Gillam's in South Lakeland

On a rainy Tuesday late morning, we were welcomed by courteous and helpful staff. Delicious food was freshly prepared yet absolutely worth the wait whilst freshly prepared. Quirky historic clipping to entertain and raise a smile whilst taking in the ambience. Very helpful guy in the adjoining shop shares ideas for our remaining holiday. We had poached eggs on toast and a ciabatta cheese toastie. Fruit scone with butter and tiffin and 2 coffees for around £25. Very much worth a visit

Fantastic food and service. We had a fantastic lunch including drinks, We also bought some excellent quality organic food,eggs and groceries in the store.

What a wonderful find! Large and varied menu, big portions, and the food was delicious. Staff were so pleasant and friendly, the service really stood out (Saturday afternoon visit) And dog friendly!

The best cafe around. Lovely atmosphere, great music, fabulous range of tea and coffees (Russian Caravan is my favourites) and best of all it's vegetarian. The reviews on Doug the manager make us laugh out loud - he's a great character, locals love him, visitors may not be used to his style. All part of what makes Gillam's special.

A good café with good food and very pleasant staff. My wife, and I really enjoyed our visit, will most probably call here again.

Love this place - the oldy-worldiness, fabulous fresh food with loads of options, delightful staff - nothing to fault.

This place is always busy and we've never been able to get a table. However, this time we got lucky! We were seated in the quirky upstairs restaurant. The staff were very friendly and the service was quick. There was a good choice of 'specials' and we were struggling to make a decision as everything sounded great. We weren't rushed or ushered out once we'd finished. A real treat.

Excellent food and service. We had lunch, creamy mushrooms and Rarebit with a delicious cup of tea, their 2/6 blend. There are some good vegan options. The vibe of the cafe fits the Dickensian mood of the whole town and with fast and friendly service, we thoroughly recommend.

The manager was very stressed and hassled. He was annoyed when I said we didn’t want to share a table. He said you will have to wait. When I replied I didn’t “have to” he threw us out! His choice of language and tone of voice was aggressive and harsh. He didn’t give me a chance to say we were prepared to! He said “my cafe, my rules!” He then said we were rude and arrogant. It was he who was rude. He was the only person in Ulverston who was bad tempered and rushed. The town was very busy as it was Saturday 25th November, the festival. Very poor behaviour.

The fluffiest, melt in your mouth scrambled eggs on the tastiest hot buttered toast. All Organic. Incredible. Thank you Gillam’s!

During our stay in Ulverston we popped into Gillams for a light breakfast. Although we only had toast and jam, and hot drinks, it was a pleasant experience. The young lady who greeted us was very bubbly, polite and made us feel very welcome.

Excellent as always but this is a note to say thanks for the fantastic gluten-free bread (Biona Rice and Sunflower Wholegrain). It makes a welcome and distinctive change from the standard bland Tesco/Genius option. It is available in the shop - a little pricey but worth it. Of course, if you prefer Tesco GF bread, this may not be for you...

What a superb find on a cycle ride around the lakes. You were allowed to chain your bikes to the butchers bike out front. However we were on a longer ride and didn’t have a lock, so the kind staff allowed use to take them through to the back. We were welcomed and seated quickly. The waiters and waitresses were extremely pleasant with solid knowledge of each and every dish on the menu. I opted for soup (spiced tomato and lentil) and a toastie ( Brie and Cranberry). My friends had the fruitcake and cheese. What a combo. The variety of coffee and tea here is immense. There is a s definitely something for everyone here. The food arrived promptly with great service, it tasted delicious. Thank you for your great hospitality and going the extra mile to make us welcome on a wet day in the lakes! We will be back! Best wishes.

Great little gem of a place that was recommended to us. Lovely little hidden garden at the rear to soak up some sun and enjoy freshly baked scones with pots of tea. The little deli attached is also an amazing find

A lovely welcome with an amazing offer of yummy vegetarian food. Fair trade coffee and organic food, an independent jewel for this town. The staff were excellent, friendly and fast. Homemade cakes and fresh vegetarian food. Reasonable prices. Highly recommended.

Chose this venue after visiting the Laurel and Hardy museum. Loved the history of the place. Staff lovely & food excellent 😊

Wish there were more independent vegetarian-friendly cafes like this. Two visits during our holiday. Very efficient young staff, tasty food, and their 2/6 tea blend is very reviving. Upstairs is now our preferred area to sit.

Trovata su Tripadvisor, ci occorreva un luogo vicino dove fare un pasto caldo e veloce; abbiamo trovato un luogo accogliente, dove mi è parso quasi di fare un salto indietro nel tempo. Zuppa ottima, scones spettacolari fatti sul momento! Selezione di the e caffè speciali

We went for lunch twice on our holiday and loved it. sorry to sound gushing! It has great character and they sell all kinds of teas and coffees. The first time we sat out in the area at the back which was peaceful with a great view of the old clock in the town centre. The upstairs room is really interesting with framed newspaper cuttings of the history of the shop and other artefacts. The choice of music was lovely - relaxing and at just the right volume. The food was delicious. We had soup and welsh rarebit and nice teas. Service is friendly. Wish the tea room could be teleported nearer home.

The inside of the tearoom was full when we arrived, so we were offered a table in the garden. Unfortunately, the light rain started coming down heavier, so we left. After standing outside the shop for a couple of minutes, trying to decide what to...

Another great visit to Gilliam’s. Coffee, sandwich and warm welcome are always given here. And finishing off with a bag of amazing Colombian Coffee Beans to take home. Can’t wait to go back.

The food is very nice, although maybe a little pricy, they use good quality ingredients. The cafe was full inside so we sat in the garden and found the chairs very uncomfortable. They have a large gap at the back which you feel you are...

Good café, very very rude man in shop Pleasant garden, nice salad and soup, home-made and tasty, good service in the café part. Tried to buy some cake in the shop, had to wait ages for someone to come and serve, a notice said to...

We ate at Gillam's in January. My husband and I had soup and a sandwich (I am vegan, my husband isn't). We both opted for different soups; I had a vegan sandwich, my husband had cheese. We both agreed the food was excellent. The cafe...

Spotted this place whilst during a very short stay in Ulverston - visited twice in 3 days as we enjoyed it so much. Lovely atmosphere, food and coffee.

This place is just an amazeing find,delightfully old building,beautifully cared for,we had a table up stairs by the window,and the staff where really very pleasent,we had a very nice lunch,nice soup and sandwiches,nice lot of tea,high quality and served with a smile,we will be back,when...

I love the traditionalism of this place. You can sit looking at and reading the articles on the walls whilst drinking a damned good coffee. The choices of teas and coffees are phenomenal. The attached shop is amazing. As for the staff…. very friendly, welcoming...

My Husband and I went to this cafe/restaurant i Ulverston on Thursday 20th October. We had to wait in a narrow doorway behind a rope for them to allow us in. We waited approx 6 mins whilst a waitress and a man who kept ignoring...

A really nice place for a light lunch. Served by really nice people and a good selection of food. We had lunch, but the scones and cakes looked great too. I highly recommend visiting here.

A warm welcome, a lovely space, efficient service, tasty cake, refreshing coffee, interesting distractions around the walls and an unobtrusive soundscape of fine classical music. All I could possibly wish for.

Cousy little place who serves the best afternoon tea and scones. We stepped in on a rainy day and had the best of time. Friendly and welcoming staff. Totally recommend.

Had a really lovely lunch. So much choice on the menu, all homemade, local and cooked to order from what I could tell. Didn't realise it was a veggie place!

We stopped here for lunch and we’re pleasantly surprised. Being vegetarian, I didn’t know it was a vegetarian/vegan tea room until after we sat down, so it was amazing to have loads of choice on the menu! We opted for afternoon tea and a children’s...

Gillam's does not deserve your custom. The owner has been extremely rude to me on at least 2 occasions, and I will not be going back. Although the young people working there have always been extremely pleasant, there is one older waitress who appears as...

Went for lunch … quite a limited menu so chose a toasted sandwich. When it arrived I noticed the bread was mouldy!! I brought it to the attention of the server who whisked it away to replace before I had a chance to say I’d...

Very limited Menu so just ordered an Egg Mayonnaise Sandwich which came with a salad which consisted of a few green leafs, one cherry tomato and 2 slithers of cucumber. I was almost halfway through eating it when to my horror I noticed a slug...

Lovely cafe with unusual cakes (mostly vegan) Went upstairs to a table with our dog and enjoyed the old fashioned decor. The cafe was originally a much loved grocery store in Ulverston but is now a cafe and organic produce shop. All the food is...

Fantastic store, we purchased King Naga pickle for friends to try Phal curry sauce for a nice spicy meal when we returned home. Lots of things to purchase, will be back.

Unassuming frontage hides some fantastic nibbles and beverages in a small family run eatery. I tried the vegetable curried pie and was almost converted to vegetarianism. Wife raved about the tea but my milky mug of coffee was swiftly followed by another. What a lucky...

Lovely tasty home cooked quality food made with local ingredients. Served with care by really friendly staff. Its a real gem. Been before and never disappointed. Will be back soon.

Great tea and cake. We always make this a regular visit when we stay in the lake district. There are many teas to choose from. Great lunches too, ranging from home made soup, to fresh sandwiches and cakes. A delight to visit.

A quaint looking place which caters substantially to the tourists as Ulverston is a popular town for visitors. Good points: the coffee is good and the sandwiches fairly good - nice cheese and dressing on salad. Garden is small and pleasant. Not so good are...

Walked in off the street, no knowledge of tearoom or area. Made very welcome including dog. Fire lovely. Had proper mugs of hot milky coffee. Excellent service in tea room and shop next door. Thank you.

Been dining here for years anyone that says the owner is rude is mistaken I have been here with lots of people never had a bad experience or meal its the best place in ulverston by far some times its advisable to book it gets...

I have been visiting Gillam's and have always found it to be delightful and the staff extremely courteous and helpful. I am not a vegetarian but this place is just so good

On a cold December day this was a welcome retreat. Open fires provide a lovely atmosphere whilst perusing the very extensive tea menu. Staff were friendly and food and drinks were brought promptly. Good is fresh and tasty. Good selection of cakes to compliment the...

A lovely treat on a rainy November day …. Sit down coffee next to the open fire. Had my favourite Guatemalan coffee with Teabread & cheese & my partner had the Coffee Cake (vegan) - both absolutely lovely. Staff very friendly & welcoming. Did have...

We have moved locally and now visited Gillams 3 times. We have not been disappointed at all. The service is really great with smiles given freely. The cakes are amazing and sandwiches fresh and delicious. On the most recent occasion we had soup and the...

I stopped off at this cafe with a group of friends. We were seen at the entrance by the owner and, having viewed previous TA reviews we obviously passed muster as he “allowed” us into his premises! I should add we had no issue with...

Stopped off in Ulverston and decided to grab a bite for lunch. Covid protocols were in place and the cheerful staff allocated us a seat by the range. Lovely cup of tea, with a large pot and water, hearty soup, and a delicious hummus and...

What a disappointment. Our afternoon tea (£28.00 for two)consisted of 4 tiny finger sandwiches each with 1 filling only, 1 scone with no butter/spread a choice of jam and a very strange tasting cream and 1 cake from the choices available each. We had a...

Stood waiting to be allowed in - rang the bell- waited some more - rang the bell again - looked in - man saw me but ignored me - he picked up some packets and started to fill shelves in the shop - I called...

Felt unwelcome by the owner or member of staff. He felt there was a feeling about us. So refused us entry. Was upsetting on our first day of holiday. Thankfully, everyone else we’ve met on holiday has been really nice. So would recommend the town...

This experience is nothing I will ever want to experience again. The crazy owner is prejudice, bias he picks his customers and says “you are not welcome here!” To those who aren’t up to his standards.

DISGUSTING!!! The minute we walked in we felt the strange vibe. NO RESPECT FOR CUSTOMERS! An exempt person was pressured to wear a mask. We were dismissed by a member of staff or owner before we were seated. Please avoid !

The stuff demanded the mask from exempt person and after that he said “I’ve got a bad feeling about you and you are not welcomed here” which is unacceptable and very rude!!! Very disappointed definitely the place to avoid it ….

Looks are deceiving looks good from outside and inside what is bad is the service and price. You had to chase the staff to get any service and when it came time to pay again you had to try and find someone anyone could have...

Gillam's Tearoom is lovely, and so is their speciality grocery shop. The people are lovely, the food and drinks are delicious, their service is lovely. I used to visit their unique grocery shop forty years ago, as a child, with my mum. It was the...

Coffee was very good and good selection of different types. Staff were rude, however. Owner was a bit of a clever sod with a weird vibe. Would not recommend overall. Don't be seduced by the quaint, old fashioned thing, service takes ages and is not...

I came in for coffee this morning and after seeing other people's good I had brown toast and raspberry jam. The toast was was really good... Proper bread! Thank you.

I live in Essex now but I'm originally from Barrow ... every time we're up visiting family in Barrow we swing by Ulverston for two things; a pint in the Mill and coffee/tea at Gillams. We visited over the kids half term holiday and as...

We,ve been many times to Gillams. Although we are not vegetarians we enjoy the food. It was a cold day and despite the open fire the door remained open it was explained this was due to Covid restrictions. It is an opportunity to try new...

Been quite a few times to this lovely vegetarian cafe but the last visit was not up to scratch at all. We had to wait 25 minutes for someone to even take our order. They were not full so could not understand why it took...

We arrived just in time this lunchtime as they had a table free which was amazing! We had house blends of tea and coffee and “bite and sup”! It was amazing! We all loved it. I was so impressed with their vegan options - when...

Como lugareño, no me siento a tomar un café muy a menudo, ¡tengo la oportunidad de comprar mi favorito (guatemalteco) y llevarlo a casa! Pero hoy tuve el placer de recibir una fantástica cafetería de acero inoxidable como regalo para mi Gran Cumpleaños. . . . la tienda olía de maravilla y estaba llena de cosas interesantes para los amantes de la comida. Bien hecho Gillam's

The scones came warm served with a choice of homemade strawberry or raspberry jam and clotted cream. My daughter had a specialist tea which was very good. Dogs allowed to and all covid rules followed.

Visité para almorzar y me sirvieron lo que solo puede describirse como un plato perfecto de comida reconfortante, perfecto para una tarde de septiembre húmeda y algo fría.Sopa casera de tomate y albahaca con sándwich de queso tostado. Excelente relación calidad-precio, servicio de sensación de seguridad y un entorno confortable (el pronóstico incluso es increíble).

Tuvimos un delicioso brunch aquí, disfrutado tanto por vegetarianos como por no vegetarianos. Un poco casero (p. Ej., El aguacate con huevo escalfado fue cortado en rodajas en lugar de triturado) pero eso le dio más encanto. Gran selección de comida y cafés deliciosos, así como un personal agradable. Vale la pena una visita.

Excellent vegetarian and vegan options and absolutely huge selection of teas and coffees...definitely not your standard collection. Had a lovely light breakfast and some hot drinks upstairs in the quaint and charming surroundings and loved the smart, old fashioned shop next door. Friendly staff.

Pintoresco salón de té tradicional con una fantástica selección de té y café. Nunca había visto una selección tan amplia de té y café en ningún otro café / salón de té. Tomé una taza de Gillam's Spiced House Coffee y un pastel de té tostado que recomiendo encarecidamente como un pequeño bocado de Autumn Elevenses.

Very impressive service. Lots of teas and vegetarian and vegan options. Very covid aware and feels safe.

Absolutely loved our visit to Gilliam's. The choice was wonderful and tasted amazing. I only noticed the deserts after I'd eater and was too full to have a taste. Next time, definitely!! We got our food under 'Dine Out To Help Out' so that was good on the pocket.

What a lovely find. Highly recommended. Coffee excellent Mushrooms on toast that were recommended by hairy bikers were brilliant Ciabatta salad with Brie and chutney was also great. A must return to venue. BTW service second to none by young waiter was very good

Visited for lunch and the Covid 19 precautions in place were excellent, you had to wait to be greeted so your contact details could be taken and asked to sanitise your hands, before being shown to a table and all staff wore masks.I love the quaint tearooms, it has a lovely warm feel with lots of old furniture and memorabilia of times gone by and we were lucky to get a table, they were turning people away the whole time we were there.The menu has a huge selection of vegan options, accounting for 50% of the menu, which is wonderful and the allergen information was easy accessible on the menu itself. I chose jacket potato, houmous and roast vegetables, with smoky black bean stew off the specials board for hubby, with two pots of Earl Grey tea and oat milk. The food was delicious and good sized portions, with fresh salad and plenty tea with extra hot water for top ups.There was a massive selection of teas and coffees to purchase and I noticed lots of my favourite vegan wines on display. I had to go and have a nosey in the shop accessible from the tearooms and I was like a kid in a sweet shop, there were so many products to buy.I loved Gillam's Tearooms, with its long history and yet still owned by the Gillam family, with Doug being the great great grandson of its founder John James Gillam. Highly recommended.

We have been coming here for many years and have never been disappointed. But after lockdown we were rather apprehensive about going out for a meal. We need not of worried. Gillams have it covered.Trace and track is given at the door.Hand sanitizer before you go to your table.All tables well distanced. Orders took at tables. Food served to tables. Bill paid at tables. All staff in masks.Other establishments need to take note, this is how you do it.Thank you for making it a safe, pleasant, tasty experience. Thank you .

Rainy day so just stopped for coffee and cake. Lovely quirkily decorated interior. Great selection of different coffee roasts and blends, and mouth-watering selection of cakes so that is was difficult to choose. We settled for coffee cake and dark chocolate tiffin. Highly recommended

Had fantastic lunch here.Tasty sandwiches plenty of delicious filling lovely presented with salad and coleslaw.Then rounded off with the most amazing light scones with delicious home made damson jam and clotted cream.And perfect pot of tea. This is a must if you in the area

Great place to pop in for a cuppa and light bite. The staff are really friendly and the place has a real family vibe about it. Will definitely be returning on our next visit! Thanks again. Best wishes from Newcastle Upon Tyne.

My grandparents are regulars here, and me and my Mum loved joining them for lunch today - such a warm welcome, a great hearty lunch, and brilliant service 🙂

My parents used to visit this place weekly to sample the quality coffee and home made produce but due to ill health the visits have become very rare lately, however the proprietor has gone out of his way to change all that and lift the spirits of these customers in difficult times. He decided to visit the address of my parents and leave a couple of his home made scones within the porch next to the front door. What an absolutely wonderful thing to do. I cannot thank this family run business for such a personal touch. Truly a lovely place to visit with exceptional food.

We stopped off around 4pm, looking for somewhere warm and cosy to have a pot of tea. The fire was lit and we sat on the bench seat in the window. It was lovely as we watched the late afternoon comings and goings. I had a pot of chai tea and was pleasantly surprised to see they had oat milk. I bought a selection of teas to take home. Highly recommend this place, the staff were friendly and it was clean, warm and cosy.

This place is an absolute gem. Numerous vegan options, really helpful and patient staff and Doggo friendly!!!!! We had the bean chilli but were blown away by the beautiful salad it came with.... and then a vegan fruit scone! Take your time to look through the tea menu. I had the Thai coconut and it was amazeballs..... This will be featured in our upcoming Vegan guide to the Lake District for sure......We did read a few reviews about no mobiles. And to be honest it was great to spend some time with them tucked away in pockets..... Also check out the accompanying shop next door..... BioD products for the win!

Well I wish I’d have read the other reviews before going here so lesson learnt there. I’ve given it one star purely because it was raining and cold and the place had a fire and spare table. Staff are rude and unhelpful and unprepared to make any slight adjustments to their menu. They don’t aim to please! If it says it comes with tea then it comes with tea and you definitely can’t change that even though it would be of no extra cost or inconvenience to themselves. Also, the waitress brought me the wrong food (a different kind of cheese toastie so I didn’t realise it was wrong at the time) she snatched it away from me and said that she’d just pop some more coleslaw on there and bring it back out to the correct person who’d ordered it!! What??? Do it again please!! As well you might want to check the toilet works before you wait outside it for ages with staff walking past you when they know it’s out of order. Finally this is a vegetarian cafe but you probably won’t know that until you sit down and try and order!

My Granddaughter and her best friend have just had a wonderful time, enjoying Little Gillams Tea Party. Always a friendly welcome. The best place in Town to spend a grey and wet Afternoon.

I have been in here many times and love the food, however today my mobile went off and as I have never seen a notice anywhere in the cafe asking you not to use your mobile, I answered very discreetly. I was told mobiles were not allowed as it spoiled the ambience of the cafe and could i finish my call. I apologised and said I didn’t see a sign any where. He said that they didn’t like to put signs up telling people what to do. Surely a sign on the door or menu would help and stop the customer feeling embarrassed. It spoiled my visit and I would never have used my mobile if I saw a sign. I’m afraid I paid and left. What a shame!

Very atmospheric Cafe, which provides an amazing choice of teas and coffee. The soups and snacks are also of high quality

Called in for coffee, the choice is excellent and was very good, scones are delicious and served with homemade jam. The room has a log fire and was very welcoming on a cold day, the staff are very attentive but not obtrusive. It takes quite some time to read through the extensive menu there are many more varieties of tea than coffee. Well worth a visit. Plenty of advice on dietary requirements.

La comida es bastante decente, sin embargo, el menú es demasiado complicado con demasiadas abreviaturas al lado de los títulos. El menú podría simplificarse un poco.

Loved our visits to Gillan's.Highlight for me was their take of rarebit, really tasty with the addition of ale. We were upstairs on both our visits and think that is the best place to enjoy its ambiance.

What a lovely little restaurant. Staff are friendly and helpful. The food is freshly cooked and really tasty. Coffee was great. We'll be back again.

a tea & coffee drinkers delight ! great vintage style decor, with knowledgeable staff. well worth the visit to Ulverston alone

Friendly efficient service, good choice of lunches and snacks -what more could anyone want. I will certainly visit again the next time I am in the area

For many years on our regular visits to Cumbria, we have always visited Gilliams. From the lovely selection of tea and coffee to excellent jacket potatoes. Today was our last visit .Why? Dogs in the tearoom, it is not hygienic to allow animals in a food area.

Tuvimos un almuerzo muy agradable aquí y justo antes de dejar a mi suegra me estaba mostrando algo en su teléfono. No había ruido (¡la cafetera estaba haciendo más ruido!) Y este tipo se acercó y dijo que no permitían hablar ni hablar por teléfono. Supongo que se refería a hablar por teléfono. Es justo, pero deberían decirte esto cuando te sientas porque no lo sabíamos y nos sentimos como si nos hubieran hablado como idiotas. ¡Si hubiéramos sabido que habríamos cumplido pero no se nos hubiera dado la oportunidad!

I went in with 12 school children and four staff (two visiting from South Africa) and we were royally treated. I couldn't have asked for a kinder or more warm welcome. The children were delighted to be served the best chocolate brownie ever, with proper china and a cake fork. We felt like royalty! The coffee is the best you can get anywhere and the tea is served with hot water on the side and a tea strainer. It is all so very proper! Thank you so much for a super afternoon!

I enjoy meeting friends here for a brew and a chat and a spot of knitting. Always made welcome and the choice of teas, coffees etc is amazing. Lovely scones with homemade jam - damson is my favourite.

Popped into Gillam's Tearooms for a late lunch, and was not disappointed! Huge selection of teas and coffees (Faitrade or known producers) - I plumped for a cafetiere of the house blend, which was lovely.

Stopped by for a bite to eat. Had the dogs (in a pram) so had to use the garden out the back be warned access is steep. Went for the fried mushrooms on toast which were lovely if the portion size was a bit on the large side. Specialist tea was ok too if a bit weak for my liking.

Visited for coffee and a cake - the coffee was very nice but the cake was most disappointing. There is no warning that this is a vegan establishment, but having found a seat we thought we would give it a try - big mistake. Virtually everything on both the savoury and cake menus were vegan. The vegan scone appeared ok when it arrived but, in reality it was in a metastable state, when trying to cut it fell to pieces with the consistency of crumble. The strawberry jam was more like a syrup, could not really be spread and was best poured onto the scone fragments. The whipped cream was brilliant. Its a lovely old building and has been tastefully restored. It should warn that it it is a vegan zealot stronghold.

My fiance and I visited Gillam's on 05th July 2019, hoping to have a milky coffee, scone with jam and cream ( one of our favourite treats).