Mad Hatters in Mendip

My wife and I both have Shepton connections but had never been to the cafe before. Having g recently retired, we called in for a toasty and a sandwich. The food selection is brilliant, prices really reasonable (no £8 sandwiches here), and the staff really friendly. Sadly, the cafe is up for sale but we really hope to get the chance to return before it closes or goes upmarket.

Very friendly. Best breakfast I've had for a very long time and very inexpensive. Very helpful with dietary needs. Close to good parking

Stopped in today with my fiancé to this quaint little old timely greasy spoon cafe. Good points…. Friendly staff Delicious food. Large portions Great value for money! In fact for what you get, I would definitely pay more. Bad points….. dark and dingy, - could do with a fresh lick of paint. Crockery slightly dirty on the tables holding sugar etc The floor and mat by the door was incredibly dirty. Lots of stickers and gaffer tape on the menus and posters - Not very professional However, Although the staff were friendly we feel like one of them was on something. - very distracted and erratic. Let’s say we’re not snobs but a bit of care and passion for the business wouldn’t go a miss. A conversation heard saying business is slow……maybe the looks and cleanliness and overall appearance of the cafe might be a contributing factor? That being said, delicious food and will probably visit again.

Ironically mad hatters lives up to its name . The first red flag should’ve been the fact you can’t even see into the cafe. Greeted by unfriendly locals and staff this place is disgusting and sticky. Not to mention the hoard of flies zipping about. Got up and left as the atmosphere was so horrific. Desperately needs a health visit. No doubt the place would be shut down.

I literally have no idea what the negative reviews on here are about - we had an amazing brekki here - everything on this table for £26! Not a spot of grease, and anyone who makes bubble and squeak knows how easy that is to mess up. Food was plentiful, absolutely piping hot and served on massive, hot plates. Prices are amazing, staff super friendly (we faffed around taking things off and adding other things to the brekkies and there was no problem) and the griddle chef came out to ask was everything ok and chat with us a bit! Yes the décor is maybe a bit tired and they could do with some air con but if you want a delicious well priced breakfast you really could not do any better than go to Mad Hatters.

Great Breakfast! My bro Tom said it was the best full English he had in a while, he talked about it all day!! 10/10 would recommend. Didn’t try the trifle but would return to try it next time (note sarcasm all the way through)

This cafe was so dirty, looked like a lot of regulars, was noisy and the conversations in there was vile, emma was all over the chef how dusgusting. Dirty cuttery, food was cheap and so greasy, took ages to get anything and the attitude of them all was horrible. Will never return to this so much bettet elsewhere.

Reasonably priced café that does all day breakfasts and other choices Everything is cooked from fresh so when they are busy tings can take some time Small place inside but a few tables outside and they do takeaways too Order and pay at the counter and the food and drinks are bought to you Used by locals - I was visiting for the day

I do like my English breakfasts and this was very good food and real value for money. Staff are helpful and friendly.

was looking for lunch in shepton decided to try mad hatters as the cafe across the road had a sign only allowing people in who could show a covid test !!! glad we chose mad hatters,good food well priced and good service

Staff looked unclean. Chef was miserable. Customers were slobbish. Couldn’t get out of there quick enough. Awful interior. Wouldn’t recommend anyone to go here!

Excellent, and inexpensive Black coffee latte, bacon and cheese toast sandwich and bacon butty with loads of bacon - £7 !! And pleasant sit down lunch. A good few regulars. 👍👍👍

Excellent service, great value. Ordered Cheese & Ham toastie, Tuna Mayo sandwich ( basic wholemeal bread, but fresh and tasty) black coffee and a tea. Surprised the drinks came in Mugs so a large drink. Amazed the bill came to £7.50 There is a choice of homemade deserts tool Highly recommend a visit. Amazing, friendly staff. Enjoyed out visit. Small downside there's only one table and four chairs outside, but tables inside.

We found this cafe after an unsuccessful search for lunch on a windswept Saturday. the food was good and plentiful, and they were very understanding of my elderly mother in law, despite the fact they were about to close. It looked like a lot of the locals use the cafe, which is always a good sign. Recommended

Popped in for hot drink to warm up on a very cold wet day , lovely service , cup of tea was very nice and price was amazing well don 👍👍

Cutlery was dirty, meal was very greasy, chef was more occupied touching and kissing young girl in kitchen, they was all over each other. Will not visit again ever.

Great value . Friendly service and obviously popular with the locals . Large breakfasts , appeared to be popular with old favourites such as bubble and squeak .

Had a breakfast in here and it was delicious as well as reasonably priced. I had fried bread for the first time in years and it was heavenly which can be difficult in cafes. The deserts were amazing and home made. The staff were lovely and friendly, I would recommend a visit any day

This place serves up an all day breakfast to set you up for the week, not just a day! Very cheap, very cheerful & serving up well cooked, unpretentious grub including bubble & squeak - not so easy to find on a menu, these days! This is a friendly place in the heart of the town and I can well understand why it was really busy when my friend & I called in for brunch. Service with smiles and no stinting on the portions! The only downside was it was a bit cramped for getting into the seats, but even a big girl like myself could manage! (You may find it harder after than before!) Coffee was good too. It was a very nice experience. The name's reflected in the mad hats bedecking the ceiling.

I’ve been here twice now Lovely English breakfast excellent prices and friendly staff will definately visit again

Breakfast was Great And the Bacon And Cheap it's A popular Cafe. Sevrice was OK. It's an old Cafe with Great food. These Sort of places Are rare. Been here A few Times food is all ways Great. Thank you

Honestly amazed this is currently 15 of 51 restaurants in Shepton Mallet! Shocking.It's a mediocre grease up cafe with terribly quality ingredients (tomatoes from a tin, cheap sausages that are vile and lucky to be 40% meat, eggs dripping in oil to the point you can't taste them, pasty cardboard bacon, watery mushrooms) and unfriendly service. The fact is has lots of funky hats on the ceilings doesn't really compensate for the terrible food and miserable staff. It belongs in a dodgy service station somewhere off the M25, not in the middle of Shepton town.If you want cheap rubbish food, this is your joint. There are always the same few people and their dog(s) sitting outside which must be enough to keep it going. I find it hard to believe that in an area that is surrounded with farms and great farm shops with local and lovely sustainable food available, that people come here and eat and and rate it highly!Awful. It's worth a few minutes drive out of town to go somewhere else pay double and actually get a decent brunch/breakfast.

Popped in for breakfast as recommended by work colleague. Not disappointed . Proper English café, all down to earth meals. Nothing fancy. Full English breakfast of 2 sausages, 2 (actually 3) slices of thick back bacon, 1 fried egg, tinned plum tomato, choice of fried bread or toast and slice of buttered bread on the side. With large mug of coffee, £5.15 all in. There was a selection of variants, including options of bubble & squeak, sauté potatoes, hash browns, black pudding etc. Loads of hats hanging from the ceiling, illustrating the theme of Mad Hatter. Can’t vouch for the rest of the menu but it included omelettes, salads, burgers, sandwiches and toasties. And nothing over £5!

one of the cheapest cafes I have ever visited. incredible value for money breakfast and lunches .Very popular with older people for food. Why bother cooking when it is this good value?

The best ham egg and chips , also the Sunday roast is lovely too. Not open every Sunday so check first . Staff very frendly and helpful. Catering for all , can be busy at times but well worth the wait.

We called in for lunch. Staff very friendly and fast service. This is not a dog friendly café but a few tables out side. There is a customer toilet but cant comment as didn't use. We chose the all day breakfast which consisted of 2 very large slices of bacon, 2 sausages ,beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, egg came either on toast or fried bread, plus another slice of toast. All cooked very well and tasty. The home made cottage pie came with chips, peas and gravy again being of large portion. The Latte and cappuccino were served in large mugs and were a very reasonable £1.10. This is not a posh café but typically English and very good value for money with all food home cooked and nothing kept warming.

The mad hatters seemed to live up to its name. Only had a tea but it seemed to food very cheaply looked like builders cafe, there were hats hanging every where but these obviously collect dust & they were every where.

We called in for a quick lunch and were dealt with efficiently. The food, however, was mediocre - cottage pie that was more potato than anything; breakfast sandwiches with decent bacon but greasy toast. The orange juice was horrible. Two other things we disliked: loads of fancy hats hanging over the dining area which were fun but full of dust, and loads of flies throughout the cafe. Could be really good, but not on the day we visited. Better on a cooler day?

Very good value and cheerful and helpful people to and great choice for snacks or breakfast and very welcome after a long journey. Its really a Wonderland place and yes I do mean Alice in Wonderland XD.

My wife and I stopped in for a quick bite a couple of weeks ago, and we enjoyed the food immensely. Since then, I have had reason to telephone the establishment, but it was not possible to find a number online. I phoned a nearby establishment, and they very kindly went and asked for the number but were told they do not give out their number to anyone. I hung up and thought I must have misunderstood, so I phoned another nearby establishment, which also very kindly went and spoke with the proprietor and was told the same thing! Finally, this second nearby establishment went so far as to take their own phone into the cafe and only then could I speak with the proprietor. This is exceedingly odd behaviour, to put it mildly.

This is my second visit this week and won’t be my last. The menu is vast and plenty of specials on the Chalkboards placed around. Can as you would expect be busy around 12.00. The food quality and presentation was excellent. Service was quick and staff very helpful.

A good everyday caff. Everyone in here seemed to know each other and there weren't many tourists on the Monday lunchtime we were there. So, an authentic place for a sausage sandwich and a cappucino. Nothing fancy, good value and friendly service.

come here about twice a year for breakfast always good tidy and clean and staff are good thanks for a great breakfast

I love popping in here for a cheap and cheerful hot meal and a proper mug of tea. Bubble & Squeak is my favourite. Thanks for the hearty haven and such good value.

We have eaten here loads of times. Always really good food and good value. Tony the chef is very friendly.

This is a proper cafe where meals are cooked to order and willingly adjusted to meet your needs/likes, at a price that is impossible to better. The quality of the dishes are consistently high, but if you have an opportunity go for a bacon dish, it's special. Having retired in the area, we hold a family breakfast in the cafe at least once a week. My regular eggs & bacon breakfast is on power with the London Ritz or the 'old' Hong Kong Hilton, both were regular haunts in my past. However, those establishments wouldn't dream of giving the local road sweeper a free cup of tea or help the local unemployed. This is a community cafe run by a kind honest owner and caring staff. Enjoy.

Mad Hatters roast dinner on Sunday Market day is amazing value. My Auntie and Uncle ate there and couldn't believe it. I use them regularly for egg and sausage rolls which are just delicious. A fabulous little cafe with fantastically priced food.

Took a walk into shepton, not something we normally do.

We just need to find somewhere to eat, and this was the first place we came to.

An old fashioned style of cafe we went in because we were famished. "Cheap and cheerful" was my wife's description which seemed apt. People (including one of the staff) smoking just outside the door is off-putting.

We had lunch there & although the facilities are basic the quality of the food was very good, the staff extremely friendly & the menu, although basic was priced well below its worth. On the whole it appears to cater for locals & this adds to its friendly atmosphere.

Quería probar este lugar y mi sed con un parch taza de té a las 3:00 pasando. Tenía buena pinta desde fuera y el cartel de la puerta dijo que cerraba a las 3. 30:00 h. Pero cuando pregunté me dijeron que estaban cerrando y tenía "cerradas" las máquinas. No tome mucho para hervir una pava! - y había 25 minutos después de la hora indicada de cierre. Dudo que volveremos en el futuro. Los precios parecían buenos.

When walking down the high street of Shepton Mallet there appears to be an air of despair. Hankering for a breakfast at the weekend we came across Mad Hatters. With welcoming staff who serve tasty, ginormous breakfasts at an extremely reasonable prices. The decor is slightly dated, but there are thoughtful touches with the daily papers for you to enjoy. The fried bread is excellent, which is always hard to get right. As we left there was a chorus of cheerio! First class breakfast and service!

I grew up in Shepton and left at 18 I'm now 32 and haven't been in the high street since I left. Sadly the town this end is rather depressing and the people hanging around I did see this in someone else's review. We ordered breakfast at 11.40am it came rather quickly a generous amount and all looked very clean fresh and well prepared and very hot. Over all food 5* for amount taste quality and cleanliness which is the main thing one would want. The place it's self bit shabby but quirky with its various hats hanging from the ceiling but apart from that there isn't much else relating to its theme of mad hatters. I'm a huge fan of anything Alice in wonderland / Lewis Carrol but only the sign outside and the hats, bit odd all the random pictures.. toilet wasn't anything special.. no hand drier or disposable hand towels.. just one towel to use Toilet bowl was clean but all rather dated and like a run down out house privy. Atmosphere was present local radio station on and the cafe soon filled up as we were finishing around midday. Would recommend for a brunch to fill you up and send you on your way.

Genuine home-cooked breakfast that very few places in shepton can offer, especially at prices as low as these. Only fault is the unwelcoming people outside (every day) that stare at you as you come and go. For this reason I'd advise sitting inside!

A really great fresh cooked meal, at bargain prices. Go there lots, good friendly atmosphere and nice staff.

Popped in to have a breakfast with my four kids. Good choice on menu for everyone. Brilliant staff. Excellent prices and the food was spot on. Will be back. Thank you.

Excellent, friendly staff. Always make you feel welcome. Hot freshly cooked food at reasonable prices. Have tried several of their dishes inclusing some of the specials and have enjoyed them all, however their omelettes - i cant cook them like these. Recommend to everyone, places like this you dont want them closing, so KEEP telling everyone HOW GOOD IT IS. Been going there for two years and NEVER a bad meal. Keep it up. Thank you

We visited this café for the second year running whilst on holiday and no doubt we will be back again. Good home cooked food, great value, massive mugs of tea, so much choice.

The best place in town for a no nonsense, good value tasty breakfast! The staff are friendly and efficient and the breakfast is served hot.

Visited a few times for a hearty hangover cure breakfast and that's exactly what I got. Food was brilliantly cooked and very very good value for money. Staff are friendly and seem happy. Quirky decor (understatement) Great for locals - maybe not for tourists/visitors

Dropped into Mad Hatter's on spec on way home from stay near Bath. Warm welcome, friendly staff/chef. Very pleasantly surprised at being served a fantastic tasty hearty breakfast for the price of £3.75 each (including bubble & squeek) plus 50p for each extra like black pudding and mushrooms etc. Under £12 for the 2 of us with piping hot mug of tea and a cappuccino. Set us up for the day . Only one thing would change - the sausages for bit better quality, otherwise couldn't fault it. Well done chef and staff.

Proper cooked breakfast.and lively enough. Tables allow for plenty of people watching on the shepton mallet high street

I was quite reluctant on going here as whenever I've walked by there have been people sat outside who aren't very polite. Although saying this I was very impressed with the food and the prices were very good! It's taught me never to judge a book by its cover. However I would say they'd get better business is they stopped the people sitting outside as it is very off putting. Other then that great place to eat.

Proper food cooked well at amazing prices, two can eat and drink for around a tenner or less.Tony is a great Chef.

very good again keep this café open breakfast very good staff ok the owner is great and a good cook cant wait to come back

Handmade pizza was good. Quirky decor and friendly staff. Selection of cakes looked good. Service was quick and courteous.

on arriving at the mad hatters in shepton mallet we were greated by a cloud of funny smelling smoke and words i'd rather not hear again - even the staff joined in with the swearing and the airing of dirty laundry!! it appears the people outside should proberly be working instead of wasting their lifes. it made the cafe feel it was only for the local people and not for visitors to the Shepton area. A shame for the owner as he's loosing trade for the £1 last all day coffee drinkers.The food seemed ok - its a typical greesy spoon cafe

This little cafe is very popular for all the right reasons. We popped in for lunch and we were lucky to find somewhere to sit down. I had bubble and squeak, bacon,egg sausage and beans, the Mem went for similar but with scrambled egg. Everything was freshly cooked and good quality. No mean shaving off the odd penny here by buying inferior ingredients. Great value at just over £8.00 for two good lunches and teas. If I'm in lovely Shepton Mallet again around lunch time - I know where I'm going!

very good food very good service and value for money i had a breakfast here was cook very good the best

A lot of Cafes might catch your eye with the 'home cooked food' tag however the Mad Hatter Cafe in Shepton Mallet is the real deal on this front. Remember those lovely lunches you had at your Grans or your Mums when you were growing up? Well they're all here and prepared with a lot of love and pride. Add to this fantastic quality, quantity and very friendly staff and you really cant go wrong. If you're visiting for the first time may I recommend the cottage pie with cabbage peas and potatoes followed by blackberry and apple crumble and coffee total cost £7.00! Perfect!!

Proper, non greasy Greasy spoon! Plus loads more on the menu, good value, good food of the home cooked variety, top notch.

Simple food, cooked well. A delicious all day breakfast and friendly staff. A lovely place - gladdens the heart!

This is a totally unpretentious little café with eight tables, open seven days a week and serving good honest 'grub' of the 'builder's' variety (pic). Not for those of a delicate constitution, or seeking an elegant dining experience perhaps but certainly good home cooked food and very, very good value (full breakfast at a mouth watering £3.40 ! ! ).The staff were warmly welcoming, busy and cheerful. No waiting and meals cooked immediately for each customer. Good product knowledge with a sound allergy awareness policy in place. Parking is free for one hour nearby. No hygiene certificate prominently displayed but the kitchen and counter area seemed to be well cared for and clean. Decor, although perhaps in need of a lick of paint, is fun and of course 'mad hat' based (pic) so look out for the gas mask (pic), not that you will need it.There is some outside seating on the traffic free pavement for the warm months (pic).We will happily return.