Outside the Box Cafe in Bradford

Excellent food, drumks and service. Comfortable friendly atmosphere. Great value for money. Good location in the centre of Ilkley

we were visiting Ilkley for the day, initially went to Wetherspoons but it wasn't to our taste, saw this over the road so came in. Quite big really like an arcade, tables and chairs down the centre with blankets, it is undercover, also seating inside cafe itself. Toilets too. It is a community enterprise for less able people, with learning disabilities etc. 2 of us had a bacon t-cake and granddaughter had victoria sponge cake, Tea also, it seemed a little slow, however when we read the leaflet on the table about the cafe we realised it would take some time. Enjoyable sandwhich, glad we supported a good cause

Visited with a friend, ordered food at the table and had to pay at the counter, tiny note on the counter said card only payments? On being informed that I did not use a card the staff eventually found change ! Food was bland .. 2 small pieces of dried up bacon on a dry roll . Service was really slow , we won’t be visiting again soon :(((

We had a lovely lunch with great service and good children's facilties. We would come again. Wonderful to see opportunities for all walk of the community to be given work experience and jobs.

I came here with three generations of family for a mid morning coffee and snack. The service is friendly and the coffee is gorgeous. I particularly recommend the scones and a flat white - which is creamy and strong. Don't be in a hurry when you're here. The food arrives when it's ready. It's a lovely place to spend an hour over coffee.

Met up with a group of friends here whilst we were all staying in Ilkley. This is a lovely community cafe - very clean, friendly staff and some of the best hot chocolate I’ve tasted. We didn’t sample any food so can’t comment on that, but we would definitely return if we were back in the town.

When we drove through Ilkley we used to see the cafe but on a recent visit we realised it had moved. So we went to their new centre. A great initiative. friendly service good food and value for money. Attractively furnished. Well worth a visit.

We had a great breakfast, staff were incredibly friendly and very welcomimg. The food was amazing and I would recomend this place to anybody. Great atmosphere project.

Called in for coffee, tempted by the lovely home baked products. Had the best flapjack ever. Next time I think it will be a scone.

Enjoyed a lovely sandwich lunch which was substantial and attractively served. Great latte. Delightful staff and comfy seating. Could not ask for anything better.

I last reviewed this venue a couple of years ago. I've been back this year on 2 occasions and the review does not change. This eatery is well worth a visit. The food is good and reasonably priced, and you have the additional comfort of knowing that your patronage is helping people who are less advantaged than you, since most of the staff are people with learning disability

I have been here so many times, I honestly can’t tell you how many!! The staff and young people who work there are inspiring. I never leave without a smile on my face. I have never had anything to eat or drink that I haven’t really enjoyed. The menu is varied and caters for some different tastes. You’re never rushed and you are always well looked after. Highly recommended.

We’ve been meaning to visit Outside the Box for a while now and we finally got round to it a couple of days before Christmas and weren’t disappointed. The staff were very friendly and great with our two year old. We had coffees and a couple of cookies. The food looked good and I would like to visit again. Our toddler was entertained with the play kitchen etc - happy parents!

Met a friend here for breakfast. We both chose the full English and really enjoyed it. The food was good quality (especially the sausages) and it was well cooked and nicely presented. Not over expensive either. Staff were all happy, smiley and seemed to enjoy working there. Meeting my friend there again tomorrow.

Situated just on corner of Bridge Lane and Skipton Road. We were passing on our way to the river walk on a very hot day thinking of lunch. The cafe is beautifully clean and decor is contemporary with painted pastel coloured tables and chairs. We were literally invited in by a lovely lady to the air conditioned dining area. My friends and I enjoyed beautifully prepared salads of Ham and Feta, Chicken and Bacon, and Brie, Apple and Walnut. The menu was varied and interesting with a good selection of drinks. The tea was especially good. I asked if it was a Yorkshire tea and I was assured it was an excellent leaf tea made into tea bags by the staff. It did seem that the emphasis was for quality in all aspects of this cafe. I could have stayed all afternoon the atmosphere was calm and friendly. Congratulations to all involved you have a great cafe.

Had a full breakfast here on 23 May. I hesitate to criticise such a wonderful enterprise, but the problem with my breakfast was technical, something to do with the overpoweringly unpleasant taste of the oil. Hopefully, that's a one off, for some reason. Anyway, I had to leave most of it. Other than that, I was really impressed with this place. The people who served me, such as young Tom, were delightful and clearly engaged in their work. From the corner of my eye, I could see that the staff and volunteers were lovely people. As I was leaving I had an inspiring chat with a blond lady who was obviously the sweetest of people. She told me what fun it was here. All power to the elbow of this great institution--goodness knows what was up with the oil, or whatever, the day I came in.

I often pop in here when I'm in Ilkley. The food is good and they serve Grumpy Mule coffee, which is a plus! Busy at lunchtimes, so you might struggle to get a table - so either arrive early, or delay until 2pm and you'll find a table without any problem.

This is a wonderful community cafe in the centre of Ilkley. The food is delicious - I've tried the toasties and cakes in the past and each time, the quality is brilliant. The drinks are also really tasty. The staff are lovely and kind, and the service is excellent. I think the idea to start this community cafe, which helps people with learning difficulties but also provides a warm and welcoming space for the local community, was absolutely inspired! I honestly can't recommend this cafe enough, the prices are very reasonable and each visit has been really enjoyable.

Outside the Box is a fab cafe and certainly our favourite (together with Betty our dog!) Truly a community cafe that serves good value, home made, fresh and tasty food. The Panini and soup combo is our usual choice and always goes down a treat!

We popped in for coffee, love what the café is doing and supporting. Coffee was excellent, service friendly and efficient. Well worth supporting If you're a local.

It's a great service and services and staff as well. The staff a good and helpful and good tasty food

I love to support any business which is in itself supporting those in our community less able to help themselves. The atmosphere is very relaxed and ideal when we have the grandchildren with us! The food standards are excellent and we have never been disappointed with our experience.

Good food. An opportunity to be served by a variety of different people including those with disabilities supported by caters and employees.

Love the idea behind this cafe and what it stands for. Popped in for a quick lunch (with our dog) food was nice place was clean, go along to support a worthy cause!

Visited this cafe after searching for a dog friendly location in Ilkley. The cafe is very clean and very welcoming. Our rescue greyhound was provided with water and received lots of attention from staff. Sandwiches were served with salad and garnish on the side on fresh ciabatta. There is quite a wide menu with daily specials. The cakes are delicious and properly home made. This place is not just a cafe - it's a labour of love - it was a treat to visit and meet the staff - Special thanks to Izzie who served us !

After seeing all the rave reviews, we wanted to see if it was as good as everybody says - and it was! Yes, it's a really worthy and inspiring community initiative, but don't go because of that. Go because, the coffee, food, decor, service and overall experience is absolutely superb - that's what we will be doing again- in the very near future!

Excellent choice of tradional food from a comprehensive menu.

Quite an exceptional experience, we had a full English which was made with good quality produce, decent portion sizes and served by great staff. There were lots of well behaved young families and lots of cakes and coffees. The staffing policy actively supports the integration of learning disabled adults who are great fun to be served by and really made the experience truly different and exceptional. Will be making many returns trips.

I visited the cafe last Sunday for a late breakfast. Couldn't fault the staff, service or standard of food. So many places mess up the simple poaching of an egg, but this place nailed it. It's got a lovely cosy atmosphere and a chilled out vibe.

We visited this great cafe on Easter Sunday and the very helpful staff recommended the Easter Cake it was every bit as good as it looked. The staff were helpful and the order arrived in good order and double quick time. We were all made to feel very welcome even Baily the dog! Looking forward to my next visit.

We were out on a cycle ride with our friends and came across OTB. We were warmly welcomed, great selection of cakes, reading the info, the cafe provided employment for people with learning difficulties.

Lovely atmosphere in this unusual little cafe. The staff are friendly and very welcoming. The name of the cafe reflects the ethos behind the innovative organisation, facilitating gainful employment for young people with special needs. It's amazing! ALL the staff are so friendly, positive and professional. I't well worth a visit and so neat to the town centre and the river too. Try the cakes........ YUMMMMMMMM!!!

Fresh, homemade food and AMAZING CAKES! Great for a lunchtime treat. Staff are friendly and welcoming.

I went here with a group of friends and their children on a Sunday at the end of half term....

Came here with some friends and their young children for a Sunday brunch. It was absolutely packed, so is clearly...

Outside the Box is like a community cafe rather than a commercial affair. Everyone was very friendly and everything seemed...

This little cafe is gorgeous. My friends and I I visit when we have done a local walk around The...

We needed a quick lunch stop on the way home from Yorkshire do called into Outside the Box as it...

We would highly recommend this cafe to people of all backgrounds and needs as the staff are very understanding when...

We called here for a coffee on Sunday morning the coffee was good and the scones amazing, the staff were...

A lovely café run by very special and lovely people. So glad we found this café and will always visit in future.

Visitamos este café con nuestra familia y realmente me gustó. El café da oportunidades para adultos con problemas de aprendizaje para trabajar y fue genial ver esta en acción. Había un ambiente muy agradable y el café es muy amigable para los niños, incluso tenía una pequeña zona de juegos. La comida era encantador. El servicio era un poco lento para algunas de nuestras comidas, pero no nos importó, ya que tenía más tiempo para charlar. Creo que el más lento el servicio es el ambiente muy relajado, que también era uno de los encantos del lugar. Sin duda, lo recomendaría, pero quizás no si tienes prisa para comer!

A cafe of excellent quality and an enchanting place. Here is a cafe that employs several people with challenges - a true community business and I'm so glad to not only discover this place but also to support the way of the future. It has a section with toys and very child friendly so I caution that at certain times it is noisy with toddlers and kids. Outside these times it is quieter and the food, cakes and coffee are good. I had poached egg on crushed avocado and toast and 2nd time coffee with a walnut/toffee and coffee slice of cake which was superb.

Friendly and helpful staff.Good choice and variety of lunch time options.Home made cakes - would have liked to try them all but opted for the courgette and lime one which was delicious.

Lovely atmosphere, food and welcome. Imi's Goats cheese salad was awesome. Barbara's welcome fabulous. It's a very clean and happy place to be.

Our first visit on Monday will definitely not be our last. Lovely food, lovely people - what more could you want? Will be spreading the word.

This place is brilliant. The food is very good and the service is spectacular. Good place for cyclists to stop off, for mom's with young children to meet up (good play corner), and the cakes are out of this world. Run mostly by people with learning disability which adds to the warm atmosphere.

We called in for lunch as it looked quirky. What a great decision !! Terrific quirky community cafe. Amazing food and lovely space to sit. Super friendly atmosphere and totally relaxed. It's a genius award winning business who deserves support. The rhubarb and custard cake was sooo good we bought it twice!! Thankyou xx

Our hiking group had lunch here today and we all, eleven of us,had lovely tasty food. We will definitely go again and recommend it to our friends.

Good cafe style food served in a good way. The cafe provides for employment of those less able within the community and is to be highly commended.

Met up with old friends who we hadn't seen for 12 years and this place was ideal to meet, even more so as our dog was allowed in. Excellent food and service. No pressure to finish up quickly. Highly recommend this place.

This café is staffed by people with special needs and is away from the main hussle and bussle of Ilkley so on a Saturday lunchtime had no problem getting a table, you order at the counter, a reasonable selection of food, sandwiches, jacket potatoes etc, prices very reasonable, we only noticed the board on the wall with specials which were hot meals after we had ordered as we had only looked at the menu on the table, the place was very clean and staff were pleasant, we both had jacket potatoes one with tuna and one with beans, with a small salad, it was perfectly acceptable but not large, but worth the price we paid, the establishment was clean and quite spacious, toilets were clean. We did see people having sandwiches and the bread looked really nice.

We found Outside the Box Café by chance. What a great place. Has a really friendly and community feel. The service is order at the counter and your order is brought to you. Adults with learning disabilities help in the café which is wonderful and giving them an opportunity of self worth. The service was very quick and the food was excellent.

I was in Ilkley for a conference, and was directed towards this venue for lunch. So pleased that I was. It is a large place, being a car showroom in a previous life, and it is established to give work and training to people with a variety of disabilities who would otherwise find it difficult, if not impossible to secure work. So, the ethos of the place grabbed me, but for it to be viable, it has to be able to compete with others in the area. Whilst I am unable to compare it to others, because I did not have the opportunity, I can certainly say that my experience of eating there would be hard to better. The service was good and attentive and the food was of good quality and value. I am very happy to recommend this eatery.

I was a concerned about reading that dogs were not as welcome as they had been in the past. This was important because we were looking for lunch out with our Pooch! I had never been there before but I like the idea that they are helping adults with learning difficulties. I shouldn't have worried! We where warmly welcomed & shown to our seating area, a comfy sofa! The food was brilliant, Hot Soup in a mug with a tasty Sandwich. £13, very good value. Will visit again soon.

I am a regular here and always accompanied by my cockapoo. Dogs are allowed in the entrance area and a sign shows they shouldn't go into the front window area.I had a Christmas special which was turkey, stuffing and cranberry in a panini served with a side of new potatoes, salad and pigs in blanket. Amazing value at £6 and very, very tasty and filling. The staff here are doing a great job and I am always patient while they take orders and payment in their own time.

Brilliant service , great value and very family friendly. This is a great little cafe with a nice selection of food. What's more it's a charity , what more could you want !

Visited here with my tiny dog after reading dog friendly/ no petty rules reviews posted back in 2015, and entry on barkers dog friendly list . How things change in a year! We sat on one of the lovely leather sofas with coloured cushions in the pretty cafe to immediately be told we had to move. Now doggy folk have a choice of only 2 tables in the entrance- large, scratched melamine squashed between the toilet and the coatracks, or stained pine in the corner with a back view of the servery and bins! Another couple with a dog were complaining loudly as they had been there before these new restrictions.Very polite lady told us these new rules were because the cafe is child friendly, and the staff couldn't be trusted to wash their hands after petting the dogs...so don't pretend to be dog friendly still! Lovely latte and staff, but we won't be back!

A bit noisey with screaming kids as it acts as a nursery, but the food is good if not a little pricey. I suppose they have to cover the rates of Ilkley.

I often stop here for a quick lunch if I'm in Ilkley with the kids. It provides entertainment for the 2 year old and high chairs for the baby. Most importantly the food is fantastic and the staff are lovely. Highly recommend. I always have something from the specials menu - haven't had a bad choice yet!

Really nice surprise after coming in on a wet and windy day. Food was really nice, service with a smile, friendly and accommodating. Highly recommended for a spot of lunch!

Lovely friendly staff. Clean and spacious areas.Coffee nice.Good selection of cakes and cookies..Very child friendly and good selection of books to swop.

Called here for a spot of lunch on the way through to Lancashire and were touched by the nature of this establishment. From what I could gather this cafe is a charity investment and a very good one at that.The service provided by the staff was fantastic, there were attentive, eager and seemed to really enjoy their job! This only helped to create a warm and friendly atmosphere that made you want to sit there all day. We had two paninis whilst there and oh were they to die for! Roasting hot with very generous fillings which were utterly delicious! To say we were dining in Ilkley the prices were also very reasonable! I cannot wait to visit again, thank you for your hospitality!

Stopped for lunch after a walk across the moor. The cafe is on the A65 so it's slightly outside the centre of Ilkley, but it's only three minutes walk from the centre.Service was enjoyable and the staff were friendly. The food was good and they have a reasonable selection of gluten free options. I opted for a non-gluten free chicken, pesto & chicken panini which was niceWe would visit again.

This community cafe is a run by a charity and offers work experience for people with learning disabilities. Got a great atmosphere, good service, friendly staff and volunteers, not to forget excellent food at very reasonable prices. Parsnip soup was lovely. So you can go along and have an excellent meal or snack while supporting a very worthwhile initiative. Very family friendly with lots of room for buggies (and wheelchairs)

Stopped by for coffee and cake, was not disappointed. Good range of homemade cakes with generous portions. Fabulous coffee. Lovely service.

My friend and I were recommended this cafe by a complete stranger who happen to overhear us talking about having a hot chocolate. She said they're hot chocolate is wonderful. She wasn't wrong! The cakes are all home made on the premises and are absolutely gorgeous. The staff and volunteers are so helpful, lovely and friendly. Everything is fresh, clean and tidy and there's a children's play area too. I will definitely be going back for lunch when I'm next back up in West Yorkshire :)

We went in here for a coffee and cake. The cafe is a community cafe and run by very friendly staff. The prices were very good and the menu catered for all tastes. It is good to give these places your custom as the community and staff benefit from your visit.

Splendid place for tea, coffee and cake. Lunch looks good too. Staff are excellent. Relaxed comfortable surroundings.

The café is lovely and staff and volunteers were very nice. I will definitely go again and the home baking was beautiful especially the scone's which are made by a lovely lady called Julie.

Called in with different family members for a quick coffee and cake after a day walking in the dales and we all loved it! Staff are very friendly and cakes are delicious! Well worth a visit!

I often have coffee and cake here. Excellent. This is a very sociable place. Child and dog friendly.

After a family dog walk,called into outside the box,dogs welcome,ordered 4 drinks,2 breakfasts and 2 toasted bagels.Service superb,fast,polite and efficient.Food was lovely,cafe,light bright and warmly entertaining.

I popped in with the kids and their friends for some lunch.It's a charity run cafe with some staff members who have learning difficulties.I was really pleased that my kids could see how having some difficulties does not prevent you from taking an active role in employment. All the staff were very helpful and friendly. The quality of the food was very good. The potion sizes for the kids menu were on the small side. I would recommend that kids over 7 eat from the adults menu.The atmosphere was relaxed and very child friendly. It was very popular and I can see why.

We popped in with kids and muddy dog after a walk on the moor. Coffee was fantastic and cake was delicious and we will definitely come back! Thank you.

Called with our dog for lunch, the food was excellent and the cakes really special.Made to feel really welcome ,no petty rules re the dog.Lovely staff

This is an excellent dog friendly charity cafe which provides work experience for members who have learning difficulties. Staffed by a core of dedicated professionals plus a number of very willing & helpful volunteers. Dog friendly.

Called in here today with our two boys (6 & 4) and left thoroughly impressed. It is in a top location for anyone heading into town from the park and prides itself on being an inclusive establishment welcoming those with small children. Unlike other cafes in Ilkley who pride themselves on not welcoming small people. So, major brownie points there from me! The staff were welcoming and friendly, and very patient with the volunteers they were training. I had plum cake and coffee, both really good - the bake was excellent. They had a great selection of sweet treats and ice cream (Yorvale, local company) and a good choice of drinks. We got a free glass of orange squash with the marshmallow treat - and also a free refill! The toilets were like the rest of the café, spotlessly clean. We really couldn't fault this place and from now on, it will be our go-to cake stop when in Ilkley. I have already recommended it to a friend.

If only most cafes were like this; very friendly staff, a great menu and food served piping hot. Also, it is disabled accessible and friendly throughout plus it's great for families with small children as there is a play area in the corner of one part of the café. What's interesting about Outside the Box is that working there side by side are people with and without disabilities. And it's a great, well priced, café. So head there if you want a large family meal (the soup and paninis are particularly good) or just a quick cup of tea or coffee with a friend.

Went here for a snack and coffee, and thought it was a good idea to support this place based on what it stands for. Whilst I acknowledge it's a great idea, I have to be honest with the feedback. The place itself feels a little bit like a children's play area and whilst the service was good from the staff, the food was very much like the kind of food you might expect from a schools cafe. Fairly priced but lacks any quality.

I really love it here! The food is delicious and it has a very relaxed atmosphere. It is the perfect place to come with children as there are toys, books etc and an acceptance that children can be the way children are! It is also at the top of the park so fab location. I would happily come here on my own too as the cakes and coffee are great (especially the scones). It is also a wonderful resource for the community and particularly for people who have disabilities. As the cafe website says, its members (people of a range of ages and disabilities who help at the cafe) are at the heart of the cafe. I suspect some people here read "community cafe" and think church hall drabness. Outside the box is nothing like that, its very stylish and well thought out with book swaps and good magazines to read whilst having a cuppa. I can't recommend this place enough. Outside the box should be very proud of itself.

Community café for training youngsters with learning difficulties.......Surprised at such a great café....Bright cheerful environment, lovely atmosphere. Entrance at side has slope up into the bar area, order and pay for your food then find a seat. Relax at Comfy settee area or at a table. Positive things about visit,Children's play area, with books as well as toys,spacious, colourful furniture and fittings, reasonably priced food, prompt service by polite youngsters, spotlessly clean,A credit to all the volunteers and supporters of this venue.I will certainly revisit when back in Ilkley......

Outside the Box is a community inspired café which offers young adults with disabilities to train in a working environment. It's a great café-good food and coffee-and you're really doing something to help people. Lovely atmosphere and personal-give it a go.

Having called in Ilkley on a miserable wet Sunday afternoon we were pleasantly surprised when we came across Outside the Box Café. Not only is the food very good, and freshly prepared, but the service was excellent, and the surroundings very welcoming. The concept behind the project - a community-run establishment for the community - is praiseworthy, as the 'staff'' are volunteers, with provision for members with learning difficulties, and everyone is very friendly and welcoming. There are different areas of seating - tables and chairs, sofas, etc - with play and reading areas for children. We can thoroughly recommend this café for anything from coffee and cake to lunch, and will not hesitate to call again when we are next in Ilkley.

This is a fabulous cafe with bright and cheerful decor. There are comfy sofas with throws as well as lots of tables. The food is prepared to order and the staff in kitchen can be viewed from the counter or sofas. I was impressed with their organisation and cleanliness but they do so much more than run a welcoming, comfortable cafe with delicious food; they employ volunteers and offer great experience to those with learning difficulties. I much prefer to support a good cause than line the pockets of the huge chain stores. This cafe has a relaxed feel, rather than the impersonal hustle bustle of others. I have enjoyed a lovely bacon buttie and a cream tea so far. I will be back to sample more delights soon. Great job. Well done.

Great atmosphere in this cafe run by volunteers supporting people with learning disabilities who also work in the cafe. The quality of the food and beverages are also first class. They also welcome children with loads of books and toys the occupy them though this doesn't mean it feels like your eating in a nursery; there's room for everyone. I'm now regular visitor.

Went to a coffee morning at this community centre cafe in Ilkley. Run by volunteers and designed to help people with learning difficulties to work in a busy social environment. Coffee by 'chunky monkey' was excellent and my friend had a rose and chilli tea which she said was very good. Not eaten here but they do a full range of cakes, drinks (not licensed), snacks and light meals. Also cater for food intolerances etc. They also run classes and workshops to help the people supported by this venture.