Cafe Bowes in County Durham

Jill runs the most amazing cafe. Her smile and determination to make the experience a memorable one is unquestionable. She is the kind of employee any employer could only dream of. She is highly professional and she cares. Rare and deserving of anyone taking the time to write a review.

Very disappointed booked a table for a special occasion, however on arrival the table we requested and booked was occupied by others. Fobed us off with table number 1. As mentioned VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED.

Totally ignored and we’re on the point of walking out but we were desperate for a drink.Had to wait ages to get served, with the waiting staff hanging around talking and casually cleaning tables. Then to add insult to injury a couple came to the next table to us and were served immediately! The drinks were hot, but after having to wait so long we decided not to eat and asked to pay for our drinks which we did before the drinks arrived!

Waited ages, with a tiny pit of tea, only to be brought the wrong order. Had to wait ages for right order. Tea cold. No apology.

The cafe is in a beautiful setting and the menu is varied with an excellent choice. The food we ordered was served quickly and was delicious and the staff were efficient, friendly and courteous. However I wonder if the managers ever stand back and watch how hard the staff work at lunchtime to achieve this standard. Every single member of staff gave 100% and I watched them deal with all sorts of issues with patience, tact and great diplomacy but I can’t imagine how they coped. The pressure to they are under is unreasonable and clearly more staff are required. The cafe deserves every accolade and I can’t fault the food or the service but the chef and the staff must be exhausted at the end of each shift. Thank you team Cafe Bowes - you deserve more help so that you can enjoy your work. Five star food and service.

We really enjoyed our lunch and the staff were friendly and efficient. I have coeliac disease and there was no problem checking gluten free dishes for me. The red pepper soup was delicious and my friends both enjoyed the croque monsieur. Lovely restaurant area.

We hadn't visited in a while but we weren't disappointed. The freshest tastiest sandwiches, wonderful coffee and the best carrot cake😋 The team are friendly and efficient and we're looking forward to our next visit!👍

We rounded off a trip to Bowes with afternoon tea as a Christmas/New Year treat. The cafe gets very busy so it was worthwhile booking to go straight to a window table. We ordered the usual tea-one decaff and tea stands came with a good sandwich selection ham and pease pud, smoked salmon and cheese savoury. The thing that set it apart for me were the beautiful freshly baked scones, too many places serve them past their sell by. Chocolate fondant cups, little fresh meringue fancies and carrot cake were the sweet choices and swan shortbread finished it off. A very pleasant young man saw our leftovers and without being asked packed them up for me. We headed off having thoroughly enjoyed our visit and treat

Two visits in three days. Firstly, we popped in for coffee and tea cake mid morning. The menu looked good and the food was well presented so we booked to come back three days later. We were not disappointed. The service we could not fault, plenty of smiles and politeness in abundance. After reading some of the negative reviews I just wanted to say how we found the cafe on our visits. I don`t normally write reviews.

Arrived for a cup of coffee with my parents at the cafe, waited at the ‘please wait to be seated’ sign. An elderly waitress asks ‘table for 3?’ to which my mother responded ‘ yes, but normally we get a table for two.’ To which the server replied quite abruptly ‘ I don’t care which table you sit at honey’ ….I could see my mother was quite taken aback, as was I. If the cafe had been busy I could understand the need not to get into any elongated discussion with a chatty older lady. But as it was it was very quiet. Seems a shame as the rest of the servers seem perfectly professional and affable. The manager even recognising my parents and had a lovely little chat even though she was probably busy. It’s only 3 stars because of the other staff members, ‘Honey’ would have gained a one star.

Lovely cafe in Bowes Museum. Enjoyed drinks and ice cream on our visit. Friendly staff. Good cake selection with gluten free options.

Had a lovely day at the museum then poppped in the cafe for scone and a coffee which was thoroughly enjoyed

We visited the Museum for the first time as a birthday treat on a rainy day. The museum itself is fantastic. However, after all the viewing we needed a drink and a sit down, so we headed to the cafe. Now, due to backache, tiredness and a long-term serious illness, my mum walked straight through as no one was queuing and seeing a free table but not noticing the 'please wait to be seated sign' which was to the side at the time, and not entirely obvious. The waitress came marching over and was extremely curt. We were told to read the sign and told off like little children. The rude waitress then stated to her colleague that she would not speak to us or deal with us. We had it confirmed to us that this was not an isolated event. We complained to the cafe manager, who was apologetic and said that she knew exactly which member of staff we meant and that they have had numerous problems with her and that usually this staff member would have been working out back due to it being a busy period (school holidays). We had to have her working on the main floor. We were then offered some drinks but declined, feeling incredibly uncomfortable being served by someone who behaved like that. If a member of staff is known to be rude to customers, they should not be working in a public environment. You never know what people have going on in their public life. There is a way to be diplomatic, or point things out in a calm, professional manor. As much as we loved the museum, the sheer aggressive, rude behavior of this membership of staff put us off returning.

We called in here on a visit to Barnard Castle and you can use the cafe even if you're not visiting the museum. Although it was busy the staff were very friendly and made sure the tables were cleared promptly. Although we only had coffe and a fruit scone which we enjoyed the meals looked great as well so we would come again nearer lunchtime when we are next in Barnard Castle

The quality of the food and service is second to none. There’s a good choice of food for everyone, including vegans. We had a light lunch of delicious spicy parsnip soup served with a warm roll and butter, but there were many substantial meals available as well as cakes, sandwiches and afternoon tea. Would definitely recommend. You don’t need to pay to go into the museum if you don’t want to, entrance to the cafe is free.

We had visited the cafe Bowes previously but because of Covid and travel restrictions we hadn’t been in the UK for three years. Despite being short staffed, all the staff were working extremely hard so there was some delay in our order being taken but that didn’t matter in the circumstances. Unfortunately, some customers at an adjacent table weren’t happy despite being told about the lack of staff. They proceeded to find fault with everything. Once our order was taken, we didn’t have to wait all that long. The food was delicious. Two of our party had the rarebit which disappeared remarkably quickly! The soup was perfect and the sandwiches were well presented and plentiful. The only disappointment was the coffee which was only lukewarm. Prices are very reasonable and the staff brilliant.

Super Sunday lunch and very reasonable £10 ish for roast beef, Yorkshire pud, vegs and fantastic gravy. Yes had to wait a while but staff were fab.

Stopped here very close to closing time but were well looked after. We just had coffee, brownie & cookie & all were excellent. We could see other people having fab looking salads so we will visit earlier next time

Very clean, spacious and comfortable surroundings, lovely staff, food is absolutely spot on, sandwiches, scones, cakes all delicious.

A really nice menu, friendly service and the beautiful setting of the Bowes museum all added up to a very enjoyable lunch stop for us. A full afternoon tea with sandwiches and scones is available, as well as some very nice dishes, sandwiches and soup Very nice!

A lovely cafe to break up looking around the collections. The food is well priced and tasty. You may have to queue for a table, but it is worth the wait.

As locals we have tried a few places to eat in and around in BC. This is up there , we only had coffee’s, scones and cake. But it was good enough to tempt us back for breakfast or lunch sometime very soon. The coffee...

Light lunch of sandwiches with a variety of interesting and imaginative fillings, very fresh, well presented and good value. Nice hot coffee and the loveliest cakes. Pleasant friendly and helpful staff.

I had already been advised about choice of dishes from a former customer. The cod dish was very nice but only lukewarm. The Black Forest brownie was the best brownie I have ever tasted. The gin and tonic was superb. Downsides: it was not busy...

The menu is good with some imaginative dishes. We went at lunch time when it was quite busy and had to queue. The queue moved quite quickly and we were soon seated. Our table was more spacious than average and everything was cleaned extensively between...

We liked this cafe. It is situated at the front of the museum, with great views across the countryside. The dining room is bright and has a good atmosphere. The menu is interesting and the staff welcoming and efficient. All of this made for a...

We shall definitely be going back, the food was excellent and well priced. The staff could not have been more helpful.

We had a lovely lunch here, delicious food competitively priced and friendly and efficient service. I had the rarebit - very tasty and topped with crunchy bacon rashers.

My husband and I had lunch yesterday at the café and had a wonderful experience. The decor is clean and bright, the staff were very efficient and welcoming and our food was absolutely delicious and imaginative, especially if you are a non-meat eater. It was...

Lovely cafe in the Bowes Museum building, tastefully decorated clean and spacious. Visited for lunch and we weren't disappointed, staff were friendly and welcoming. We arrived about 12.45pm and it was busy but managed to get a table, we only wanted a light lunch so...

Me and my partner pooped into the Bowes Cafe after our trip to the Bowes Museum. We had a “premium pot of tea “, the only thing that was premium was the price . It tasted very thin. Surely they could improve upon this ?...

Had a delicious lunch at the cafe. The pasta bolognese was the best I have ever had ! The service was very quick and friendly

A delightfully decorated cafe within the Bowes Museum. We were told the Menu has been revised since lockdwon. I do not nknow what it was before, but it is excellent now. The food is beautifully prepared, presented and served, and were felt it was very...

No better place to go if you want to meet up with friends. The food is delicious and the service is friendly and efficient.

Expert friendly ladies serving full range of drinks and meals direct to your table. Pleasant light environment with views over the grounds.

After a long ambling walk around the museum, and casting the mind back, well into the past. A bite to eat is always the answers. Look further then just around the corner, where you will stumble across Bowes Museum café. You wait whilst a member of staff calls you in, you get seated, and sit there until you leave, due to the pandemic. The café is clean and the food is delicious.

Discovered the Bowes cafe today in Barnard Castle with my family. Bit of a wait due to Covid checks, but it was also Bank Holiday Monday, so to be expected. We admired the sunshine and the scenery while we waited. Lovely meal with fresh produce and service with a smile, which was great.Broccoli and Blue Cheese soup was delicious with a fresh roll, sandwiches were plentiful, cakes and deserts were superb. Eton Mess served in a teacup was quaint, but tasty. Cream tea was divine. Decent cup of tea too. Covid measures were spot on. No complaints with anything there. All in all, well worth a visit and I will definitely return.

Came today as in the area. A lady met us at the door, explained the covid procedure and sat us down. Food came promptly and was very good. Reasonable prices too. We then wanted to order a sweet. Three members of staff were too busy talking to notice we'd finished and clear the table and see if we wanted anything else. Two others including a young lad were actually working. There were only three tables occupied so practically more staff than customers. The same lady who was busy serving another table came and took our sweet order and I'm glad we did stay for a sweet as it was truly beautiful. Compliments to the chefs!We will definitely be back despite the poor service.

We just wanted a snack lunch while visiting the museum and had a very tasty vegetable soup. The price was reasonable. There was an extensive menu offering other items, and some rather interesting cakes on display!

Visited with a friend today, as we walked towards the cafe from the gift shop there was a cold wind blowing down the corridor, as there is no door to to cafe it was freezing cold in there too. We should have gone elsewhere, I wish we had. After ordering our coffees, I went back into the corridor and closed the door which was wedged open - why? We kept our coats on in the cafe but it wasn’t a relaxing experience at all due to the cold. Won’t be returning.

A group of 12 of us visited for drinks and cake after a 10 mile walk in the area. It was around 3pm on Thursday. Waited a few minutes to be shown to our tables. After a further 5 minutes our orders were taken and it went downhill from there. After a further 15 minutes a hapless waiter brought over 1 teapot and 4 cups despite the fact 5 of us ordered tea. I asked for a cup on 3 occasions and was ignored. Then we asked where the rest of the tea was and the lady behind the counter brusquely replied that the pot was for 4. It had 2 tea bags in it and barely filled 3 tiny cups. We insisted on another pot, which eventually arrived. My wife and a couple of others were told their selection of cake was sold out. The lady behind the counter asked my wife to choose another, cut it and put on a plate. But when my wife tried to take it the lady insisted they would bring it. It sat another 10 minutes before they brought it. I then asked where my curd tart was and was told that was now sold out. In the end I gave up and didn't bother. We all agreed we wouldn't visit again.

Went to see the Norman Cornish exhibition today (excellent) and decided to have something to eat in the cafe afterwards. It was 11.30 am and it was reasonably busy but we were seated immediately and our order taken quite quickly. The lunch menu was not available until 12 pm, so we decided to have the full English breakfast. It was served nice and hot and was very tasty indeed, comprising two sausages and two rashers of bacon as well as black pudding, fried egg on toast, beans and mushrooms. Everything was good quality and cooked properly. We each had a pot of tea, and hot water was brought without asking for it. I would certainly visit again.

So we went for lunch at this Restaurant. Sat down..... tried to order..... "sorry but we've run out of .... you could have, but we've run out of ....... sorry we've run out of fresh coffee, you could have ........ We both ended up with something we really didn't want, and part of that 'something' was exchanged because they'd run out...... Huge Mistake Cafe Bowes ...... people entirely hacked off and all this happened on a Monday!!!!!

After spending a couple of hours looking at the outstanding Norman Cornish exhibition we decided to visit the cafe hoping for a meal and drinks, unfortunately a huge mistake.Having stood for 10 minutes before anyone acknowledged us at the waiting area we were eventually seated. It took 25 minutes for someone to take our order, after we had got up twice to ask whether it was table service or not... we watched several people arrive after us and be served food etc. After such a poor start we decided to scrap the idea or main meals and just order one slice of cake and coffee for two.It took another 15 minutes to be served a slice of cake shortly followed by coffee. Unfortunately a half full cafetiere and not even enough milk for two cups. Went up to the counter to get more milk and was told they'd bring it over; 10 minutes later nothing. A real let down and hearing many other unhappy visitors complaining created a negative atmosphere - this was also clear in the visitors book where many complained about the service in the cafe. We will be back to visit the museum but unfortunately we won't be visiting the cafe again.

I enjoyed the Cafe for lunch after a museum visit. Good service and good food and a welcome place to rest after visiting the galleries.

I shared a table and ordered a pot of tea, so did someone else at the table. When it arrived it was just one pot. I asked for my own pot of tea but the member of staff serving was abrupt and refused. I had to repeat my request several times and eventually after much complaining and whining the member of staff did bring me a pot of tea as I'd originally requested. I really enjoyed the museum and art gallery but recommend to anyone to take the short 10 minute walk to Barnard Castle for tea or coffee. It was busy but there was no need of such a horrible atmosphere.

The cafe was very busy. In fact there were more people in the cafe than the museum. We order two drinks and scones. The scones, jam and cream was excellent.

The food (baguettes) were very nice, but our visit was spoilt by the constant clattering of a lady sweeping around the tables. Although it was nowhere near closing time, we felt as though we were being encouraged to eat up and get out, instead of being able to have a leisurely afternoon snack. We certainly won't be returning in the near future.

Called in here for a bite to eat and was shown to a table and given the menu also info about the specials.

We found the menu a little lacklustre - certainly for smaller meals. My mum and I were a little sad that the quiche we had wasn’t warmed and as such was a little watery.

We took the grandkids to see the museum. We ate in the cafe ,which was very nice. We had the soup and the children had packed lunches from the cafe. They contained a sandwich,drink,crisps and a drink which they all enjoyed. Would definitely use the cafe again.

Clean, bright, pleasant ambience and staff. Very good scones and even the cafetière option was decent coffee. Didn't have a meal this time.

Accessible without paying entry to the museum this is a great place to meet up, and is quiet and restful if you want to recharge your batteries when going round the museum. Good value too, and attractively decorated referencing the museum's collections.

Lovely historic building with guided tours, beautiful grounds and excellent Cafe.

We had coffee and scones before spending a couple of hours going around the museum, and then enjoyed a very tasty lunch. I had chicken in a lemon, honey and chilli sauce served with skinny fries and a really good salad. The restaurant is clearly popular but the service was genuine and friendly.

We have eaten here before but today just came for hot drinks. The mocha I had was a bit watery and neither coffee nor chocolate so a little disappointing. The americano was better but extremely strong!

Over the last few months my wife and I have had snacks in many places-motorway service stations, garden centres, Costa coffee establishments etc. Bowes Café was by far the best. Service was quick and efficient,quality of food and drink was excellent, and the price was a surprise-an absolute bargain.

My group of friends have been to Bowes cafe many times but not for a while.

We decided to lunch whilst at the Bowes Museum and really glad we got in just before 12. A queue which never got shorter soon formed.

Just returned from a visit to Cafe Bowes for a friend’s birthday outing. I ordered a flatbread with spicy chicken and it was delicious, the portion was generous and I would not hesitate to order the same another time. Looking forward to another visit soon.

Good choice and quality of food, staff friendly and efficient and service was quick. Was very busy (to be expected at lunchtime I guess!) but no one had to wait long to be seted and served from what we could see. Recommended.

Awesome setting and smartly decorated.

had a wensleydale cheese and onion chutney sandwich with a side salad and crisps my friend had green vegatable soup. we both enjoyed. clean and hlpful staff

Table service. Food great, nice coffee too. Not cheap and not perhaps family on a budget friendly. Do feel staff look some people up and down judgementally. But it’s the only beverage / food choice at the museum.

Two visits in two days - afternoon tea cakes one day, breakfast the next. Good hot tea with the tea cakes and a really good breakfast. Looking at the menu and seeing what other customers were having would make us go agin for a full meal. Delicious. Charming staff, area all very clean, tables cleared quickly.

Coffee and tea cake served in pleasant surroundings overlooking the museum gardens. It was no trouble so serve a tea-cake between two which was just as wee because it was quite big. The coffee was served in a cafetiere with hot or cold milk and was very nice.

Amazing food, service & atmosphere. They happily swapped an item of my sons lunch box. A real treat.

This place was a bit of a favourite of ours and the table service is a boon when you have a disabled person in the party. We have left favourable reviews in the past but this latest visit was a bit of a disappointment. The menu has recently changed and we feel the current item is a bit “lacking” over the previous menu. We elected to go for the daily lunchtime special and the portion size eventually brought to us was a bit disappointing. (The daily special was removed from the board shortly after we ordered and we did note that the portions brought to us were significantly smaller than those delivered earlier to an adjacent table perhaps suggesting that things are being eked out a bit.) The food served to us was overpriced on both quantity and quality and it’s not an experience we would rush to repeat.

The staff here are always lovely and accommodating even during difficult busy periods when they’re rushed off their feet, they still have a smile on their face! Food is lovely, however more vegan options would be greatly appreciated!!

Attractive cafe with nicely laid out tables and comfortable chairs. Nice views if you sit by a window. The waiting staff were friendly and attentive but at 3pm there were no scones of any kind left , nor teacakes. This should never happen in an English tea room in the summer. Reading through the reviews it's not n isolated incident. Shameful. On the plus side the cafetierre of coffee was good and the home made cakes were, though pricey, very well made.

Beautiful, lovingly prepared food, in a lovely setting. I enjoyed one of their platters which was gorgeous but wasn't expecting the pickled egg which quite honestly should have been flagged up - awful! Fabulous bread, not mean with hot water top up's for the tea either.

We came to visit the Museum which was better than we imagined and after three floors of exploring we were ready for lunch. The Cafe was very busy, but the Supervisor quickly found us a table, and we were given time to make our selections. Drinks were quickly delivered including table water, which were gratefully received. The menu was beyond expectations and the prices were very keen compared to where we live and the menu was more upmarket than expected of a Museum. I thought my Haddock with mussels and prawns, Asparagus and Samphire was as good as I ever eaten anywhere. My wife had a the large Bowes Burger and this was very filling. The food was so good we missed the swan at 2pm.

They obviously have not understood what the "hospitality" means in "hospitality management". We were spoken to as if we were not so important as other people who may or may not come in the cafe. (There were a lot of empty tables). God help us if we had been black.

Cafe was extremely busy when we arrived. Scones were no longer available and our cafetiere for two was somewhat scant. Museum on the other hand was spectacular therefore on our next visit we shall go to nearby town for refreshments.

We've been here a few times recently and are always impressed by the food, the friendliness of the staff and of course the setting.

the service was second to none the staff friendly and polite the food was superb and the surroundings in the cafe were amazing

We stopped for lunch and had a very nice fish chowder and a glass of beer. The chowder was lovely, but could have been larger, and hotter.

The food and staff were excellent, best cafe i have been to in a museum. The surrounding was nicely done and was so nice that it was table service.

Visited on Monday for the first time, what great food, we ordered the Yorkshire pudding special and it was delicious, tasty well cooked a real treat. We returned after our tour of the museum for a coffee before heading home and a little treat. Coffee was great and the cakes were lovely too. The service was little slow, however if you are just enjoy8ng the day and not in a great hurry it wasn’t a problem for us. The staff were really

Sorry, but the café at the Bowes Museum was a real let down. The surroundings look nice, but the hard floor and lack of drapes in the high ceilinged room make it very noisy, and not a great space for a relaxing retreat from the museum.

We visited twice during our day at the museum.

Not overpriced, fresh food and served well. Pleasant surroundings, soup of the day was delicious....

Plenty of staff to take your order, after being shown to your table. Good choice of dishes to suit most peoples tastes, and prices I would describe as mid range. Credit cars accepted as well as cash.

The surroundings were delightful, the ambiance of the cafe totally destroyed by the lack of sound deadening decor. The food was alright, but we couldn't leave quick enough. Avoid if you suffer from tinitus.

Bowes Museum itself if a fantastic place to visit, but the cafe leaves a little to be desired! Food expensive and nothing special, especially as there are some lovely little coffee shops just up the road in Barnard Castle itself. The staff in the cafe weren’t at their best on the day we visited- could have had better service!

Visited Bowes museum today. Went to the Café Bowes the food was excellent, staff were very polite and friendly. The pricing was reasonably and decent portions.

Had a lovely meal at Cafe Bowes with my friend. Really enjoyed everything about it. Even though the staff were busy the service was great. Thank you 😀

Had cod provencal with rice for lunch today. Amazing piece of fish, beautifully cooked, huge white flakes, delicious with prawns and sauce. Well done chef.

Service slow. Got food before drinks. Main was ok - prawn cocktail and Bowes platter - bit like a ploughman’s. Not sure re pickled egg. Small bits of cheese. Lots of greenery. Fancy vegetable crisps - a bit rubbery. Was ok. Coffee good.

We both had an excellent fish chowder during our visit to the cafe at Bowes Museum. Unfortunately not allowed back by “the boss” to sample their gluten free scones. Recommended.

Thought I'd give the cafe another go after a bad first visit where I received very luke warm chowder. Won't be doing it again. This time I ordered a smoked salmon salad. What I received was a massive plate of smoked salmon with a few lettuce leaves. Far too much smoked salmon for one person but very little else on the plate. It felt very unbalanced and more like an oversized starter. It certainly wasn't a 'salad'. Anyway, it won't be third time lucky, will try somewhere in Barney next time

Visited the Cafe as part of our family Santa trip to the museum and I have to say it was very poor. We have three young children who ordered small meals of which two were sandwich meals (half a sandwich and a handful of crisps actually). We waited around 45 minutes for the food to finally arrive after watching everyone else enter the cafe after us and get served BEFORE us... with large cooked meals! We were offered discount due to the wait which we did accept however we will not visit the cafe again. Meals are average at best. It’s disappointing to have to write this as the museum was amazing... best advice... take a packed lunch.

This bright, airy cafe is a pleasant refuge from the museum's bustle. Good fare - nothing exceptional, but value-for-money. Perhaps, however, the service was exceptional: cheery, personal, refreshing.

Waited an age to be served, waitress didn’t know what was on sale. The kids sandwich meal is a joke , turkey n stuffing baguette came with salad then half way through they arrived with the gravy. Don’t waste your money bring a pocnic

At the entrance to the cafe, there's a 'wait to be seated' sign. We duly waited although the cafe had plenty of empty tables. Eventually someone came and showed us to a table near a window. It was cold and draughty near the window and I kept my coat on. Other customers were also wearing their coats. We had unremarkable sandwiches and a pot of tea for two. The bill was over £16, which we thought was way too expensive for what we got.

We were looking forward to having lunch here but there were some things that could be improved.

I enjoyed my visit here recently, after not having visited for several years. I enjoyed a roast pork baguette with gravy and apple sauce. It was reasonably priced and came with roast potatoes which were delicious, however the stuffing ball was a little hard. My hot chocolate was really good quality and thick. Overall I really enjoyed my visit and the Christmas menu looks great!

We have been regularly to this cafe as we have a yearly pass for the museum As the poor service is constant and getting worse I now feel the need to review this from last weekend

Had an excellent afternoon tea. Everything was freshly made. Good selection of cakes, sandwiches, scones (cheese and fruit) the fruit ones served with cream and jam (of course) and a lovely (very tasty) jelly with fresh fruit. The staff were very helpful and attentive. Nothing was too much trouble. Will definitely return.

Nice airy space attached to the museum. Very tasty food- lovely Brie ciabatta and hot pork baguette. Busy for Sunday lunch. Lots of staff.