Cheese Loft Cafe in Newcastle upon Tyne

Sorry, this isn't our first time here, however it is the first time we felt inclined to leave a review ... you could put it in simple terms, our arrival today was seen as an inconvenience ... this was followed up by grumpy service and a dismissive attitude.There is nothing wrong with the food, or the prices (we came on a Friday during August) - however, our sincere apologies for arriving - we may reconsider this in the future!

Had a fantastic lunch here when we found it by accident!! Saw the sign and pulled in... and we were lucky to get a table! Definitely book if you want lunch!Great food and coffee. Bought a selection of cheese which was lovely. Definitely worth a visit and the staff are excellent.

Attended with friends and our children. Ordered sandwiches and a jacket potatoe for the children and soup, jacket potatoe and a very impressive sounding sausage, cheese and potatoe bake with steamed vegetables.The children's food arrived and they were very generously filled sandwiches with little accompaniments of crisps, Apple slices, grapes and carrot buttons. Needless to say I was delighted for the children.When the sausage, cheese and potatoe bake arrived, my delight turned to first confusion when I saw the miniscule bowl of baked food with a spoonful of frozen veg and then disappointment when I clarified with the table staff as whether this was a child's portion and told it was a full size portion.Likewise the adult jacket potatoes are no bigger than the children's and come with just a little extra salad.My advice would be only go here for a cup of tea and a very cheap light snack otherwise you'll be disappointed ordering anything that sounds more substantial and you'll be forced to try and fill your empty stomach with samples of free cheese !!!

Lovely menu of cheesy and other things. Service was friendly but a little slow, even though they were not particularly busy. Food was lovely and all thoroughly enjoyed. Quite pricey but probably worth it. It is a nice place and will be back. The cheese sales counter (in the same space) was disappointing, but that is separate from the cafe and not part of my considerations here

Came here as a lunch stop on our way north. Very popular place. Friendly staff, plenty of choice on the menu. Coffee was good, had the cheese and chutney sandwich. Good bread and as you’d expect great cheese. Only drawback was no room for cake! They all looked lovely. Nice shop too.

I'm so disappointed that this place is doing 'just enough' to get by. I had read the negative reviews, and responses, but have to agree that, very sadly, I would have no reason to go back for the food. A quiche (basic, very basic) is served with 'salad'. In this day and age do we really consider a salad roughly torn iceberg lettuce, with huge hunks of raw carrot, a couple of large strips of red pepper, and half a slice of a (tasteless - old?) orange a salad? I little pot of acrid coleslaw, and a little pot of mango chutney...what was the chutney to go with? And two small, sad looking slices of baguette. Honestly, I wouldn't serve food like that at home, never mind pay for it. What a shame as this place is in a great location, and there is so much potential.

After eating here a few times for sandwiches and jacket potatoes we thought we'd treat ourselves to the cheese afternoon tea, firstly, after waiting around 15 minutes to recieve any food we had already finished our teas, so had to pay another £1.80 each for another pot... (For the price (and the wait) you would expect free refills like anywhere else does), secondly, the sandwiches were supposed to contain a mixture of four different cheeses, every sandwich was the same bland, boring white cheese, third the 'cakes' included a 20p size piece of chocolate and cheese cake (so dry and crumbly couldn't really eat) and a 'curd tart', this was do vile I spat it into my napkin, under baked pasty and overly bitter lemon, after seeing the traditional and gentlemans afternoon teas come out to other tables we both agreed we made a bad choice, cakes were 10 times the size and looked more appetising and sanwiches had different fillings. The cheese scones and chutney were okay (but only had a tiny bit of cheese on top and none through the mix)... I don't know how they can call this a cheese lovers afternoon tea because it was bland and boring, usually we'd spend a good £20+ at the counter after our lunch and were even thinking of booking up to the cheese making experience, but this time we left without even looking and decided against booking up!... We actually bought a "cheese" sandwich from a garage on the way home and that had more going for it that the 'cheese specialists'.Staff were lovely as usual, but this experience was definately a dissapointment!

Visited the other week with my Mum, i ordered the cheese and biscuits which came with 4 different cheeses and biscuits, grapes some apple, bread, celery and chutney. My mum has a smaller appetite so ordered the cheese scone which came with cheese. It was lovely and we bought some nettle cheese on the way out! Very cosy space and nice atmosphere.

Wow, what a brilliant day :) had so much fun learning about cheese and making it!! A massive thank you too lee who made us feel very welcome and introducing us too the cheese world! Our day includes a cheesy afternoon tea and it was amazing! This is a really special place that makes cheese with an impact, would love to come again and will be recommending it to other even tho we live in Nottingham! Shame it’s not closer! Massive thank you to everyone who works there for making our day so special!! Thank you x

Stopped off on the way home from glamping in otterburn with daughter and sisters. Signs on the road (old great north road I think?!) to say cheese shop was enough for us to do a detour!! We arrived at around 10.20am not knowing what to expect. Lovely old stone buildings, and a lovely surprise when you got to the top of the stairs and came across the lovely cafe and small shop. Had 2 bacon sandwiches, a half portion of cheese soup, half portion of tomato soup and ham and cheese toastie. All very tasty, especially the cheese soup. Lattes are drink, very nice. Prices what you’d expect from a tourist place ie don’t expect a £1 coffee or £2 toastie. We enjoyed the cafe for what it was.I will say there isn’t a lot for kids (other than cakes) hence my daughter (14) getting tomato soup at 10.30am. So be aware if bringing kids here, to me it’s more of an adults place. On leaving bought cheese (after trying many samples), crackers, chutney and preserves and cheese soup. All in a very nice logo’d paper bag. We were very happy with our find, especially being hungover and in need of some nice food. Will return ASAP with my husband who LOVES cheese. Ps picked up leaflet for cheese tour/day and online website says fully booked for the entire rest of 2019!!!

Visted for the first time on bank holiday Monday with my Fiance. When we arrived there was a small queue to wait for a table as the cafe was full. We were warmly greeted and assured a table would be available soon. As we waited the queue grew in size. A table for 4 became available and we were told we could take a seat. We asked the two ladies behind us in the queue if they would like to share our table as we had noticed a number of couples taking up tables for 4. It seemed a shame but sometimes can't be helped. May be if more people had the forethought to share it may help this busy but small cafe. We thoroughly enjoyed our food and ordered a selection to share. A scone, soup and ham and mango chutney sandwich. We were served promptly and always with a smile, despite their being a few notices on display explaining there may be a delay due to the busy service. We look forward to returning soon. Many thanks.

Nice food. unusual venue. on busy days it feels rather squashed. it would benefit from an extension as it is very popular. It is upstairs so not suitable for frail or disabled.

I booked here for a double birthday celebratory lunch for myself and my Mam. I’d asked if they could put decorations on the table as a surprise. When we arrived it was lovely, balloons everywhere and table decorations! Was a lovely touch (they were payable but well worth it). Our lunch was delicious, I can highly recommend the cheese soup! A really nice cafe with lovely atmosphere, decor, shop and cheese counter. Highly recommend.

My mam has been taking me here for years. I absolutely adore the cheese farm. its a quiet special coffee shop, lovely food - AMAZING CHEESE. a hidden gem xx

Passed here a few times on the bike so took my daughter here for a treat. The do cream teas, cakes and sandwiches and some fine looking cheese. They do Fentimans drinks which kept my daughter happy. The cheesecake was excellent.

This was a quaint little place of authenticity. Very friendly service staff very attentive. Thank you for a lovely afternoon well definitely call back.

Nice venue and obliging and very polite staff Food mediocre and overpriced. Coffee ok though weak and tasteless.

Very friendly staff, nothing is to much trouble for them good range of meals and at a reasonable price.

The food here is lovely from its soups to its sandwiches my wife and I go every other week if we can, highly recommend it

Called in here for lunch with my husband on a weekday to find it really busy, only two vacant tables left. We sat down and looked at the menu and decided on a jacket potato with tuna mayonnaise and salad, and a round of ham and cheese sandwiches with crisps and salad for my husband. After placing our order our coffees were quickly brought out. We had to wait a little while for our food to arrive as they were so busy, and everything is made to order and served fresh. It wasn't a problem as we had plenty to talk about and it wasn't an uncomfortably long wait. People were coming and going all of the time and staff were kept busy, although by the time we had finished eating it had quietened down. We were given a refill of coffee at no extra cost and took our time over this whilst looking at the magazines which were on the window ledges for customer use. This is a very warm and welcoming venue with friendly efficient staff. The only down side is the steep stairs ( hence the name - cheeseloft café), although there is outside seating in warm weather so for anyone with mobility problems it could be difficult. The toilets however are downstairs. This one of our favourite places and well worth a visit.

We called for a light lunch and ordered the cheese and meat platter to share. I'm glad we didn't order one each as it was plenty big enough for two and was absolutely delicious. It gave us the chance to try two of their cheeses, nettle and Redesdale and we liked both of them so much we had to buy some to bring home. The scones are pretty good too. Staff are warm and friendly. and service is good.

Staff are friendly & there's a lovely laid back feel to it. It's upstairs so not recommended for people with mobility issues (toilets are downstairs). Always a display of tempting cakes too.

Great venue off the beaten track but worth a visit. Great tasty scone with a slice of cheese and chutney👍👍👍 Coffee good Free parking on site

Me,my man and my boyfriend visited here cos my boyfriend loves cheese.

its such a lovely special secret sort of farm loft eatery--everything is FRESHLY done before your eyes decor as shabby chic expected and loads of parking--staff so helpful -- cannot say too many good things about this place-- special cheese savoury yummy

Arrived at about 3.30 not thinking that they would be closing at 4. However, I understand that it depends on demand. We shared an afternoon tea which was quite nice as were the staff. Would return again but earlier in the day.

We visited after a chance finding of a leaflet and an entire business based on cheese was too good to miss.

Friendly and quick service from the pleasant staff even if your sitting outside enjoying the sunshine . I'm pleased to see outdoor table and chairs situated in the courtyard. The cheese scone, cheese and chutney was a treat to eat.

Sadly the coffee was tasteless, and the hot chocolate made from water not milk, very disappointing. I will not be returning. Unsuitable for disabled as up stairs and toilets on the ground floor.

Such a lovely, snug surrounding with excellent food and coffee. Highly attentive and friendly staff. We've noticed that it is becoming far more popular as word gets around but although busy today, the service was stll superb and the friendly waitress [with the funky glasses!] still had time to engage with us.

Visited after having seen this place on TripAdvisor. Thought we would check it out. Really pleased we did because the food was great. Daily specials board with soup, cottage pie, quiche. I chose the goats cheese and spinach lasagne with garlic bread an salad. The lasagne was a good portion size and crisp fresh lettuce apple pear and orange segments on the side. My mam had a ham sandwich with mango chutney, we actually bought a jar of the chutney from the shop besides the cheese counter. Most tables were reserved so it is best to book a table in advance. I'll defo go back when in the area.

We found a leaflet about the Cheese Loft and being cheese lovers thought we should pop by. There were 4 of us (2 x adults and 2 x kids). We found a table easily but we had to squish in the chairs given there wasn’t much space and it was cramped.

I've been to the Cheese Loft Cafe a few times and the food and service is great but the stainless steel teapots are tiny, drippy and frankly cheap! It pulls down an otherwise great place. For a look at how you could improve your tea service take a trip to Active Cycles in Corbridge were they supply a huge pot of real tea with a strainer and drip catcher - very impressive. Or another Corbridge cafe, Tea and Tipple where you also get a big ceramic pot of tea.

Visited here again on a lunchtime after a couple of years since my last visit. I had the ploughmans lunch and my wife the quiche salad. Both were tasty and plentiful. Together with two pots of tea came to just over £20. Good value and you can also sample and buy the various cheeses made on the premises.

Off the beaten track but a great location for lunch or coffee, this is the base of the Northumbrian Cheese Company. We visited on a Saturday so the cheese making was not on show but the upstairs area has been converted into a charming café...

Lovely atmosphere, lovely friendly staff and great food. Ate here Friday afternoon, husband had the famous cheese soup and I had toasted gluten free cheese and onion which was wonderful. Always appreciate it when I find a cafe that does lovely gluten free as I...

Visited with my husband and adult daughter on a quiet Friday afternoon. My husband and I both chose the afternoon...

Oh my goodness. Myself and my partner had the cheese lovers afternoon tea for two and it was amazing!

Popped in for coffee and cake on 17th August 2017. Lovely sunny day so we sat outside. The coffee was...

Internet era un poco difícil, después de todo, es un "loft" Sin embargo, el café es bien vale la pena el esfuerzo de subir las escaleras. La comida fue deliciosa y el quesos y selección galleta era excelente. Una fantástica selección de quesos artesanales y...

No puedo comentar sobre la comida ya que no!

Un pequeño establecimiento de comida con buen servicio agradable a un precio razonable. Pedimos una sopa de queso y té de la tarde los amantes de queso y no nos decepcionó. El Era también una pequeña sección de regalos de dones peculiares para elegir situado dentro de la cafetería. Gratis de diferentes quesos y catadores chutney proporcionaron durante nuestra visita.

Visité el café con mi madre para un almuerzo de cumpleaños. Disfrutamos muchísimo. El bocadillo de jamón estaba delicioso y acabamos comprando el chutney que estaba en el sandwich ya que era tan bueno. El servicio era excelente. No me puedo quejar de mi visita. Sin duda volveremos. Gracias por la visita muy agradable!

Called in here on Sunday for a quick lunch. We both had the cheese scones which were delicious. Menu board looked good for more substantial meals. Busy when we visited but staff were coping admirably and were very polite. A very quaint cafe with ideal location.

Booked afternoon tea for my Aunts 81st birthday and all we got each was, 2 finger sandwiches, medium fruit scone with jam and cream and two very small 1" square pieces of caramel shortbread and Mars bar krispie cake. Compared to other afternoon teas we've had around the same price this was pretty pathetic and quite embarrassing being that it was meant to be a birthday treat. The only choices of sandwich fillings were cheese, ham or egg. We asked for extra tea and the staff member was only going to fill up the teapot with hot water using the existing teabag until it was pointed out that it would be rather weak. We would have been better ordering separate items from the main menu. My only message would be 'do it right or don't do it at all. Sorry but could not recommend!

Just had a lovely lunch here. Staff were great and food was good. Cheese we bought to bring home was fab x

We called in to buy some cheese but also for lunch. Cheese soup was fabulously cheese-y and tasty and the cheese scones fresh and light. I would welcome a repeat visit. Service could be speedier and it isn't obvious that you need to order at the counter but staff were pleasant. Were they understaffed that day. This cafe is quite small and clearly very popular. So factor that into your plans to visit

A snack lunch of cheese scone with with their "Elsdon" handmade goat's cheese and spicy chutney - it was delicious and lovely coffee too. Will definitely go back and try the soup and toasties. Lovely relaxed atmosphere very clean and everyone was very friendly well priced too.

This is an out of the way stop and a well worth find. We were a party of two and wanted to try both the cheese soup and Tea for Two. The soup was delicious and a meal in itself, the Tea for Two was huge and really should be called Tea for 3 or 4. The scones served with the dish, [I don't believe were cheese...which I had wanted to try], were heavy and tasteless, we left these on the plate. Another disappointment was we were expecting cucumber sandwiches and that wasn't included in the selection. There is limited seating at this place, maybe only 12 tables. Special note for limited mobility patrons....you need to climb a steep set of stairs, [25+] to get to the entrance...toilets at the bottom]. Overall a great stop, cheese was great!

Visited today for first time in years. Can't say we will be back. Ordered 2 bacon sandwiches on white sliced, a ham and cheese toastie for daughter and cheese on toast for grandma plus drinks. Order taken efficiently and place was clean and welcoming. However, when the bacon sandwiches arrived it looked liked they had been mutilated! Even my 9 year old said she would have started again. White sliced bread was shredded and squashed and impossible to pick up as it just disintegrated under the melted butter. I resorted to using a knife and fork. I then abandoned the bread altogether and just ate the bacon as what bread was left was in bits or squished to a mush by butter. Grandmas cheese on toast was also a disappointment - she said cheese was obviously just applied to centre of bread and was very sparse. Daughters toastie however was declared lovely but at twice the price of the other meals, it should have been. We weren't asked if we enjoyed the meals and as we aren't a family of complainers we simply left the remnants on the table, paid and left but sadly, we won't be back.

Always nice to visit, rarely disappoints. Nice range of food and snacks and of good quality. Cheese scones especially.

We booked this for 24 of our family to celebrate a special birthday. None of us had been before but had heard very good reviews. The communication prior to the day was great and everything was organised very well. We had chosen the Cheese Lovers afternoon tea, plus a few variations and it was fantastic! The cheese scones and brownies were lovely and there was chutney, cream etc too, plus sandwiches. We were given some cheese to taste which went down very well too. All in all a great cafe with excellent staff (and manager). Everything was served efficiently, everyone was very friendly and we all had a great time. Thanks to all .

This is an unusual cafe which we found well worth a midweek lunchtime visit. It's a bit off the beaten track and a part of the Northumberland Cheese company.The blue stilton and broccoli soup was delicious and I followed it with cheese on toast, with Worcester sauce and at least 4 different types of home grown cheese in the mix. The staff were very friendly and attentive and there is a shop in the café from which you can purchase many out-of-the-ordinary food items. Everything on the menu is not cheese based but it's definitely a must for local cheese lovers Access to the café is via a steepish flight of about 15 to 20 stairs so accessibility is a bit of an unavoidable problem.

Arrived with friends for lunch (they recommended it to us). Wasn't disappointed - obviously most items involved cheese, so decided to try the quiche - best quiche I've eaten in a long time and loved the mixture of salad accompanying it. Must try the cheese scones and bacon sandwiches next time - they both looked amazing.

Have been coming here since it opened, as we love their selection of homemade cheeses. Very limited menu, but all good. Steep stairs though, so you need to be fit to attend.

Got here on Sunday morning just before a large group of cyclists. The café is only small but fortunately they went and sat outside in the courtyard. Try the cheese scones - yummy!

Good food, especially the cheese made on site. Nice pleasant surroundings and good friendly service.

Little young girl serving very nice but scones disgusting older staff not very nice. I know it is situated on a farm but feel the whole place could be and feel a lot nicer.

Had a lovely bacon and cheese baguette. First time and it will not be the last. Staff very nice. And did not have to wait long for our food.

We went to our usually coffee shop about half a mile away, but the queue was out the door ,so we though we would give the Cheese Loft cafe another try. The place was empty. After 30 minutes, and we were the only people in, the waitress came over to our table, whilst we were drinking our tea, and started clearing away our plates. She asked "did we want anything else or are you just going to sit there talking" Right we thought time to leave. The cafe didn't close for another hour. The said waitress then said "I'm not trying to get rid of you", but we took the hint and left. Never to return. We now know why Milkhope is the best around.

I visit the Cheese Loft regularly and love it's quaint atmosphere, lack of music, friendly staff and great cheese. Yes, the service can be slow but worth the wait. It could be a little cleaner - I regularly sit down to a crumby table. Free coffee top-ups are offered (and hot water top-up for tea) but I usually have to ask and it would be nice to be offered this, especially if you have waited a while and drunk all your coffee by time your food arrives. One particular lady with short dark hair is super friendly - it makes all the difference!

We phoned to check the opening times over bank holiday and ended up making a reservation. Have to say the lady on the phone was very friendly and helpful and the same can be said throughout our visit. The cafe was half full and we didn't seem to be waiting long for our order to be taken or for the food to arrive. The menu offers a good variety. As cheese addicts we had cheese soup, cheese sandwiches, cheese scone the most amazing cheese on toast followed by a fruit scone. It was delicious and reasonably priced. For the amount of food we didn't think it was expensive at all. We really did find the service fantastic and friendly. The only negative we could find was that the butter and jam were catering portions rather than homemade but that wouldn't put us off going again.

I've been here a few times recently, not always fast service but usually friendly. The menu is quite cheese based, as you would expect at a a cheese farm ! With cheese soup, not as weird as it sounds , cheese scones, cheese plough mans etc, it's a cheese lovers dreamThe cafe is in an upstairs barn, and although there are seats outside its not suitable for anyone with walking problems. There is a small stall selling the cheese made downstairs with some accompaniments like pickle and crackers, and some local crafts too.

We went to the cheese lodge cafe on a Sunday afternoon . I arrived with my husband, 4 year old son and baby girl (8 months) to find no clean tables available. We asked a waitress who seemed to be busy to clear a table when she had time. The place was understaffed and it showed. The atmosphere in the cheese farm cafe was shocking to say the least. Full of older couples who were deadly silent and staring like they had never seen young children before and it was a crime to go into a cafe with them. I must also state my children are well behaved but like all children they behave like children do and want to talk and move around. The cafe had highchairs and a children's menu (which I must say was a rip off) so it's not like it didn't cater for kids. We sat down on one of the small cramped tables with people literally breathing down our necks and ordered food and drink. Food took a while to arrive. The food was enjoyable but expensive for what it was. I have never paid £1.90 for a child's apple juice before and nor do I want to again. Never coming back again. Not recommended for families

Have dined here quite a few times over the years and never been disappointed. Our favourite is the homemade cheese soup which comes in a decent sized bowl and is accompanied by either a small crusty roll or garlic bread. This costs £4 and there is usually another type of soup on offer for the same price. Also do ploughman's lunch, priced £7.25, or choice of sandwiches, accompanied by salad, costing £4.55. Homemade scones and cakes are also worth trying.Service good and staff very pleasant. Located in what must have been a barn so has a bit of a rustic atmosphere. The cafe is up some stairs and there is no lift.

Have been here hundreds of times the ham and cheese toasties are awesome , cheese scones to die for , and plough mans lunch is outstanding . Love to buy cheese whilst I'm there for home cooking , staff are great ladies , only issue for me is access ,my hubby broke his ankle and we have not been back as there is quite a few stairs . Defiantly going back once great can get up the stairs

Put simply - this is one of the best places to eat lunch in the North East. The food is fresh and tasty; and the staff are helpful; friendly and know the numerous regulars by their first names. There is also the cheese counter and small shop for some purchases to take home.Q. Would we go again?A. Most definitely

A great place for cheese lovers. There are a few tables outside but most are upstairs which you reach via a very steep staircase. You walk through the cheese shop area before entering the cafe. There are plenty of cheese samples so you can try before buying. We had sandwiches, tea & cake, all very tasty. The staff are friendly & the car park is at the front of the cafe. The Lane leading to the farm is narrow in sections & very popular with cyclists.

Found the place by accident while driving around Northumberland. It's off the beaten track and really in the middle of nowhere, great coffee though and tasty scones + if you really need to be connected to the world,free wifi.

We called in specifically, on route to our holiday cottage, to buy some of the delicious cheeses which we had bought on previous trips. Having had quite a long journey it was nice to just relax for a while in the pleasant cool of the café and have a drink and a snack while we there. The scones were really good, the apple and walnut one was particularly tasty. The young lady who took our order ,whilst not rude, could definitely benefit from some customer service training ! Having said that , the other lady who sorted out our order was very efficient and our food etc was swiftly delivered. we enjoyed choosing which cheeses to buy, samples were offered by the very pleasant assistant who told us about each of the cheeses and made recommendations. Also bought some nice crackers from the good selection available and we've brought some fab wines with us (from Majestic in Grantham) , great way to start our week away !Well worth a visit, especially if you are fed up of the bland and 'samey' supermarket cheese offerings !!

I have to admit we go here a lot and have never been disappointed.Parking is in an old courtyard in front of the cheese farm, which is a fully working farm with plenty of viewing windows to see what goes on, we have never been fortunate enough to see the process.The cafe is up stairs which are fairly steep but once up you enter a quaint little cafe, built into the loft space. The cafe is clean, with a good few tables. The food is a good variety of dishes, I can recommend the ploughman's lunch.The staff are both helpful and cheerful with a good knowledge of the various cheeses.After your meal there is a small shopping area offering various goods, mostly cheese related as you would expect, but the main feature is the cheese counter, with a good selection of their various cheeses.

It was Mrs W-to be's birthday and the now traditional Afternoon tea was in order. Being really organised & stuff we checked out the best places nearby in the morning with a view to booking for after school.That failed...so we were left to drive the countryside hoping to find something and up popped the Cheese Farm.When we got in we were the only people there, it's a nice quiet loft and the staff were lovely and friendly. Afternoon tea comes in at a very reasonable £8 each or £13 for two. We ordered 3 and were given a choice of tuna, cheese savoury or cheese (funnily enough!). Nice sandwiches, cheese and fruit scones, tray bakes and a bit cheese n chutney on the side.Good quality, if a little sparse but overall a nice trip out in good surroundings.

Regarding Experience you wouldn't know the cheese is made there, nothing to look at..... Cafe is expensive, cakes for young ones £1.60 so I bought X11 & halved it, no latte's in a cafe? Shame really it could be a great cafe to visit but it wasn't. Il go blagdon cafe next time we visit Northumberlandia.

A really quaint place, a bit off the beaten track but worth the journey. We arrived early morning and the smell of scones was a delight. We bought some to bring home and hubby advises they taste as good as they smelt. We had breakfast which was very nice but we weren't asked if we wanted brown or white bread for our bacon buttys (and we never thought to say) so were quite disappointed when they arrived in sliced white bread. we were just expecting a bit more then packaged sliced bread. maybe we should have had the scones! Staff very friendly.

Had lunch here a few days ago. This place is definitely quirky and out of the way, although taking that into consideration it was quite busy. The food and the service here are excellent. The only disappointment was my husband ordered a ploughman's with cheese and it came with two delicious cheeses and salad. He was just expecting something a little more :-(

I like the uniqueness of this place so keep coming back! The cheese sandwiches - made with mayo and mango chutney are delicious! Coffee is OK, and free re-fills are great but I wasn't offered any - strange as the table at the other end of the room got topped up twice! Main downer is the slowness of the service. My partner had finished his tea by the time food arrived so had nothing to drink... ah maybe that's it - they want you to order more drinks! Don't think so - it seems to be a genuine, up-front place. Would recommend, but be prepared to wait a while for food. PS - I also like that there is no cheesy (ha, ha) music playing in the background. Very peaceful.

Called in on easter monday it was about 2pm very nice and very clean family of five we where served reasonably quick and food was good but the place was very warm I noted air con was fitted but not on this made for a very uncomfortable meal being in a loft on a warm day a pity but would try again maybe in winter

My husband and I have visited the Cheese loft cafe many times as we live nearby, it is our favourite place to have lunch. We find the atmosphere very relaxed and the staff friendly without being intrusive. Love the cosy feel of the place especially on cold and wet days. The food is lovely especially the tomato soup and my husband loves the cheese soup. The egg mayonnaise sandwiches are the best i have ever tasted. Only negative point i would make about the menu is that it has never changed in all the time we have visited however to be fair there is a specials board each day. Have tried the other coffee shops nearby but find them much less friendly and the food is not as good. Also enjoy trying the different cheeses and chutneys and always take some home with us.

Sadly reading other reviews there seems to be a theme of very slow service even when cafe is not full which was our experience. My scone and tea arrive within 10mins (scone not warmed up sadly) but husbands soup of the day order had still not arrived after had I finished my scone and 2 cups of tea. On enquiring it still wasn't ready so we gave up. If they had told us there would be a wait for the soup fine, but they didn't and I would have expected both food orders to be brought together. Isn't that kind of the point of going out to eat with someone?The scone I had was nice enough but nothing special.The prices these places charge and the effort you need to go to in order to reach them it is in their interests to value their customers - its not as if they are attracting passing trade in the location. We did get a verbal apology from the lady on the till but I would kind of have expected a discount and not to be charged full price for the scone and tea we did receive.This issue does not appear to be a one off from reading the other reviews so if you are planning a visit I would ask for a time scale when you place your order and to specify that ALL food be brought together (something I wouldn't expect to have to say in this day and age).

Wonderful service, very friendly. uncomplicated menu, fab cheese! Everything looks and tastes homemade, and the staff are very attentive. Will be going back as soon as possible!

Called in Sunday afternoon for coffee. Staff could not have been less interested in us. Very few customers and yet it took forever to get a coffee that was already brewed. Won't bother going back.

Visited here today after buying some of their wonderful cheese in the cheese shop in Alnwick. It is quite close to where we live and thought it would make a nice change. It is down a narrow and badly surfaced road but is well signposted. The cafe is upstairs as the name implies. The only other customer was a young woman with her small child. We sat down to look at the menu mindful of some of the low beams above us. While we were looking at the very uninspiring menu another young woman with two small children came in. She seemed to be known to the staff and we assumed that the cafe was a meeting place for young families. Of course that is fine but having spent yesterday in a cafe listening to a screaming child we didnt want to do it today too so we left. While we were sitting in the car preparing to leave a lady tapped on the window and politely asked us if everything was ok and why did we leave? I mentioned the children and was told it was the lady's daughter who comes to see her. This is fine but does make a very unwelcoming atmosphere. Went back down the road to the Milkhope centre about a mile away where the cafe had a queue of people waiting. This says it all really.

visited here a few times. it is a nice place but on this occasion was quite empty and this reflected on the atmosphere i thought. you have to go up to the counter to order. i was going to have the flan but thought it was a little pricey so just had a cheese scone which was nice. friendly staff but i felt something was lacking this time and cannot put my finger on it.

i bought my husband for a present a cheese making day which he enjoyed. the coffee shop is really nice and lots of homemade food not to mention the cheese selection. nice atmosphere in the cafe and its really cosy too. they seem to have regular customers coming each week. it is off the beaten track and down a rather long country road but worth it if you want to visit somewhere different.

I'm a BIG fan of this place and have been numerous times over the years in it's 'Northumberland Cheese Farm' days into it's revamp to ' Cheese Loft' and I envisage many trips to come in the future! I really love this little cafe as it's cute and quirky and I really like the countryside location. Staff are great and I really enjoy their food!The menu isn't huge but, it has a few special cheese themed items like their delicious cheese soup and glorious cheese scones! I LOVE the mini vegetable quiche they serve also! ( little tip~ would even nicer if it was warmed in the oven instead of blasted in the microwave as it can sometimes be a bit soggy and chewy!) There are plenty of yummy options such as jacket potatoes, sandwiches, beans on toast, Ploughman's lunch....as a veggie it's a great reassurance that vegetarian rennet is used in their cheeses as this is often a source of worry for me when eating out, so I'm really pleased and impressed that they highlight this info to their customers.The mango chutney they serve up with their food is AMAZING and meals are nicely presented! Bit of feedback~ Would be great to see a more contemporary and adventurous selection on the sandwich options as whilst they are tasty, the variety is quite basic and safe ( cheese/ tomato/ ham/ tuna mayo/ coleslaw etc) Would be wonderful to see some more of their wonderful cheeses put to good use and for them to offer some really special and unique options~ get the nettle cheese on the menu!!Staff are great, super friendly and pleasant- service is quick and staff are attentive!We also sampled the afternoon tea back in the summer which, we were quick to snap up when we found an offer online as it gave us a chance to sample a few alternatives on the menu. Deal was fantastic value and the afternoon tea was topped with the best cheese board I have ever experienced in my life!! The cheese board was a great way to try out a range of their artisan cheeses paired with a hefty supply of bread, a load of juicy mango chutney and slices of apples and pears~ truly delicious!Cake selection is decent~ plenty of tray bake type options on offer and the carrot cake is nice!Venue is cosy and sits above the workings of the cheese farm so it's quite a novel experience. I've been when it's both been busy and quiet and have always enjoyed the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Prices are reasonable and overall I really recommend this place! Lovely cafe, I look forward to my next visit!!

We visited here one Sunday afternoon. I ordered a pot of coffee and fruit cake with cheese. The coffee was some of the best I have ever had, but the fruit cake was completely dried out and I could not believe the size of the piece of cheese, a minute triangle 2" x 1/4" thin and it was horrible.

I had high expectations of this place after being recommended by a colleague. I was looking forward to afternoon tea, and first impressions were good. Unfortunately my initial good impressions turned to irritation after placing an order with the disinterested lady serving. I placed an order for tea and two scones plus orange juice and cake for my daughter and ended up waiting for 25 mins and still no food! Another couple walked out prior to us saying they had been waiting too long. It wasn't as thought the small cafe was busy either ! I was so disappointed we just got up and left !! What a shame we definitely would not recommend and won't be visiting again :(

I called here for an early lunch. The country lane is a bit daunting - particularly when faced with an oncoming car that refused to move over - but the atmosphere and ambiance is delightful. Service is relaxed but attentive and the menu very reasonably priced and extremely good value. Space is limited so better book at busy times of the year. AS you leave make sure you purchase some of the wonderful Northumberland Cheese which is manufactured on the premises.

We visited for Afternoon Tea, but first had to find the farm as it is quite tricky to locate. Luckily this was our second visit, but we did get lost the first time! (Tip: If you arrive at the Milkhope Centre, the farm is just a little to the west, follow the signpost down a long, narrow country lane and turn right).The food was first class, and just as described by a previous reviewer, a choice of two sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, and tray bakes, with tea or coffee. We were suitably full afterwards! A nice touch is the small cheeseboard of homemade cheeses, with labelled 'tasters', and crackers, fruit and chutney Of course the idea is that you will then be persuaded to buy, and there is a small chilled counter which sells a good variety of unusual local cheeses, and the preserves are also displayed on shelves for purchase. It is also possible to arrange .tours of the cheesemaking business, but that needs to be booked in advance.On the two occasions we have visited there has always been plenty of room. The cafe is situated upstairs in an attractive converted barn building, which could prove problematic for anyone who has difficulty climbing steep stairs. The tables are very close together, and those for two people are very small. We had quite a job fitting all the various dishes on the table! However, not a problem really and more than made up for by the delicious food. There is ample parking available right outside the door, ideal on a rainy day! Well worth a visit for a quiet country meal in different surroundings.

We enjoyed afternoon tea for 2 (£13) consisting of sandwiches, scones with jam & cream, pieces of tray bake, and filter coffee. We also took home 3 varieties of tasty cheese to savour afterwards.

Really friendly atmosphere, good freshly prepared food, limited menu means you no it's going to be good, unlike places with huge menu's were the food comes from the cook freeze suppliers. The selection of cheeses made on the premises is exceptional and are used in the restaurant in a lot of the meals.Well worth a visit

Called in here on the way home to the north west of England from Edinburgh, had seen it on the web and thought it looked interesting. Unfortunately there were no tours or anything on the day we were there so we just planned to stop for lunch. Really liked the cheese soup and my daughter had an enormous cheese board that she really enjoyed. In fact, we liked the nettle cheese so much we bought some to take home. The cafe seats about 36 and it was pretty full the whole time we were there. Just a word of note, use the website for instructions. We just got the postcode and put it on google maps for directions and they were hopeless. The place is signposted but a lot of the time you are thinking "this can't be right!". It's worth finding though.

We came to the Cheese Loft Cafe for afternoon tea with a Living Social deal. Loads for the offer price; sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, tray bake and a cheese board which was accompanied with information about the cheeses, all made on the farm. Absolutely beautiful food and had to buy some to take home it was that good! Only downside was it wasn't very busy and with no background music it felt a bit awkward!