Coffee#1 Banbury in Cherwell

My “go to” for grabbing a coffee (and a cake!) on the way in to work. The team are friendly and helpful. Always seems to be a nice mix of customers, some working, meeting friends, or just sitting with a coffee quietly.

I decided to have a quick lunch in Coffee#1 in Banbury today while I was in town running errands. I often visit here with my Border Collie Puppy as it's great for socialisation training but today I was on my own. On arrival I noticed that there was only one person behind the counter, I was the only person in the queue until I started to place my order and then three other customers arrived. I ordered a panini and a decaf oat milk cappuccino. My drink was served once the other people in the queue had placed their order (which made sense) and then the server proceeded to make our drinks. I was given a number for my table and I found a seat and sat down. Some fifteen (15) minutes later I still hadn't received my panini and I saw my server venturing outside of the cafe. I went back and spoke to the 'new' person behind the counter, informing him that I was still waiting for my panini. He investigated and noted that my order was still on the clip at the back of the counter. He told me he would get it to me shortly! The server's name was Luke (the new server) and I have to say he managed keep my faith in Coffee#1. He apologised when he brought my sandwich to the table and said he would have offered me the opportunity to speak to the manager, except that the individual who first served me, and di not action my ticket WAS the manager. He hadn't conducted a handover which would have incorporated any outstanding orders! This is very basic. Luke apologised again and offered me a free coffee to make up for my wait. He was courteous and pleasant and managed the situation splendidly. Thank you Luke, you were a superstar! So plaudits to Luke but a big thumbs down for the manager. I believe it is important to give feedback when things go wrong, but note I have also included the things that went right, for balance. Thank you Susan Portman

Excellent service, lovely lady on the coffee doing great designs. Very friendly staff and delicious coffee and food thanks

Under the new management, this place has been transformed! It’s busy but tidy, customer service is amazing and the coffee tastes amazing too! I even had coffee art on my coffee! I will definitely be returning!

Pretty average experience, probably won't come here again. Ordered a Ham and Cheese toastie and apple juice to eat in. Toastie arrived, was mediocre/ok for price. I was given a napkin that was unhelpfully half underneath the greasy toastie, so was unusable. No knife and fork brought with food, which is odd considering it's a toastie with a runny cheese all over the outside so not the type you'd eat with hands. Was asked when ordering if I'd like ice in my glass for the apple juice, I said I'd have a glass without ice but was then brought no glass at all with the bottle of juice. Litter on floor, ignored by staff clearing tables nearby. Plus side - staff friendly and service quick. I don't blame the staff, either they are short-staffed or poorly-trained. This place needs to focus on the small, thoughtful details, that's what makes the difference and would make me want to return.

Visited with friends for a coffee as liked the sound of their white hot chocolate. First thing we noticed as we walked in was how messy the place was. Rubbish everywhere and loads of tables hadn’t been cleaned. There was only two people behind the counter and their service was super slow. I also thought the sizes of their drinks were really small. I ordered a regular which I felt was more of a ‘small size’. I wouldn’t visit again.

This place is filthy ! Only 1 person working . No breakfast items put out. Everything is dirty it definitely hasn't been cleaned in weeks if not longer

As per lots of previous reviews going back months, this place hasn't changed, slow service, filthy floor, I was in today (12/10) and 9 tables waiting to be cleared, staff disinterested and customers walking out. A real shame, there's another coffee shop opposite this one which is better. Don't bother with cofee#1 Banbury plenty of better alternatives available

It is always a pleasure to visit here - and, although there have been some negative reviews of it, if you get there early you should be okay! I always enjoy the cappuccino with the very indulgent cappuccino cake to go with it - a brilliant combination. Keep producing the quality like this and you'll do well! I was certainly satisfied.

Friendly & efficient staff. Pleasant atmosphere + nice & cool in the hot weather! Oh and really nice coffees

Dirty and uncleared tables all over the place. Staff barely managed to look at me when I ordered, and seemed to be surprised/offended when I asked for a tray to carry 3 cups of hot drinks and some cakes back to my table. Both seemed to be far more bothered with having a conversation about plans for later than just clearing some tables. Only giving 2 out of 5 as we managed to find a table in the dog friendly area, and the drinks/food was the usual reasonable quality for this chain.

I had not visited this chain before, but had heard mixed feedback that it was both worth a look and worth avoiding! Luckily I visited early in the day and was greeted by a nice, spacious cafe and clean tables! I ordered a cappuccino and a cake and hoped that it would taste as good as it looked! My hopes were realised and both items were above expectations. The coffee was first class - the best cappuccino that I've had for a long time, and the cake(a 'Cappuccino Cake')was both fresh and very tasty. I was served by a friendly enough staff member and I couldn't really fault my visit here. I trust that when I come back that this good food/coffee and service will be repeated. Excellent first visit!!

We have been in a few times and today was by far the worst. They are just not cleaning tables in-between so cups and trays everywhere. Not the first time we have seen this so clearly understaffing regularly if they can't keep on top of it. Usually the coffee is good,we had two lattes but there was so much foam which literally took up half the cup so was not a latte at all! Also toilet bins full and not emptied. Given them the benefit of the doubt too many times now, won't return.

8 customers in there and all the tables full of cups and plates. People had to clear a table if they wanted one. Staff disinterested. My wife had to go back for spoons, member of staff just said that they were behind her. Didn't seem to want to turn around to get them. Wednesday 14.12.22 1pm.

So Came here for lunch Ordered some drinks and a panini No cold Diet Coke so just offered ice in a dirty glass As the server repeated our order twice she said toastie / to which we corrected her that we wanted a panini TWICE Almost finish our drinks and a toastie comes out - we say it’s a panini 10 minutes later - drinks and crisps finished and panini arrives. Waitress drops half on the table and says it should be ok it landed on the crisp packet Think they need staff that listen and those who can carry plates Not worth the £13 I paid

I visited to get a coffee to go, it cost me £3 and it was only half a cup the rest was foam.... Do they not check? By the time I realized I was back in the car! 🤔 would I return, yes, but be warned!

I have just wrote a review for Leamington, Banbury is also up there in my top 10 coffee shops. Friendly, polite and overall enjoyable atmosphere.

Super friendly server who obviously loves his job, handled waiting customers very well and did not get flustered by the queue. Reasonably priced drinks and to die for cake, a good alternative to the normal high street chains.

The staff are very friendly. The shop is set out for social distancing and they were wiping the tables with disposable towel and spray. I have always felt very welcome at coffee#1 and the choice of cake is good

This is our Favourite coffee shop in Banbury. As we have a scooter we can easily get in and have a drink and cake. The staff are really friendly and helpful.

Always such a pleasure to visit helpful happy staff and a pleasant relaxed atmosphere,a perfect pit stop after some retail therapy

Entered the coffee shop 20 minutes before closure, granted that the staff can be frustrated when people walk in at that time but why let customers in? Made to feel extremely unwelcome by staff and made to feel like we are an inconvenience to them!...

Now that the cafe has been open for over a month and with over 20 visits to this new outlet I now offer my feedback and review. A slow start but the staffing situation has improved greatly; obviously gaining expertise due to training and an...

Visited today and found there to be more staff than customers! Found them to be rude and dismissive - they ignore you and then when they do serve you they throw your change at you with no conversation. Ordered a takeaway drink and asked for...

I think this place opened quite recently (posting this Jan 2020). They must have spent quite a ot of money converting the furniture shop that used to be in this spot into a coffee shop. Companies like this never learn though - I counted 5...

Service was a bit chaotic and slow ...but to be fair it had only been open a week, so guessing the staff were finding their way round. The tables were being cleared and cleaned immediately customers vacated their table which is to be praised. The...