Ramblers Retreat in Staffordshire Moorlands

After a nice walk around Dimmingsdale with friends we had lunch in The Rambers Retreat. We all had toasted sandwiches, drinks and cake including their amazing lemon meringues pie. Great food and excellent service.

We arrived on time and were promptly seated, but unfortunately, it was downhill from there. It's always a worrying sign when one meal arrives five minutes before another, it's not etiquette to sit eating a meal while someone else is awaiting their soggy microwaved pie....not only was the pastry like a custard the chicken was dried up and stringy. The waitress was apologetic and offered a five pounds reduction, but our lunch out in the country had already been spoiled, We left to find a cafe in Cheadle for dessert. Tip for the chef..PIes and microwaves don't mix.

We were seated promptly and our order taken and drinks served, the food took just over 45 minutes and no offer of an explanation for the delay. The menus were too many and in lots of forms, just simplify a little, no wonder you needed a clip board to hold them all. When the meals did arrive the roast dinner was not good - the beef was dry and really tough, as old boots comes to mind, the roast potatoes were very hard and very difficult to cut, looked as if they had been in the roasting tin for at least 2 days and reheated. There was a teaspoonful of cabbage and 1 tiny floret of broccoli. this offering was on the specials menu and the only reason it was special is that it must have been yesterdays leftovers. With the other meal was a small jug of gravy, which when poured was very lumpy. We do like horse radish sauce but unfortunately there should have been some on the table and there wasn't. We asked for some and we were half way through the meal before it arrived. The real value of an enduring business lies in the ability to provide good service. On this occasion you missed it by a mile. There seemed to be a significant difference between the fast food outdoor service and the indoor table service and people around us seemed to think the same. The cost of the roast beef dinner was very expensive compared to other local offerings and together with the poor quality an altogether poor experience.

Fantastic boxing day dinner plenty of it would ,friendly and attentive staff very christmey can see why it's always busy serving fresh homemade food really lovely

Fabulous food and great service. Went here for the 2nd time and needed a bite to eat. I had a bacon bap and my wife had a BELT (bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato). What a treat and well worth it after the walk we had just done.

Wow what a beautiful place. Went for Sunday dinner with my family. The food was amazing and beautifully presented. The service was great. Everyone extremely friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend anyone out this way to visit. You won’t be disappointed. The best Sunday dinner we have had.

Our absolute fav place. Love walking around Dimmingsdale then stopping by the Ramblers for a coffee. They do the most amazing cakes. The outdoor area is so peaceful. My only small gripe and it’s only a tiny one is it can be just a little pricey, but not enough to put me off. Definite 5 stars

This is a hidden gem in the middle of woodland (you can get there by car or bike or foot!), which offers lovely hot and cold food, lots of cakes and ice cream, and a great choice of hot and cold drinks (especially the iced latte and Cappuccino milk shake 😋). You can eat inside the café or outside in a choice of potting sheds or arbours, and the staff are very friendly and helpful. We went on a lovely woodland walk by the river straight afterwards, so it's all just a delightful experience. Thoroughly recommended.

There are only a few occasions when Ramblers Retreat open in the evening, last night being one of them. As it was also my birthday there was no discussion where to go to celebrate! Everything about the evening was excellent- the food, drinks, music & of course the amazing staff. Thank you Helen & all the staff for a fabulous time, I won’t mention the 🌧️ Janet

We were so impressed with this place. There’s a free car park right outside with no timing restrictions, they were totally dog friendly and had clean toilets. What more could you ask for? Oh yes! Beautiful surroundings and top notch food? They’ve got that as well. The outside area is like a secret garden with lots of different areas to choose from. You could sit on picnic tables in an enclosed lawn area within a cottage type garden - so beautiful- or enclosed in a seaside type hut, or under a marquee with fairy lights in its roof, or on bistro tables within a courtyard. All surrounded by beautiful plants and a friendly pair of blackbirds enquiring politely if those crumbs you’ve left are anyone’s? Service was friendly and quick too. I’d recommend this place to anybody, it’s a ‘lift your spirits’ kind of place. 😊

Great spot. Follow the brown signs off the main road, you will end up down narrow country roads, but this is the right way! There is inside seating but in my opinion lovely to sit outside. There's seating in different places, little huts included. Just a lovely tranquil setting surrounding by the woods and plants. Find a table, order at the order point and you're given a buzzer to collect food when ready. All our food was lovely. The lemon meringue for dessert fab! Parking is free and many had dogs with them.

We’d pre booked for lunch after a hike. Hike turned out to be very wet and muddy. Staff didn’t bat an eyelid at our dripping wet stage. Food spot on. Good children’s menu. Some flexibility to adult menu as friend was able to add a few bit to his order. Server was really jolly and friendly. Perfect! Oatcakes also spot on!

Was busy on a lunchtime in the school holidays but the staff were friendly and efficient and we didn't have to wait long. Food was fabulous, lots of it and very reasonably priced. Lovely gardens and they welcome dogs.

I tried calling to buy gift vouchers and no one answered. Left my details using the online form instead and no one has ever got back to me.

Stunning location, tasty toasties and delicious cakes, perfect place to relax after a long walk. Staff were really friendly and we felt no pressure to leave the little summerhouse we were sat in. Perfect for our dogs to have a snooze in after their walk.

A lovely lunch with the added bonus of a guitarist. I highly recommend their picnic platter. A clean and friendly place. Well worth visiting.

We visited for Sunday lunch and sat in The Hidewaway, an outside heated Summer house. The staff are friendly, super polite and attentive. We enjoyed a selection of dishes from their Sunday Lunch menu and had delicious desserts. Nothing was too much trouble. The setting is delightful and you can then do a variety of walks to burn off the calories consumed.

This is a lovely cafe with the most beautiful garden with lots of seating areas and alcoves, very prettily designed. Perfect after one of the various walks through the woods. We visited three times while in the area (sadly it was closed on one of the occasions!) but we manged to have lunch twice. A good and varied menu and the food and drinks were very nice. My only complaint is I think a little more thought ought to be given to the queueing system. You join a queue to place your order and then go to the next hatch to collect drinks/ice creams and are given a pager which then goes off when your food is ready. The queue both times I visited was massive, understandably, but the main problem I could see was that perhaps another person taking orders in the first hatch may speed things up, and secondly at the second hatch I was a bit surprised to see that the same (one) person was doing all the hot drinks and also serving up ice cream. I do understand that it is a busy place and everyone was queueing patiently but I was actually in the queue for half an hour on one of the visits which does seem a bit much. Still enjoyed the visit however.

We have been coming here all Summer almost every weekend, stopping for a rest and something to eat. However the popular snacks have gone. Chips and curry/gravy has been taken off the menu so it is now either a pot of plain chips for £2.45, a sausage roll and few crisps for £3.25 or £5 for cheese on toast!If you are coming for a walk through this lovely part of Staffordshire then bring your own snacks and drinks!Really disappointing.

Come on guys use decent teabags. Paid £23 for sandwich cake and tea for 2. It warrants buying decent teabags, I wouldn't mind paying the money if they were decent!

Very pleasant. Staff were friendly and we had a lovely meal. We did sit outside as we wanted to enjoy the sun. Great service with a beeper that tells you when your food is ready

If you fancy treating yourself and enjoy an afternoon tea then go the whole hog and try the current lord and ladies afternoon teas on offer. Beautifully prepared and presented and generously proportioned (in as much that you will need to ask for a box to take some of it home). All this in a beautiful setting and served by lovely staff makes for a very pleasant experience

Stopped for refreshments while walking, a great place with a good selection of drinks and food. Tables inside and out, some outside tables under cover. A must for walkers looking for a rest and re-fuel.

Having read previous positive reviews about this restaurant we decided to visit as a family following our walk to the chained oak. All of the seating is currently outdoors which wasn't an issue as the weather was fine. The current system is basically turn up, find a table and once you have decided what to order from the menu just join the queue to order. There were about 10 people in front of me and I must have waited 20 mins to order. I was given a pager to take to my table and told to come back up to collect my warm food once the pager went off. I went back to my table and waited for a further 10 minutes before it started to bleep and flash red. I walked back around to fetch my food and waited a further 10 mins to to told by a member of staff that the pager hadn't gone off and the battery was going so back to my table I went. The whole time I was back and forth from my table I was having to leave my children who at this point were quite restless. Some dogs began to fight by the table next to us - not the resturants fault I know but by the time our food arrived I felt so worn out by it all we packed it up in a napkin and left. The resturants staff were very friendly, and the children really enjoyed their chocolate brownies, but it was just a bit too hectic for us.

Great selection of food (I can heartily recommend the oatcakes with cheddar & bacon!) and there are several good walks nearby to either earn dessert or walk it off ;)

Genuinely a hidden gem. Amazing, locally sourced food. Really helpful staff. Good prices for the quality of the food. Fantastic location. Sat outside, didn’t wait long for the food. Could have easily sat there for hours as it’s such a nice place to be. Will definitely go again!

Wow what a find this was the 2nd visit and was as good as first visit if not better.We sat in a summer house this time and had Derbyshire ham and cheese toasties and a portion of chips and 2 Derbyshire ice cream milkshakes which was pure heaven.Barni our dog enjoyed his visit as well because it is dog friendly.The only downside was the toilet which has a sign on for customers inlay was being used by every tom dick and harry so a key system would be good as they were not particularly clean and the bin was over flowing and was not disabled friendly.

Fantastic location, amazing food, very dog friendly and next to a lovely few walks. We were away for the weekend and managed to visit twice, it was that good.

I was really looking forward to visiting Rambler's Retreat as I had read so many glowing reviews and thought the menu sounded delicious. The cafe is in a gorgeous location and the outdoor seating is really lovely, idyllic on a sunny day. There are plenty of tables and a decent menu with an extensive range of cakes to choose from. The chap who served me was really friendly.I'm not sure if it's due to COVID, but at the moment you queue to order your food and are given a pager to collect it. The queue was long but I didn't mind because was looking forward to the food! Rather than a table service, you are given a pager to collect your food, which is fine, but not ideal - I was given one tray with three plates precariously balanced on it, and it wasn't the easiest to navigate my way back to my table with people getting up from their tables to join the queue or also go get their food. I also had to go back and wait for 5 minutes just to ask for another plate.We found the food a bit average. My partner had a tuna and cheese toastie and it was lacking filling really, and I had beans on toast, but it was more like beans on bread as it was barely toasted! I also got the special 'Pimms scone' but because of it being piled up with tinned mandarin it ended up being soggy.The biggest let down, was paying nearly a tenner for two 'luxury' milkshakes and they were runny, lacked flavour and served in a fairly small plastic cup. I took a picture after we'd had a sip just for reference. I wouldn't mind but at £4.90 a drink you expect a thick milkshake and a larger size!All in all, I think Rambler's Retreat is a lovely place and we were probably unlucky, but the milkshakes are overpriced and I personally think it would be better if there was a table service.

Ramblers retreat is perfectly located for a coffee and food after a walk in a lovely bit of woodland. My boyfriend and I found ourselves on the wrong path on the way back from a circular walk so we ended up getting lunch, not just a coffee. menu is perfect for the establishment, and the garden is stunning even on a drizzly grey day (plenty of covered seating). We would definitely return here!

Had a few hours to kill as kids at Alton Towers. What a fantastic beautiful place to stumble upon. A fantastic lunch was had surrounded by wildlife and stunning scenery. Definitely worth a visit.

I can see why the ramblers is so popular, what a lovely little place! Visited on a rainy afternoon after a walk around dimingsdale. Lots of space undercover outside, so the rain wasn't a problem. Staff are clearly very conscious of covid and it feels like a safe space.Food was fantastic, I had the quiche and chips, husband a tuna sandwich and chips, coffees were fab, great quality and so much choice of drinks and cakes. The garden area is very pretty, like a little fairy garden. Definitely lives up to its reputation, fantastic place to refuel after a long walk.

We called into the ramblers rest for the first time,really cool setting,like a fairy tale setting in the woods.nice food,nice setting, really worth a trip,I would add if you plan to sit outside,take a jacket,it's surrounded by foliage and trees,so the sun is Ltd.

Stopped here, like many others, at the end of a circular walk through Dimmings Dale. Ramblers Retreat is situated alongside the Staffordshire Way, having extensive outdoor seating, making it a great spot to enjoy a post walk meal, in COVID safe environment. We chose the Scone Platter for two which was great value for money - five scones and a mug of tea. The selection included plain, sultana, cherry, chocolate and blueberry.

We visited the Ramblers Retreat last Friday after a wonderful walk around Dimmingsdale with friends! The valley is magnificent and we must admit we'd have got a little lost if we didn't grab a walks map from the Ramblers beforehand! When we returned, we grabbed a covid safe takeaway lunch- the brie and cranberry sandwich was a particular favourite! Coffees were made perfect and that little bit extra hot for the great British countryside weather! The cakes topped it off, which were definitely homemade! It was so hard to choose, but the Coffee & Walnut Gateau, Bakewell Tart and Brownies were all favourites!We'll definitely be back!

I came here a couple of weekends ago with my young son who's 7. It's in a beautiful area and the drinks are great! The smell of the food cooking is amazing and makes it hard to choose what to order! My son had a honeycomb hot choc and I had a salted caramel latte. The hot chocolate was nearly bigger than my son! And his eyes lit up when he saw it! My latte was lovely and very filling. I always request I drinks extra hot but not all tea rooms/cafes listen to that. But ramblers made my drink lovely and hot for me! The staff are lovely and they've got onsite toilets which are available during covid (I know some places I have visited haven't had the toilets open, and after a large coffee that can be an issue!) All in all, will deffo return. We are going to pay another visit next week!

We've been visiting Dimmingsdale and the Ramblers Retreat for years now, there truly is nowhere like it. This beautiful tea room serves the best coffees, most delicious homemade cakes and lovely lunches! We always grab a coffee before a walk round the Forestry Commission Dimmingsdale Valley and then return to the Ramblers for lunch and a slice of their famous cakes afterwards. Although this visit was a little different because of the current Covid situation, the takeaway was as delicious as all of their food when dining in, a little benefit was the eco-friendly packaging, which suits the ethos of the business perfectly. We felt very safe ordering and collecting our takeaway and the socially-distanced queue moved very quickly. As always the staff were very friendly and efficient! Thanks Ramblers!

First place we've eaten outside our home since lockdown - we felt safe and well cared for by the staff who did their upmost to keep everything clean. We had our own little hut in which to eat a delicious cream tea and thoroughly enjoyed the experience after a long dog walk. We would highly recommend a visit here.

Tryed it now and no nedd to go back unless its the very last place on the planet to eat some sort of cooked food

Stumbled across ramblers retreat by accident in the middle of a walk, it was a welcome break and an amazing place. We first sat outside in the nice weather and the children had an ice cream before setting off on a long walk doing over 20k steps with two young children...then the heavens opened! When we finally got back to the retreat we sat in a beautiful little shed, got some warm drinks and cake before heading back for the last twenty mins to the car. Would 100% visit again and love the family history. Very welcoming staff and gardens are fantastic :-)

Well organised from a social distancing pov. We stopped in after our walk around the beautiful woods. Lovely homemade food, tasty drinks and the dog loved his doggy ice cream on the warm day. Plenty of outdoor seating. You can get orders to go if you want. Only one loo so the queue can build on sunny days.

we called in here on friday 17th of july as we had been walking in the churnet valley and had planed for a stop of point here.AND to our surprise they would not take our cash we was fuming as we had planed this for a nice dinner here .. also the toilets was closed --

This is one my favourite places for a woodland walk and then a stop off for some fantastic grub. The range of scrumptious cakes is amazing and the hot lunches are well worth the visit. Highly recommended.

I’m happy to say that ramblers was the best Christmas meal experience we have ever had. The quality of the food, the service and atmosphere was superb!!! Enjoyed every minute. Staff were attentive and couldn’t do enough for us. Thank you, we can’t wait to return to repeat the experience.

Been a number of times and have always loved going. Always had coffees and cakes but had lunch this time. Went for a Christmas sandwich, children’s sandwiches and a jacket potato. Was disappointed when they arrived, very average/basic and felt they were overpriced for what was on the plate. Will go back for treats but will stay at home for lunch!

There are loads of walks in the Dimmingsdale area to suit all levels of walkers. When you have finished your walk you must stop by the Ramblers Retreat, The food on offer is very good! I recommend the sandwiches that come with salad.Even though the food is good it cab be a little on the pricey side. So when ordering please bear this in mind.

Lovely looking place. Inside and outside seating available, need to book for inside. Outside have blankets available and all seating under cover. Visited at lunchtime for cake and coffee and were not disappointed. Chocolate cheesecake was amazing!

The most magical place. Nestle in the wood,romantic and exciting. Little booths for privacy or childhood adventures. A beautiful wildlife pond. Amazing home cooked food,especially the Staffordshire oatcakes. The owners and staff obviously love ya heir job and it truly shows. Loads of vegan choices.

great service,the food was good,food arived fast and the overall atmosphere was pleasent,would definitely recommend

This is a fantastic place to stop during a dog walk, whether for lunch or tea and cake but don't forget breakfast. A good choice of food including vegetarian and gluten free, all at a very reasonable price. You can sit outside if you have dogs whilst staying under cover or you can have table service inside. Fantastic place in wonderful surroundings.

We arrived for lunch on a busy Saturday and placed our orgers, noting that there was a delay of 45-60 minutes on all orders, which we accepted. Our order did not arrive after an hour, so I went to enquire. The owner immediately investigated and said the order had got lost. He apologised profusely and said he had started preparing our order now. He also gave me a full refund on the spot.We totally understand that sometimes things can go wrong, and the owner rescued the situation quickly and to our complete satisfaction. Well done!

We have visited many times before but our most recent visit this week was not good. The menu was not very impressive to start. The waiter was friendly and took our order. The mains were delivered after 30 minutes, we had not yet had our starters! The waiter had forgot to place the order! The mackerel was good to start but we waited some time for our main. The ham was very fatty and lacked taste, the egg was fried and over cooked, the chips were over cooked/re-cooked and were crunchy. Not a good main course. We ordered our dessert and after 30 minutes had to ask where it was only for it to be delivered immediately The lemon meringue, usually great was disappointing, thick hard pastry, lack of the usual tart lemon taste, certainly the worst we have had there. The staff were friendly, the service was slow, the food was disappointing, likely we will not visit again.

Staying in the area for 10 nights we came here 3 times. The sitting area in the gardens was just gorgeous. It is a wonderful setting at Dimmingsdale lodge. Lovely walks from here. We had our 2 labs with us so had to sit outside but as the weather was so good it was not a hardship. We enjoyed our coffee/cake/scones in the gorgeous setting. The tables are well spaced out so you are not crammed in and it is very dog friendly - free treats/ water bowls etc. There are lovely water features so found it very relaxing. Outdoors it is self service so you go to one window to order and pay and the next window to collect. The only criticism would be that you get your drinks straightaway then they give you a bleeper for when your eats are ready. Sometimes you have finished your coffee before you even get your cake so really would prefer to get my coffee at the same time. Other than that perfect

Fabulous day out with a great meal afterwards, took the dogs, they loved it, my new favourite place for mind clearing walk. Put the smile back on my face. What a wonderful day

Took advantage of the bank holiday weather and went walking in the beautiful valley of Dimsdale where at the end our walk we stopped at the Ramblers retreat, for well earned tea and cake. We also met with the owner who gave us some back ground information into this venture. Very friendly and would recommend a visit.

Visited after completing the woodland walk through Dimmingsdale. Free on-site parking and ate outside. The garden setting includes individual sheds and quirky seating options for diners. Great options for dog owners, with an interesting menu choice but though the surroundings and menu were great, the food as evidenced by the Morrisons van departing upon arrival is locally sourced supermarket food LOL. No bad thing but don't expect anything special.

Wonderful setting for this hidden gem in Dimmingsdale Valley. Service was friendly and efficient despite being busy. There were 4 of us and all agreed the food was delicious and we’ll definitely return.

Visited the Ramblers Retreat many times and it never fails to please. The food is excellent,service excellent and all the staff very helpful and friendly. I would highly recommend it to anyone. They all do an amazing job bearing in mind the brilliant choice on the menu.

The food here is lovely, I would have given a 5* review if the service had been more friendly... Overall a really positive visit and I would gladly return.

Visited Ramblers Retreat off spec this morning for a breakfast. Sat outside in the sunshine and had a lovely breakfast. The service was great, and the food was prompt and tasty. Well Done and thank you.

We were recommended Ramblers by some local residents to visit after a long stroll. As the weather was bad, we drove. Lots of parking available, picturesque setting which is beautiful and full of birds, insects and flowers. A delight...however, we arrived and were asked if we had booked, which in itself is fine. But if you then sit in a garden seating area and see available tables for 2 hours it’s not great.

Visited here whilst on a camping holiday just down the road as it was recommended to us by the campsite. The setting in the forest is idyllic and peaceful and the outdoor seating areas make the most of it. We ate our lunch on the patio area and then moved to one of the summer houses with our tea and cake when the heavens opened. Fantastic menus - they have separate, extensive menus for vegan, dairy free and gluten free and the vegan cheese toasted sandwich was delicious. We also tried some of the cakes, again, several vegan options and we will definitely be back to try some more!

Whilst on holiday visiting the Peak District with our Welsh Springer we decided to visit a lovely dog friendly walk at a place called Dimmingsdale. It was ideal as it was fairly flat, had a river and nice scenery, but the bonus was the Ramblers Retreat just by the car park. We already had a meal booked elsewhere on our first visit so we made a point of coming back the next day to try the food. The place has some lovely outside eating areas, lots of undercover and very dog friendly. We both chose burgers with bacon and cheese and chips and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. My partner also decided to try the raspberry ripple pavlova sundae, which looked so yummy I ended up tucking in as well. It is very reasonably priced and we could see why this place was so busy.

We were welcomed with a guitar playing songs we could sing to. As we have come to expect we were served a very good lunch, I can recommend you save room for their desserts. Ideal for the start or finish of a ramble. Staff were excellent, cheerful and welcoming.

We found Ramblers retreat after struggling to find anywhere locally that served breakfast. We had set off early to the area and couldn’t find anywhere open before 12. Thankfully Ramblers Retreat opened at 10am.

Lovely food pleasant staff grate just grate i had breakfast was awsum the milkshakes were amazeing and not overly priced would go back in a heart beat

Just got back from this gem of a place. After a wet dog walk at Dimmingsdale the staff couldn’t have been more accommodating or dog friendly. They reserved a table for us before we set out on our walk and let us sit in one of the wonderful little cabin/summer houses. Our dog was wet and muddy as were we but this was a perfect area for us, especially as it was raining on and off. We ordered from the extensive menu something different each, the four of us were thoroughly stuffed and so impressed with the standard of food and helping size. We can highly recommended the oat cakes! We sat in our little cabin enjoying the view of the woods and the gardens. What a lovely little place. Thank you!!

Absolutely love these little tea rooms, have little treats for our dogs which is a lovely touch, staff are incredible and the views and walk is fantastic. Only downside is the menu is getting more expensive each time we go.

Dropped into the Retreat as part of a long circular walk around the villages of Denstone and Alton. The Retreat is very close to the disused railway walking route, and serves brilliant mains and cakes. Get here on a sunny day and the garden is a real sun trap and very popular.

Found this lovely restaurant tucked away in a woodland setting. The menu catered for everyone, the vegan options were very good and all meals were delicious. The staff were friendly and we spent the whole afternoon sitting in the beautiful gardens. We were blessed with fabulous sunny weather, we didn’t want to leave .

Gorgeous location tucked away in the peaceful country side, ace menu something for everyone, lovely hard working staff and perfect end to a beautiful walk! Owner is lovely too, must visit!

Visited here whilst on a weekend break to visit Alton towers. Ramblers retreat was a 30 min walk from where we were staying, set back from a country road amongst woodland, beautiful. We sat outside which was great, lots of quirky tables with shelter , even like beach huts for dog lovers .

Nestled at the foot of Dimmingsdale and very near to Alton Towers this is well worth going out of your way for. The beautiful gardens can be enjoyed whatever the weather, as there is plenty of seating outside, in cabins if shelter is needed. The whole project has obviously been a labour of love for the owners over many years, and Gary showed us the album he made of before and after (worth asking to see it - he's usually around, still working on the gardens).

We decided to pay a visit to the Ramblers after I’d heard good things. It was a stunning journey into the Staffordshire Moorlands and when we arrived it was busy but we found a cozy summerhouse out of the blazing sun. The gardens were nothing short of stunning! My OH was tempted by the Oatcake Pizza but went for Rambler’s platter which was similar to a ploughman’s, he really enjoyed it, the ham was thick cut and the 3 wedges of cheese were large and varied in flavour. I had a bacon and cheese burger. It was nice but the burger didn’t taste homemade, the meat was tightly compressed and if it hadn’t had melted cheese on it, it would have been very dry. We decided to have dessert. OH had chocolate junkyard cheesecake which he loved but couldn’t manage it all due to its richness. I had the supposedly legendary Lemon Meringue Slab, which was huge but my personal opinion was that it was not tart enough in the lemon part and the meringue although very light wasn’t browned and crispy on top. I know that different regions make things differently so I accept this may be normal in Staffordshire Moorlands. We will definitely go again because it is exceptionally beautiful. Next time we might just have a drink and give the ice cream a try.

Wonderful tea rooms in the heart of the Staffordshire countryside. Lovely outdoor seating area. Experience their own version of Alexa when your food is ready to collect.

We took some friends as we were going for a walk. They loved the setting especially the gardens and as the weather was good we sat outside. Dog friendly which is a must these days.

A wonderful tranquil tea room in the heart of the Staffordshire moorlands. We sat outside had a meal it was lovely sitting in the garden listening to the birds in the trees around. A second visit with family members is on the cards

We come here often and never let down by the food or customer service, the food is amazing and can tell it’s all good quality food the desserts are to die for and the new jammy dodger cheesecake was lush can’t wait to come back again soon.

Outstanding location, wonderful food & drink, nice staff and dog friendly. Have been going for years and will continue to do so as it's consistently excellent.

What a lovely place to visit. Beautiful gardens surround the restaurant, you can sit inside or out. Lovely menu to choose from but make sure you book so you are not disappointed. And for when you have eaten too much, take a walk along an easy path through fabulous scenery. Well worth a visit.

We wished to take some friends to a mystery destination in beautiful surrounds. Ramblers Retreat provided exactly the right destination, really good, fresh food, friendly service and quite reasonable prices given the quality of fare. They were delighted. To complete the adventure we took them along narrow tree lined lanes, something they would NEVER do in the Jag.

Stopped this morning before driving back home, gorgeous scenery and amazing coffee! Really friendly staff who kindly remade my portion of toast after it was too cold, very lovely! Decided to get some cake to take home, however my Victoria sponge was very raw and hard in the middle which was disappointing, as the gentleman who cut it surely would have seen the middle was underdone but still sold it to me without letting me see it :( icing was nice but quite disappointing to get all the way home to see my cake was undercooked! Hopefully doesn’t happen to anyone else.

3 of us for lunch on the 28th of April. The service was appalling but not to worry at the rate they're going they won't have many customers to ignore.

Lovely peaceful place to stop off for a cuppa and bite to eat after a stroll around Dimmingsdale valley. Friendly, cheerful chap in the kitchen, smiley ladies taking the orders at the hatch, efficient service and tasty food. Dog friendly, which is so important to me! They have a cute series of water fountains at the rear of the garden area which are fed by a natural spring and dog bowls along the base of this for you to fill up with spring water for your mutts. I came here two days in a row as it was so nice. Plus a great value pot of tea at £1.95! It was enough for 3-4 cups.

Visited on a Wednesday lunch time, carpark full it was very busy, fortunately we had reserved a table which is very advisable, the seating, service, meal was excellent and deserts to die for but there's a distinct lack of healthy desserts. One of us is on a drive to eat less sugar and there wasn't an option. Fruit would have been fine. More veg with the mains too please!

Good standard home made Food & Value for money. Good selection & well served. If dining inside booking advisable Tables outside with serving hatch for people with dirty boots & dogs.

Enjoyed home made soup and bread roll with butter, a large selection of food for our dairy free child. Delicious choice of cakes, cheesecake, cream tea etc. A thoroughly enjoyable visit made Mother's day that little bit more special as they gave us Mums a yellow rose..lovely touch.

Been here a couple of times. Once for some lunch on a Saturday with family and once just for afternoon tea in the garden. Very good experience both times. The food is excellent and the menu is very generous, with lots of specials. It is also the perfect place for afternoon tea or just drinks and cakes in the gardens which are amazing.

Ramblers Retreat is a good value daytime venue, set in a beautiful spot in a forested area. There are great walks and strolls from the door, with a free car park. Snacks, coffees, cakes, light lunches and full lunches are all available, with covered seating outside in the garden, or indoors in the conservatory. The menu has something to suit everyone, with roasts added at weekends. Puddings are their special attraction, with the lemon meringue being justly well-praised.

Called at this place after a morning walk in Dimmingsdale. Food and drinks very good but I ordered mushroom and bacon oatcake but was served cheese and bacon oatcake. Otherwise no problems.

We celebrated an 80th birthday here with a small group and it was perfect. The food is very good, staff very attentive and the atmosphere beautiful! This was my second time eating here and it’s a great place.

We found a red onion in one of our cakes and when we complained they were angry and said it wasn’t them. Eating outside put us of a bit because it smelt of dog poo

After a busy morning walking through to woods and streams we decided to pop in for dinner. It was really good. Well priced and good portion sizes. You order atbthe window and once your food is ready your buzzer goes off and you go to another window and pick up your order. Just what was needed on a cold morning

Enjoyed a walk around Dimmingsdale finishing off with tea and cake outside with the kids and dogs. Worth a visit. Even had blankets to keep you warm.

Visited for Valentine's day platter lunch. Lovely food well presented by friendly staff. Excellent value and wonderful way to end a long walk.

Stopped here for a quick hot chocolate before we went walking for a few hours. Staff were very friendly and the place is beautiful! There are little sheds decorated with fairy lights to enjoy your food/drinks in relative privacy, and there is a beautiful garden at the back.

Having read the reviews, and my husband and Eric the dog frequently walking in dimmingsdale and commenting that the conservatory looked impressive - we decided to give the Sunday lunch a try . So glad we did. All 4 of of us were impressed with the prompt and friendly service Our meals were delicious, local beer a bonus and special mention must go to the steak pie ( recommended ).

My wife and I have been here many times. The staff are always very friendly, despite being busy food is always served very quickly.the meals are delicious.we cant fault anything about ramblers retreat.if you get chance, take a look at the folder with the history of the building and how the owners rebuilt it.all the very best for the future. See you soon.

We had a family meal today food was outstanding and the decor was really good

The area surrounding this Tea Room is fabulous for walking a dog off the lead. The cyclists and other walkers all seem very friendly and once the walk is done returning to the free car park in front of the Tea Room is a perfect way to end the visit. The Tea Room has many sets of garden furniture providing cover on rainy days but even better the garden is surrounded by individual small summer houses or sheds, each containing their own chairs and tables so you can be cosy with your dog inside too. They even provide a huge pile of “help yourself” blankets to ensure your warmth on really cold days.