Clifton Coffee Shop in South Tyneside

Had Birthday lunch here with my wife as a surprise for my 66th birthday. Great menu. Had the cream tea. Absolutely lovely.Nice cosy surroundings and service with a smile.

I was traveling for work and needed to book a last-minute hotel—I’m so glad I chose The Clifton Hotel! For a budget-friendly price, I was treated like royalty. The hotel is modern, impeccably clean, and has a welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. Although I only had the chance to meet Callum during my stay, he truly went above and beyond. From checking me in and helping with my luggage to recommending the best restaurants in the area and even cooking my breakfast—he really was a jack-of-all-trades! His hospitality and attention to detail made my stay all the more enjoyable. Honestly, I can’t fault this place. If you’re looking for comfort, great service, and a friendly environment, give The Clifton Hotel a try—I would gladly return!

Staff are lovely, helpful & friendly, Food was fantastic.

Great place to go lovely friendly staff food is always well presented love it great for all occasions ❤️

The surroundings were nice however we didn't feel welcomed by staff. The menu also had lots of notes , which felt quite aggressive, about why there was a charge for hot water and why prices were high saying don't order if you don't want to pay those prices. The coffee didn't taste great either

This place is amazing. Stayed overnight with my husband. We had the en-suite with the bath. The decor was beautiful. Breakfast was in the following morning before we checked out. The staff were amazing. Very welcoming and friendly.

Great staff and good honest food

Great selection from sandwiches, breakfasts etc. Great place to eat after a nice walk along the sea front. Tastefully decorated, good service and excellent food, highly recommended.

Been here many times before but this visit was disappointing. One order was inedible (they did remove this from the bill) and a group of 8 of us were crammed into a space which was really too small; one lady was sat on the edge between two sofas. Another of our group had to put her toast plate on her knee under the table due to lack of space for a table of 8! I realise it was a busy time of year but this should not affect the customers' experience. Most of our food was, as usual, good but overall the experience was not the best.

Normally love eating here, but squeezed to many sittings in, in a short time me span 8 ladies squeezed into the snug area, not really designed for food as seats/sofas were low and one lady had to sit on a cushion over 2 sofas. Food served by a lady with dark hair very pleasant, all looked lovely, the vegetarian breakfast unfortunately came with a black hair. Was returned and a new one delivered, unfortunately it looked as though certain items had been placed on a hot plate, tomatoes resembled mush, hash browns burnt on one side egg had the snotty still attached, under cooked. There was peas and sweetcorn on the plate which could have came from the sausage, but they were there before sausage was cut. I did refuse to pay as I didn't enjoy my experience at the clifton. They did remove breakfast from bill, other ladies felt uncomfortable as my breakfast was served when they had nearly finished. I did eat some of my vegetarian breakfast as I was starving, as has hadn't ate before.

Went for Christmas afternoon tea today. Been many times before and it’s always been lovely however today there was a hair imbedded in the scone! The server ( bald headed guy) didn’t apologise or say sorry just said unfortunately these things happen! It really put me off the rest of the tea I actually felt a bit sick, surely an apology wouldn’t have been too much? Not good enough 👎

Omg this place is just absolutely amazing. So are the staff. The atmosphere is friendly relaxed And an amazing place to come and grab an amazing bite to eat weather it be the utterly terrific breakfast Snacks. Or a sweet treat. Prices are incredible for such a high impeccable quality of standards. 1000 out 1000 per cent. You be daft to miss the amazing opportunity to dine here.

Lovely accommodation. Very friendly staff Excellent breakfast. Great location.

Fabulous afternoon tea at the Clifton to celebrate a milestone birthday. Everything was fresh and delicious with excellent service. Highly recommended

Been here a few times now with different family members and we love it. Staff are amazing and the breakfast menu is so good. My hubby loves the black pudding stacks, look and taste so good. We are going to book for the Christmas afternoon Tea that is advertised.

Best breakfast ever and very polite staff

Going down hill….rapidly. I don’t know if this place has changed ownership or the kitchen staff have left but the standards have dropped dramatically. I do t write reviews often but I have visited this place many times of the last few years and it was good. Not great but always consistent. Last couple of times have been very poor. Not sure they will see me again.

Best bnb I've been in. Excellent service, stunning rooms, staff are so kind. Owner goes above and beyond to make your stay enjoyable, safe and comfortable. Not only that they work hard to help people that need help. Kali 107 room 8.

Comfortable and cosy) Thank you)

A lovely place to stay in. Last week was my third time here. It's always clean, warm and comfortable, and in a great location just near the sea. The staff are so welcoming and helpful, and my special thanks to Callum and Lorraine for all their kindness to me and my rescue dog, Russ. Hope to be back again some time!

First time staying at the hotel. Great central location, plenty of on road parking around the property. Very friendly staff, couldn't be more helpful. Excellent spacious room with huge tv, already set up with access to Netflix, Prime, BBC iplayer, ITV X. Comfortable bed, ensuite with large shower. Great choice for breakfast and cooked beautifully. All the staff were lovely. Looked after every day by Lorraine aka Stella. Lots of places to eat on Ocean Road. Will definitely be visiting again

Delicious Breakfast, beautiful surroundings, fantastic friendly service will definitely be back xx

Superb location, friendly staff and good accommodation and breakfast. We really enjoyed our stay. Hope be back soon.

Amazing Place Hotel fab Staff So friendly Breakfast Beautiful Service 10 put of 10.

Lovely staff and very tasty cakes

Went to the Clifton for my brothers after wedding do, it was really nice would recommend.

Had a lovely visit today! Had been a good few years since we’d last been in and they have totally revamped their decor. It looks beautiful and so elegant. The staff were very efficient and had us seated and our orders in nice and quick. Food arrived, I had gone for the eggs Benedict and my husband had the tuna salad wrap, they were both delicious, the eggs had that perfect runny yolk. Everything was very well presented and we really enjoyed our visit. Will be back soon!

Recently had the pleasure of staying in this hotel.. rooms very spacious clean and had everything you need ... breakfast was amazing sets you up for the day ... proprietors Scott and Liz were amazing hosts and would do anything to help.... big shout out to Callum also great host as are all the staff definitely worth a visit whether it be to the coffee shop or a overnight stay you won't be disappointed 😍

Clifton is a very cozy place to stay if you find yourself in south shields. Very polite and professional staff always tending at whatever needs and requests you have. There is also a variety of breakfast and lunch choices and the owners are very kind, down to earth people always doing whatever they can for their customers to have the best experience. I highly recommend it ❤️❤️

Disappointed. We have eaten at this Cafè at least 30 times for breakfast in the past and it has been 10/10, however, today’s visit was 2/10 if that. As usual, I had a full English breakfast, but today, the mushrooms were deep fried and greasy, the hash browns were also deep fried, soggy and they fell apart and also too greasy, the fried bread was also deep fried and very greasy. The tomato was softened rather than grilled or baked. However, the cafè, families and the staff were excellent as always.

Absolutely lovely , decor is lovely , service spot on

A revisit for us, what a lovely place and great gluten free lunch options , dog friendly too, sure we'll be here again when we're in the area.

Just had 2 days at the clifton.. couldn't fault it at all,rooms were well decorated,very cozy,staff very friendly and very good location for the beach and shops.

What a beautiful hotel. A family run business. Liz, Callum and Lorraine were such great hosts as we're all the staff including the room cleaning staff and Liz's husband we're so friendly. Would not stay anywhere else. Close to the beach just a 10 minute slow walk as was the town. Food was superb and spent afternoon having tea and cake and the lemon cheesecake was so yummy had it twice. Thank you all for a an amazing stay will be coming back. Rooms were beautifully decorated as all the hotel was and beds so comfortable.

Friendly customer service along with fantastic food! Reasonably priced and I lobe they are dog friendly!

In the area for work and looking for somewhere that does a nice breakfast. Despite not staying at The Clifton, their coffee shop/restaurant is open to the public. I had a full English breakfast which was very tasty, tea and fresh orange. The gentleman who served me was friendly and helpful and the menu is reasonably priced with good fresh produce.

As always a pleasant place to dine

Great food and customer service... highly recommend

The food is always delightful every time I go there! Keep up the great work

Decor is beautiful , staff are lovely and food delicious.

Went for breakfast. Service phenomenal and food to die for. Could be a little bigger in seating size but definitely worth giving a go. Just personalise your meal, as I am not a fan of black pudding, yuk.

Always an extensive breakfast menu and great service by very friendly staff.

Had lunch at the Clifton lovely food great service .Eggs florentine ,apple and caramel pie with cream and ice cream

This recently modern cafe attached to the Clifton Hotel is very airy and has a lovely atmosphere. Food is well presented and great friendly service. Totally recommended.

Had lunch with friend and her puppy Friendly helpful staff. Food excellent Decor and atmosphere is outstanding My first visit but certainly not the last

Modern, stylish little cafe with a heart for dogs, tasty afternoon tea and breakfast, friendly and patient staff, good prices.

Absolutely lovely stay all round. Staff were all amazing. Thank you

Lovely property. Clean, warm and charming rooms. Our 4th visit. Staff are very friendly and welcoming. Breakfast is good quality with lots of options. Area is safe and has lots of eating options if you're wanting to eat out. Definitely stay again

Coffee and cake were lovely, it was very warm inside which wasn't great. But the staff were lovely and the customers around us seemed very happy. The food arriving at other tables looked delicious too

Went for breakfast only....2 people. -it was very busy but service was quick enough given the -circumstances. -the miners Benedict was good, but a slice of toast would have made it significantly better. HOWEVER -the latte was one of the worst i've ever drank, and this includes from 50p vending machines. It actually tasted like it came from a poor quality vending machine, with skimmed milk.

Superb place in South Shields. Delicious food, great staff. 👍🏼

Went for Christmas afternoon tea yesterday, can honestly say it's the BEST ever!! A selection of finger sandwiches, pig in blanket, mini quiche and vol au vent, a great selection of cakes (the carrot cake was to die for) and a trifle. Every single item was absolutely delicious if I could give it more than 5 stars I would. All of this was topped off with wonderful, friendly staff. Nothing was too much trouble. We will be back throughout the year but will most definitely be booking for the Christmas tea next year. Thank you The Clifton for starting off our Christmas in the most perfect way!

On the weekend of 20th Oct'23, We had family staying locally for a Celebration Party we were holding. One of our family were booked into the The Clifton for 2 nights. We decided to join the family member on the Sunday Morning, I asked the relative to book a table for 5, which he did. On arriving at the Clifton's Cafe at 915am, A member of their team asked if we had a booking, I told her yes for 5 people, she showed us to a table for 4, I repeated it was for 5 (at this point our family member had come down from his guest room), the owner then interjected saying to "add a chair on end of table", one table isnt large enough for 5 adults plus all the drinks, breakfasts, plates etc I asked her if we could have table opposite but she didn't like that idea so i suggested another table, neither were given to us. After a lot of eye rolling & giving off a vibe that we were "an inconvenience ", we were told to "get in the snug". Unfortunately, the chairs in this area are very very low down & two in our group having disabilities, it wasn't suitable, so back into the main area we went. Only for more eye rolling & to be honest, rather abrupt attitude from the owner, telling us to sit where we'd already asked for, making us all feeling very uncomfortable. We spent over £50 between 4 of us for breakfast plus the £157 our family member paid for 2 night stay & I have to say her attitude was appalling & not acceptable. I decided to direct message the Clifton last night & explain how the owner made us feel & how we were upset by the whole situation. My message was read but no response after 24hrs. We've used this Cafe on many an occasion as you get such a lovely breakfast. I'm so disappointed they didn't respond to my message. I guess our business isn't that important to them, its sad but we'll have to move on.

We visited The Clifton Coffee Shop this week with our small dog. He was given a warm welcome as we were, too. We enjoyed a delicious jacket potato with prawns, probably one of the best we've ever had in a restaurant. Thank you all at the Clifton for giving us an enjoyable experience and we look forward to our next visit.

Had an excellent breakfast at a the Clifton. We had pre booked the table which is just as well as it was so busy (at 9am.) I ordered the traditional English breakfast and my husband order a pick your own, also toast and a pot of tea. The surroundings were decorated beautifully and it was immaculately clean. The breakfasts came out in good time and were piping hot, everything was cooked perfectly. We both throughly enjoyed the food no complaints at all! Service was excellent with pleasant, efficient staff who run thing like a well oiled machine. The price £25 for the two of us.Can’t wait to go back and try the lunch menu and the afternoon tea. 10/10

A group of 15 friends enjoyed afternoon tea in the lounge. Everything went smoothly from the time of booking onwards. The Lounge was the perfect space for us and very nicely set for our booking. All the staff we encountered were friendly, helpful and efficient. The food itself was nice and fresh with a good afternoon tea selection and not short on portion size. The tea and coffee was repeatedly replenished. All in all the whole group were impressed.

Regularly come here with friends, for breakfast (best breakfast in town), lunch or coffee and cake. Food is always fabulous, staff are friendly and welcoming and nothing is too much trouble. I always bring out of town friends here when they visit and they've always been desperate to return! Oh and our dog loves their sausages and scrambled egg!

Just wanted to say we loved the afternoon tea on Saturday. We were in the Snug room which was beautiful. All 7 of us really enjoyed the food, the cheese scones in particular were gorgeous. We would definitely recommend and we will be returning x thanks for a wonderful experience x X

Excellent find in South Shields. Fabulous cafe with warm atmosphere, very friendly staff, great service and fantastic food. Very impressed

Afternoon tea for three ,for the not cheap price of 15.00 per head i personally found all of it very disappointing,lacklustre sandwiches,microwaved mini tarts so the pastry went soft,scones i found tasteless and doughy ,worst of all for me ,no proper butter just an awful for me ,what tasted like a cheap spread on sandwiches and for the mini herb scone (if thats what is was) i couldnt face the rest of the sandwiches or cakes although my husband enjoyed the lemon and carrot cake. We have had far better in other establishments, but nice clean attractive decor and toilets and the food liked nice enough on other diners plates.

My favourite place for good quality food and great coffe. Great atmosphere and very friendly staff the place is immaculate.I look forward to my visit every week

Having never been a "coffee shop goer", my mate & I stumbled across this gem of a place some 8 or 9 years ago. We very quickly became regulars and enjoyed not only the food and wonderful service, but watching the business evolve (& indeed thrive) over the years. The menu is varied and very accommodating for people with dietary constraints, whilst the decor is beautifully maintained and refreshed, giving the establishment a real classy feel. Friends from outside the region who have visited me have always been impressed (indeed, many have also stayed in their B&B rooms, which are quite beautiful). Anyone who knows Shields will be aware there is no shortage of coffee shops competing for business, but I genuinely think The Clifton is a cut above other establishments: there really is no comparison. Bravo Scott, Liz & all of the staff. Look forward to seeing you again soon.

The decor and seating is good, staff polite. Unfortunately the portions are poor and prices are high and the Clifton is riding on its previous good reputation which is unlikely to last. Tea for 2 is a pot which just fills the 2 small tea cups once and the pot is then empty. If you ask for it to be refilled you will realise that they only put 1 tea bag in the pot. The same size pot they use for tea for 1 but are charging twice as much. I wonder if they put half a tea bag in the pot of tea for 1. A cheese and ham omlette showed no trace of ham and barely any cheese. Eggs royale were anything but with the most miserly portion of salmon I have ever seen, one thin slice trimmed so small you had to lift the egg to even notice it. I know prices have risen but there are many very good cafes around now which are serving better quality, better portions and a decent size pot of tea. I'd suggest you go elsewhere, maybe the Clifton will then have a re-think.

We stopped off here following the reviews on TripAdvisor. We were only stopping for coffee but were tempted by their cakes. Both coffee and cakes were amazing as were the helpful staff. An added bonus was they were dog friendly. Although not the cheapest we had on our holiday the cakes were definitely the best. Well worth a short walk from the front to experience this coffee shop. Simply excellent.

First visit to the Clifton. We had Afternoon Tea, which was delicious! Everything was fresh and tasted wonderful- particularly the frosting on the carrot cake! Service was excellent and friendly staff. We will definitely be visiting again.

Bad coffee, underwhelming breakfast, high prices and not value for money! First time visit to the coffee shop for breakfast and black pudding stack at £7.95 was shocking. Swimming in water, a meagre 4 mushrooms quartered, wet tomato slice and poached eggs thick with passata sauce...dreadful

Gorgeous cafe. Helpful friendly staff. Delicious breakfast all in a lovely restaurant close to the beach and other amenities.

The Clifton is our go to breakfast spot! Myself and my partner have been to the Clifton several times and have always left completely and utterly satisfied after a delicious breakfast. The cafe is beautifully decorated and the staff are lovely and attentive. The food...

Myself and some family went for afternoon tea 9n 7th June for birthday celebrations. The decor was really really good and everything was great! My family enjoyed the selection of sweets and savouries. I didn't get afternoon tea but got a jacket potato which I...

Staff were lovely, food was amazing, service and hygiene were 10/10. Presentations of food the cafe itself was lovely. Will be visiting again.

Went in for afternoon tea as a treat for my mam. There was 3 of us altogether. The food was the beautifully fresh. The cakes were all lovely and moist, and the sandwiches were delicious. There was loads of it and we ended up taking...

Outstanding service and beautiful lunch once again perfection It's the best coffee to I am addicted to there steak and cheese toasties served with fresh salad and colesaw The staff and owner are amazing and I absolutely highly recommend this place. I've booked my daughter...

Pros - presentation of food. China quickly replaced by server when large crack in cup pointed out. Waiter very amenable and friendly whilst serving. Cons- seating was squashed, no teapot! (Though, to be fair, the table was too small to have one on. I had...

Lovely afternoon tea and great service… loved sitting in The Snug! Lots of variety with the food and staff available.

I often pop in here for late breakfast early lunch the staff are a pleasure - surroundings very clean & comfortable & can’t find a fault with any of the dishes I’ve tried

We seen the Clifton Coffee shop on Living North Best places for afternoon tea and they were rated number 1 and they did not disappoint. The staff were lovely, attentive on the day. Special mention to Skye, Lorraine and Callum who couldn’t do enough for...

Great atmosphere, beautiful food and fantastic attentive service. We would highly recommend and we will return as often as possible. After a lovely walk along the coast this stop off was much needed and we certainly left content and re-energized to continue the day.

After coming to the Clifton regularly and never being disappointed, we decided to go ahead and book the afternoon tea for my daughters birthday at her request. . Once again the service, food and cleanliness of the Clifton was amazing. My daughter absolutely loves the...

This is the second time I’ve visited the Clifton tea rooms, and we have not been disappointed. I took my mum for some lunch, we had a simple tuna and cucumber sandwich, we actually made a comment of how can a simple sandwich taste so...

I can never fault the food, staff and service at the coffee shop. It's one of my favourite places to go with friends and family. Whether it's breakfast/brunch or afternoon tea, it's fabulous. I also live the fact that they cater for dietary requirements as...

I have came to this coffee shop a number of times and it’s her disappointed, staff are amazing and the food is beautiful. I have recommended the Clifton to a few of my friends who have then passed on their recommendations to their friends. I...

Visited the Clifton cafe 3 weeks in advance of a special occasion as I was checking out venues in South Shields for afternoon tea. The "manager/owner*" took my booking and I specifically booked a private area, 'the snug'. I rang 5 days in advance of...

It was an absolute treat to visit the Clifton Cafe! The food was excellent, the surroundings were well furnished and decor beautiful. It was spotlessly clean all thanks to Lorraine, and we were made very welcome by the lady owner. We'll definitely be back!

Food was absolutely delicious, well cooked and great value. I’ve just never paid money to sit on the floor to eat! We were told there would be a wait for a table - not a problem, ordered drinks and sat in the lounge area on...

We came here because our friends had bought us vouchers. Lovely welcome by staff and nice seating and a spotless cafe. We ordered our meals snd the drinks . Drinks came out quickly followed by our poached egg meals. Beautifully presented and tasted as good....

Excellent service and food. Staff were inviting and friendly. Quick service and hot meals. Came highly recommended from someone and they were not wrong. Lovely chat with staff member Lorraine who gave us ideas on where to visit. We will certainly be returning

I took my neice for afternoon tea as a belated birthday gift. I requested a gluten free selection for myself and I cannot fault either choice. A good selection of sandwiches however the miniature quiche are so flavoursome and the selection of cakes .... mmmmm!...

I've been wanting to visit here for such a long time and finally got a chance to visit. Lovely food and a friendly atmosphere. Will definitely be coming back.

Well what can I say. The rooms are of a good size and value for money it has everything you need even has a google assist I found that good to play some music. We had the best time here food amazing staff very friendly...

Came along to our favourite cafe as we do weekly. Food and service as always superb 👌. Staff are always lvelto our little boy. I would recommend this place any day of the week.

Had an excellent afternoon tea with my mum. My afternoon tea was also gluten free. Excellent service and very friendly and helpful staff would highly recommend

Great food and service. Lorraine and Callum were polite, friendly and nothing was too much trouble. Food was served quickly even though it was busy. The food was plentiful and great value. We visited twice in out three night stay in the B&B within which...

We called in to the tearoom twice today. When I say we I mean 5 adults, 3 children and a dog. The first visit was on our way from the ferry landing towards the sea front and we only wanted drinks. Bearing in mind they...

Had a gorgeous afternoon tea here today for my birthday! Everything was delicious and the service was great too! Callum especially, was great - we got caught in torrential rain on the way there and my partner was so drenched he offered us a towel...

A day out at the beach with an excellent Afternoon tea served with an extra help of customer service second to none,from start to finish we arrived early which wasn't a problem,although the place was really busy the outside of the building was inviting modern...

We visited for afternoon tea for 8 of us. The service was fantastic and food delicious. One of our party is gluten intolerant and there was no problem at all with providing her with a delicious afternoon tea. Plenty tea and coffee refills provided. The...

Had the fabulous afternoon this week. We had the Libary Room. The food was delicious. The service was fabulous. Scott and Callum were very attentive. Most of the company have not been before. But would definitely return.

I only eat out in one other place in South Shields preferring Newcastle but today that's changed to 2 places! When we arrived the place was busy with a lovely atmosphere I would recommend booking as this place is very popular. Let me tell you...

My fiancee and myself came to the Clifton Hotel Coffee Shop for afternoon tea. We ended up having afternoon tea in the hotel, as the coffee shop was unable to open, due to staff isolating. We weren't disappointed, the room was gorgeous, the staff were...

We were told there would be a delay on food as we entered. This wasn’t an issue however people come in after us, ordered, ate and paid before our food arrived. We waited that long for our food to arrive a waiter come over to...