Brook Tea Rooms in Purbeck

Normally we enjoy visiting this quaint little cafe. Today, we had lunch and as usual the food was lovely. However, the service did not live up to recent expectations. Firstly one of our drinks was left off the order, no apology. The waitress simply stated that the order only said one drink, despite there being two meals ordered. We asked for another drink, which she duly brought over to the table, stating, 'You haven't paid for that.' Secondly, when the meals arrived, only part of that order arrived. The food was placed on the table, and the waitress left. After a few minutes, I tried to attract the waitress' attention. This was unsuccessful , so I went to the counter. I explained that our table was still waiting for part of it's order. There was still no apology. I was told they were a bit busy. I responded that an explanation would have helped and that there were now 'two strikes' and that they weren't doing too well, to which she snapped, 'It’s coming.' The chef then stepped in. This was a real shame as I previously stated the food was lovely.

We were in Swanage for our annual break and, as with the past couple of years, decided to come here for our breakfast each day. Once again it was such a pleasure to return - we got a lovely warm welcome, and love the sea views from inside. We're both veggies, but were very impressed with the menu once again, which has something to suit all tastes. It made for such a nice start to the day, and set us up for our hiking! Looking forward to hopefully returning next year - thanks so much.

Lovely location on sea front with views over Swanage bay, window seats or outdoors, good value big breakfasts, cakes including gluten-free, lunches- jacket potatoes, paninis, sausage rolls etc. Friendly helpful staff.

We first got takeaway breakfast from this cafe on a camping trip to swanage. The sandwiches were beautifully cooked an the bread very fresh. So today myself an my husband went for a sit in breakfast. We were not disappointed. The breakfast was beautifully cooked and presented. The sausage was superb an locally sourced. It is a lovely family run place with an outdoor area and wonderful views of the sea. Sadly it wad our last day in swanage today but next year we will definately be trying the lunch menu.

We used this place as our regular lunchtime stop as a family of 6 Great cream teas and amazing sandwiches especially the Tuna Well worth a visit and a class above the neighbouring cafes

The service here was really good, they were very nice but the cakes were very average. The buttercream was a very odd marshmallow like texture and there wasn’t enough jam in the Victoria sponge or carrot in the carrot cake! The coffee was good though.

Visted here while on holiday in swanage may 2024 as it has lovely views but thats the only attraction upon my first visit i can just say it was ok i ordered the breakfast it came quickly the waitress was polite & professional the food on the other hand was not so good so i gave it the benefit of the doubt & visited again the next day ordered the same a breakfast the mushrooms/bacon/hashbrown were cold & the egg was just AWFUL black all on the bottom as someone else previously commented in there review i shall not be visiting here anytime soon especially as there is a wide choice of cafes/resturants in the local area, think a new cook is desperately needed or needs re training its such a shame as the waitresses/views & atmosphere are lovely.

Not sure what has happened to this cafe but we went for breakfast and it was absolutely awful. The bacon tasted funny and it looked like it was barely cooked. The eggs were overcooked and put under your toast so it was soggy. Not sure if they have a new chef or one that doesn't care anymore.... i left my breakfast as it was inedible.We asked and paid for the full breakfast and didn't receive tomatoes or black pudding....no check back to see if everything is OK...service very poor...sorry but we are locals so we will not be returning.

We have used this cafe on many occasions, but we will not be doing so again. It is hard to imagine how a cafe could go so far wrong with a sandwich and bowl of soup. Alas it is true. We had 2 bowls of soup made from tomato pasta, it was thick and tomatoey, but cold, it had obviously been shown a view of the microwave, but that was about it. The cheese sandwich accompanying the soup was made from packet grated cheese that tasted of absolutely nothing and fell straight out of the bread. Another example of waste opportunity in Swanage.

Without a doubt the worst Sunday lunch I've ever had.The veg was cold and the beef tough and inedible.On the plus side the staff were very nice

Worst experience of our life, we got talked to like utter rubbish by the manager all because we wanted to take the tomatoes off the breakfast! We then found a hair in one of the other breakfasts and as we confronted them we got told we will receive a refund and to get out the restaurant!!! Toast was so burnt we couldn’t eat it! The two younger girls was very polite and couldn’t do much more for you ( only positive thing there) As we left they then was turning away customers!!

My wife and I were on our annual break in Swanage, and looking for a good place for our breakfasts each day. We're so glad we came here! Being veggies, there was a lovely veggie full English on the menu which was absolutely perfect for us, and also at a very reasonable price. There's of course an extensive menu to suit all tastes, and it's the perfect spot for a drink, brunch or lunch. Staff are friendly and helpful, and there's indoor and outdoor seating provided. We loved sitting inside with the wonderful view across Swanage bay - it made such a lovely start to the day. Thanks to everyone who made it so special for us, and we hope to return next time we're in town!

Very well positioned tea rooms that also serves good food. It can get quite busy and the inside tables are often full. There is also seating at the front near the high street, and at the back overlooking the beach and sea. Prices are OK, but cakes/pastries are slightly higher than I would have expected. Breakfast is very good. There's lots of choice. Service all fine, no complaints at all from me after making 3 visits in a week. I'd recommend that the owners give the outside a lick of paint as it does look slightly overdue

On holiday when we popped in for afternoon tea, cakes, strong tea and best coffee,the staff are friendly & attentive, we saw a board for evening meals decided to book, food was lovely, the staff were very helpful, friendly and attentive especially Donna, and Ellie who we were her first customers, she looked after us really well. On our last we popped in for Brunch and had the egg, bacon, hash brown muffins, they are too die for, we also brought cakes & quiche to take home. Thank you Brooks Tea Room.

Lovely cafe with lovely views. Nice selection of food and beverage and priced very reasonably. Staffed by friendly efficient folks. Thank you

A very friendly tearoom with excellent service and amazing food! And all of the members of staff are perlite and helpful

After what was a very busy bank holiday in town it was nice to have a seat outside by the sea to have lunch. Seats by the seafront were great as lots of space for us all and we didn't feel like the tables were close together. Would be good for wheelchair users or prams. Lovely lunch, which came out quickly- my friend said the hot dog was great and gluten free toastie was really good! Very polite staff and yummy cakes! Would recommend for a seaside treat.

Called in for a quick coffee and a cake. Ok was a Saturday in the peak season but….. The place seemed to be run on confusion and staffed by youngsters that were like rabbits in the headlights. The cafe just looked dirty, tables not cleared even thought there were plenty of staff around who seemed more interested in filling pots up with sachets of sauce than keeping the cafe running smoothly. The paper menu cards were torn and tatty and really didn’t give much hope for the food they were advertising. Open cooking area which was cluttered with dirty crockery alongside cooked orders going out. What really put us off was when one of the kitchen staff came out and used the customer loo in the restaurant area, complete with chef apron still on! Coffee took for ages to arrive and was ok. One cake was nice but the cookie was stale and not good. A dirty cafe that really needs to up its game with all the other places to choose from…..give it a miss.

Stopped here for lunch while travelling on the Swanage railway. The service was half decent however I had ordered Flan - salad and chips which I was disappointed with as the flan was only the width of a finger and not very tasty at all but the chips were delicious. The rest of my family’s food was just above mediocre. The pity is it would not take much more to make this a good place for a meal?????

Lovely tearoom offering a wide selection of cakes , sandwiches and cream teas The pasty and salad was very tasty Latte was creamy and hot A pleasant way to spend an hour relaxing

Enjoyed our breakfast baps, all four of us had different combinations of egg, bacon, sausage etc, and each was well cooked & delicious. Nice coffee & friendly staff. Worth a visit.

Initially we stopped for a coffee. While enjoying the sea view from our table, waiting for our drinks, we began looking at the menu. The breakfast food items caught our eye. Noticing we were not too late for breakfast which finished at 11.30 am, and amazed at the price, we went ahead with the smaller full breakfast and were not disappointed. It arrived quicker than we expected and it was delicious, beautifully cooked and presented. We left well fed and happy with the good service too. There’s a good lunch menu, cakes, hot and cold drinks. Seating: inside, outside facing the sea and in front of the entrance in a sheltered area.

Lovely breakfast, beautiful views and friendly staff what more could you ask for in a busy town.....

Service was slow. The staff were unsure of the orders. We had to ask for the toast we ordered. This was 1/2 slice each. For £25 with two teas i think that's expensive. Will not be returning I'm afraid

Obviously new owners menu greatly reduced went for a bacon sandwich but apparently they don’t do them anymore really sad

Popped in when passing for a quick snack & a coffee. Really friendly & attentive staff. Coffee was tasty and sausage roll was great value. I will certainly be back next time I'm in Swanage!

When passing by my family and I went into the tea rooms for a Sunday roast which had been advertised outside. We were greeted inside by attentive and friendly staff. We then enjoyed our roasts whilst having a beautiful view of the sea and the...

We ordered 3 items. Slow. Unorganised. Waited over an hour for food. They then ran out of pasties an hour after we paid!!

Great view by the sea, great service even though it was very busy, with lovely food and lovely staff.

Walked in to a lady behind the counter shouting orders do loudly it made my heart race. At first I thought she was shouting at me but then realised she was in fact shouting orders at staff. I found it totally unprofessional and incredibly off-putting,...

The tea rooms have been taken over in the last two weeks by new people and they have not failed to disappoint! i have visited three times now, once for coffee and cake and twice for breakfast. service is great and they are really getting...

We came to Brook tea rooms for coffee and cake, my children had a milkshake, there was lots of different amazing looking cakes and they cater for gluten free and vegan, the staff were so friendly and helpful, I will be definitely going back, please...

We met a recently bereaved friend and decided on the Brook Tea Rooms for lunch, on arrival we were given a menu and told to come to the till to order with our table number. I ordered our simple lunches and paid, after twenty minutes...

We were on holiday in Poole and went to swanage for a day trip. Was very small cafe we waited a long time for our food and there was 3 of us only 2 got there meal we had finished our meal and was still...

We were sad to see how run down this place is it’s obviously been taken over by new people hardly any food choices and the bacon sandwich which it used to be famous for is now sadly non existent. Will not be returning

Called in yesterday with my partner for a morning coffee and I must say they make excellent coffee and the slice of raspberry blondie just hit the spot. Great friendly service and an amazing view across from the pier to the beach.

Very average breakfast sandwiches served by teenagers who were reluctant to smile or engage in any way. Felt like we were interrupting their chat.

Absolutely delicious food and a lovely selection. Please ignore negative reviews of the staff they were very kind & polite with great service. Will absolutely come again!

I am intolerant of cheese, brewed items like vinegar and certain preservatives. When I read the menu, I noted that they didn't seem to offer a plain sandwich. I asked the girl behind the counter if the would be able to provide a simple, plain...

If this is under new management, can we have the old ones back please? We have been visiting Swanage every year for more years than I care to remember. The Brook Tea rooms were always a bit quirky but you could always get what you...

We have been coming to Swanage for the past fifteen years and have always used the tearooms for a good breakfast. Came in May and enjoyed the breakfast as usual. Arrived a week go went for breakfast and they are no longer doing full English...

***Please ignore past reviews...this pretty seaside tea room is under new management *** How lovely to call in for a delicious cream tea. Lovely scones made fresh by Mark with little pots of jam and cream....horray for no packaged stuff. All very clean and tidy....

A pit stop after a Long walk. Really looking forward to a nice cup of tea and a couple of cakes/tarts for the kids… The tea was disappointing, And the tarts, were like nothing we had experienced before! Completely tasteless and dusty, and the “jam”...

I had a cream team which appeared to be good value until it arrived. The tea was lovely but the scones were either frozen or a day old and heated in the microwave. They fell to bits when trying to add the cream and jam....

Sat outside, but the area is in an alleyway next to large dumpster bins, so not at all attractive. The cafe did not have any gluten free breads for sandwiches, but did have some gluten free pasties/pastries, so we managed. Food was good and reasonable...

shockingly bad customer service, rude staff. If you don't like your job or cant be bothered to smile, engage or acknowledge your customers, then maybe its time to leave!

We have just had the loveliest afternoon supping tea and eating scones over looking the sea. We weren't felt rushed, the tea was fresh and the scones likewise. Such a lovely place with lovely staff. Thank you

We tried to get some takeaway sandwiches today at lunchtime as the big board out side the cafe stated a good variety of TAKEAWAY sandwiches. Waited a few minutes being completely ignored to then be looked at by a brown short haired women "can I...

This place needs a damn good clean. The ladies loos were awful and there was no lock. The teas and coffees were OK but all of the crockery, cutlery and trays etc were grubby. Our Easter biscuits were stale. We even saw a customer on...

We ordered 1 ham sandwich 1 cheese sandwich, 2 pasties and 3 drinks. This took 30 minutes to arrive and cost £32! Rip-off and very slow service.

We stopped off at this lovely quaint cafe for some fresh sandwiches and a cream tea. Despite serving jacket potato’s with lots of fillings that could be used in sandwiches we were told quite rudely that sandwiches were no longer being served this was at...

Brooks -time to READ your reviews! Last year, i gave you the benefit of the doubt describing your service as “cool”. This year’s visit, and having read many similar reviews, indicates Brooks is not reading Trip Advisor. What an absolute travesty that a gorgeous, PERFECT...

So we visited here for breakfast. First we sat outside and ordered breakfasts and coffees. Due to the weather, we had to move inside which was no problem. The young lads who's served us were very friendly. The big breakfast was tasty and responsibly priced....

We ordered the small (two pieces) tempura battered sole, with chips, peas and homemade tartare sauce. We thought it was a real bargain at just £7.95 It was all absolutely delicious. The batter was light, the fish well cooked, the chips were crispy and the...

My wife fancied a cream tea so we made our way to this tea room. We were not disappointed as the cream and scones in particular were the best that we had ever tasted. Highly recommended!

We visited these tea rooms for breakfast. We noticed the staff were very clean and following covid procedures. We ordered and paid straight away which was nice actually! No hanging around after we’d eaten. The food was hot and tasty. Would return, thanks!

Went for breakfast on a sunny Sunday morning, we sat inside although there is some seating outside looking over the bay or nearer the high street, very nice and fresh all cooked to order. Would go again. Value for money. Very pleasant staff.

Three of us arrived here around 3.30pm on a fairly quiet Wednesday. There was barely a greeting and we found our way to a table. There were two other people in the tea room on one other table, and they were close to finishing up....

Visited here a number of times before with my family as they do a good breakfast and cater for vegetarians, never really noticed rudeness before, they usually just seem busy given the summer season we usually visit in. I can’t say I’ve ever noticed them...

Thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast, thank you. Good COVID-19 protocols in place. The young man who served us was exceptionally bright and hospitable, a real credit to you.

We visited this place all the way from Liverpool 2 years ago with absolutely no faults, however our visit this year was disappointing and appalling to say the least. We’re a family of 5 who weren’t very hungry so ordered 3 cream teas between us....

Super day to sit on one of the outside tables overlooking the sea. It is what it is no airs and graces just good honest food served by hard working waitresses who often have to deal with rather demanding customers. Could not fault what we...

If you're going to serve Very Average Food , at least try and do it with a Smile !!!! Took my Mother here this morning for a little treat after she'd fasted for 12 hours for a Blood Test , and wished we hadn't bothered...

Stopped for cream tea whilst. It's cheap and cheerful and staff were pleasant but the scones were so dry they crumbled as soon as you tried to put anything on them. You would be better off paying a little more for something decent.

We received the rudest most unwelcoming Treatment by staff at this establishment that I have ever received in Swanage (I’ve been coming since late 1960s) We found a great table outside and sat down other customers were being served, staff avoided eye contact didn’t acknowledge...

Pit stop for lunch on a busy Saturday. Very efficient service and covid measures in place too. Food was ideal for what we needed. Was lovely to sit and watch the world go by and have the sea view whilst a we ate.

This isn’t my first time to Swanage or to have breakfast at Brooks. I love this little cafe! It has a beautiful view and the staff are always friendly and welcoming. On this particular trip, myself, husband and daughter ate breakfast here 3 times! As...

The experience started with a rude large lady employee .Eventually got seated to be ignored ,other customers complainingabout service .People who came in after us got served not busy in tea rooms Decided to walk out . Shambles.Went over the road to another cafe tea rooms I left a tip as service was so good .

The prices are fair. Toilets clean! The full breakfast came quickly but very good. Gingerbread man not tasty. Service efficient if a little cool.

Eventually ordered food to takeaway after 5 mins wait to get served, 2 teas, tuna sandwich and Cornish pasty. Took a good 20 mins to bring out to us stood waiting outside. Whilst waiting we observed that people came and went from the seating outside with no sanitising or wiping of tables and chairs, in current climate this is unacceptable! However food was lovely.

Popped in here for a cream tea (or coffee in our case)Prices were not too bad, certainly won’t break the bankCustomer service was ok, although to be fair, it was busyBUT, the amount of clotted cream, wow !!!!!! I don’t think I’ve ever had enough to cover two scones & have some left overWell done to you for that.Highly recommend this place, small & compact but doing a brilliant job in difficult times.

Tucked away just off the main street and the Quayside walk its a bit quieter than some establishments but still fairly busy. Fast, friendly and efficient service, reasonable prices, plenty of choice and very good food, sandwiches were excellent.

Terribly slow and poor service. Don’t go here. Sooooo many better places. Won’t be back. Badly managed. No concept of customer service

No need to book and reasonably priced. We stopped for a cream tea for 2, which consisted of 2 scones each ( 1 fruit and 1 plain ) a cup of tea or coffee and a pot of jam and clotted cream.Very nice and fresh.My only criticism is the fruit scones had very little fruit in them ( mine had 1 raisin in it ) and the staff wasn’t that really bothered when raised.

Lovely little tea-room. Stopped twice for lunch, delicious both visits. Clean, professional and unpretentious. Would definitely visit again, staff were a delight + the fresh crab sandwiches were really good. Decent pot of tea aswell!

We got a window seat and enjoyed the seaside vista. The afternoon tea and scones was fine but my jam tart wasn't the best. Prices are reasonable and there's a good selection of food and drink to choose from.

Dropped in for a cup of tea and cake in the evening. Was pretty much empty when I was there and the tea and cake was alright. What really left an impression though was the sound track of dance music playing which seemed a bit incongruous for a tea shop but I suppose it is also a cafe.

Our second visit this week for the fab crab sandwiches and cheesy chips! A great cafe with such friendly welcoming staff and fine views ! A Decent pot of tea and my husband said a superb latte! Hasn’t altered since our last visit two years ago. I can honestly say the crab sandwiches are the best I’ve ever eaten and for someone of my years, that’s a lot! Keep up the good work! Oh yes...... and the Dorset biscuits (a little out of date) were absolutely perfect! Thanks

Breakfast very disappointing. Scrambled eggs inedible We were the only ones there. Very smoky . Saw Chef chucks eggs in microwave Then I watched him cut them up with a knife to soften . Husband said they tasted of old carpet. I couldn’t eat the almost styrofoam dry bullets I asked about why they were cooked this way. It’s standard apparently. Be warned. Lazy cooking. We won’t be back

My wife and I were walking around Swanage and fancied a cup of tea and a bite to eat, we fell across Brook Tea Rooms. They had an extensive menu covering everything from sandwiches, plain or toasted, through pies, pasties and pastries to full meals, we settled for two snacks things with my wife having a sausage roll and I had a Devon Pastie, both with salad and a side portion of chips between us. The service was quick and friendly, the food was as described and very nice, the small wooden tables were kept clean and set and the view out to sea was wonderful. All in all a great find. Everyone said goodbye as we walked out, even the chef in the kitchen as we walked passed. Worth a visit

Cream tea for two with scones that exploded into a thousand pieces and with miserly amount of cream and served with cheap plastic jam. Cups of tea were pretty poor too.

Found this tearoom tucked away. On entering found a table with a sea view which was lovely.We ordered a cream tea for two but when it arrived were disappointed the scones were not home made. However what we had was ok and it was a great cup of tea.Another positive the staff were friendly and I would return.

Lovely meal (I had ham egg and chips). Service was great, ambience very good and a lovely way to relax and enjoy a meal.

The location and staff were about the only saving grace here. As the food was extremely overpriced and sub-standard. Pasties had hardly any filling in them and arrived luke warm with a sad bit of salad out of a bag without so much as any dressing on.Toilets were grubby with overflowing bin and hardly any toilet paper.Coffee was awful, tasted like instant out of a jar, and if you want water you get given yellowed plastic dirty looking glasses. Steer clear there are plenty of much better places to eat in Swanage, just wish we had chosen one of them!

Although tucked out of the way, this tea rooms had a steady stream of customers. Nice selection of coffee & tea (Dorset tea prevailing!) and delicious lemon cake. Well worth a visit

Waiting staff friendly. People behind till not so. Got the order wrong. Mushrooms slimy. Not cheap either.

I went to Brooks Tea Room about 1300, and had the last of their Chicken Tikka Marsala (the pasty I might have had was sold out).

I visited this cafe today with my two year old. I went to the counter to ask their advice on menu options as my son has a dairy and egg allergy. The waitress told me that before I could order I needed a table, most of which were outside. This meant that I would have to leave the cafe, claim a table and then drag my two year old back in to the cafe in order to place my order. Most establishments in this circumstance would offer to come and take your order to save you carrying your child back in again when you are clearly already struggling with pram, bag and child. I didn’t bother staying as I didn’t feel that the waitress was very interested in my custom anyway.

We stopped off at these tearooms for a cream tea today thinking we should do this once before setting off home.

Wonderful food variety of fresh home cooked delicious food near the sea front, in the town. Recommend to all.

We visited for an evening meal. Although the staff here were lovely, we had a very long wait for our food and then one of our meals was missing. The food was ok, nothing special and the portions were modest apart from the peas which were very plentiful! It’s not the cheapest place to eat so we left regretting that we hadn’t just opted for the local fish n chip shop. It is right on the sea front so the views are good.

A nice little sea front location, and freshly baked cakes. We had a nice lunch here, and whilst it seemed a little over priced, the portions were really generous. We really enjoyed our food here. Staff were helpful and friendly as well.

The squeeze and I stopped here for a little light lunch. Piece of cake for her and a cornish pasty for me, chased down with a coffee. Nice sea view, space around the table, and a clean toilet. Coffee was good, service was affable and the light bites were good too. Not too cheap, but not overpriced considering the area and time of year, it is the last bank holiday after all.

A few years ago we stopped here for coffee when walking the coast and were bowled over by the flavour. We called in again today, having walked along the downs from Corfe, and were not disappointed! The only downside is that my wife likes milk with her coffee and they provided sachets of rather strange liquid...a small jug of real milk would be so much better

Came on a day out to Swanage with small family group. Very limited menu, with very high prices. The coffee was cold and the staff vacant and unwelcoming.They also charge 50p extra for a sandwich to be toasted,which we ordered then when we got the sandwiches they weren't toasted.

service good, ambience excellent. The coffee was not good. I had a “flat white” which was just a milky coffee. My neighbours had a danish pastry which was clearly stale. But, most shocking of all, they were charged 50p for extra hot water with their coffee. I have never experienced that before and we were very shocked by this meanness. In spite of the waitress’ claims, I dispute that this is common practice.

Four of us had morning coffee here with some delicious cakes. The wait was quite long but worth it.

Visited as a family as we had good memories from a visit a few years earlier, although this time our experience was disappointing, to say the women taking our order was lacking customer service was an understatement, basically everything was to much trouble. Certainly wouldn’t visit again, and this was confirmed on leaving when not one of the 3 staff standing behind the counter could say thank you or goodbye, although the young lad clearing tables in there did.

I used to be a big fan of this establishment and, therefore, decided to stop here when I wanted a drink. I ordered a cream tea for one and a coffee.

Lovely tea room, Visited last week, sat at the front of tea rooms overlooking the bay, a young man served us very nice and polite ,lovely tea, will go again next time I am in the area .