Bean and Brew in South Oxfordshire

It is simply not as good as it used to be. For the second time in as many months we had the most appalling service and stale cakes. The staff were unbelievably slow and they did not pay attention to our order. Only half the order was delivered and we had to remind them about the rest. More than that, they did not have some of the items advertised on special. There was no coronation chicken and no jacket potatoes. Having had 2 similar experiences recently, we will not be returning.

We discovered the Bean & Brew by accident one Saturday afternoon. It's hidden down a pedestrian only side street in Wallingford. From outside we could see it was a popular venue as it was packed with customers that afternoon. We collared the last available table. Being late on Saturday they'd sold out of some items on their extensive menu. However we were very impressed with the scones, toasted sandwiches and cakes on offer. So impressed were we that day, with the service and food, that I decided to return today as a birthday tea treat. This Monday afternoon the cafe wasn't as busy and my Wife and I enjoyed ciabatta, toasted sandwiches and rich cappuccino sponge cake. The, generally young, staff are efficient and attentive without being intrusive. Food arrives promptly and hot food is well cooked. Whenever we are in Wallingford we will be returning to the Bean & Brew.

Cosy cafe with a good choice of soft drinks. However the service was appallingly slow - 25 minutes to serve up a couple of toasties and it probably would have been longer if I hadn't told them our parking was close to expiry. Cheese in one toastie wasn't properly melted but the other one was fine. Toasties tasted nice but nothing special. Other customers were also complaining about the wait for food.

For a busy saturday everything seemed to be well organised. Was informed of a 10/15min food wait by the young lad behind the counter. friendly service, good coffee and a delicious toastie! Will be returning!!

Third visit and whatever you order it takes way too long. Appears to be run by teens who are really not bothered about customers.

My previous review was awful, but credit where credit is due, we went back this week & had a good experience. It was relatively busy (upstairs was closed off) but the service & food was good.

My wife and myself went in for a bite to eat and a tea and coffee .This sounds like a simple order but not here.The coffee arrived first and later on the tea arrived but no milk which I had to go and get .My bacon toastie arrived next but after a long wait my wife's food arrived I had nearly finished mine by then so we sent her's back and got our money back.I have not had such bad service for a long time but will not be visiting this place again.

Went in and sat upstairs, wasn’t crazy busy but had kids with us as advertised toys upstairs. Got up there, filthy dirty, every table full of the last customers left overs. Went downstairs to order at the till, about 6 girls all stood there and didn’t acknowledge me. All had their backs to me, stood eating cake and just messing about. Was so unprofessional. Then went to order, I asked for three items and apparently didn’t have anything on the menu. I asked for soup - Nope. I asked for jacket potato - Nope and then I settled and said ‘I will just have a scone and a tea then please’ again - Nope. No sorry, some the staff giggled and I should of left then. So I just ordered my family food and drinks and didn’t get anything for myself and told my husband il grab a Greggs pastry on the way. Well over half an hour later, still No sign of just a ham/cheese toastie and tuna ciabatta. Went down to ask to now take away, as taking to long as hired a boat and got to leave. She didn’t apologise and said it won’t be to much longer. Another ten minutes pass, at this point Iv had enough, I go down and she passes me a tiny box, I say is that all the food. ‘O no we haven’t done the ciabatta yet it will be another ten minutes’ I replied ‘ I want my money back then’. All staff won’t even come to the till, all whispering and just stood in the corner. Eventually she knew I wanted my money back as the other staff has whispered what had gone on, she just typed the amount and handed me the machine. Didn’t speak, no apology, was so rude. Not an ounce for customer service in any of your staff. We left and they all just stood sniggering and eating more cake. Your staff need to improve massively, they didn’t clean, didn’t smile, didn’t hardly speak and was dam right rude. I’m still waiting for my refund for the ciabatta (money has not reached my account yet) properly will be another issue. Your cafe will be out of business if you don’t improve your staff and customer service, you have Greggs and Costa just outside, who was quick, tasty and smiley. Won’t be back ever.

Worst experience in a long time. Waited 40 minutes for 2 toasties. Still hadn't arrived, so I asked for my money back. Customer service, Hygiene poor. Won't ever visit again or recommend! Saturday staff seemed to be run by 17 year olds with no idea how to run a cafe/restaurant!!

I often pop in here when I'm passing the place is fairly small but cosy staff are very friendly and helpful always enjoy if you have to take your little kids they've got a upstairs what's perfect for kids to be out of the way

Slow service, mediocre food, cardboard cup - Neveragain!!

Serous attention needed on the toilets. Not very clean 😕

We usually stop here for our lunch & it's usually quite good but unfortunately today was a bad day for Bean & Brew they got our order mixed up & when they tried to rectify it it still came back as the wrong order when they eventually got it right it was an under done toastie which we didn't enjoy ,what a shame.

The coffee and service was extremely pleasant and the young man who served me was so handsome and polite

My partner had been to this cafe a while ago and recommended we meet here. I was the first to arrive and did note the sign on the door "please be patient, due to short staff and training staff". No problem I thought as I had been a waitress previously too. Walked in and there were tables available. I went to the till to order a drink but was ignored. I asked the young girl who was doing the coffee maker if it was table service or order at the till but was completely ignored (I may as well have been invisible). I decided to give the benefit of the doubt, took a menu from the side and sat down, hoping to ask a passing waitress. There were 4 young girls working and seemed to be no senior manager to assist with customer service or manage them. I was still completely ignored by all. So I walked out and met my partner outside. We went to Coffee #1 instead, where there was excellent service!! We won't bother coming back again and would not recommend either.

Nice little café with friendly staff in a quiet pedestrian street location, with a mix of sofa and table seating. The falafel club sandwich was lovely and a very generous portion size, plus a plant based milk shake.

We bought a pot of tea that did not resemble tea, so we asked for another teabag. We were told bluntly to buy another teabag ( ie the price of another cup of tea ). We were then ignored. We are both in our 70s and will not venture through your unwelcoming doors ever again. We didn’t drink your watery offering, and suggest you re- evaluate your teabags in relation to the size of your teapots……and remind your staff that customers are what keeps them in a job. So I see that you are saying that there was a misunderstanding. If that was the case, how come your supervisor didn’t check on us to see if we were ok? We were ignored. She knew exactly what we were asking. We are not stupid.

The coffee was good and staff were happy to supply a jug of water too. Food was nicely presented and arrived in good time but no milk for the coffee and took nearly 10 minutes for it to arrive (we were upstairs). The tray that the food came on was really dirty - I suggested it should be wiped down! Toilets could have been much cleaner - the bin was broken and overflowing so not sure if there are regular checks. The two young girls 'on duty' on a Saturday didn't stand a chance of keeping up with a busy service. A shame, as Bean and Brew used to be our 'go to' in Wallingford but we haven't been for quite a while and it's definately not the same standard as before (looking tired and in need of a coat of paint although food OK) wonder if it has changed hands?

The staff were courteous but the coffee was the worst I have ever tasted. I had to drink some water and get a drink from Waitrose to get the awful taste out of my mouth. The atmosphere was chaotic, the toilet was filthy and did not inspire any confidence in me that the kitchen was hygienic and safe. I would avoid.

Not sure if we picked a bad day but lady serving was less than enthusiastic, welcoming words were “if you want food there’s a wait” ordered coffee, discourteous response. Waited a long time for the coffee, which to be fair was pretty good. Table was dirty had to ask for it to be cleaned. Don’t think we’ll be going back.

Friendly staff. Great hot chocolate but sadly very disappointing lunch - ordered the cheese and ham toastie for £6.50- the thinnest S/W I've ever had - wafer thin bread/ cheese and ham- ingredients tasted cheap especially the bread ! A bit stingy with the quality and quantity. Left hungry!

Every time when I am in Ewelme in holiday I go here to get my coffee and something to nibble on. Love this place. Good food, great coffee. My Mum joined me this time. Thanks Mel for a lovely talk today!

We stayed in the area last week and were looking forward to breakfast at Bean and Brew. When we walked into the Cafe we first looked at the crepe menu and were sternly told " we are not making them today". We asked a few questions about the menu and the lady behind the counter was extremely rude and unwelcoming. We ordered food and coffee but two of our party walked out because they felt unwanted even though the cafe was almost empty. The food we received was okay but we couldn't wait to leave the place. I'm sure the person taking the orders could not have been the owner because a business owner would not treat customers this way. We would never go back. We were there on Tuesday May 7th around 9:30am.

Brilliant coffee shop look small, but there is plenty of seating upstairs

Ein niedliches kleines Lokal mit einfachem englischem Ambiente. Wir hatten Kaffee / Tee und Sandwiches. Sehr lecker und das war das Wichtigste.

Loved this place. Great staff and easy interaction. Good choice of "light" food.

Lovely friendly coffee and tea room. Lots of seating. Will call in again on our next trip through Wallingford.

Lovely little shop tucked away. Coffee was very nice. Support local!

Very nice coffee. Coronation Chicken ciabatta with tomato was fab. Staff were great too!

Visited Wallingford today and came here as recommended on Google for best coffee in area. Staff behind counter didn’t acknowledge us though quiet and our table was dirty they were chattering behind counter, lady who took my order wasn’t friendly towards me at all. Only ordered two coffees and she forgot my order instantly. While we waited I could hear swearing behind the till between staff.When coffee arrived it tasted awful and hence we left quickly and coffee left not drank. Would not return I’m afraid.

Good atmosphere, helpful staff and tasty lunch.

It's okay. The service can feel a bit strained as they are consistently short staffed. Food reflects this also. It's a shame as this place has such potential to be a really sweet cafe.

Disappointed by all the rude reviews here! When we walked in, the door was shut but they were very apologetic and it was quite funny. The people were lovely and the food was first class. It was also rather cheap. I got the vegetarian club sandwich and it was sooo yummy!! Falafel and chutney etc, delicious. I shared half of my club sandwich with my mum and she shared some of her chicken salad with me and it was lovely. Someone else got the chibatta and that was nice too We also brought a dog in and they were welcoming. We had tea and a frappe and all were lovely. Enough tea for 4 cups in 1 pot! Also had, as dessert, a scone, which came with cream jam and butter which looked lovely, carrot cake and a brownie. All were great. Lovely staff and nice atmosphere.

Croissant reheated in microvave so soft and not crispy, no jam offered. No offer to remedy. A fiver... just expect a bit more. People in this industry should be more service oriented to charge the prices they do.

I have not tried the food yet, but their coffee is delicious (latte with almond milk!). A very cute place with nice staff and a great chef - Fausta! ❤️

Coffee roasted on the premises. Had a good cortado and staff member bought a glass of water with it. Nice atmosphere. If you like quality coffee, go here.

Wanted to have lunch here but we were ignored by the numerous staff just a couple of feet from us by the counter so we left. Shame as it looked a nice place.

Great service with a smile! Young ginger lady behind the counter was rely friendly. She was a lot of help with everything from an awkward vegan order I didn’t know what I was supposed to be doing with to promptly opening the door she could see I would have struggled with. Service was great !!! The food was great!!! The coffee great!!! The price ….. needs a bit of work.

Just popped in for a coffee had a work conference call to take on the laptop was a grate spot for it. Clean, tidy , good coffee grate staff. Very friendly would definitely recommend.

Warm cosy atmosphere and decor. Good tasting coffee - didn’t get to try the cakes but they looked delicious. Dog friendly too!

I rated this cafe 1 out of 5 as the service was poor, our food was cold, we waited for an hour and food wasn’t worth the wait. Our food was an hour as manager had to go to Waitrose to buy the ingredients, if we had known this we would have gone and got food from Waitrose ourself. We were not informed about this. Overall I would not go there again and if you are looking to go, I would say don’t waste your time.

Edit to owner: Denial, fantastic. Not a single word below is incorrect, but i suspect you know this, due to your failure to specify or mediate. First ever negative review. Lovely coffee. But unacceptable service that is so far below par it makes Costa suddenly seem amazing. Girls there this morning were slow, miserable, unfriendly, and 0 enthusiasm in delivering customer service. Gave me half of the dish that I had ordered, saying nothing about the other half. Not until I went to enquire myself was I told 'we don't have any'. I advised that it would be courteous to have let me know before throwing it infront of me, to be met with silence and blank stares from the staff. As a local, im very disappointed. I work remotely from here sometimes and spend a fair bit of money, but now wont be returning. Advise hiring staff who give a monkeys about their job and don't drag the whole place down.

Nice place to pop in, I had to clear my table, seems popular with parents and it's dog friendly.

In my own humble opinion the coffee tasted sludgy.

Organised to have my baby shower at Bean and Brew recently. The communication before and after was excellent and they were very accommodating with decorations and last minute changes. The food was nice on the day, and service was good. I had a lovely day, and the room booked was perfect for us. Thank you!

Excellent coffee and friendly service.

We booked a table for a work lunch. The Bean & Brew were very accommodating taking a pre-order beforehand to allow us all to get back to work on time. Thank you to Barnaby, Imelda and the rest of the team.

Very friendly staff and great coffee!! No food bought

there was this worker his name was kartel. very funny chap. gave food very quick and the quality of the food was just immaculate. ive been going there everysingle day ever since, hopefully some discounts start coming through for me as i am a daily customer.

Good local cafe. Perhaps could do with a bit wider food selection. Most recent visit on 14 September 2023: gorgeous cheese and ham toasties! Still holding out for those jacket spuds though - even moreso with hot fillings as we move into Autumn and Winter! Edited to add response to B&B: Yes, I love a jacket spud! Beans, chilli, coronation chicken - all the usual offerings. Maybe as we are now into Spring a nice Quiche and Salad offering would go down well in the warmer months too?

Nothing quite starts my Monday mornings off then the cappuccino I get from bean and brew Such a treat to go there Staff are lovely Cappuccino is the best in Wallingford I absolutely love the cappuccino It is an absolutely outstanding cappuccino serving coffee shop I’ll be back in on Monday for my favourite, the cappuccino Edit, in regards to the reply I will most definitely be back on Monday for the cappuccino

Really enjoyed our Afternoon Tea at the Bean and Brew! Accommodating 15 people with plenty of food, drink, helpful staff and delicious cakes and scones at a fair price! Would recommend highly if, Afternoon Tea is what you’re looking for! Pete

Stopped for a cup of tea in a comfy chair during Bunkfest. Warm welcome and friendly atmosphere... Dogs welcome and children's story books available.

A really pleasant little coffee shop, right in the centre of Wallingford. Open on a Sunday morning and a cut above the usual "franchised" places.

Service was incredibly slow and unfriendly.

Whilst on holiday in the area we visited Bean & Brew on Saturday 12th August around 1:30pm. My wife initially entered to grab a table while I popped in the sweet shop next door. When I arrived with the kids my wife was seated at a table just inside the door. She informed that she had been told there was a 20 minute wait for food, which she'd said was no issue. Whilst looking at the menu I looked over to the open plan kitchen area to see one woman walking about in what seemed to be a temper, chat briefly with what I presume was the cook and then march over to our table. When I use the word march I say this as she walked over at pace with a face like thunder, no excuse me or hello and simply said, "just to let you know it's a 30 minute wait now for food". After this my wife and I looked at each other and left. We were both quite shocked by this behaviour. It seemed like the lady was irritated we'd been happy to wait for food. 30 minutes is a wait but expressed to us in a normal polite manner we'd have made a decision whether to wait or go elsewhere. Bear in mind this cafe is over two floors, the downstairs was completely empty aside from one woman and her child. Maybe the upstairs was rammed and I get that there can be delays in food arriving, that wasn't the issue at all. The above woman who had been downstairs with her kid, approached me in Waitrose, about 15 minutes later, which is just round the corner, stating that she was amazed I kept my cool and said she didn't understand how customers could be treated that way. To be honest it was just very very bizarre interaction and the staff were busy and stressed, I get that we are all human. I will add that in our haste to leave we left behind a model plane we had just purchased which the staff hung onto and were polite and friendly when my wife went back. I am loathe to write what seems a bad review, but the above is just a true account of our visit which left us feeling quite upset.

Great quality and taste. Takes a while for your Order to come on a busy day.

We came to Wallingford looking for a nice afternoon tea with scones and found it in this cute little cafe. When we got there we saw many locals enjoying the tea, which was a good sign for us. The staff was very friendly and we were not disappointed. They offered different scones with clotted cream and a very nice jam. If we had stayed longer in the town we probably would have come again and tried some more of their tasty treats.

Very nice cup of coffee. The staff were very friendly too

Great atmosphere with fast internet and a quiet place for a video conference.

An excellent and delightful place to stop off for a superb coffee and a cake. Staff exceptionally friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend. Please do pop in.

Unfortunately when we visited they had a shortage of food for our requirements on the day so we went elsewhere but there seems to be a lovely atmosphere there and on another day, who knows?

Waited far to long to be served then another 20 mins before food was served To find they put some foul vinegar over my salad ...why do people do that ? It should be left to the individual to decide what they want on it all tastes are not the same

An independent local business. Excellent coffee and cakes etc. Well positioned in the center of Wallingford. What's not to like?

We were in Wallingford on a ancestry visit as my wife maiden name is Wallingford. Stopped in for coffee. One of my favorite coffee shops on our trip. Staff was awesome. Came back a second time for breakfast which was also awesome. This place is one of the reasons I tell people at home that I could live in Wallingford. Truly one of the many highlights of our trip.

Excellent home made cake and a lovely mellow Americano made this an enjoyable visit.

The staff were all super lovely and welcoming and it was a relaxed and chilled environment. Although the tea selection was super small and all tea bags (no loose leaf) and the cake options were limited also (the scones were a little strange) and most the seats you had to brush crumbs off before sitting down.

Good hot coffee tasted like coffee not milky like a lot you get!

Lovely example of a Cafe, light and bright. We were at ground floor level and thoroughly enjoyed pot of tea with generously filled fresh sandwiches, and scones jam & clotted cream

On a day trip to Wallingford, we were recommended this coffeehouse and how happy we were to have gone. The cream tea was good, the service and atmosphere was great, very friendly staff and a wonderfully appointed place to rest up for refreshments. You can either be inside or out and whatever your age you'll enjoy Bean & Brew.

An excellent independent coffee shop.

Focus on your customer instead of an empty table first. We walked in, found a nice table near the window where a couple just left. We asked the staff twice and waited for 15mins at least to have the table clean up. The first staff came and took away the dirty plates, cutlery on the table but didn’t give the table a wipe. To be fair the food is pretty good but the whole waiting there sitting at a dirty table my 6 years old try to avoid her sleeves touching the table put me off completely. Will never walk back there.

Wonderful coffee and toasties, but lots of other menu choices too, lovely atmosphere and great service, and an upstairs area for when it’s really busy which it was when we visited. A lovely old building but modern in every other way. Well worth giving this tea room/ coffee shop a go. Thanks so much!

Great hospitality and excellent coffee and food for the meeting we had in the upstairs room, we will definitely be back : )

A pleasant experience worth travelling for. When visiting Wallingford, we always search out this cafe. The food is lovely and the staff are very friendly but it’s the general ambience that brings us back. We always sit outside and it always seems to be sunny!

I come here a lot and have only ever had great experiences, apart from yesterday unfortunately. We came in the afternoon and were served by a rather pushy lady who made me feel a bit uncomfortable like I should have been buying more. When the food arrived I was disappointed again by very dry chicken. I've still given 4 stars as I'm hoping this was just a bad day since the food and staff are normally brilliant.

I’m well and truly confused by the unpredictable experiences I have in this café. I love the food, the décor is very comfy (although I hope the bathroom wallpaper is a bit concerning), and usually the staff are delightful – always helping out and making sure to serve with a smile. But my experience yesterday was so completely the opposite. I’m appalled at the behaviour of one of the young ladies that served me. She was incredibly blunt, if not mildly hostile. She was unwelcoming to the point that I wasn’t sure if I would return because I felt profoundly unwanted, which was exacerbated by the fact that the service was abysmally slow. Thankfully I was convinced by my son to not write off the whole establishment because when I went in again today the staff were back to their usual friendly selves. I’m hoping that yesterday’s ill manners were a blip because it would be a shame if this young lady tarnished an otherwise lovely establishment and the hard work of the other employees.

Best coffee I’ve had in a long time

Coffee is always good, the staff are very friendly , tasty cakes, homemade soup, excellent sandwiches, chiabattas etc.

Place is cosy and lovely. The service was extremely slow, who takes 15/20 minuits for a coffee and a cake? Won't be coming here again.

Goede koffie. Lekkere lunches Gezellige en vriendelijke bediening.

Really friendly staff and a lovely atmosphere. Lovely cakes and a comfortable environment.

Lovely cafe! I had a well made fresh panini and a GREAT coffee delivered by friendly welcoming staff. Cool atmosphere, I will be back.

Had a lovely afternoon tea with a large group of colleagues from work. We were very impressed by how organised Bean & Brew were having all our afternoon tea set out for us upon arrival. Sandwiches were fresh and well-made, cakes and scones were plentiful and we had great service with the teas & coffees being served quickly. All in all, we had a lovely time. Thank you Bean & Brew.

This is a lovely place to go for lunch or just a cuppa. The staff are very friendly, the rooms have great character and I particularly love the upstairs rooms where you can sit and chat while having lunch. Good choice of drinks and the food menu is also great for lunches too - nice paninis, salads and beans on toast all of which I've tried in the past. The tables are always very clean and there is never anyone trying to hurry you away which is really welcoming. Will be back again soon.

What a shame I can't write a more positive review but the service we received today was really poor. I ordered two coffees and two teacakes and eventually the coffees arrived but no teacakes. After twenty minutes I went to enquire where they were. The order had been overlooked and I was assured that they would be toasted straight away. After another long wait I went to the counter yet again to be told they were in the toaster but unfortunately I spotted that they had omitted to put the switch down. Waiting again they arrived and had obviously just been shown the insides of the toaster as they were anaemic and unappetising. We were there for over 45 minutes for coffee and a teacake. There seemed to be a general air of apathy. I am afraid we won't be visiting this cafe again. There are plenty of others to choose from in Wallingford.

Didn't want to leave a negative review, but having read some of the others on here, seems the team are still struggling with certain issues. Wanted to support local, but a 30 min wait for two pre made toasties to be heated seems a bit...

Let me tell you about this place I stumbled upon - it was down-to-earth, the staff were super friendly (I mean, they practically bent over backwards to make sure we were happy), and it was the perfect spot for my inner child. Yes, that's right, folks, it's child-friendly! We pre-ordered afternoon tea, and boy, were we in for a treat. They made us feel like royalty with a fancy table cloth and everything. The food was delicious, and I swear those scones were still warm from the oven. I scarfed down a feta salad, sipped on a cappuccino, and indulged in a slice of heavenly chocolate cake. It was definitely an experience for my taste buds. And let's not forget about the board games. Who knew playing Monopoly with your friends could be so fun in public? We spent a couple of cozy hours battling it out and laughing our butts off. All in all, it was a fantastic experience, and I can't wait to go back. Thanks for the great service and the yummy treats, guys!

My flat white was not worth the 15 min wait.

We had a late lunch here…. Pleasant helpful Staff, good food and variety. Excellent locally made cakes…. Would recommend that you try it…. Will return……

Great coffee and food, brilliant service, and very reasonably priced! I will certainly be going back

Pleasant enough staff and a lovely atmosphere. However, the drink selection had reduced since last time we visited and there was a distinct lack of greenery in the bacon and brie sandwich

Only stopped for a quick coffee but staff were happy to do a babyccino for kids and quickly cleared a table for us. My flat white was great.

Me and a friend came in earlier and ordered 2 toasties each. We ordered for takeaway otherwise we would’ve said something when we were there. I bought the club sandwich which was roughly £8.50… stated it came with salad and tortilla chips. Opened it up when we got home and there was just a bit of bread, a slither of chicken, way too much cheese and a little bit of Mayo. No salad or crisps as they said. We both agreed we could have made it a lot tastier at home! The tuna Mayo ciabatta had little to no tuna in it. I’m really dissapointed with our breakfast trip to Bean and Brew.

Had a great feta salad, cappuccino and delicious chocolate homemade cake, definitely fantastic experience, spent couple of cozy hours playing board games , thank you

Thank you Bean & Brew, for the warm welcome, and great food, the homemade lemon cake was absolutely delicious 😋

I popped in for a coffee and ended up staying for lunch! Great menu and tempting homemade cakes. Lovely welcoming atmosphere with tasteful decor - I will definitely be back with friends.

Fantastic place with homemade food

Coffee was incredibly weak and lacking in flavour. We waited 20 minutes for a latte and espresso. Won’t be going back.

We always prefer to use a local independent if we can. This place used to be better. The food and coffee is good but our table needed cleaning and the service was slow. Fewer people than usual so a bit quiet.