Lakeside Bistro in Lichfield

Bistro? Relaxed informal dining. Yes if you like pungent dog smell, dogs who are off leash and owner/ manager who offers dog treats and strokes them without washing her hands before going into food service. Ugh! Get a grip people!! Who are these eateries for?

Absolutely outstanding staff from the owners and the staff… this truly is a wonderful family business of some reputation and linage… And deserves credit thank you

Pleasant setting towards the edge of Beacon Park. Adequate parking nearby. Popular so pick your moment to go although many customers were taking drinks away. Dog friendly with there being a separate menu listing treats. Staff pleasant. Hots drinks are what you would expect / want. Breakfast eaten here: toasted malted bloomer bread, with plenty of butter, was well received. My bacon & sausage sandwich was at best okay; bread was fine but the fillings were overdone, in fact as I was the first person of the day to eat any cooked meat items I am sure I was eating yesterday's warmed up offerings. Now, I prefer bacon & sausage well done as opposed to not hence I ate it without complaint (just a passing grumble to the missus) - thus my marking of the food is an average of 3, 4/5 for the toast & 2/5 for the sandwich. The next breakfast sandwich brought out, to the adjacent table, looked completely different which only served to underline my reasoning. Will I eat here again - yes, just not directly after the Bistro opens.

My wife and I had a fantastic evening last night at the Tapas Night at the Lakeside Bistro. The food and atmosphere was brilliant. Leanne and the staff were exceptional. I would recommend the Bistro to everyone. They have a great selection of food throughout the day. Always a great place to stop foe a coffee and meet up with friends.

We visitied for lunch and my daughter was given green mouldy sandwiches in her lunchbox. Won't be visiting again. Not cheap either, bit of a shame really

Nice cafe, friendly staff, but very unorganized. You hardly ever get what you order. Sunday ordered 2 coffees, toast and a bacon bap. Toast came out eventually, bacon bap turned into sausage bag. Then asked about our drinks 2 coffees, finally got drinks 2 teas. Have returned wrong orders before, staff are always apologetic, but then have to wait ages to get what you ordered. We just laugh about it now, and hope we get what we ordered.

We were just going to have hot drinks...but saw some of the food going out to customers. Delicious "Toasties" best I've ever had...Many thanks.

Excellent dog friendily cafe that is ideal for a drink or snack when visiting Beacon Park. Good location close to childrens play park.

Excellent dog friendly cafe in Beacon Park.

A great bistro in a fabulous setting. Visited for a secret Mother's Day afternoon tea and this was prepared so beautifully for our arrival. The selection was huge and very tasty, including unlimited tea and coffee. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Dog friendly too.

Pleasant helpful and friendly staff. A beautiful location with good quality food using local produce. In my opinion STILL the best flat white in Lichfield

Pleasant and friendly place for lunch, what a turnabout since the new owner Leanne took the reins The staff are happy, friendly and dedicated to customer service. The food is excellent since the new chef took charge of the kitchen. People friendly and dog friendly too, its our go to place in Lichfield.

This is a lovely little stop for food and drink in Beacon Park with indoor seating, although we got our drinks to go. We were here for parkrun and it's easy to tell that plenty of fellow runners enjoy this cafe too! The hot chocolate was delicious and not 'gritty' in the slightest, the staff were polite and friendly, and even if you're not a dog-owner you can tell they've really made an effort to make four-legged visitors welcome (read the menu!). Prices were reasonable for the quality. I'd happily visit again.

I arrived with my miniature dachshund to be greeted by a warm welcome. The dog menu is exceptional, lots of water bowls dotted around for Percy and I ordered a scone and black coffee. The scone was served warm which was wonderful with ample amounts of jam, butter and clotted cream. The cafe was busy which is a really good sign after it has recently been taken over by new management. It really was a pleasure sitting outside and watching the world go by. There is a fantastic selection of hot and cold drinks including alcoholic beverages. The food menu had a good selection with vegan, gluten free and lactose intolerant options available. This is now my regular stop on a Saturday walk with the hound.

Lovely sunny spot, close to all amenities

Nice little cafe and friendly staff

Staff really friendly and welcoming.serve and food excellent. I would always recommend this Cafe to everyone.

We went for the park opposite, the kids decided they wanted ice cream so fair enough went and got some. Felt it was very over priced for some basic ice cream. Also would question the hygiene standards, we rang a bell to summon a server who walked in, didn't wash hands, didn't have any hand wash facility, then handled every thing from the cash to the cone to the flake with bare unwashed hands. It's the absolute basics of food hygiene.

Lovely staff and a great break from the weather. The food is always great! They have food for young and old. They have a good selection of ice creams for young and old and even have the traditional whipped ice cream cones as well. The coffee is amazing they offer all variants of milk as well. Air conditioning inside which is great on a steaming hot day. It’s a definite recommendation from me.

Lovely cafe, went for a cappuccino with a work colleague, got served quickly, with a smile

Always stop off for a coffee when walking the dogs. It's very clean and serve very tasty food.

Good little cafe in the park. We always go here for coffee and a snack when we are at beacon park. This morning I’ve had a flat white which was excellent

Brilliant service and staff absolutely love the food so yummy

A good cup of coffee and friendly service, and clean

Nice. Hot food but coffee we had was warm not hot.

Lovely little place in the park. Food was tasty as well. Also they let our furry friend in as well 👍

We enjoyed a very nice freshly made sandwich lunch x

Love this bistro. Delicious food drinks and ice cream. Great service

Lovely location but the coffee was lukewarm and when I asked for hot water to be added the staff were unenthusiastic in their approach. Will not visit again , very disappointing.

Great location that never quite delivers. Always a dissapointing experience.

We came across this bye accident omg soooo pretty

Friends recommended a day out at Beacon Park, so on a lovely sunny day decided to visit, as we had not had anything to eat so decided to get a spot of lunch here. Service was ok but attitude was poor (not very friendly) definitely not a service with a smile, put our order in then informed no bacon, so fine we changed what we originally wanted, waited for order, person came out with order shouted number then left it on a side table to collect !! As we sat eating all the servers kept saying no we don’t have that, my advice cross it off the board if you don’t have it.

Really poor for school holiday weekend witha fair in the park. No food available at 3.30 and luke warm coffee 😕

Just had a vegan baguette and a coffee, and can honestly say for £8 it was very poor. A smear of some sort of cheese spread and a tiny bit of cucumber I won't be going there again

I know it’s difficult for cafes having to cope with COVID but many cafes manage it in a cheery and welcoming manner. Unfortunately not here! The staff are rude and not at all friendly. I certainly wouldn’t go again. It used to be very nice here but it’s gone downhill which is a terrible shame.

GRT lunch lovely food and very covid secure eating environment.

Great spot for a drink or ice cream at one of the best parks in the midlands

The staff and food was pleasant, followed the government guidelines. We enjoyed the visit.

Was good service had a loverly day in the park

Lovely spot. Good distancing etc. Decent coffee!

Very nice place, good food and helpful staff, plus they are dog friendly

Very friendly, with a lovely atmosphere, the kids play area kept them busy while we waited for our food, all the food was good portions, the salads were garnished with balsamic vinegar (it’s the little things!) the best bit was the kids meals, £4.5 included a fruit shoot(branded) and a hot basket meal, ours had “chicken breast bites and chips” and they were delicious 😋 real breast meat, huge portions, freshly cooked . We will be back! side note- Dogs welcome inside too!

Really lovely staff welcomed us in on a very wet windy day! Lovely hot coffee and they were generous enough to allow us to have our sandwiches in the warm rather than perched outside in the rain getting soggy! Lovely selection of good food, pastries and breakfast!

I wasn't sure whether to write this review but having seen three recent posts on Tripadvisor, realise our experience at this cafe was sadly not unique. It seems the staff have no idea what customer service consists of but that eye rolling, sniggering and pulling faces behind someone's back (but unfortunately for them, I was watching), is, to them, acceptable. This cafe should be a wonderful place. It has a great location and no immediate competition but it is rather shabby (for a new building) and the food is mediocre. A pleasant welcome doesn't cost anything but the 4! staff who took over 5 minutes to prepare 2 coffees when there were no more than 3 customers in the place need to focus a little more on efficiency than on taking the mick out of their customers who may have simply asked a question, fumbled over their order or their money or who may look/sound a little different. Immature, pathetic and frankly not worthy of our custom.

The food here is not bad at all but sadly the staff are very rude, obstructive and make visiting the cafe an uncomfortable and intimidating experience. The so call chef swore at me when I made a very normal request in a polite manner and then proceeded to stand and snigger and make rude comments about me whilst I waiting for my food. Complaint was made but nothing has changed and they same staff are still working there so I will be avoiding in future. Shame.

The food was OK but when the staff messed-up our order they were arrogant and unhelpful, their young staff need to appreciate that customer service is important. We won't hurry back. Also, they gave a cash refund for a contactless credit card transaction, which (I believe) contravenes money laundering regulations.

Sat outside and enjoyed a coffee. Very pleasant staff and nice hot coffee. Nice to take the dog too. Toilets nearby in the park

Went here with friends I don’t see often thought it would be nice to get some lunch with the kids. Sadly the two young gents ( waiters ) thought it was ok to snigger / giggle whisper to each other an basically take the piss out of customers. Very immature and and approachable as it was clear they don’t take the job seriously. Will never return.

The Bistro at Beacon Park is lovely for a break from all that playing! Bit pricey but the coffee and food are of a good standard. Little play area inside suitable for younger kids.

Expensive and not particularly friendly staff

Always a pleasure to look around

The young weekend staff are friendly, but their is an older lady who is very grumpy and has no respect for customers. Also felt for a small coffee in a paper cup was very over priced. Will not visit again

Beware of the angry pink haired lady. She is quite abrupt and rude. Rest of the staff lovely but 1 star as been twice and each time she has been very grumpy with me and also friends.

Lovely day for a visit to the park. Food and drinks perfect

took my grandchildren to the park on a Friday afternoon it was sunny but cold went to cafe to get a coffee was served and when i went to sit down i was told they were only doing take out now. Had i been told i would not had bothered to get my so called coffee . It was half a cup of froth and the other half a luke warm liquid that was suppose to be coffee.I understand that they were getting close to closing but there were quite a few people sitting in there and i only had a coffee to drink not a three course meal to get through. But to add insult to injury i saw some people going in after me and they didn't come out for twenty minutes or so along with the other customers in there .I won't bother again

Excellent food and service. Lovely staff home made cakes from Jen. A good choice of well priced snacks and meals. Great setting and a good welcome

We love the breakfast sandwiches and the staff are always so welcoming to us and our dog! Fabulous

Excellent service good coffee.super kids area.AND not expensive.a wonderful addition to the park.

Really nice place but a bit overpriced for what is quite basic food.

Had lunch with a friend and we both thoroughly enjoyed the leek and potato soup. Still the best flat white in Lichfield served with a smile and a fresh baguette.

I visit this cafe regularly and the coffee is probably the best in Lichfield. I had a flat white on my latest visit and it was the best I’ve tasted. The staff are charming and always welcoming and the food is tasty and well priced. Well worth a visit.

They are either closed, closing or not interested in customer service...what a waste...this place could be great if run well and opened more.

Ordered 2 drinks and 2 rolls at a very expensive cost I might add , waited 20 minutes , nothing came so had a refund. Poor service

This cafe is in the middle of the park and therefore accepts dogs outside If the weather is inclement, they have canopy which covers some tables and chairs A selection of hot food is also offered Pleasant service and nice hot coffee.

Great Cafe selling nice food and doing a great speciality coffee too.

Found the cafe by chance and what a find! Situated near the lake and children’s play area, it has plenty of seating outside, some in the shade and some in the sun, and seating inside, with air con. We were at the car show and looking for somewhere to have breakfast. They have a good breakfast menu ranging from a full breakfast to various breakfast cobs, all reasonably price. The full breakfast was excellent. The hash browns were crispy, the bacon, sausage and mushrooms were cooked to perfection, choice of eggs and beans in a little pot. All served with toast. Delicious! Service was efficient and staff very pleasant. Breakfast served until 11.45.

This bistro in Beacon Park near the river and children amusements is a great place for relaxing with a cup of tea or coffee and snacks or an ice cream. recommended.

Visited for a break from the very hot sand in the playpark & decided to stop & have some lunch after looking at the menu. A little play area inside for small children which was quite loud at the time & even though it was much cooler inside we decided to sit outside under the shade of a large tree (lovely & idyllic). Took a little while for the food to arrive & was just starting to wonder if they'd forgotten us, but was evident when we received our burgers that they were of a very high standard from a proper butchers & about 6-8oz in weight, hence the cooking time. Fresh rocket drizzled with balsamic glaze accompanied the burgers & my grandson was very happy with his 'nuggers & chids' ! A lovely little ice cream stall next to the bistro provided a wide choice of lollies & Mr Whippy with more freezers located inside the bistro. All in all a pleasant experience, Thank you!

We were told the restaurant opened at 9:15 by a member of staff who then left only to return to be told the restaurant was now opening at 9:30 by another member of staff with no reason - another member of staff just ignored us - not great.

Lovely little café, has a good selection on offer and prices are reasonable. The toilets could do with a bit of a refurb as they can be quite smelly but I guess this is mainly from the amount of people from the park coming in to use them. Lovely place all in all

Great food always a welcome off the staff, just a great place to go

Lovely little Café. Within a great park. Has a small kiddy play area in a corner of the café. Breakfast Sandwiches are Excellent. Seating Outside. Superb views.

This Lakeside Bistro is, as the name suggests, by the lake in the Beacon park, so it is a very pleasant walk to get to it. We were there on a very nice day so it was lovely to sit outside. The food menu is small and dishes casual, but we found the food to be good and fresh and excellent value for money. The baguette was good and I can particularly recommend the jacket potato with cheese because the cheese actually had a strong flavour which is often not the case when restaurants use inexpensive cheeses. We would definitely visit the place again.

What a surprise! We stopped in for lunch and the food and service were great. The baked potato with tuna was huge, and really tasty. The staff are friendly and very helpful.

This is a little oasis after a lovely walk through our beautiful Beacon park. It's nice to sit outside with a nice cup of coffee or an ice cream in the sunshine.

Have given up with this place. Final straw was the last meal we had. Cheap poor standard ingredients, order was wrong... ended up leaving not only out of pocket but still hungry refusing to eat such rubbish. I think it's also misleading to display a big shiny coffee machine whilst serving your customers cheap granulated jar coffee. My husband had dissolving granules round the top of his cup. Left feeling ripped off.

This place is an excellent retreat for parents whilst they watch their kids play in the very good public playground opposite. Plenty of room for pushchairs or bicycles. Simple food and good coffee hit the spot.

Went to Lichfield yesterday to see the Turner painting at the cathedral (hmm, a bit 'much ado about nowt' really...). Anyway, took our dog as ever, went for a walk, absolutely freezing, then happened upon this cafe and it was so nice to get a...

Nice, but rip off expensive. If you think you are going to need a drink I'd go to a shop on the way rather than plan to buy stuff here.

I am a regular when the weathers good! I go for a nice walk in the park and end up there for a coffee. Lovely clean place with seating outside and very nice staff.

Great little section for children to play and fantastic menu and great value for money. We had a lovely time having a drink while our little one played. We were made to feel welcome and the staff were very helpful. What a lovely place will...

Absolutely great Bacon and/or sausage baps, they just melt in the mouth. Good tip is to park in the main beacon car park off shaw lane (£1 for 4 hours) call at the bistro, then take in the town with a great walk through the park back to your car

Metimos el domingo 2 de octubre para un almuerzo, enormemente caro y el personal necesario para el respeto de sus clientes y responder a las preguntas de una manera profesional y amable. No es bueno.

Buen lugar para tomar un café y tocino butty parada perro. Perros dentro durante tiempos tranquilos allowd y salir de vacaciones de verano.

Often use this cafe for coffee and/or lunch as Beacon Pk is one of our favourites! Whether there is an event on or not it's an amazing park!

We often have a spot of lunch at this lovely cafe when we come to the play park with my 4 year old daughter. The cafe is always very clean and the staff are always very friendly. We are also always very impressed with the quality of the food. Today we enjoyed a delicious toasted sandwich and a burger and my daughter enjoyed fish fingers and chips and a piece of fruit. The children's sandwich boxes also looked excellent. My daughter also really enjoyed the children's play area which once again was very clean and had some great toys in it.

My husband and I regularly take our two children to Beacon Park and love it. We will always buy drinks at the Lakeside Bistro along with ice-creams when the weather's warm. Last weekend, we were sat outside with our icecream enjoying the weather and afterwards took the kids into the park. Within 15mins my youngest son (2.5yrs) needed the toilet. As he has recently started potty training I ran to the Bistro as they were the closest toilets, as well as having just been there as a customer. The lady refused to let my son use the toilet as they had been cleaned and said I needed to go to the public toilets across the river. I explained the urgency but was still refused. I was appalled. The Bistro was still open for another 10 minutes and they were happy to keep serving but not let patrons use the facilities. As a consequence, I had to deal with a very upset little boy as he couldn't hold it before we made the public toilets. I am absolutely disgusted that we were turned away. Poor customer service.

Why can't you have a tea cake or a plate of chips is beyond Any reason between 12 pm and 2 pm from a cafe in a park when you take children to play.

No price list for ice creams? Is this legal? Or a con so that folk don't realise what they pay for an ice cream? Good otherwise but next time I will ask price of every ice cream if there's no list!

What a lovely place to stop for a coffee and a snack overlooking a lovely park and children's play area. The staff are so friendly and attentive. The Lavazza coffee is super and I don't think it's overpriced for the quality and service provided. A must visit place if you are in the park.

Visited on a sunny but chilly Sunday morning. The perfect spot for a bacon bap and cuppa coffee, following a stroll around the park.Smiley service, simply cafe food, good value for money, all seemed clean and well kept. I do think butter on the bread of a bacon sarny is odd, however delicious!

£3.80 for a cheese sandwich. £6 for a burger! We bought a cheese baguette which was awful, a sausage roll, two bottles of still water and a small carton of orange juice for over £12. Scandalous prices, especially as it is right by the children' play park. Three ice lollies added nearly £6 to the bill. The food quality is also appallingly low.

Went here with my friend and her son. A nice place to eat and it is in nice surrounding of beacon park. Nice food and the venue is child friendly.

Me and my two children for a snack . 2 teas, Apple juice carton and two portions of chips £ 9.60 !!! Otherwise marvellous .

When you have a moment in the park it is a lovely place to have a snack. The toilets are always very clean. I would recommend this as a good place to snack rather than eat

My friend and i often use this place when we go out for lunch on a work day. We only get 1 hour and we have not found many places that can provide a meal and give us plenty of time to eat it. The place is peaceful although it is in the midle of a park. Would choose this place every time.

I stopped here fir a light lunch wasn't expecting much at all tbh I ordered chicken salad it was gorgous warm chicken nice selection of salad very impressed

Stopped here for lunch on a family fun day in Beacon Park. Fantastic food, friendly staff and superb location. Will definitely call again.

Had a Sunday lunch here with a group of friends. The location of the restaurant is good, although you cannot see much of the river! It looks smart and clean and tidy. Service was very good - except for getting them to come over for us to pay the bill! The food was very good though. Nice delicate flavours and all good quality. Much nicer than I expected.Generally this restaurant is one I would recommend. My only negative comment would be that because it is open plan with hard furnishings, it does get very noisy - which took the shine off the place for me.

I stopped by The Lakeside Bistro after a lively night out. After a brisk walk I opted for the Full English breakfast. The staff were sympathetic and friendly, the breakfast was freshly cooked and fantastic !I will definitely return.