John Lewis & Partners Restaurant in Stockport

My wife and I decided to have lunch today (6 November) at "The Place to Eat" at John Lewis, Cheadle. What a mistake that was. We arrived at noon ot find the menu at the entrance didn't correctly reflect the food available. The paucity of sandwiches. The absence of soup. No menu at the hot mneal counter; staff there who had trouble understanding our questions and whom we had trouble understanding their annwers, servicng food that really wasn't hot enough. The hot drinks were ok. All in all an experience not to be repeated, and we won't.

Had to wait outside as the hot food queue was long. Got in and waited about 15 minutes as they were waiting for bacon and rolls! No diet cokes.Then the wait at the till, very poor!

John Lewis offers so called rewards to its customers. My wife’s reward was a free bowl of soup. When she went last week to redeem her reward she was told that they had run out of soup . My reward was a breakfast roll which had to be redeemed before 11.30 am. We joined the queue today at 11.10. After a lengthy wait I was told that they had run out of bacon and sausages. When I expressed my disappointment to the “meeter and greeter” I was told that I had chosen a bad day to come and that I should try again tomorrow. She did not offer a hint of an apology. Needless to say I will not be returning tomorrow or any time soon.

Why do the management not listen to all the criticism? Do they, like many managers, refuse to believe they can get things wrong? After a stack of critics saying they should cover the food at the entrance, croissants and scones are still left uncovered. Soup and coffee were tepid, queues were long at too many different meal stations with too few staff, a rather expensive piece of coffee and walnut cake had walnut pieces scattered over a buttercream top but not a trace of coffee anywhere. And if you tried to get a coffee at one of the machines, two didn't work (the screen said they needed cleaning/emptying) and two others had no mugs but suddenly, with no buttons being pressed, dispensed what looked like grey water as I stood in front of them. Staff were helpful but one woman at a till suddenly walked away leaving a huge queue at the one remaining till.

There was certainly no smile with the service. I ordered tomato and cheese croissant - server indicated it did not exist but I could have cheese and tomato / my error… it was offered hot - part was cold part luke warm - cheese not melted. Ditto for husband’s ciabatta. Coffee good - that’s what the one star is for. Bearing in mind their target demographic this was exceptionally poor - but John Lewis prices - avoid!

Very disappointing visit today. I don't come here very often because it's a long drive for me, but I usually enjoy visiting when I do. I suppose that I should have written a good review for those occasions and perhaps I will in the future. Today there were quite a few staff around but most of them were chatting to each other with reasonable queues for drinks and at the till. I had a rewards voucher for an ice cream, but they had run out. One of the staff told me that I could use the voucher for a cake instead. When I got to the till, however, I was told something about it being the end of the month (it isn't) so her manager had said that she couldn't scan the voucher. It was all a bit confusing. I had to give the cake back to another member of staff, who didn't seem to know what was going on either. I suppose that they must have thrown it away, because they couldn't really sell it on to someone else. The coffee was nice enough but I did have to queue for quite a long time to get it, and then again at the till. There was one man who seemed very busy putting out crockery but another eight or so staff doing nothing. Just left me feeling that it should have been a nicer experience.

Amazing food, great service (as always) from Aeron - would highly recommend as menu is tasty, service is very good & very reasonably priced

As soon as I walked in with my baby and pushchair I was met by a wonderful waitress, Chankara. She was extremely helpful and generous. Thank you for making it such an easy lunch out with a 3 month old!

Not reviewed for a while and disappointing to see the negative reviews. I had a very good experience and it is also good to see that JL are at least responding to reviews, they do seem to care. The scones were just been laid out and were still warm so this was a no brainer for me. Scone was tasty. Jam extra. Machine coffee was good enough. Expensive for what it was but not unexpected. I noticed there was a cleaning area set up to attend and clear tables, I think things are improving. Obviously there's an issue with hot food but I can imagine it does get very busy at times and it's difficult to gauge when that will be.

We visited mainly to use a free cake voucher and decided to have lunch. We arrived around 2.10pm so there wasn't a lot left, but still enough choice. I had an egg mayo baguette with chunky chips and my husband had a steak pie with mash peas and gravy. We were very pleased with everything and would definitely go back, but would go earlier to have a better choice. My free slice of cake was lovely too! Service was excellent, staff always helpful and friendly.

Slow, slow, slow service. Where are your staff? Been queuing 13 minutes so far and not got to checkout. Still six people in front of me and 14 behind.

Called in at John Lewis Place to Eat for a pot of tea and a scone. I got as far as the entrance and spotted the table of scones. Same old, same old - table was left unattended and the scones were chucked in a basket and left uncovered. No thanks!! Totally unhygienic!! Went to nearby Benugo where the scones are displayed behind glass and served with tongs by members of staff. Their standard of hygiene is evidently higher.

Very happy with the service. The team went out of the way to help me. I’m gluten-free. I have to say the Thai soup is excellent. Perfect for a light lunch.

Had coffee and lunch when we visited the store to do clothes shopping. Typical John Lewis fare, slightly expensive but then most places are nowadays. Coffee was fine, we got it from the diy machines and it tasted fine. Scone and butter was delicious and light lunches were tasty.

Visited place to eat cafe at John Lewis this afternoon as a couple. Ordered cappuccino the server was Archie. He was very pleasant and can definitely make an excellent tasting coffee. Service was quick. We both throughly enjoyed taste. The scones were well risen and delicious. Excellent value. Tables in cafe were clean and cleared quickly. Would highly recommend service and we will be returning.

Dreadful! Staff insisted the thing we asked for on the menu didn’t exist!! We ended up with “toast” which was barely toasted and undrinkable coffee. Absolutely awful - will never eat here again. John Lewis is going down the pan.

Amazing Rhubard and Custard cake It was busy due to school hols, staff friendly and heloful. Hubby had a toastie which was great too

Joseph went that extra with customer service bringing extra garnish for a shared toastie. It was a spontaneous action on his part and it did make a difference. Thank you.

Sadly this is no longer the amazing place that we used to look forward to eating at many years ago! I was shocked how far downhill it has gone - no comparison with all the delicious fresh & hot meals we have enjoyed in the same week in several garden centres in the area. The soup was almost a solid glutenous mass and when I requested brown bread I was told they don't have any with soup!! My poor mother was left hungry as unable to eat it. Meanwhile I ordered the vegetarian quiche but as I cannot digest raw vegetables I asked for peas rather than salad- again I was told it wasn't possible so I said I would pay for the peas in that case but I shouldn't have bothered as sadly they were also awful and cold! Returned for coffee for my mother and waited and waited and waited as there was only one girl serving everyone at the time ( 1:15pm so busiest time of day!) No sign of any management who should have been present on the reatuarant floor keeping things in order. During the same week we also ate at John Lewis at the Trafford Centre which was better but again no brown bread with soup. It definitely needs a complete overhaul to return it to its former glory! Hope next year when I next visit the UK it will have improved.

We thought it might have improved from last year, but unfortunately this isn’t the case. Dirty table and floor, the coffee was weak, scones were dry. Why don’t you shut it down!

Had a Bacon Brioch, the bacon was as tough as leather and cold, also had poached egg on toast, could have played squash with the egg. Worst cup of coffee I think I've ever had

I visited The Place to Eat at John Lewis Cheadle on Sunday 14th January at 1pm. The visit was spoilt by the lack of available food. Specifically sandwiches and hot food. The was a choice of Ham or Cheese (gluten free) sandwiches only, no salads. The hot plate was either a veggie quiche of a veggie pie. That was it. There were an abundance of cakes and scones. We were VERY disappointed with the offerings and lack of choice. I did ask if there were any salads, but was told "sorry not available ". I am afraid I will have to think twice now about anything more than a cake and coffee on my next visit to John Lewis.

The worst coffee ever. Dirty tables, hardly any food ready and it all looked miserable. The staff no longer look trained. Sad as this used to be a fave place when they did omelette and pancakes.

Staff clueless, only one serving on hot food counter, when the place was heaving. Inadequate information available about gluten free food.. No trays available. Uncleared tables everywhere.

What a disappointment! Ater reading the 3 choices of soups we were told there are only ever 2 choices!! Why advertise 3? Chose fish and chips, no tartare sauce, mushy peas were simply garden peas mashed up! Why basic catering errors,scrooge like scrimping savings?? After collecting our food we then tried to find somewhere to sit to eat, one area had several empty tables but all full of dirty pots, one had a dirty cleaning cloth and cleaning fluid spray left on it. The table next to us had 2 elderly ladies who had assistance bringing their tea to the table but simply had dirty plates full of left food and drink pushed to one side!! After not having visited JLewis for around 3 years as we now live in France we are absolutely appalled, we have always told French visitors to the UK that they could rely on JL for excellent servive and food. No longer will we be doing so!!

Sadly gone downhill since refurb a couple of years ago. Should never have got rid of stir fry, crepes & omelettes. Now like an IKEA canteen or motorway service station cafe Food choice & quality poor Cakes not covered, people sneezing & coughing nearby. Seating uncomfortable Generally dumbed down Hot food horrible Not open late enough,used to enjoy hot meal At tea time

Saturday lunch time. Large queue for hot food but where are the staff. Far too few of them for lunchtime. Ones that are there are run of feet poor things. Food not too bad when you eventually get it!

Lovely coffee and scones today. Very pleasant staff and for once John Lewis weren't blasting out music when I entered the store. All in all a lovely experience.

Awful experience. Hard cold pre cooked bacon , cold toast that was barely coloured, drinks luke warm after horrendous wait to pay . Looked like very inexperienced staff faffing with tongues to deal with food , slicing rolls etc …WEAR FOOD PREP GLOVES!!

The tea served here is always awful. It is tepid and weak except for when it's luke warm and weak. Never had a good strong piping hot cuppa here ever and today i decided i'd had enough. Disappointing experience.

Urgggh breakfast was the worst one ever had, sausages were burnt, as was the bacon, large mushroom uncooked but swimming in something. Asked if we wanted beans on the plate yes we did, so they were slopped on the plate like the staff was fed...

Encouraged by reading that the cakes etc are now under domes, I visited on Sunday for a scone and coffee. I ventured only as far as the entrance. Scones displayed in open baskets had tongs lolling on top of them. Cakes, pains au chocolat and...

Unapproachable staff that are very miserable and lack communication skills. Alot of the tables were dirty. The food was good but some of the drinks were unavailable.

Appalling and chaotic cafe and service. Used to be so nice years ago. HOT drinks are actually never hot, you are lucky if they are even lukewarm . Cakes and pastries displayed open so often see children ( and sometimes adults) touching, then not purchasing,...

I visited The Place to Eat in May and saw nothing had changed since my 1 star rating in February due to pastries, cakes and scones on a display left uncovered to be coughed and sneezed over. I note a recent reviewer was told to...

Following a disparaging Manchester evening news article in April 2023nothing has changed, in fact worse than previous visits in May 2023. This is the worst in store cafe you will ever eat in. It’s chaotic, consistently having no food , complete lack of any organisation...

Disappointed. Cafe closed at 6pm although the website has been wrong forever. Wrote letter of complaint and they gave some lame excuse. They mop around your feet even while you are there before they close.. I think they miss a trick as it would encourage...

We loved the scones we had today, fresh, warm & so tasty. The staff were so friendly and helpful. Can't wait to go back.

after a drive from South Yorkshire to shop because our local John Lewis closed down after 100 years in business. decided to have some breakfast. The bacon was so hard I could have used it to repair my shoes, The eggs were so rubbery Australia...

Delicious cakes ! Spacious place with plenty of light . Relaxing feel . Helpful staff . Would surely go again .

I ordered avocado on sourdough toast with poached egg . Almost inedible. The bread was hardly toasted and soft, the avocado practically non-existent , the poached egg terrible.

Absolute shambles. Visited yesterday for a spot of lunch before shopping. It’s just a miss mash of nothing. Hardly any food to choose from Cakes in the middle of the entrance for you to help yourself are uncovered. Dread to think what that will be...

The cafe has been awful since they changed it a few years ago. Customers mill around not knowing what to do or where to find things, the food selection is awful and the drinks not worth the money. I have never had a pot of...

Very disappointed. Feels like a canteen, rather than a John Lewis experience. The counters are very disjointed, no one knew where to queue. Very little choice and all the sandwiches looked pre packed and were very dry. The only vegetarian sandwich was egg - so...