Simon the Pieman in Rother

Underwhelming, overpriced, unfriendly just trading on their status

If I gave Simon the Pieman 10 stars it wouldn't be enough. They hosted the reception after my Mum's funeral recently and it couldn't have been more lovely and appropriate. Throughout the process of organising everything Anita, the owner, was Kindness itself; listening to what we wanted, making helpful suggestions, and making changes as requested. Nothing seemed to have been too much trouble and she made a difficult time so much better. The cafe is very near the church in Rye and was just right for a gathering of about 30 people, although I think it could possibly have accommodated more, in a cosy and traditional space. Anita and her team laid on a lovely tea of sandwiches, little quiches, crisps and cakes, with tea, coffee and other beverages, including alcohol, available. It was the perfect send-off and Mum would have loved it. The staff there were wonderful and looked after our guests so well. I can't recommend this place highly enough and will be forever grateful that we decided on them for such an important event in our lives.

A fun old place to gather and enjoy a quick bite. Everyone in our group enjoyed the meal and atmosphere.

Nice cozy restaurant with a delicious cream tea. You imagine yourself 100 years back in time.

I bought a sandwich yesterday (Sunday 25th August) which was dated Saturday 24th August. Which I questioned, she said that it was made Friday evening. Which is a bit odd; I thought everything had to be made the same day. It had a small label GF Cheese with the date 24th. Under Natasha law I thought the ingredients needed to be listed; especially after members of the public dying. It wasn't in the fridge, which it should of been. I bit into the sandwich the bread was so hard, as if it had been sitting there all day. It really wasn't very nice at all and very disappointing. Paid £4s what a waste of money.

Great location Fast service Big portions

Popped in for a cream tea for 4 people, really good welcome, probably the best cream tea for a long time, ( and we've had a few), extra jam given without question, variety of drinks, all excellent. Service was particularly good with a smile, many thanks will definitely return to try a bigger meal.

Had a lovely lunch here today,brought cake home for tea..a few gluten free options

Classic tea house. I had the cream tea, which I enjoyed, scone, clotted cream and jam, although the tea itself was "standard".Very helpful staff.

Great lunch for four (fish pie, chicken pie, cheese pasty, soup). Hot and tasty. Lovely service. (Seat cushions could do with a spring clean).

A delightful cafe/tea room situated in the historic town of Rye. As the name suggests,pies and pastries are plentiful but they also sell lovely sandwiches and cakes and have a selection of teas,coffees and cold drinks. A cosy and oldy worldy feel. The staff were friendly and it's definitely a place I would revisit. I really fancied a pork pie served with a salad but another diner popped me to the post and got the last one. Well, there is my excuse to return

A welcoming and cozy little gem in Rye! On a chilly and rainy day, the fish pie was the perfect lunch. Served by the very friendly and conscientious staff, it hit the spot and was absolutely delicious.

Wow the scones are awesome. We had cream tea and got to experience the best scones, jam and cream I’ve ever had. The scones are light, fluffy and delicious. The service was great, with the staff being friendly and attentive. Very happy we chose Simon the Pieman for our tea break, it was well worth it.

Fast service, lovely food, would highly recommend it. The shop has been selling its food since the 1940's so it must be good!!

What a lovely little tea shop, nestled away that we discovered. Best cup of tea all holiday, I had the delicious toasted tea cake and my partner an indulgent scone, cream and jam.

A classic tea shop. Serving tasty homemade hot treacle tart and custard.

We ate this fabulous peanutchocolate cake!! It was delicious ! Not so sweet and extremely tasty 😋

Food was below average. Pasty was soggy when heated. Prices pretty expensive. Would recommend the cobbles tea room instead.

Great place for lunch; can recommend the cod and chips and cottage pie! Friendly and efficient staff, and reasonable prices.

Lovely small tearooms Sells cakes, Pasties, jacket potatoes. Worth a visit

A very expensive experience with some unhappy staff it seems.

Lovely relaxed reset lunch, clear staff working incredibly hard and a huge asset to the place

Nice, traditional British tea rooms.

I had a traditional pasty, the pastry was soggy as though it had been microwaved. It was served with a side salad. Service was a bit slow getting in but once sat we were served quickly and the atmosphere was very nice (there is a fireplace). Overall a nice little place for a bite to eat, but not the best for pasties.

Great little find. gluten free choices, from fish and chips to sandwiches and cakes. Will definitely be visiting again. The staff were so friendly.

Lovely to visit Simon The Pieman Tearooms in Rye. They not only do really tasty cakes and pastries to take away. The scones were only £1. They also do meals inside, brilliant home cooked food and very reasonablely priced. I had cottage pie and then some mince pies with cream, both very very filling and tasty. The pot of tea, even came with another jug of hot water to top up the teapot. A very old traditional Tearooms, with an open fire, very welcoming in this cold wet weather. The staff are lovely friendly and helpful. Well worth a visit, right next to the church and cinema. #simonthepieman #simonthepiemanrye

Lovely little place. We ordered transitional pasty, cream tea and treacle tart. Pasty was just ok- a bit soggy. Scones were so light and yummy - with cream and jam PERFECT! Treacle tart was sooooo yummy. Only slight criticism- tea should be a lot more hot when serving. It got v cold by the time we got to it:( Otherwise- fab place. Have been here before will definitely come back. Thank you

They used to serve a lovely Afternoon Tea at this establishment. Perhaps they still do, but as we were greeted at 4.20 when we tried with a rather surly "Takeaway only" before we had even asked, I can't say. Very disappointing. I remember their meringues as one of the treats of the town.

Had a cream tea for £8.50. You get 2 small scones which were good, however, the tea is so bad. You get a tea pot with one meagre tea bag, and the weakest tea ever. Virtually undrinkable. (pg tips one cup tea bag, pyramid , and half the strength of a normal pg tip. I am a tea nerd) . The jam is in a small glass container and the sub- Tesco value variety, minimum 10% fruit. Scones this good need a good strong cup of leaf tea or at least a Yorkshire tea bag and a decent jam or compote. Sadly times must be hard to cut corners this way. 8.50 is too much for this. Sorry, Go elsewhere.

The sausage rolls were made with love

Stopped for lunch..Really nice little tea room and restaurant. Went for homemade pies. Very nice. Would recommend. We had a table by the fireplace, luckily no fire on a warm day... Very comfortable.

Traditional English tea room with cakes and biscuits including gingerbread “persons” (no gingerbread men), sandwiches, pies, jacket potatoes, salads etc. Family of five lunch cost about £70.00.

Lovely little restaurant with great food and service. The food is excellent and very tasty. The cakes are devine. Great place for tea and cake or a proper meal. The location is a nice historical building, great setting to enjoy from local food. I can highly recommend.

Simon the Pieman is a lovely traditional tearoom in Rye, England. It's known for its homemade cakes and great drinks. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, with traditional English decor. I had a delicious slice of carrot cake and a pot of tea, and I would definitely recommend this tearoom to anyone looking for a traditional English tea experience.

First time we have visited this lovely little cafe, certainly on the list for future visits to Rye. We had spent the the morning strolling around the ancient town and had just visited St. Mary's Church and seen the great views from the top of the Church tower and decided it was time for a light lunch, this is only a few paces away from the Church, so was ideal. We only wanted a light lunch so their homemade pasty and a pot of tea fitted the criteria perfectly. As others have said in their comments, it was very busy which is always an indication of a good establishment. Recommended.

Nestled in the picturesque countryside of East Sussex, Simon The Pieman Tearoom offers a truly unique dining experience that transcends the boundaries of the ordinary. Prepare to embark on a journey into a realm of surrealism and culinary wonder, where reality bends and taste buds tango with the absurd. From the moment you step foot inside, you'll be transported into a world where pies are more than just delicious pastries—they're gateways to unexplored dimensions. As you enter Simon The Pieman Tearoom, you'll be greeted by a life-sized statue of Simon himself, seemingly frozen mid-pie toss. The decor is an eclectic mix of vintage tea sets, psychedelic murals, and floating cutlery that defies the laws of gravity. The atmosphere is simultaneously whimsical and unsettling, creating an ambiance that prepares you for the sensory adventure ahead.

A truly lovely shop, full of great items to drowl over. If only we weren't on holiday I could spent loads to enjoy. Very busy which speaks volumes.

Cream tea rip off. Ordered 2 cream scones and 2 cups of tea, came to £11.75 when a special of 2 cream scones and pot of tea ( which was exactly the same portion) was £8.30. Only difference was an extra cup!! The scones were pleasant enough but very small, with a tiny dish of cream… doubt it was clotted cream but a whizzed i I’llp double cream…. AVOID

We were drawn in by the sign in the window advertising cream teas for £5.00. We went in sat down and ordered two cream teas. When they came we had to ask for knives and more cream as it was not nearly enough for two. When we went to pay we were asked for £17.00. When we pointed out the sign in the window we were rudely told this was take away only. Who on earth has a take away cream tea! Anyway they were adamant and we paid up. We will not ever return. We checked the sign and in very small writing at the bottom partly obscured by the stand, it does say take away. However this is very misleading and we are taking it up with trading standards. Moral is check the table menus before ordering as the prices are much higher than those advertised outside.

Went here for two take out Pasties. Was ignored completely as the rude staff were busy with their dine in customers. Left in discust after not being served Avoid if your hungry!

A cosy tea room.,Very quaint and welcoming place in the Ancient town of Rye..The food is fresh and homemade.

Staff was very nice. Unfortunately that's where my positive review ends. We ordered cream tea and it was the worst scones I ever had in 14 years living in UK! It looked like it was an attempt made by someone who has never made scones before and came out very bad: they were shapeless and all crumbled when we tried to put on the clotted cream which was also very tick so not easy to spread. Awful!

Food was ok but overpriced for what it was. Scones were lovely but basic sandwich was nearly £7. I just think it was too much for what it was.

This was the perfect place for a spot of lunch right in the heart of Rye. We enjoyed the food, ambiance, and staff was very welcoming, so don't understand the negative reviews.

I bought a takeaway steak pasty which tasted amazing. The two ladies serving on Sunday morning were both really friendly and helpful.

This place is old fashioned and atmospheric. We arrived with a pram and a dog and the staff member kindly found us a suitable table which we appreciated. Sandwiches, pastries, pies and cakes were all good. Drinks came quickly, food a little longer. Overall service was friendly. We are locals now so will be back.

We came across this cafe by chance and had a far better lunch than expected. Friendly welcome and a pot of tea arrived almost at once. We had two different delicious pies with perfect pastry tops cooked correctly. More than just a garnish of salad and then excellent Treacle tart with a generous portion of ice cream. Prices were reasonable and we left full and very content!

Extensive menu in a lovely olde world setting with superb hospitality. Although you may have to queue it is worth waiting for. I popped in for a lunch and only had half an hour to spare and I was well catered for.

My wife and I have visited Rye many times with our little cavalier ,Aggie. One of the reasons being it's so dog friendly. However after visiting Simon the pie man I advise other dog owners to be aware they are not so doggie friendly here. The lady assistant asked us to come back a little later, as there were already two doggies in the restaurant. We visited a few shops and as requested came back again a little later on. This time a very helpful male waiter showed us to a table. The other two dogs and there owners were still there. They had finished their meal and you could tell they were getting ready to leave Each of them taking it in turn to go to the toilet. Each time one of the owners got up to leave the table The dogs starting to bark in a high pitched bark . Our little one sat there as if to say what's going on. I was thinking to my self how proud I was of Aggie for not barking back. Therefore I was to say the least a little annoyed that the waitress who had asked us to come back then said "I'm sorry I'm going to have to ask you to leave". I can appreciate that the other diners would like to eat in peace and as a responsible dog owner I would have taken Aggie out immediately if it had been her barking. We won't be returning there and if I could give one star for the rudeness and ignorance of the waitress I would.!!!!

This cafe is wonderful! I’ve been going for years. The people were nice, the service wasn’t bad. The food is just.. wonderful! I totally recommend this place, worth a visit.

This is a very conveniently placed tea shop in the middle of Rye. However that (and its name) are the best things about it. We did not sample the cakes or tea - so they may be ok but the lunch was poor. Salad was...

Stopped off for a quick lunch and very unlikely to return. Ordered the bacon sandwich and was given two types of bread and one rasher of bacon for £6. The brie and cranberry panini was nice. The server was also lovely but the quality of...

Myself and my friend have eaten here before, and have had lovely fish and chips. However the last time we visited the fish and chips were really poor, the fish was not in crispy batter, was more like a soggy crumb, and the chips were...

Have popped into this establishment many times - mainly to browse and purchase the super array of jams and curds - so many flavours to choose from! The problem is, once you have selected which flavour to try this time, when you pay for it...

Visited this lovely establishment for a light lunch on 25 August. (we had been once before ladt year and vowed to return). A friendly welcome at the entrance. We were approached by lovely young waitress, Phoebe who noticed I was wearing a 60th birthday badge...

Went into this tea room, lady at the till was polite said to sit anywhere we want. It was quite warm and there was a seat by the window that had be vacated. We moved the tray to a vacant table and went to sit...

Since the 80’s we’ve visited here with my Wife’s Grandparents and loved it. Now they’ve gone and it’s been many years but we’re back. Our Anniversary weekend. We visited Rye on a day when nobody served food after 3pm so we were so happy to...

Good cakes, nice hot drinks, pretty young waitress phoebe couldn’t have been more helpful, nothing was too much or too little for her 👍

Well today we ordered 2 Cream Teas and what a disappointment. 2x dry plain scones, obviously reheated as very crumbly. A minute pot of clotted cream and a small pot of jam, which basically meant that the cream tea wasn’t what one would call a...

Having been to this establishment on 7th May 2012, we were disgusted by the cake they served. Not only were the ones we had inside dry, but the fruit cake we bought and took home for a special occasion was like a brick. Trust me,...

We pop in for lunch, we have been eating in rye for 8 years now, I have never come across a more miserable staff in all my years. Not once did they smile whilst taking our order. We are a very friendly couple, but was...

Good food with great service well behaved dogs are welcome would recomend to anyone

Had a lunch on Sunday and won’t be returning. The chicken, bacon and ham pie was as dry as a bone. Poor Simon would be turning in his grave. Everything else we had wasn’t great either - soggy hot sausage roll, frozen chips and felt...

Popped in after visiting the church and wasn’t disappointed. It was quite busy but we were seated quickly. Freshly cooked food large portions. Just wish we had room to sample the big range of cakes in the window. We served by some lovely friendly ladies...

Une ambiance Miss Marple , très British

Love this cafe, reasonable prices and lovely food. Staff very attentive. Recommend the cornish pasty!

Popped in for lunch. Staff very friendly and helpful. We had a fish pie, steak and kidney pie, and chicken bacon and mushroom pie which we all thoroughly enjoyed. A shared piece of carrot cake afterwards sent us happily on our way

The venue is in a great position and i am sure the external appearance gives the impression that this is a quality establishment .This place could and should be in the right ownership a wonderful cafe .Sadly from my experience yesterday it offers poor quality...

This is our second visit after remembering how nice our lunch was here a few years ago. This time is was out of season so we ate inside by the warm fire. Large selection of cakes (carrot cake was very tasty and no nuts!) we...

We popped in for a coffee and a piece of homemade cake. The atmosphere was nice and cosy and the staff was very welcoming and pleased to advise us about the different cakes and biscuits.

What I like is the fireplace that keeps you warm the weather we're having. Also, the tearoom feel very much like another I sometimes visit bear my home.

Popped in for some fudge. Staff member was impatient and rude. Will not be back. It’s a shame as this used to be the go to for us.

Establecimiento de pastas y te precioso. Es pequeñito y muy acogedor con chimenea de fuego. Tiene una variedad increíble de pastas y dulces. Tome un scone con mantequilla y calentito que estaba delicioso. Las encargadas del local son señoras mayores amabilisimas que nos atendieron y recomendaron en todo momento que tomar. Es un muy buen lugar para tomar un té acompañado de un dulce típico inglés después de haber dado un paseo por Rye.

Lovely atmosphere. Good service.

Rude staff, inflated prices and what must have been the smallest scones served in any cafe in the U.K. It must rely entirely on passing trade as I can’t believe that anyone would want to return here!

It's a very cute tea and pastry shop just close to the church and on a chilly but brisk winter day after walking around, its a good place to hunker down by the roaring fire and have some tea and crumpets. The ladies who served us were lovely and it was just a good homey experience.

Really nice old style building. I had a huge chicken and mushroom pie plus chips. Well worth the money. Cappuccino was also nice

Lovely tea shop with great bakes and teas. Nice cosy fire in winter time too

Simon the Pieman is OK we had soup and a roll nothing special the staff could be a bit more cheerful. Probably a bit short staffed.

Popped in to buy a slice of Chocolate Brownie to take out, was told "someone will be with you in a minute" waited 10 minutes, no one came to serve me, I was the only person at the counter? I walked out! Won't be going...

Located right at the entrance of St Mary Church. Good selection of cakes. Had ordered brownie but its was below average and the price for it was high. The ambience was good and staff was really helpful

A lovely throw back in time with a good selection of treats, teas and coffees. Food looked good too.

Ploughmans was very nice, would of liked a bit of french stick rather than a roll. Cream tea was lovely, would of liked the scones a little larger. But all in all a lovely lunch in a lovely place.

If you are outside and enjoy a genuinely good tea room, seek out The Cobbles tea room which we visited two days previous whilst visiting Rye. The sign warning non-customers about use of the toilets was portentous. The setting is ideal, being in the picturesque...

Warm welcome from friendly staff. Cheesy topped crumpets and Eccles cake..... Heaven.

On arrival we were told to sit anywhere we like, before we could sit down one of the waitresses shouted at us telling us to wait until she wiped the table in a really rude manner. Then we ask one of the other waitresses to...

I don’t often write bad reviews but I thought the Lady who served me today was horrible. I walked in with my Daughter and was told that the wait for a table would be 20 minutes. My little girl was happy to wait but I...

Excellent coffee and cakes. Staff lovely, well worth a visit.

We were lured here by the window displays and most of all, by a sign saying gluten free and vegan cakes were available. As my other half can’t have dairy, we thought it would be the perfect occasion to enjoy a sweet treat together. We...

Lovely little place to stop for bite or drink. Friendly staff. Dog friendly. Drinks were slightly on the small size and not cheap. Prices generally above average, for an example a sandwich was £6, but quality and taste was right up there. Obviously designed for the tourist, especially being right next to the town hall and church. Parking is a massive issue, but that is generally the same for most places in Rye. An enjoyable visit.

Tea room itself is cosy and lovely but unfortunately their afternoon tea sandwiches and cake selections were very mediocre. I had better expectations from this place given its one of the oldest in Rye. Scones were nice and warm but were served with supermarket bought clotted cream and jam.

Hi there thought I would treat my husband to a birthday cream tea today Friday 15 th of October arrive at 3.30 the tea room looked pretty full that’s a good sign .Sat down ordered our special afternoon creamed tea . The tea came first which got cold whilst waiting for our yummy sones and sandwiches. Very disappointing , poor fare the service average no frills needs a a bit of TLC very tired Decor . Would go there again NO We have all suffered one way or another during this pandemic and deserve a nice experience when we venture out.

The pies we bought to takeaway were amazing. Pity about the miserable old bag that served us!..

Old-fashioned traditional tea room in an ancient building in Rye with beams, inglenook. Its been here forever, along with the charming kindly ladies serving 😀 Tea was good and millionaires peanut shortbread slice was unusual. Victoria sponge was light and tasty. One of the last remaining tea rooms left in Rye - which is being 'modernised' fast! 'The Pieman' could do with a modern twist on the tried and tested afternoon tea formula to keep up perhaps?

Friendly service, quite pricey but nice food

Lovely food, friendly welcoming staff and charming surroundings. Recommended.😊

Very friendly staff, delicious food, cakes, shake and soup.

We visited here with our daughter who was very excited to see the homemade gingerbread figures in the window. It looked busy but we got a table - a bit cramped but expected to a degree with the age of the place. It had a...

I have been to Rye today.I visited a list of places in this lovely town that I wished to see up until the afternoon and then, I ended my day out in this lovely traditional tearoom.It was Bank holiday and I expected to find a busy place inside, but fortunately I was totally wrong.The atmosphere was really relaxed and cosy, there were tables available and the ladies working in the tearoom were so polite and so nice, from the start, up to end. I had my first traditional afternoon tea, which I really loved and enjoyed.Everything was so fresh.I would 100% recommend it.

Yum, Homemade cakes and sandwiches. I had decaf tea. My sister had a vanilla milkshake.