45. We just made it. Eggs Benedict, oh wow, yummy. So accommodating, lovely staff. We were not rushed at all. We will certainly return. A great find.

We've eaten there several times nice atmosphere, good food, pleasant staff, I've noticed the prices have shot up recently like most places, but still worth a visit.

Great country cafe. Lovely staff serving good food. Great destination or pit stop for cyclists or walkers.

Pleasant small venue and friendly staff. The food is good quality but the tiny portions don't match the prices.

Busy, but great food and would definitely go again although parking is limited so car share or cycle

A friend recommended this to us and we weren’t disappointed! I have an odd diet and they catered for it with no fuss and it was delicious! Items I couldn’t have were substituted for something else. I appreciated that. My husband’s lunch was good too and the nice big pot of tea was very welcome! A lovely cosy pretty place which is now high up on our list of favourite lunch venues. Top marks!

Beautiful restaurant, I like the decoration here very much. There is a parking space outside the restaurant for the convenience of customers. The waiters are friendly and it was a pleasant lunch.

Asked for take out sausage & egg. Only just realised when got back with sandwich it was bacon & egg, bacon burnt, toast was rock hard. Got a cup of tea and bottle of water. Defo wasn't worth £11. Nice area tho.

Nice place to sit outside at, food and drinks served pretty quickly, club sandwich really nice, accompanied by a salad that could have done with some dressing. Shwarma was also pretty good. Note service charge is added here, guess it's become defacto now but just in case it catches any tippers out

We didn't have a long wait for service like some people say, the staff were friendly and helpful,and the salad was fresh. Overall it was quite good . but, expensive. But this is Cheshire!!!

Great spot for brunch or a light lunch

Have reviewed this before and the main memory is that the food was v good when it eventually arrived. Speed of service was slightly better today although it took much longer than you would like for drinks to come. Bring the drinks straight away, by the time the food comes everyone will no doubt want another, no brainer to sell more drinks. All except for me who ordered an Atlantic Ale which is a pale ale and I have no idea what was served as it came in a glass, dark brown, warm and flat. Didn't even finish the first. Quality of ingredients is not in question, breakfast type stuff is done well although some of the specials are a bit hit and miss. It's still OK, we might go again but they need a better drinks menu and need to bring what was ordered off it.

Lovely brunch and coffee. Staff very friendly. Husband said his choice Moroccan eggs was the best he’s had. Need to be patient to park at busy times, we got a spot on the road eventually. Will definitely come again.

I’m afraid this place has gone downhill in recent times, the service is almost non existent unless you’re sat inside and near the till. The food is average and they frequently run out of various ingredient’s. It’s a beautiful location and setting, so if you go, just lower your service expectations and/or pop for a coffee and sit in sun. It’s about the location and setting.

Excellent food when we went for lunch on Saturday We didn't have a reservation but there was a free table upstairs so had to leave the dog in the car, but not an issue. The service was good when we got it but there were times when we were considering going back down stairs to get the waitress' attention. They just need to remember to come upstairs a bit more often, otherwise it was very good.

Should have asked for the service charge to be removed as service wasn't great, we were upstairs and they seemed to keep forgetting about us. We had to chase to be served or go down and order at the counter. Really surprised that a cafe adds a service charge on the bill! Found the food overpriced for what we received, especially the cakes. The lemon meringue cake was not the best, the meringue wasn't well made, it was extremely grainy.

What an amazing little place. The food was incredible and so so tasty. The service was really friendly and efficient. Would definitely recommend. Parking is very sparse so be warned.

What a lovely place. Went for mid morning brunch and it did not disappoint. Great service and lovely food. Would not hesitate to recommend

My first visit to Barnshaw Smithy left me with mixed feelings. The food was undeniably amazing, complemented by a delightful atmosphere, swift service, and charming decor. However, my experience took a downturn when I discovered a bone in my smoked salmon. Although I promptly reported the issue to the staff, I was disappointed by the lack of acknowledgment and resolution. Given the relatively high price of breakfast, I expected a more proactive response to such an oversight. Unfortunately, no action was taken to address the issue, leaving me somewhat dissatisfied with an otherwise enjoyable dining experience.

Lovely ladies serving here. Kind and helpful. Great food and atmosphere. Not a lot of parking but managed to park on the road outside. Will def be back again.

Lovely barn feel café in good cycling country with plenty of bike rack space and outside tables. Nice breakfast until late.

Really nice staff & atmosphere, coupled with nice food

Never fails to please both food & staff

Really lovely cafe/restaurant. We loved the cosy decor & the staff were really friendly. Lovely food and gluten free options available.

Lovely place, good service and great food

Last visited at Christmas and sadly, the service standards have dropped considerably. We sat down and within 30 seconds the waitress was there expecting us to know what we want to drink, despite there being an additional Christmas drinks menu. When we told her we weren't ready yet, she went off with an attitude, mumbling something under under her breath. After about 10 minutes she returned, saying "have you decided yet", in a sarcastic tone. We ordered the food and drinks, which were nice as always, although it was spoilt due to the waitresses' attitude. We've always enjoyed the food, but we won't be coming back, due to the attitude of the waitress. Completely uncalled for!

Love this place! The staff are soooo accommodating, the vibe is lively and warm, food is really good and the coffee is hot! Might be a bit of a trip to get there depending where you start, however you can go to nearby Tatton Park for a stroll after!

Great coffee, food, atmosphere and service! Loved this place and so happy I found it!

A lovely spot for a cake and coffee mid-ride, food menu looks very tempting, might try the breakfast next time!

Excellent food drink service lovely atmosphere in a beautiful building in a lovely setting will definitely be back 😊

Lovely cafe to come to. Staff were friendly once you had their attention. It wasn’t busy but they seemed to chat behind the bar more than anything. Lovely selection of food and cakes but not great if you’re vegan/plant based. Two items on the menu that are vegan and none of the cakes were. Quite disappointing.

What a fabulous location , we sat in the sunshine and drank iced latte. Coming back for lunch soon. Lovely waitress too.

Lovely hidden gem. The coconut cake was moist, delicious.

Great place to cycle to and have a snack, little bit more expensive than other stops I go to but still really nice and one of the best eggs Benedict I’ve had. I will be visiting again soon

After being pointed to a table people had just left from, we were notified it would be cleaned-no problem as it was busy so we took a seat. After 10 minutes, we requested the tables was wiped and pots cleared and if we could order. We were told they didn’t know we had sat down and it was someone different we needed to order with. Finally the one staff member who could take order came over to take our order and advised we could only order drinks, food orders would be taken later. We received our drinks promptly, but still unable to order food. Eventually food order was taken, by the same one staff member After 1hr of being there our food arrived, where a large full English has a tiny amount of beans (24 to be exact as we counted due to how shocked we were) a after asking if it was normal and if we could have a few more, they brought us some over…. Time to pay… realised we had been charged for the extra beans!! A very expensive breakfast place where I would only recommend if you have 2hours to kill while waiting. Everyone ok tables around us had been waiting over an hour also…

Excellent service. The food was well presented and fabulous to eat. I had the vegitarian breakfast and fresh coffee. Just perfect

Lovely breakfast/brunch spot in Mobberley. Great place to stop on a bike ride. Indoor and outdoor seating.

A lovely quaint cafe / coffee shop in the middle of idilic countryside. The brunch, bakes and bevs were all delicious - hungover from Manchester Pride we really couldn’t have asked for more! Everything was fresh and flavoursome on my vegetarian breakfast. Would be a great place to stop off on a bike ride, so we will return for sure.

Gorgeous little cafe and bar. Lovely food, good service, fantastic for tea and cake or brunch.

I went into this cafe as a solo female cyclist and wasn't received very well. At the counter, I requested a tea and a menu. I was asked if I had a seat yet. I pointed to the only table available, able to seat a large group. I was immediately told I couldn't have that table as it was for a group of people rather than just one. I was left to stand after being told they would serve me once a smaller table became available. A better approach to this situation would have been to offer the larger table whilst it was not needed for any other customer with a request that I could be moved once a smaller table became available. I would have obliged as this is a compromise between good customer relations and being economic. But the immediate dismissal from the staff member highlighted a sad but ever present attitude in society of discrimination against solo diners or solo beings for that matter. A classic example of bums on seats being more important than customer rapport. I walked out as my custom felt unwanted. A solo diner one week could have brought a big group of friends the next week. Food for thought.

Cosy little place with great selection of food, catering for our slightl change to what we wanted. Can't wait to go back.

Beautiful location tucked away in the Cheshire countryside. It's quaint & quirky inside and the chef is excellent. Nice local service with the owners always on site. Pro Tip; try and go outside of the peak hours especially weekends for best service ...

It’s taken me a while to write this as we visited on the 8th July for a birthday family brunch. Staff really rude and snobby (they work or own a cafe at the end of the day get over yourselves!) didn’t even say happy birthday to us were more interested in telling us the charge for bringing your own birthday cake. All staff acted like we were a major inconvenience to them, I mean it’s not like we were paying customers or anything, haha. Food mediocre at best to be honest! I can get this anywhere and 1000% wouldn’t return.

Hugely underwhelming. Picturesque location all it has going for it. Staff and service aloof at best, rude at worst. Ordered additional drinks which never arrived yet were still put on the bill. Eggs Benedict bland, hollandaise lacked any punch and muffin so thick it was under done and made the dish feel starchy and heavy. Eggs perfectly runny just about saved it but wouldn't return especially when service makes you feel like you are an inconvenience.

Great breakfast and would highly recommended for the food, which is the main event. However, the service is now shocking and the owner really needs to address this with the staff who are frankly rude and don’t show any courtesy to the customers. We really like going here but the last few times have been the same, some staff look like they hate being there and the others are totally inexperienced.

Nice food and relaxed atmosphere.

Lovely buzzy spot for Sunday brunch.

Great brunch, Polo was chilled and reasonably priced.

Wonderful food and service, as always!

I don't want to say too much because next time I go it will be packed. But it is the best place by miles. Superb.

A wonderful place for breakfast

The food when it came was top quality. It took half an hour from when we sat down (had booked) for anyone to even come and take a drinks order. Lots of overheard conversations about the wait. I don’t know if something was wrong in the kitchen but there wasn’t much food coming out. 52 minutes from sitting down to first dish arriving. And this was a special breakfast so we were starving. Portions variable. My breakfast huge, ‘large’ milkshakes weren’t very large at all, I dread to think what small ones looked like. Staff seemed harassed. As I say, the food was excellent but the whole thing needs to be spot on at these prices.

Go here for lunch regularly,it is simply very good the staff are lovely and the food is great .

Good location and nice vibe to the place. Friendly and attentive staff. Predictably expensive and (very) small portions for the price paid. Bit disappointing. Will try some other dishes next time.

Lovely place . Well worth a visit

Came here this morning for breakfast. Really quaint place, service was excellent and cooked breakfasts were too. Ingredients tasted fresh and probably locally sourced. It was a beautiful day so we sat outside. Reasonably priced too for the quality of food & service. We will be back and highly recommend.

Sweet little place tucked away in Mobberley. Nice surrounding area, pleasant interior and seating area outside. We came for lunch and had the shawarma special. The staff are friendly, the food was average - not at all authentic, more like curry flavoured chicken. They said the salad was fatoush but don’t think they know what that means since it was basically just giant lettuce leaves! Nonetheless, it wasn’t bad tasting. We would come back and try another dish. We gave the place the benefit of the doubt… just for the ambiance.

Called in last week to find they had shut early as it had been quiet all day . However lady saw us ,reopened especially for us and bought us tea and a delicious flapjack. Wouldn't get that in many places. It is a lovely place . On the Mobberley to Ashley road

It's the second time I have visited and both times were fab. It is such a lovely setting and the staff are very welcoming, friendly and helpful. The food is incredible and the cakes are delicious. I highly recommend this place.

I had the Full English, the bacon, sausages, egg and black pudding were all cooked perfectly and tasted fabulous. I was asked how much water I wanted in my black coffee to get the correct strength, again, perfect. Nice location, great selection of perfectly cooked food and the service just as good 👍

This is my favourite coffee shop. We live locally and visit regularly and I am never disappointed. The building is quaint, well kept and inviting. The staff are always well presented and polite. The food and drink is fantastic. This place is well worth a visit.

Just what you want, lovely fresh cooked food, local suppliers, nice atmosphere, drinks and staff.

Been before loved it will go again, nice atmosphere.

A blustery day, so we were first in for a cuppa & cake. Delicious. Great Service, as always, & a lovely choice of cakes.

Visited here for a breakfast.A lovely quirky place very friendly. We had the English breakfast and the vegetarian one. Was lovely wound definitely recommend a visit.

Bit pretentious and on this occasion service very slow but can't help but like the place I'd go back

Amazing service and absolutely delicious food. Had a couple of options for non meat eater which was lovely. An array of cakes too A very cosy and quaint cafe. A hidden gem for sure.

Had the full English breakfast for brunch on a February weekday morning. Food quality and preparation is excellent and you can vary what you get if you have a preference. Really good and pleasant service, nice ambience. Parking is a bit limited. Whilst it was quiet when we arrived (10 am) it got very busy very quickly.

Lovely place for breakfast. Friendly staff, was sorry I had to leave early. I will definitely be back soon

Lovely place with really nice food. Very popular therefore very busy. Too many cyclists

We stopped here for brunch in December, I didn’t go inside due to the risk of Covid, so we sat outside ( yes it was cold but sunny) at one of the lovely tables. They even brought out cushions and blankets to help us to stay warm. There was a slight delay to order food as they were very busy. But once we could order, the food came quickly and was delicious. They brought a water bowl for our dog and he had some yummy locally produced sausages. I had the pancakes and they were great. There is limited parking outside the cafe, but we managed to get a spot. We enjoyed watching the local birds darting in and out of the bushes nearby. It’s a peaceful but popular spot with good food. I hope we’ll return one day.

Wonderful food. Pancakes with banana and Nutella perfect. Service good. Toilet area clean but in need of a makeover. Upstairs seating area and ground floor which has no steps.

Lovely little place for lunch or coffee, nice atmosphere, clean and welcoming. Food is generally very pleasant and good enough to he a repeat customer. I would say it's a shame theyve introduced the 'discretionary' service charge as I don't really understand this and I have to say puts us off a little. If a service charge is truly discretionary then it wouldnt be there in the first place. I understand they state it's removable but obviously this can generally be awkward for both parties and shouldn't really be there in the first place if it's that much of a 'choice'. Especially in this current climate it can add on quite a considerable amount to a meal of which many wouldnt feel comfortable removing even though they would rather not have it on.

Great food and service in a lovely building. Its not cheap by any means but high quality

We enjoyed lovely coffee (extra hot as we had requested) in this comfortable and out of the ordinary cafe. We then enjoyed a delicious lunch, Eggs Florentine and Beetroot and Goat’s Cheese tart with salad. Both were really delicious, cooked and prepared perfectly and made lunch a treat. Service was excellent, everywhere clean and welcoming. Would definitely recommend and visit again!

Visited a few months back and really appreciated the environment and good food/coffee. This indeed prompted a return visit today for a small breakfast with extra black pud and a latte. Still reeling from the bill: £17.41 🙈 need I say more?

Food standard and service are still good but now they are charging a 10% service charge on your bill. This is Not a Hotel in NYC, it's a CAFE !! Get a grip !! Being going here for years and since the change in ownership...

Having read previous reviews expectations were quite low,imagine my surprise when greeted with friendly, welcoming service, really exceptional breakfast (full english & granola), piping hot drinks and swift delivery. Literally faultless. This may be a one off but I am certainly looking forward to another...

Great location, clean, friendly and fabulous food! We ordered breakfast and it didn’t disappoint. Definitely recommend and will be returning.

We ordered a take away breakfast naps option for a wedding at Owen house. We were told they would be separated into bride and groom boxes. Sadly they weren’t and it took us ages to figure them out and this led to my wedding party...