Birds on Irongate in Derby

We've been coming to Bear a few years now and we usually love it!… however, over the past few months we’ve noticed it’s just not the same service. 👎 One of the visits to mention was last week. We popped in to pick up a coffee to go. It seemed pretty quiet… yet it took a lady 15 minutes to make us one coffee? It looked like she was also attended to another drinks tab?..yet there was another lady stood putting glasses away…. Why is your staff find cleaning glasses more important than a paying customer? Do these staff members not want a business to thrive? We were stood there so long. When we finally got the coffee, we got no apology for the insanely long wait. In fact it looked like we inconvenienced her. Perhaps a lesson in customer service would benefit a few of the staff? Such a shame! :(

Absolutely atrocious service. The staff have artificial greetings for when you enter and that's about the extent of it. They give you the wrong order and then it's your problem. They tell you, you made the mistake and that nothing can be done. Of all the places closing in Derby, this place should be boarded up or at least have it's floor staff gutted and replaced with people who are willing to solve problems for their paying customers, rather than making out they're the problem. I wouldn't bother with the Derbion branch either, they're even worse, rude staff which can't listen to what customers are ordering.

My go-to place for amazing tater tots and some chill time while out and about in Derby

The best place in Derby to have a good coffee and also with very good sweets.

Can't review it as in the 20 minutes of being there I didnt get served.

Had a very good meal here, as part of a work retreat. They served 90 of us very efficiently. The food was very good

Lovely cafe, great food, good place to eat and chat

Good spot for brunch if you are in the city centre...

Great place, and you can even take your dog inside at the front.

I’ll always come here whenever I’m in Derby it’s a total gem of a spot. The coffee is great, breakfast always scuppers my hangovers and the staff are always delightful! Plus they have vegan / vegetarian options which always helps!

Best Espresso Martinis I’ve had in a long time.

Delicious food. Between us we had halloumi burger (with a gorgeous avocado mash), a cheese and bacon burger, turkish eggs, poached eggs and pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. All very, very good. Extremely quick service. We had a lovely corner table for five of us. A lively, welcoming place.

Much nicer than the Derbion shop . Much more of an atmosphere & relaxing enviroment . Pleasant music but doesn't drown out conversation . Attentive staff . Will go again . Went to Derbion for the fist time the other week . Came out without a coffee as they were closing . Will not go there again . Shame really but there you go .

Wicked !! Turkish Eggs 🥚 awesome .. go there !

Brilliant food, very cosy place. Do recommend highly

Friendly and attentive staff, great coffee and speciality teas. Food is varied and good quality, if a little on the expensive side.

Gorgeous little upmarket coffee shop with great service, highly recommend 👌🏻

Lovely food and very efficient friendly staff

Absolutely lovely but would have liked to also see some lighter and healthier options on the menu.

Very quiet on a Friday night but beer was good

I love bear, the staff and chefs are always so kind and they always take great care with allergies so it’s always safe 💖

I'm a big fan of BEAR and their pancakes are absolutely delicious. Truly some of the best I've ever had. The staff are always lovely and speedy. I cannot recommend this place enough.

I really enjoyed the pancakes with fresh fruits (strawberry, banana, and whipped cream), but it hasn’t been available for a while. I was told by the staff that Bear has stopped serving fresh fruits, which really made me sad because that was the only thing on the menu that I really enjoyed. I’ve tried different items on the menu since then, but none of them have been able to meet up with the standard I got from the pancakes with fresh fruit. I really hope they bring it back because that was all I looked forward to when going for Sunday breakfast at Bear.

My favourite cafe in Derby. Great coffee and the food in the special menu is so delicious.

Good food but bit expensive. Still a great place to eat.

Was visiting before Dday service at the Cathedral . I love bears 🐻 menu choice ,accessibility for all of community as on one level ,great local events area , Toilets are lovely . The flapjack was great and nice brew of tea .

Breakfast and coffee are great 👍

Really good place to eat and drink. The coffee is very good. Recommend the long black. Staff are friendly and the service is good. And it's dog friendly. So really good place to go.

Excellent, informal place. Great food choice. Always the feta & red onion Shakshuka, with Chorizo, for me. Tasty, filling. Service always quick. Welcoming staff.

Very mediocre, place and vibes are nice but seems to be understaffed so the service was slow to the point where we picked up our own food from the counter (unfortunately it had already gone cold), food itself looks very pretty, but pretty bland, and possibly the worst French toast I've ever had. Tater tots were good. I've tried emailing, however the email address provided bounces back.

Relaxed vibe.. casual and comfortable. Great quality food and drink.

Fresh coffee and a tasty croissant

Food was very expensive for the quantity and quality served. I ordered avocado and pea smash which arrived on one small, thin piece of sourdough. It was missing the herbs and seeds that it stated on the menu and the tater tots we ordered were undercooked. Iced tea was very, very small for the price as well. For over £3, I expected more than just a teabag in a glass of water. Staff were friendly enough but food could be improved.

Absurdly over priced, eggs over cooked, too busy, tables too close together, slow service from bad tempered waitress, coffee, when it came, didn't even come with a spoon so presumably you're supposed to stir it with your finger.

Very relaxing my friend and i really enjoyed our visit.

Great place for a quick lunch. Vibrant atmosphere for saying our visit was at lunchtime.

Fantastic place! Dog friendly and lots of vegan and gluten free options! I don't personally drink coffee but my boyfriend said it was really nice. The nicest hashbrowns I have ever eaten!

I've observed some inconsistency in the closing times at this establishment, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. While I understand the benefit of occasionally closing earlier than scheduled, it seems to happen frequently. Consistency in operating hours is essential for customers planning their visits. It's my hope that the management will take this feedback constructively and consider reviewing their scheduling practices to ensure a more reliable experience for all patrons.

Ive just watched your chef in the open kitchen wearing what appeared to be fingerless cycling gloves touching all the food with his hands/gloves. Crack a raw egg, then hands in the salad, then in the cooked meat back to the salads, all with his dirty hands and gloves only recieving a wipe on his dirty towels and apron and not washing them over the course of the 30+ minutes I was observing. I wouldn't allow this dirty unkept man with unwashed hands and dirty non food safe gloves to even enter my kitchen.

I went today and was served by Elliana and she was brilliant. I wasn't sure what to order and she talked me through different options, she patient and super helpful. I go to bear often and would definitely recommend

Really good coffee, nice range of cakes and savoury food. Friendly staff and good service, nice atmosphere. Well worth heading to.

The food at BEAR is always lovely, and the coffee is some of the best in Derby, but the cosy vibe they seem to be going for is wrecked by the pounding music. A shame.

Excellent food, service was friendly, would definitely go back

Only called in for a coffee, which was excellent, didn't eat but the food looked amazing.

I normally love the Lebanese flatbread however, today I was really disappointed. They didn't include the hummus and pomegranate seeds, these are essential to add flavour, which really helps to enhance the dish. I basically just got a flatbread with tomatoes on. I don't think that is good enough. I also noticed my friend got the eggs benedict, which took ages to come and her poached egg was hard boiled! We didn't have time to complain as we were short of time as we were doing a virtual interactive game and had just stopped for a break. My other friend had a mesely amount of cream on her hot chocolate. Not what you expect for the prices of the food. The coffee was amazing though...as always.

Lovely little coffee shop, only had a Capuccino to go, but it was very nice. Atmosphere in the coffe shop was very rustic but artisan too.

Great meeting place, with a good range of food and drinks to keep things flowing

I had not been for a while and loved it. The staff was very good 👍

Fantastic place for coffee, probably the best I've tasted, so I subscribed to their service. Good is great too with friendly staff

Stopped for a quick coffee and toast. Friendly staff.

Lovely sourdough toast with avocado, poached eggs and streaky bacon. Perfect eggs. Really tasty and beautifully presented

My favourite place to have a coffee in town🖤.

This is a really lovely cafe to drop in to on Irongate, staff are super friendly and helpful

Really lovely cafe in a nice part of town. Food is quality, the decor is nice and it felt very homely on a Sunday morning

Great it opens early in the morning, so we could have breakfast. The coffee had a good taste, and there were vegan cakes and cinnamon swirls. Service was friendly and atmosphere was calm.

Having been a long time visitor of Bear (mostly the Derbion store) I was very disappointed with today’s service. Arrived as a party of 2 today at lunch time and was prepared to wait as it would be busy. The host immediately asked us if we’d booked (we hadn’t as you can’t book for <6 people online) and then told us that he’s fully booked for the next 2 hours. His attitude made him seem that he was adamant for us to leave. When I asked him specifically about how many tables are booked, he said a few. Then when I asked about the other unbooked tables he said it could take 5-30 mins. So I don’t understand why he didn’t just say that in the first place? We left as a result as we didn’t feel comfortable staying there. I understand it was a busy shift but there is no harm in being friendly with customers. I’ve personally noticed the attitude from the Bear staff in Iron Gate in general is reserved towards those of an ethnic minority so I’d suggest going to the Derbion Bear as they are much friendlier and accommodating.

We were declined to walk in but it says the opposite in your website! Less than 5 people can walk in. The place isn’t even full! Just change the bio in your website if your employees doesn’t accept walk ins 🤷🏼‍♀️ 8:30 PM 10/02/2024!

Booked for 20 people for a party, organising it was easy, staff were friendly and helpful. They were good with discussing food, I left some decorations with them in the day and they put them up for us! Really grateful, lovely atmosphere and great food 😄

Not had any food here yet but good service and good coffee.

Hgv driver delivering in Derby however road closures put me on the wrong side of town desperate to use toilet. I spoke to fi who allowed me to use the toilet. which was much appreciated. Thank you

Breakfast food was great can't fault , but drinks took forever. We had finished our food before the drinks even arrived! Despite asking them again when our food arrived . Understandably they was busy but should never be the case food is finished before drinks even arrive. Date of visit 25/11/23

Waited almost 30 minutes for poached eggs on toast, the store looks like it needs a refresh.

This is our go-to place in Derby! LOVE visiting Bear (especially recommend Later at Bear -- the food is delish).

We booked for a party of 10 but were given seating for 9 and told we would have to squash up on the sofa at our table. There was a suggestion of an extra table but that never appeared, we had to get an extra chair ourselves to give more room. We pre ordered our food, fair enough as we were a big party. We waited quite a while for a good, we could see it on the pass where it sat for ages before being delivered to our table, due to this some of the dishes were not very warm. I had the vegetarian breakfast and the hash browns were over cooked and quite greasy, maybe the oil needed changing, I don’t know.

Food always tasty and staff are friendly with quick service. Just need to make sure food comes to the table hot as I have a few hot meals that have been served cold in places.

Absolutely brilliant place. Dropped in on Saturday early evening for my daughter's 21st, we didn't have a booking as we'd planned to go elsewhere which was too busy but this wasn't an issue. We had a lovely evening, and the atmosphere was perfect. It wasn't too loud music wise, we could have a conversation as well as enjoy our night out. We didn't eat, although my friend did have cake, but the cocktails were amazing! So good we had to order more. The staff were brilliant, even sent us complimentary cocktails. Our party of 5 was extremely impressed and we will definitely be back for more! Even my younger daughter felt welcomed and comfortable as she struggles with loud and busy places. Would recommend 100%

Bear was ok. It was a nice big cafe with a good atmosphere. I live in London and was expecting the breakfasts to be cheaper than home but it was the same price. I got the full English and I watched it stay under the heat lamp for 10 mins as the other dishes were prepped so my food was pretty dehydrated and lukewarm by the time it got to me.

Nice deluxe café experience..They also serve beer/shots.

Nobody is happy to work there, no smiles on faces. Especially the guy who takes orders.

Delicious breakfasts, great coffee and customer service.

Cocktails were excellent. Service was fine. Food was overall quite good but the portions lacking for the price. The platter at £60 does not feed more than two people despite saying 2-4 sharing. We asked if there would be enough for us but the lady serving didn’t know how big the platter was or ask anyone else. Three sides ordered to make sure there was enough for five adults. Ordered Pulled beef and later told it wasn’t available, the Mac and a cheese was dry and, loaded fries should be loaded. Not just a sprinkle of bacon. Deserts were also unavailable, only ice cream available in November? £130 to feed five adults shouldn’t require us to find more food elsewhere afterwards. We previously enjoyed brunch and breakfast here and, the coffee is excellent. I just don’t think they are set up for dinner service. When comparing prices around the city, there are better options available for 17:30 dinner on Saturday.

Seems they've changed to food menu again in a minor kind of way. The beef tacos doesn't taste as good as the previous form, the sauce they used to use was a lot better and sweet (sticky, but nothing that a disposable wipe couldn't handle). Feel like the slaw is not as rich as the previous slaw either. They're still ok, but prefer the old approach. Same for the London Fog, used to like that but they get rid a while back. They should also probably ask each order if there are any allergies especially if the menu is changing in subtle ways.

Excellent coffee real hot chocolate delicious cake and friendly efficient service!

It has good vegetarian options. I feel that they should avoid using ketchup with their fritter. This makes the dish too sweet. Chips were cold and I could see it was on the counter for about 10 minutes to be picked up by the waiter.

Tried the Shakshouka which was delicious and also quite filling. Also had a passion fruit lemonade which I enjoyed. It was the first visit for my friend and I but it won't be the last.

Good snap. Bit pricey but it's a nice environment

Regularly go into Bear for coffee or lunch. The food is great and the staff are friendly and attentive. There is a really cool vibe in Bear.

Service was good but food was a proper let down. Didn't have a couple of the items we wanted so needed to change order. The salads we ordered were £12 each for the smallest amount of food. Absolutely not worth the money

Visited here for a coffee and some breakfast. Been here a couple of times one being a late night drink as the cafe does turn into a bar at night. I had the Full House Breakfast with a Salted caramel latte whilst my partner had Bacon Maple Pancakes. Really enjoyed mine but did have some little negatives to it, one being that the sausages were more of a chipolata feel to them and you would expect ‘butcher’ sausages to be quite large and filling etc and the final critique was that the breakfast was served in a bowl, which looks great but practicality wise I had to move stuff out the way whilst eating the food, a plate would of been much better! Other than that really enjoyed our visit!

The food was amazing I wish they had a different bread though They only have sourdough bread

Fab spot for coffee with nice relaxed vibes. Great for brunch too (love the truffle tater tots 👌🏻)

Just moved to the town , and we saw this great looking coffee shop. Very clean , staff are amazing . Lovely girl on shift Sunday morning , very welcoming The coffee quality is spot on , best I ever tried

Beautifully prepared brunch, taste and presentation was amazing

Couldn't do scrambled eggs for a 1 year old, too much washing up involved or soemthing. sent an email asking about this which was ignored. Gone down hill in my estimations.

Came here for brunch after a friend's wedding and loved it. Food and drinks were really tasty, the staff were all friendly and we liked the vibe too. Would recommend! Also definitely get the tater tots.

I can't stop thinking about the breakfast and its probably the best coffee I've ever had. Love it.

My partner came here for a trial because she really wanted a job as a chef role , she was really excited when she came home and told them she was told she would receive a phone call she never got from the head chef and the staff wernt very forthcoming. I had to tell my partner that because he had not received the phone call many she did not get the job and this caused her emotional distress and emotional damage may have to sue , due to PTSD she really wanted the job but why never gave her a chance . Do not try to get a job here because they don’t have the respect to call you back!!! Shameful !! 😡

Trendy cafe with decent food and good coffee

Lovely tater tots snack lunch . Sat outside.

Nice coffee shop, with friendly staff and good coffee.

Ever since the change to table service, my last few trips to Bear have not been enjoyable. The atmosphere feels chaotic, it feels like there aren’t enough staff to manage the amount of tables. It takes ages to get served & each time I’ve been I’ve had to wait and end up having to flag someone down to order drinks, food & get the bill, sort of feels like a battle to order. I went for brunch yesterday and my French toast was cold and tough but that felt like a one off because it’s usually great but definitely a thing that made the visit shoddy. The music was super loud and a bit overwhelming, not very accessible to people who struggle to hear or people with sensory issues - just needs turning down maybe 3 notches. You can tell the staff are working really hard and they try their best to provide excellent service but it just doesn’t feel like it’s running efficiently because this has been my experience on 3 different occasions. Not a dig at the staff, you just maybe need to look at the staff to table ratio, or the way that you’re operating sections because it’s not running smoothly and feels hectic. I understand understaffing happens but when it’s happened on this many visits, it’s making me/friends/family not want to visit anymore which is such a shame because it’s excelled in the past!

Pre-booked for bday brekkie asked for cake to come out at the end but it didn't. For me the service was lacking, 15min wait after asking for bill eventually went to counter to pay. Food was good and tasty.

We have just come home after having a family birthday brunch and absolutely loved it! The food and drinks were great but what really made it was the exceptional customer service! Our waitress was great, really friendly, polite and attentive; nothing was too much to ask despite intolerances, crying baby etc and she really looked after us. The real asset is the manager - what a great guy! He even offered to feed my baby whilst I ate my hot meal and spent time with the family, I was genuinely in shock!! Thank you 🙏🏼 You guys are legends so keep doing what you’re doing and we’ll be back!

Title: Warm Staff, Coffee Taste Falls Short, and Missed Traditional Espresso Presentation at Bear Coffee Shop Rating: 3/5 During my recent visit to Bear Coffee Shop, I had high expectations of experiencing a warm atmosphere and savoring a delightful cup of coffee. While the coffee shop had its highlights, it fell short in a few key areas, preventing it from standing out as an exceptional destination. Let's begin with the positives. The staff at Bear Coffee Shop was undoubtedly one of its strongest assets. Upon entering, I was greeted with genuine smiles and received friendly, attentive service throughout my visit. The staff members were accommodating, ensuring that any questions or requests were promptly addressed. Their warmth and dedication to customer service added a welcoming touch to the overall experience. However, it became evident that the limited number of staff members resulted in longer waiting times and occasional rushed service. It is important to emphasize that the existing staff was doing their best to accommodate the customers. Yet, additional support from the management would greatly benefit the coffee shop, allowing for smoother operations and a more relaxed environment. With more staff members, Bear Iron Gate would be able to ensure prompt service without compromising the overall customer experience. However, my enthusiasm waned when I received my espresso. To my disappointment, I noticed that the cup and saucer were far from clean. It was evident that they had not been properly washed or thoroughly inspected before being used. This lack of attention to cleanliness was disconcerting and seriously affected my enjoyment of the coffee. I found the taste of the espresso to be merely drinkable and passable. While it wasn't remarkable, it didn't leave a lasting impression either. The flavor lacked the depth and richness that I usually look for in a cup of espresso. It was an average experience that didn't stand out from other coffee options available in the area. Another aspect that disappointed me was the absence of the traditional presentation of an espresso. In many coffee shops, it is customary to serve an espresso accompanied by a small glass of water and a spoon. The water serves as a palate cleanser, allowing the coffee's flavors to be fully appreciated, while the spoon facilitates the stirring of any added sugar. This traditional touch was noticeably missing at Bear Coffee Shop, which was somewhat disappointing for those accustomed to the complete espresso experience. There was a minor issue with one of the outside chairs. I noticed that it was broken, it was still usable, but uncomfortable as one of the slats on the seat was missing. Although this didn't impact my overall experience significantly, it is worth mentioning as it may affect the comfort and seating options for other patrons. On the aesthetic front, Bear Coffee Shop embraced an industrial interior design. The space featured metal fixtures, and minimalist furnishings, contributing to an urban and contemporary atmosphere. The industrial vibe added a unique charm to the coffee shop, but the noise level tended to be a bit high, making it challenging to engage in conversation or find a quiet corner for focused work. In summary, Bear Coffee Shop excels in terms of its friendly and attentive staff, who create a welcoming environment for patrons. However, the taste of the coffee left something to be desired, lacking the complexity and richness that would make it truly memorable. Furthermore, the absence of the traditional espresso presentation with water and a spoon was a missed opportunity to enhance the overall experience. If Bear Coffee Shop can refine the coffee flavor and reintroduce the traditional espresso presentation, it has the potential to elevate its standing among coffee enthusiasts. Disclaimer: Please note that this review reflects a single visit, and experiences may vary.

Like this branch and staff are professional 👍

Ordered French toast... came out cold. They replaced it... took ages. £13.50 for one slice of basic toast. Don't waste you money. I left hungry.

Coffee and service have always been amazing, but the pricing is out of control. Angry Mac breakfast burger and some tater tots for £14 is wild.

Big let down at the Bear Iron gate Derby ,booked 10 days in advance for party of 9 for 4th June , confirmed the evening before to be certain of the booking ,everything was fine no problem ,turned up today to find no booking now existed! Nothing they were prepared to do about the situation either , in hindsight as it was the Derby marathon and they found themselves busier than normal,must have wiped out booking out ,poor service service ,no excuse ,went next door to Slug &lettuce who were happy to accomadate us all at no notice ,free processo after breakfast as well 👍

Not enough food. The 4 of us had the burger and fries and we all said it was just too small and we were left feeling hungry. As they have no dessert menu we had to leave to find somewhere else. You will need to order extra sides if you want a proper meal. It felt more like a lunch snack.

I can see these guys are pro cashless. Don't go here with cash because it is useless and so is service and the coffee really isn't anything special. People should be boycotting cashless places like this. Refusing to take cash as payment is a joke.