Grindleford Station Cafe in Derbyshire Dales

It's all about the location. A famous place with a even more famous erstwhile proprietor. His idiosyncratic presence still overshadows the place. Do they now do mushrooms, I wonder...?

Great food. Great atmosphere. Love it!!

Nice cosy cafe great stop off when out hiking

Good location, not too bad food.

Huge portions and proper mugs of tea. Chip butties are enormous!

Been coming here for over 20 years but not as great as it used to be sadly. Very messy and feels unkempt. Food quality is not as good as it used to be either. Chips soggy. I’m doing this review in the hope that the owners see it and can improve things please.

Very basic, but the food was ok with fresh bread and good portions. Didn't look that clean.

Great cafe next to Grindleford station, very good value and generous helping, sitting outside in the sun

A lovely cafe in the peaks! Cheap and good food and quick service. Great connections to go and explore Padley Gorge and Longshaw Estate. Also a useful spot to wait for the next train!

Fast service depending how busy they are. you can eat inside or outside. good food very welcoming staff. parking is on the street or a small car park opposite chargeable.Toilets were very clean,all on the ground floor. open fire on a cold day, Well worth calling in.

Super duper service. Tiddly widdly prices. Yummy tummy food. Fandabadozee.

Absolutely amazing café foods fantastic. Regular visitor

Little lovely cafe. Great location, good food and nice staff. It was busy and they coped really well. Its the only cafe near to the station.

We call for drink and snack after we've been walking in the area nice area for a walk

We had all day breakfast and it was nice. But I don't like smoked bacon and they not ask was we want.. Plus the egg wasn't running..

Whackingly good, a feast for the senses, stunning scenery close to the railway station. Take the train, bring the dog, drink the tea 🐕

It would have been better if it was open! They close quite early (15:30?)

We stopped here after a great walk around Padley Gorge, the portions are very generous and the prices are very reasonable.

Massive portions, very tasty, We revisit

Order the chip butty. Super. Great history.

Great place to call in for a breakfast when out on my motorbike, plenty of choice on the menu and lovely coffee. Always service with a smile wether on my own or with a group.

We had a fantastic breakfast here over the bank holiday,the staff were very helpful and polite, we all filled our motorhome water tank from there spring water tap

Worth the wait for coffee and bacon sandwich. Wonderful, would keep a shepherd and dog going all day. Plus laughing about the clientele 🤣

Nice food, friendly staff, nice cafe

Great food, friendly staff & very reasonable prices. Large menu with a lot of variety.

I love this cafe! Great, inexpensive food and a nice set of staff. It was busy and the coped really well with getting food out in a short time.

Lovely location, lovely staff and lovely food. Three lovelies in a row 😎👍

2 ice lollies, 2 drinks.. just over £11 pound. Women behind counter was more interested in her phone call than serving us..

Smashing Cleared the plate Excellent tea

Outside was filthy. All the tables were dirty and hadn’t been cleared. The woman who served us was very rude and had no customer service skills. Woman was probably in her 30s. Quite short.

I come here every 2 years when I visit from New Zealand. Best breakfast in the UK.

The food is delicious and that's where the positive qualities end. The toilet is very narrow. The girl at the checkout doesn't know where to run or what to grab. The room is stuffy and you can’t breathe. There are tables outside, but no one cleans them on time. There is also garbage lying around the tables (napkins, pieces of paper, empty cans), no one cleans it up and it is clear that it has been there for a long time. Another advantage of WiFi. It's free and has good speed.

Great breakfast I would say 2nd best in the area

Great selection of food, indoor and outdoor eating areas.

Decent food, cash only, nice area.

This is without question the best cafe in the whole wide world. It does the biggest portions at retro prices, nearly everything comes with chips (proper chips like you got in the 80s), and also does the most delicious homemade cakes. A chip cob is about £4 and is big enough to feed two people! There are plenty of tables outside so summer days are divine, and to top it off it’s conveniently located right by Padley Gorge so you can pair a trip here with some glorious hiking. What’s not to like? Oh - cash only though so don’t forget your purse!

This morning was my first visit at gringleford cafe... and it will definitely be my last. Upon entering there was noone on the counter serving... Fair enough. Cafes are busy places. When the lady arrived to serve I wish she hadn't... We were greeted with "what do you want?" We ordered two sandwiches. She tried making us pay before we even ordered a drink. We sat down and waited... Randomly number 7 was called and two sandwiches appeared on the service counter (we were never given a number). We collected them. The sandwiches were edible but low quality produce was used. The drinks were fine. The cafe itself wasn't very clean. Cutlery was still covered in old food. There was rubbish all over the floor. We ate and exited quickly due to the god awful atmosphere. Such a shame.

Staff very pleasant and friendly, food very good.

Food was amazing, it is worth being aware that it's a self-tidied cafe, so be prepared to take your plate to the counter when you're done.

Great breakfast, cooked to perfection with proper crispy bacon, and the best fried bread on a breakfast , my go to cafe when in the peaks

It's a lovely cafe, accommodation cob and a mug of tea. Good, fast Service, what's not to love?

Great place to fuel up before the adventure. Chip butty is legendary

Popped in before and after a walk around Padley gorge! Initially I thought the food prices were expensive but then I seen the portion sizes! They were HUGE! £3.50 for a kids meal but it was huge, could have easily fed an adult. Home cooked chips too!The staff were lovely and friendly and the cakes and hot chocolate were delightful. Toilets were nice and clean. Also, they fill your water bottles up for free from a water dispenser. Brilliant

I arrived too late for hot food even though it was 10 mins before it stopped, so ended up with a chocolate bar and an average coffee. Staff were okay but they soon closed the shutters then, I assume, closed completely. I sat outside admiring strewn rubbish on the ground (around vermin traps no less) and tables left uncleared from previous people. Vinegar bottle, sauces, dirty plates etc plus there was an unfinished plate of chips too, so the rats and birds will be happy. It's a great location and a little care from the staff would make such an improvement. I'd pass this by and find somewhere else next time, but they do sell ice creams from a freezer if you're passing on a hot day. Cakes were uninspiring. Shame.

Iconic cafe. Starting point for exploring delights of Padley Gorge and walking along the Derwent with Hathersage one way and Baslow and Chatsworth the other.

Had the Yorkshire pud with homemade chilli chips and salad, simple food but the chips are fresh none of the pre-frozen rubbish, and the chilli packed with flavour and genuinely homemade. The portions are also generous too very well priced for the amount and quality of food! Staff very pleasant and efficient, will be calling in again…..got to try the full breakfast next!!!

Great cafe with lovely food, friendly service and reasonable pricing, with plenty of outdoor seating. Win win!

Lovely little cafe, making an ideal stop! Helpful staff and lovely food. Well priced and an idyllic way point.

Dirty, no service and couldn't be bothered to do anything.

Great cup of tea and outstanding chip butty, none of your oven chips properly fried potatoes.

Brilliant cafe. Lovely full breakfast after a nice long walk in padley gorge. Shuts at 5pm and only hot food after 4 is chips or chip butties. They are massive so you won't go hungry 😋

A long-time favourite for over 45 years. Good honest, simple food at a great price. Pints of tea are de rigueur in rain, shine, hail or fog.

Really strange environment. Food was edible, but my partner felt very sick after his. The place was so dirty, tables never cleared and there was just one rubbish table covered in sauce and flies. Some bins overflowing. The staff don’t seem to be that bothered either

Very average food,service and atmosphere Probably wouldn't return

Popped in for a bacon sandwich pre walk. Beautiful location but cafe hasn't been well looked after. Food was ordinary, coffee was weak and lots of litter outside. Try to make it to the Grindleford Community Shop if you can, better service and the pasties are outstanding.

We have been twice; The first time we had beef burgers which were perfect, we also ordered a large chips which was huge! Prices are good (it is cash only). The second time was slightly disappointing, we went early for breakfast. There was a group of men (stag do) who were a little rowdy much to the staffs clear dissatisfaction. We ordered 2 bacon sandwiches and a coffee. At no point was we asked if we wanted butter and I just assumed it would come with it (my mistake). The first issue was that even though I had ordered before the group of men (approx 10-12 of them) and they had ordered sandwiches just as we had, they received theirs first? Secondly the breadcake was clearly from the day before as it was starting to go stale on the edge. Making it rather dry without any butter. There’s lots of signs telling you to take your pots inside and then even more signs telling you where NOT to put them inside, surprised they don’t ask you to wash them yourself. Also the outside needs a good clean up, I understand it’s a busy and popular cafe but that’s no excuse for leaving rubbish laying around in such a nice area. Even if people use the bin, the wind can easily shift rubbish elsewhere.

Great character, cafe with walkers portions! Convenient for railway.

To be charitable, I'll say they trade on price rather than in service

Place improved since I popped in 3years ago.Keep in mind it is cash only and always handle some money with you. Staff is very friendly , and working hard. Massive portions of food. They describe themselves as typical greasy spoon cafe, but after hike it is good to loaded with food and have cup of tea.Coffee improved!

Big draw back is the limited cashless options either PayPal or direct bank transfer. Food was good and was very nice

Thank you so very much to all the staff and the lovely owner who made my birthday today so special! I felt really spoilt, and you helped make it the best birthday I’ve ever had 💖 thank you so much

Great food and the chip buttys are huge

Friendly staff, great place for breakfast and a decent brew.

Wow quick and enormous lunch. It was massive for the price

Hugh selection of food. Very busy n crowded but it is a tourist n station but all well n the food made up for it all.

One of the best breakfast baps I’ve ever eaten. One of the best cups of tea I’ve ever drunk. Despite visiting on a weekend and it being clearly busy, they maintained a fast and friendly service at all times. A tiny bit pricey - not massively - well worth it!

We have been here many times but were very disappointed with the food this time. Quality has really dropped. We brought family telling them it is great and now embarrassed!

A great place to go for something to eat

Dirty plates everywhere. Need more staff to clean and clear the tables. Slow service, lukewarm coffee. What happened?

Great cafe. Can only get here once a blue moon so always pop in when I can 👍

Always a good breakfast with ample portions, a regular stop off when I am riding my motorbike around Derbyshire

Was really looking forward to a coffee on our walk but then realised this place was cash only. This must be losing them a lot of trade! The building itself is characterful and there is outdoor seating which looks like it would be pleasant in the summer.

This is a walkers cafe. A good place to start a walk, or as a half way or final destination. Also a place to go for a simple meal. We saw a group of ten eating for a very modest cost. It's basic, simple and cheap with a decent toilet. I like it.

Been here a few times, never disappoints. Enormous portions at great prices. Cheese and tomato flan is to die for 😁, best chips for miles around, amazing fried bread on the breakfast. Great place to eat either before or after a hike around Padley Gorge. Staff are always pleasant and friendly.

It is written that they don’t want to make rules outside, but then they did. There are rule signs everywhere. The stuff wasn’t very welcoming, that you can see from the signs everywhere. It is cash only but there is no atm nearby. Not very expensive but definitely not reasonable when you compare with quality. Not visiting again.

Didn't bother. Waited 15 minutes and was still outside getting cold

Brilliant place for a walk. And some wholesome food after. CASH ONLY.

Friendly staff serving very good food for a station cafe. Hot chocolate and coffee were good too, none of which were over priced.

The old railway station is now a cafe and retains a lot of original features. This is a basic venue, with traditional breakfast food, sandwiches, & a variety of freshly cooked dishes with chips, so you can't really go wrong. Portions are very generous & prices more than competitive. It can get very busy & cafe specific parking is very limited, so you have to be prepared to pay. Still worth a visit.

Eh! Up! A proper caff! No gentrification here, no airs and graces, just proper cafe grub. Full breakfast, slices of bread, cups or pint mugs of tea, toast with stuff on top - like beans or eggs, and plates of chips. Oh! So many plates of chips! I had the veggie breakfast - for lunch, which included egg, beans, tomatoes (tinned of course), fried bread and buttered bread, hash browns and other stuff. I drove there. But if you walk, as so many do, then it seems from the food in front of people sitting at other tables that the standard order is a big plate of chips. Not fries or wedges or frites, but chips. Leave your guilt at the door and chuck brown or red sauce over them, dose them with salt and vinegar, and slap bread around them to enjoy with a mug of tea. You can walk off the calories later up Padley Gorge or Froggatt Edge or wherever. Cash only and it gets busy of course.

Have great memories of this place their large Yorkshire pudding meals but had a big breakfast this time and it was pretty average

Budget breakfast that hits the spot before a day's hiking. I wish they would use better quality sausages. Great mug of tea

Fantastic breakfast and coffee. Vegan breakfast available for £8.50 including tea or coffee!!

I am updating my last review, the legendary chip butty is back to its former glory. Huge portion of fresh, delicious chips in a huge butty. Unable to eat it all. Perfect.

Possibly the worse breakfast I've had Everything was cold and cheap frozen sausages expensive at £8.80

Love this place. Non nonsense greasy spoon at it's finest. Portions are huge!

Food was jusy okay. Staff were lovely. Good atmosphere. Probably wouldn't stop here again unfortunately. £20 for two breakfasts including coffees.

Lovely little cafe, very close to Grindleford railway station

Nice but very busy at weekends, cash only.

GIANT MUGS OF TEA! A breakfast as Grindleford cafe is like no other! Massive portions, massive mugs of tea and everything you could want from a full English! The venue is nothing special and could even argue was basic in nature but that’s what makes it so perfect! Just a simple well cooked and hearty breakfast! Watch the trains go under the tunnel afterwards and walk off your full tummy!

The hot chocolate, millionaire's shortbread and egg and chips were great!

Scruffy, miserable staff and cash only!

Not only you get greeted with a passive-agressive sign But as they were closing down the place and left, they just left all sauces and condiments outside. Absolute sanitary red flags. The place had trash all around, even if they know they are right next to a preserved natural area. No effort to clean it up especially since it was very windy that day. Glass shards outside on the floor, very dangerous for dogs and children. Also: Cash only? In 2023? Extremely shady business... We will never ever go there again

We had the full English, really low quality sausages and bacon, fried egg over cooked so not yolky. No toast just cheap white bread and margarine. No hash brown or black pudding. Budget ketchup and brown sauce, most bottles of which were empty. Service was prompt however, good atmosphere and location. And not expensive. As they say, ‘you get what you pay for!’. Definitely worth paying a couple of quid more and getting a quality brekky else where in my opinion.

great full breakfast best around

Great spot for a bit to eat whilst walking in the area. We had the chip butties which were huge for the money. Nothing fancy but for great cheap food this is great. Make sure you pay for parking with the ringgo app if parking on the street directly on the hill. Only £2.40 for the day.

A good place for breakfast. A bit Spartan inside but nice to sit out if the weather allows.

Just lovely, tasty food, good service, great prices, relaxed atmosphere. Cash only but you can pay via PayPal or bank transfer.

Old Station at the bottom of Padley Gorge. Lovely walk from either Longshore Estate or Fox House. Take cash , phone signal can be dodgy.

Great little cafe! Loved the messaging around the place and enjoyed the food 😀