Grannies in Northumberland

Grannies was a delight to discover on our trip to Alnwick. It's not very obvious from the shop but in the basement is an adorable tearoom. We had toasties for brunch which were fresh, delicious & served with a very appealing side salad. The staff were really friendly and helpful and the decor is atmospheric and cosy. We'll definitely be back.

Quick stop for a late lunch. Had the Brie, bacon and cranberry toasted sandwich with salad and my wife had cheese scone with chutney. Very nice. Lovely cooking and very friendly. Deffo recommend

I have read other reviews but wouldn’t say breakfast was their strength. The lady serving downstairs was delightful - friendly and welcoming but the breakfast wasnt great. It came very slowly so our hot drinks were well over by its arrival. The bacon was pretty dry and the (not included in the price) sausages were the smallest we’d ever seen (no longer than 4 inches at best). To have to pay an extra £1.50 for two tiny wee sausages was astonishing and pretty mean-spirited.

Cosy basement cafe, underneath a lovely shop with local jams/chutneys etc. Sweets and deli upstairs. We had a breakfast with tea for two. The service was friendly and the food was cooked to order, so don't be in a rush. Enjoy the quaint area you are in, and take in the old antiques and relics that adorn the walls. The full breakfast was lovely, Sausages are classed as an extra, they are proper butchers Sausages but are very small. The only down is it would've been better on a hot plate.

Used to come here regularly around 10 years ago until we had bad experience. Changed hands since then but after todays experience it will be even longer to forget todays offering. Latte and tea were OK but the cheese scones are something to avoid. Why oh why do they warm scones up when they are not as fresh as they should be, makes them taste like leather, not that I have eaten leather before……if they claim these were fresh then they have a vivid imagination. If they want to know what a fresh scone tastes like they should go to the Queens Hall in Hexham. Disappointed is an understatement.

Very welcoming and very friendly staff. We were looking for a lunch spot to get out of the rain and arrived to find 1 table available. Lovely homemade food, catered for kids needs and just made us feel very relaxed.

Had high hopes after reading reviews but was sadly disappointed. I ordered the classic beef sandwich with cream scone and tea. The white thin breaded sandwich was on a tray with the scone, cream and jam. No garnish or finesse in the serving of it. Would not recommend

This is very friendly shop with a small but very excellent little tea shop but more the service and food is very good. We visited three times during our stay. Recommend *****

We were wandering around Alnwick in the rain and thought to go to a cafe we'd used before but, on finding it closed, took a punt on Grannies (should't there be an apostrophe) and were glad we did. The tables are downstairs in the cellar where the decor is best described as quirky but the welcome was warm and the coffee and cake just great.

The food was excellent. I had bacon and egg bap and my wife the scrambled eggs. Both were hearty and cooked to perfection. The setting was lovely and the staff really friendly. The cakes looked gorgeous but wouldn’t really go with breakfast 🤣 Highly recommended.

What a lovely little eatery with lovely chatty staff. Great homemade food with a very varied menu. Hubby had a club sandwich which was full to the brim and I had a jacket potato with homemade chilli. Both very tasty and accompanied by a really nice home made coleslaw and side salad. My hot drink was very hot too which made a change. We saw lots of cakes on offer that looked lovely but just couldn’t fit one in. This is a very small place so you have to be selective when you visit. I think in total there are only about 4 tables but we arrived at 3pm and apart from the first 15 mins had the place to ourselves. If I was local I would definitely visit again and when I return to the area will make a point if it.

There's never much choice in Alnwick for places to stop for coffee and a snack so went here and it was ok. Wouldn't say it was absolutely amazing and fantastic but it served its purpose for what we were after of a coffee and a snack. Would say it's average.

We were lucky to get a table as it's very busy. We ordered sandwiches & a large hunk of delicious cake each. The sandwiches were freshly made & delicious & the cake extremly moreish! The staff were lovely & welcoming.

We both had the quiche homemade and very tasty, excellent value for money. It is very small so would recommend reserving a table

Only visited for a scone and a cup of tea but the welcome was warm and the scones were delicious. Would definitely return.

We were recommended this delightful tearoom & deli by locals. Quirky cellar setting for small but perfectly formed tearoom, which quickly fills up. Friendly, polite service but best of all are the amazing soups, sandwiches, quiches & cakes all prepared on site. Great deli with lovely local produce to tempt you on the way out. They also do takeaway service. Truly a hidden gem in Alnwick!

A delighfully quirky little restaurant with VERY narrow stair from ground level, leading down to the restaurant. HUGE and delicious panini served with fresh salad, coleslaw, tomato and cucumber (we had to take half of the panini home, it was so large!); excellent value. Friendly, prompt service. Would definitely recommend including Grannies Tea Room when visiting Alnick. Kathleen, Edinburgh.

A lovely and quaint place with history. (The cafe/restaurant is downstairs. Lovely staff. We had lovely food for lunch and the portions are generous. Really recommend the place.

Called in here last week for lunch. Lovely homemade food and friendly service. We had a tuna jacket potato and lentil and bean soup. Absolutely delicious. A great cosy cafe.

Went for breakfast and it was very underwhelming. I could have cooked a better breakfast at home, which to me isn’t the point of going out. Not much on offer for vegetarian breakfast other than scrambled eggs on toast. The mushrooms were very dry. Scrambled eggs were over cooked. The staff were very nice and friendly

As ever, we were not disappointed! The food the service, the atmosphere, brilliant! A tiny place with a big heart. Book to avoid disappointment!

Such a delightful find in this small, interesting town. Full of charm, the tea rooms are down a steep staircase in an old cellar in a building, which although through the ages has changed its use, its architecture remains stubbornly the same. A family home, a clock and watch seller and repairer and now a small delicatessen and tea room, it has a small but tasty supply of cake and pastries, and it makes very good coffee. The young lady serving was truly delightful. Upstirs I availed myself of a selection of delicatessen treats and that made for an excellent supper. Well worth a visit.

My wife and I popped in yesterday for afternoon tea. Despite being told the scones had been made fresh that day, they arrived with a firm, rubbery texture (I sense they had been microwaved too long as they were warm and had clearly not just come from an oven). We sent them back and stuck with a pot of tea. Despite letting it brew it was insipid and lacked flavour. Can only be described as gnats pee. Shame really as we prefer to support local businesses rather than mainstream

Oh my days, a superb fisherman’s platter in that the selection of fish was good and there was plenty of it. Lots of salad and not too much bread so a very healthy dinner. Loved it! Great service, friendly and polite.

We booked a table here for lunch as a family of 8 including 1 coeliac after ringing to check about the gluten free/cross contamination etc. We were greeted by the wonderful Margaret who was not only welcoming but explained everything about the precautions they take to ensure coeliacs are safe to eat here! All the food was wonderful, both muggle and gluten free and we left happy and full and we will be back! Thank you Margaret, thank you chef, thank you Grannies!!

lovely hide away, granny's is an underground little star good service excellent food and atmosphere the teacakes are enormous!

Went last year. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Portions are large and well presented. Staff very friendly. Back in the area this year so made a trip to Grannies. Glad to say the baked potato with chilli con carne was as good as we remembered. Nice salad...

We have just moved into the area and found this place. The food is really nice and have been once as every time we arrive its closed or is closing. The opening times indicated dont mean anything. We turned up on Friday and it was...

When visiting Northumberland we always visit Grannies for a lunch or two. Lovely staff and lovely food in a unique olde world setting. The club sandwiches are especially good particularly the Chorizo, bacon, mozzarella n olives version. This place deserves a big shout out, so...

Perfect start to a busy day. Simple menu expertly cooked and served. Extremely good value for money. Very pleasant hosts. Would seek it out again when next in Alnwick.

Fantastic as ever, had a lovely lunch with a friend and Grannies was the place to have a good catch up over lovely food and yummy cakes! Highly recommend if you've not been before. Very cosy atmosphere and excellent customer service from Joanna ^_^ We...

We called in here for lunch after visiting alnwick castle. The food was good the staff helpful & friendly the visit was a great success. The prices reasonable. Can we say more.

Wonderful Quality fayre Great staff Thanks for a great experience today. Chocolate fudge cake was to die for And they put up with my humour ..... medals all round

We visited Alnwick today and wanted to find a lovely little cafe for lunch. Grannies did not disappoint. Great service, a warm welcome, superb food, fabulous coffee and lovely cakes. Great little shop too. Very retro and “oldy-worldy”. We live in South Wales so it...

A lovely, quaint and atmospheric little cafe. Lovely produce in shop and coffee area in cellar. Lots of lovely historic artefacts.

A fantastic place for a lovely lunch. The food was lovely with a terrific selection and the service was perfect. Will definitely visit again.

Called in as we were passing and wanted somewhere for lunch. Very cosy tearoom with a lovely atmosphere. We both ordered the cheese ploughman's and were highly delighted. A selection of local cheeses with beautiful accompaniments. Just make sure you are hungry as they don't...

A really lovely tea room which delicious food. We had tea and cake that was so good that we came back the next day for more

Just visiting the town and during our walkabout we found Grannies.Very friendly staff and a cafe in the basement make this a unique experience. Delicious fruit scones with jam and cream served promptly made for a very pleasant tea-time experience. A must visit if you...

Visited here after a good while away bcause of the pandemic. The staff were really friendly and efficient and coffee and scone delicious. They also serve really good lunches. The place itself is fascinating and exudes the antiquity of the building. Cafe is reached via...

We were recommended to try this cafe in a local shop. I am coeliac and require a gluten free diet. They were very accommodating and meticulously checked all the ingredients and contamination. I had a Brie and cranberry sandwich in gluten free bread followed by...

Friendly service. Food was excellent & home made. Portion sizes were very generous. Nice clean establishment. Would not hesitate to return when in the area. Seemed popular with locals popping in for takeaways.

Recommended to try this place for lunch. Friendly staff. Had jacket with chilli and jacket with beans and cheese. The accompanying salad was lovely and fresh with tasty coleslaw. The tea was served in a large pot. Smashing. Lovely shop upstairs at street level. There...

Lovely early lunch. Great decor. Fantastic service. Club Sandwich with added stuffing and avacado was very good. Panini with Italian vegetables also very good.

The cafe was very busy when we arrived, but the waitress was very lovely and gave us an idea of how long a table would be. She reserved us one and we were very glad we decided to wait and come back! The food was...

We just stopped for coffee and cakes. The coffee was really awful. Very weak and overly milky. One of the cakes was stale, the other was very nice. The kids had chocolate milkshakes. Absolutely no chocolate flavour at all and just an odd taste. Not...

Will certainly be adding this one as a lunch stop over. Brilliant soup, quiche and a sandwich. Hearty and tasty. Take aways available. Only issue that it's small inside and we were super lucky to get a seat.

We stopped in alnwick on way down to tynemouth found this teashop. Staff were nice and friendly. We only had cakes,coffee,hot chocolate. Prices were reasonable. The shop isnt very big.

We dropped into this lovely tearoom for a light sandwich and cake lunch. The smoked cheese sandwich was freshly prepared and tasted delicious. Likewise, the coffee and walnut cake was heavenly. The tea was one of the best cuppa’s that my wife has enjoyed. Equally,...

My nerd-like forensic examination of the tuna bap revealed a thickness of the aforementioned filling of 1.24 inches - quite remarkable value, incredibly tasty and very good value indeed, Mr Kipling. Generally speaking, a thickness of more than one inch, when combined with a soft...

We stumbled across this charming little cafe whilst searching for somewhere to have lunch. From outside it looks like a shop selling baked goodies but the cafe part is downstairs, it’s small and quaint. We were seated immediately (I guess we were lucky, as I...

Food was lovely friendly staff and reasonable prices. Even special menu of the day was lovely which two friends had. Definitely would go back

Food looked and smelt delicious but we were unable to try it due to terrible service.We were shown to our table then ignored for the next 20 minutes whilst the waitress served and chatted to some friends who had come in after us..So after 20...

Very popular little cafe, locals coming in all time to pick up take away lunches. Ordered paninis, got a plate full off salad , coleslaw and fruit on plate also. Good value , people were queuing to wait for a table. Would go again.

Lovely little cafe.food lovely. Staff very friendly. Would definitely recommend for breakfast ,brunch or afternoon tea.

This was absolutely lovely and my husband said the fish platter was the best he had eaten in ages. The atmosphere and service were also great. Highly recommended this.

Me and my husband stopped off here for breakfast on our tour of Northumberland in our Covid Camper van. The food was exquisite service was second to none. Highly recommend indeed. Thanks so much Sheila & Joe

Knowledgeable and friendly staff. We were visiting the area briefly and wanted to try some local delicacies. The lady was very friendly, incredibly well versed in the deliciousness of the products. She advised and discussed things with us without being at all pushy. We came out with some incredible items that were well priced. Thoroughly enjoyed our Northumberland treats later that evening

We went to grannies for a late lunch the staff were really friendly and attentive to the current COVID guidelines wearing masks, asking us to use the sanitising gel provided and we got seated at a socially distant table. The food was delicious and home made and the cakes were Devine. Great place, well worth a visit.

A great breakfast and breakfast roll were enjoyed at Grannies. Friendly staff and all COVID guidelines adhered to. Regular cleaning took place, masks etc . Would recommend.

Luckily for us we booked earlier in the day and it didn’t take long to get our table then at the busier time around lunchtime Strict corona virus rules in place !Good choice of food and drinks My eldest daughter who has an eating disorder managed to have some lunch with us as they were able to accommodate her dietary requirements The afternoon tea was fabulous. The sandwiches were crammed with filling and the scones were enormous and not dry at allThe egg mayonnaise was beautiful, not too much mayo but you could taste the butter also ... lovely Highly recommend

Great breakfast - tasty, good value, nice staff and lovely quiet atmosphere. Would definitely recommend to others.

Reasonably price, lovely hot choclate and sandwich and a reasonable portion. Good value for money and friendly staff. Quick service.

Friendly and polite staff that always will go the extra mile. Delicious inexpensive meals in a cosy atmosphere. We thoroughly recommend a visit. Joanne and Andy.

Our first family lunch out since the beginning of Covid and it was as wonderful as it’s always been and felt very Covid secure. The staff were friendly and helpful as always. Food was as ever amazing. Slightly reduced menu but our favourites were still there. Participating in the eat out to help out scheme. Fantastic food, brilliant price. We now just need to schedule another visit before returning home.

Grannie’s teahouse was a real pleasure to attend. We had to wait for a table which is always a good sign. I needed the loo in an extreme and life-changing way, but I stuck it out and now I’ve had some great cake. We felt very protected from all diseases which is always a plus. The fridge cake was amazing. Much love for all grannies everywhere xxxxx

Had lunch here, the soup of the day with cheese scones, absolutely delicious. A real cosy and quaint place with great friendly service.

I returned here after a while away as I was in town alone and needed some lunch. The small restaurant is cosy and friendly. Tables are very close together yet the place has a superb historic atmosphere. My jacket potato was superb - it came very well topped and was accompanied by a lovely fresh salad and coleslaw. The decaff coffee was also very good. Overall, I thought it was excellent value and i look forward to my next visit here.

Popped in on the way to Warkworth and very glad we did. Very cosy and a nice atmosphere downstairs. Service was excellent as were the sandwiches we ordered. Good tea and coffee left us feeling refreshed. Recommended.

Great value lunch served in a really cosy environment. Lovely food and we even had time to have a look around the well stocked deli upstairs!

We ventured into Alnwick on a very windy and wet day and found this place to have lunch. The seating for the tearoom is down some stairs and it is very quirky when you are down there. The menu is varied and we decided on the soup and the brie/cranberry toasted sandwich. This was served quickly and tasted delicious, coupled with lovely hot coffee and friendly staff members. Lovely little place. Reasonable pirces and the produce upstairs is good too.

I am so surprised at the good reviews here. I know it’s a claustrophobic setting and because of that I have avoided in the past but today my favourite tea room was closed , so I decided as it was a quiet day, to give Grannies a try. It was deathly silent when I ventured down into the basement which is where the tea rooms are. It’s a very small room with around 5-6 tables. Only two people at one table when I arrived yet I wasn’t allowed to choose a table and was told where I had to sit , even though it was a quiet time of day. The scone fell apart as I tried to eat it and looked strangely rather yellow and lacking in quality . I suspect not fresh. The coffee had a off putting after taste. Whilst trying to make the most of the occasion, I found it rather off putting to hear the other people chewing! That’s how quiet it was in there. It was a very strange set up with a distinctive uncomfortable ambience I also did not find the staff very friendly nor professional

Found this quirky tearoom on a day out in Alnwick. Interesting set up - the tearoom is under the shop. Steep stairs down and up (although did notice a table up in the shop on our way out). Good selection of sandwiches, paninis, toasties etc. Less than ten tables so would imagine in the summer it would be hard to get a table quickly. Waitresses were friendly, and efficient.

I visited Grannies today on recommendation. It was a lovely looking place with friendly staff. The menu looked nice so l ordered quiche and salad. It looked very nice and I ate one mouthful. I then noticed a long dark hair beneath the salad. I handed the food back and left. It was very disappointing as we were on holiday and had purposely chose to go to Grannies as it was supposed to be award winning. Before the food arrivedI had used the toilet which was not clean. My suggestion is that Granny pays a bit more attention to health and hygiene.

My wife and I went for lunch as we make an effort to try the local independent places. It's a bakery /grocer's upstairs and down some steep stairs is a very tiny cramped cafe, fortunately it wasn't too busy so we stuck with it. My wife and I went for the lunch offer of soup of the day and a toastie, the food came and the toastie ended up been a sandwich due to staff error. To be honest the soup and sandwich were very nice so no complaints there. The place felt very claustrophobic and the staff seemed a little inexperienced. Finally the flat white was a weak white coffee that I suspect had just 1 shot in it.I like a decent coffee, so on that note, I wouldn't go back.

Called in on a rainy day for a bite to eat and a cuppa. Grannies is small but welcoming and friendly. There was a good selection of food, i had a coronation chicken panini which came with side salad and coleslaw. The sides didn't feel like an after thought and were just as tasty as the panini. Service was great. Would definitely visit again.

We went in on a very cold day to get a hot drink and were tempted into having scones and tea cakes as well. Both were delicious, the tea cakes were some of the biggest ever eaten.

Called here for lunch in party of six, including two toddlers. We were immediately welcomed and seated, with little fuss, in this small but very good tearoom and the food, freshly prepared, was excellent. The children were catered for with no difficulty and the member of staff who served us couldn’t do enough to make sure all was well for us. The only slight downside is that the tearoom is in a cellar, down some stairs which some might find difficulty in using.

We visited Alnwick on our Northumberland holiday and looked for a nice little tea room. On spotting Grannies we thought that looked just the ticket. So down into the cellar we went and what a lovely surprise we had. Gorgeous tea rooms with lovely coffee,tea and a superb scone with jam and clotted cream. Superb

We each had a different type of Baked Potato and we were both very impressed. We also had one tea and one hot chocolate. All items were of excellent quality and very good value for momey. We would definitely go again, if we were nearby.

Been here a few years ago so thought we'd give It another try.

Only a small place down steep stairs managed to get in on our 3rd attempt - but well worth it. Had an outstanding piece of Quiche (large) with salad and great homemade coleslaw and I don't know what they'd done to the beetroot but it was incredibly tasty. My better half had a delicious Panini and prices are reasonable for the quality of food. Good service by two young ladies. You ask for the bill and pay upstairs in the shop.

Very cosy quaint restaurant accessed via some quite steep steps. The girls have the restaurant running like clockwork with very friendly service. My husband had the club sandwich & I opted for the soup. His sandwich looked and tasted delicious but unfortunately my choice of soup was’nt the best . It was lovely & hot but unfortunately tasted like a big bowl of “ chip shop curry sauce” not what I was expecting! If I go back again I think I will stick to a sandwich !

We went here for lunch. Huge choice of lunch options and im sure everyone would be catered for. I had soup which was lovely and my husband had a club sandwich which was massive!!! Very tasty food and we will definitely return. The cafe itself is decorated interestingly and was a good talking point for all guests with all the old fashioned "grannies house" items hanging up around the place. Great idea.

Tucked away down a closed off part of the high street, this little shop serves all things tasty. We only had room for cakes, but my raspberry coconut tart was a treat. Prices are reasonable and service is brisk.

I fancied a jacket potato for lunch so as we were in Alnwick decided to go back to Grannies, ordered a tuna and cheese panini meal deal for £3.50 (THIS INCLUDED ANY CRISPS AND ANY CAN OF POP!), unfortunately when I tried to then order a jacket was told they had run out - gutted.

Stayed in Alnwick for a weekend with my wife and daughter. Needed somewhere for breakfast that did a Gluten free option for my wife and found it at Grannies. Lovelly breakfast served by friendly staff.

We were lucky to get a seat for lunch because it is a very small restaurant and obviously popular because most tables were already booked. Meals are enormous and delicious. The only criticism I have is that we had to pay upstairs in the shop, and so had to queue as they also do takeaways. Apart from that, brilliant.

We can honestly say the staff are lovely in here. Two girls downstairs were very happy in their jobs. Very friendly and aware of all the customer needs...nothing was too much trouble.

Staff welcoming and friendly, food lovely and fresh. Can recommend the sandwiches, very filling with a lovely side salad and crisps. Will definitely return on our next visit.

Having read about this on this site we felt it would be a good place to try for lunch and we were not disappointed. I had a club sandwich which had the most amazing sweet chutney. My daughter and wife both enjoyed their lunch and the shop stocks some really good products so I had a shopping trip there after lunch. Keep up the good work, lovely food and good service.

Very busy when I arrived which is always a good sign! The 2 lasses downstairs got me sat quickly and took my order. I had the jacket potato with chilli and salad.. it was delish!

We used to pop in here from time to time when in Alnwick, but our last visit was underwhelming. A lot of noise from extractor fans and also generated by the friendly but very loud staff, and wobbly chairs and tables seemed more unstable than previous visits. Food tasted OK if uninspiring, but its all a bit gross, lumped on the plate with enough mayonnaise to lubricate a ship launch. Staff were quite abrupt to new customers when there wasn't any room for them or they had no reservation, and spent too much time talking to each other than keeping an eye on customers who wanted their attention (not just us!). You get what you pay for I suppose, it was cheap and hearty, but its an experience that we won't be quick to repeat. The deli upstairs is better altogether than the cafe. Sorry!

grannies is a real feature café which takes you back in time. Décor is very `past times` which is interesting to look at. The staff are really welcoming and wok so hard. Food is amazing and very good. The four of us had a nice table and ordered the jacket potatoes with different fillings, all very delicious and plentiful. we also got salad and grannies homemade slaw with it. we didn't have room for the many delicious looking cakes, pastries and scones on display. our meal was superb and if in the area again would definitely return. the café is down stairs and they have an amazing deli and shop with a takeaway ...very tempting! we bought cakes to take out for later. Thank you to all the staff it was a great lunch.

Called in for a coffee and tempted by offer of coffee and a tea cake. The girl serving was working so hard in cramped conditions but was friendly and helpful . We were served quickly with massive tea cakes with butter and coffee was good. Good value for money. Be warned, not many seats and a tight squeeze.

Can’t comment on the food, although it did look excellent, as we weren’t able to sit in for ‘health and safety’ reasons. Would love to be able to expand on exactly what that means but we weren’t given an explanation.

Grannies is a step into the past. It is quaint and well worth a visit. The person serving us was brilliant. She was friendly and chatty. The atmosphere was really good. Can definitely recommend

Hidden in the basement of a food shop, Grannies is a special location with terrific food. Very nice staff. This was our second visit and certainly not our last

This tearoom can be found at the far end of Alnwick and clearly has a good reputation with the locals and was also very well used by tourists, if thy had walked that far. The eating area is downstairs with quirky decor. We went at lunch time, with there being a good choice of both hot and cold food, all of which appeared to be sizeable but still having plenty of flavour.

Knusse en gezellige gelegenheid in de kelder van het winkeltje. Ruime keuze op het menu, alles voor een aardige prijs. De ruimte is wel wat krap, maar dat maakt het ook wel weer bijzonder. Vriendelijke mensen en boven nog een leuke winkel met mooie streekproducten. Zeker een bezoekje waard.