Southchurch Park Cafe in Southend-on-Sea

First time in ages. Great traditional breakfast - we'll cooked and presented - in lovely setting: the park gardens on a sunny day. Two breakfasts with drinks: £19. I don't know why this place doesn't come to mind more often. Family run by same family for many years. Must go here more!

Nice, local friendly and clean. Easy access for a wheelchair. Vegan and gluten free options too. The salads are huge! The kids meals too!

Too expensive! My family have been eating at this cafe for years and it was always good value for money - a community cafe with decent food which everyone could afford. Yes, the decor has been updated recently but the food prices have increased so much...a basket of scampi and chips used to cost about £7.50 and now scampi and chips cost £11.50! I know this is comparable with other restaurants but it is cold during the winter (we all sat with our coats on), draughty and cramped inside (lovely on a Summer's day if you can sit outside) and which you wouldn't mind if the price was very reasonable. But what was most disappointing was the quality of the food!! I had a veggie breakfast (no veggie sausage or similar)...the toast was limp, the mushrooms black, almost cremated, and the tomatoes were from a tin! The beans and egg were fine. The overall experience was very poor, which is a great shame. However, its fine for a hot drink or sitting outside in the Summer.

Such a lovely cafe. We are regular visitors. All staff so warm and friendly and do their upmost to accommodate. Food is fresh and delicious. It is always clean and tidy. This has to be our favourite park cafe. Well done to all.

12 of us went for a Christmas dinner. We decided on the Children/OAP one as knew we didn't want huge meals, but wow what a surprise, not seen such a big Christmas dinner in ages. All enjoyed it, only half managed to clear their plates. It was served up hot (which isn't easy to do for so many people), and seemed very fresh. Dessert too. Wheelchair and buggy were accommodated with no trouble. Staff were friendly and efficient, and helpful. Thanks all for the lovely meal. We have been before and will be returning.

We went for a walk to Southchurch Park today (2nd July 2023) and were attracted to the cafe by the music being played by a little rock band. Stopped for a snack and some drinks, which were fine. However, they need to pay serous attention to the state of their toilets, which were disgusting. They may say these are not their responsibility, but it all goes to create the general impression of the place, which is degraded by the toilets.

Lovely place to stop off for a bite to eat and drink. Food is always lovely, cooked fresh and hot. We always stop off for a cuppa tea and a bowl of chips. We never have to wait long, even when it’s busy. The cakes always look so lovely! Clean and tidy, with pleasant staff.

Good coffee and a decent selection of cakes at this busy cafe in the park. There is also a lunch menu but we didn’t try this. Only disappointment was that there was only one ‘cake’ option for vegans and flapjacks aren’t my thing Prices reasonable

For a park cafe I thought this was very impressive! Nice new menu with lots of choice. Lovely cakes. Lots of drinks to choose. Lollies are a silly price to be honest. Nice seating outside both sides of the cafe. Happy to eat here.

The cakes look amazing but meals and (why not sell Rossi or Maryland Farm) ice cream choices are uninspiring, especially for the money Nice friendly staff but they need to look at people that order from them, have eye contact, because they just never remember who ordered what - or number the tables or issue order numver spoons or something Music on Sundays is awesome - could maybe do with more tables Its important to bear in mind its in a park though and a cafe rather than a restaurant and needs our support I’d go again and will The ‘rats’ there are actually water voles and quite harmless but they are large and a bit scarey when they come close

I have been going to this cafe for lunch with friends once a week for about a year. I usually have a sandwich and coffee. Sandwiches have always been lovely, full of filling and fresh bread. Lately I have noticed the filling has been reduced and the price has gone up but still a good price. This week I ordered a prawn and salad sandwich on brown bread. The top slice of bread was stale and the bottom was soggy from the sauce on the prawns, as was my friends. I ate 1 half but just ate the filling from the second. These things happen so was just slightly disappointed. Half an hour later the plates hadn't been collected so my friend took the tray into the cafe to get 2 more coffees. She told the waitress about the sandwiches and why most of the bread was left. The waitress called over the owner and explained but she just turned on her heel and went back into the kitchen without a word!! We were speechless. Looks like I need to find another venue which is a shame as the park is beautiful to visit.

Arrived to a very long queue, waited 20 mins to get a cup of coffee, coffee not worth the wait. Should be more staff serving when do busy. Will not come again.

Met up with daughter and son-in/law after registration of their new baby. Wife and I had Grandson 1. 3 bumper breakfasts and a special. Lovely oven cooked bacon and sausage. Not had fried bread for years - delicious. Also spied a great selection of cakes. Able to sit out under tree watching the ducks and a huge Caucasian Shepherd dog - we had seen them in Romania before. Lovely time

Ordered 2 mugs of tea. The girl behind the counter was just continually filling up a large tea pot with hot water to reuse the old tea bags. Was like a mug of hot water. Don’t bother, take your own if you have a flask!!

An excellent breakfast at the Southchurch park cafe. Service was very good by pleasant staff. It is not the first time I have visited this cafe and I have never been disappointed. It is a hidden gem just off the seafront in Southchurch

Stopped and had 2 cheese and ham with salad(v good) plus 2 weak coffees for just under£10, toilets looked open(unlike last visit) still not sure if they are public toilets or sole use of patrons of cafe.nicely spaced tables and young lady who served us had mask on. Ice creams looked nice

Friendly staff, covid19 rules about staying apart on flooring inside. We ordered sat outside food good & prices really reasonable. When the waitress came with our food she had an apron, no gloves, no face mask, no tray! The chips were falling all over the place before they even got to us, we was past the food face to face which I was very surprised about no sticking to any distancing rules or covering of food or her face or hands (I hate to think how many other people's faces & food she had been that close to in one day) for this reason we won't return any time soon.

A lovely location in the park and popular with dog walkers. An excellent selection of sandwiches, omelettes, jacket potatoes, kids meals and so on. Our son really liked the chicken nuggets and chips! Simple, no frills, good food!

This is our favourite cafe full stop!. Food always good, service great lovely friend!y staff. The steak pie is to die for. No complsints ,...whatsoever!. And reasonably priced too.

A return visit. We opted for their delicious home made Shepherds pie. It was great as usual. Steaming hot plates of pie, gravy and vegetables. We hoovered it down. We had 2 meals, 2 mugs of tea and 2 diet cokes and it was under £20. I think for a home made meal (not something vacuum packed and reheated) it's good value. Great to support independent businesses too. I previously asked the owner where she sources her produce/meat and started using a nearby butchers because of her recommendation. This is set in an exceptional park which is just a road away from the seafront. The council also keep the gardens stunning. There is a car park onsite. Recommended.

First visit here this morning with friends. We all had the breakfast special with coffee. Arrived hot and fresh. Staff polite and welcoming. Did get very busy at one point, staff was under control and the rush soon died down. A nice place to pop in for a coffee or a hot chocolate if your having a walk around the park .. will definitely return .

I thought that with the increase in prices the food would reflect such a hike but no, it is rare for me to leave one place and go to another to get the awful taste from my mouth. Bread like papery glue. Beans were cheap copies of heinz.sausages were shrivelled and tasted like breadcrumbs. Bubble and squeak was beyond description watery and without any flavour and frozen veg still not quite thawed. I could go on but to what purpose. Stick to cakes and drinks. You might just get by. No wonder there are few reports...only the lonely....

A nice little cafe which gets very busy at the weekends, especially when the sun is shining. A varied menu with very cheap prices - roast beef sunday lunch is only 6.50 and a pot of tea for one is only 1.00. The homemade cakes are great !

Visited on a mild winter sunday afternoon for a drink and cake. Nice hot chocolate and nice Gluten free sponges. It was busy and I can see why it is a traditional park cafe with a simple menu and nice seating outside.

Love this little cafe. It offers good food at a reasonable price and on Sundays they do a very nice roast dinner for not much money. Recently they've updated some of their outdoor seating area in front of the lake and it's very welcome on a hot day sitting under the huge tree with a lovely view of the lake and park.

Building looks like a picture postcard nestled amongst the trees in a lovely Edwardian park overlooking model boating lake and cricket pitches. The menu fits the setting with nothing fancy, they fry well, the bread is from very nice local baker. No expresso machine. Usually some cakes. Gets busy in school holidays. Prices are very reasonable. This cafe has such a good location it could be a real destination given the right management but then maybe it's best left to the OAP's for a bit longer. I hope the building gets listed as it's the real deal and unusual to see in such original condition.

There is a varied menu with plenty of hot and cold food. The prices are very reasonable and give good value for money. It gets very busy on a Sunday lunchtime when there are often queues but it's worth the wait. From the beginning of May until September there is live music on Sundays on a regular basis. The park is great and so lovely to sit in. The cafe is a great bonus.

We had home made Shepherds pie with fresh vegetables and gravy. Very tasty. Washed down with hot tea.

Would not eat here again, had a bacon sandwich and the bread was not properly defrosted. Whilst waiting for my food the cook came out with a toasted muffin , took it to the left side garden and came back without it, 5 minutes later someone fetched it back into the cafe and said they had not ordered it, the cook then took it to the right side garden and asked has anyone ordered a toasted muffin, a fella shouted he did and she put it on his table. Awful

This park cafe serves very good meat pie and shepherds pie along with other traditional english dishes which few places serve these days.

This cafe is in the centre of a beautiful well looked after park. Unfortunately as the building is so old it is not accessible for wheelchairs and steps inside make it unsuitable for those with mobility problems and cannot walk unaided. Pushchairs and Parma are not allowed inside for health and safety reasons as it is so cramped. However on a pleasant warm day there is seating outside, still a little cramped but possible. For wheelchairs the only easy tables to use are on the end.

No he visitado este parque ya que mis propios hijos eran jóvenes y compré mis nietos aquí para ver el nuevo bebé cisnes.

4 of us popped in for breakfast, live music was on, no frills food at cheap price, if you want Basic breakfast in nice surroundings you can't go wrong...

A mi hijo le pedí cortésmente si podía tomar prestado una escoba para que él pudiese recuperar su fútbol desde detrás de una valla cerrada en el parque. El personal en el café eran muy amables y el joven le ayudó. Sin embargo, la señora mayores obesos que trabaja en la cafetería era extremadamente grosero y en primer lugar, se negó a ayudar porque "probablemente robar la escoba". Así. . Gracias a la joven que era muy amable y servicial, y su talento es desperdiciado en este establecimiento. Estoy seguro de que muchos otros cafés apreciaría su servicio al cliente más que Southchurch Park Cafe.

Love this cafe. home made cakes delicious. Dogs welcome lovely setting. Sunday's watch the radio controlled boats.

Decidimos pop hasta el parque para almorzar con otros 5 miembros de la familia. La comida llegó, pero por desgracia la camarera se inclinaba sobre la mesa para pasar la comida caliente a mi hija de una administración pública y media terminó en el plato el resto sobre la mesa. . La respuesta, las mesas camareras era limpio! ! ! No estaba limpio nos sentamos afuera, no aceptación de culpa o para cocinar más comida ofrecen. . De hecho, 5 minutos más tarde dijo camarera volver a pedir disculpas por dejar pan y mantequilla de alguien en nuestra mesa y señaló el dueño iba loco por dentro! No hace falta decir que no regresaremos y yo puede ser preguntar si son iva registrado porque no recibí ninguna oferta de un recibo.

A cinco minutos a pie del Premier Inn, situado en un bonito parque que teníamos un desayuno inglés que era la mitad de precio de el ofrecido en el hotel. Nos alojamos 2 noches y estuvimos aquí dos mañanas y nos preparó muy bien para el día. Tienen una opción para vegetarianos si esa es tu preferencia

Snappy unhelpful staff - help yourself but with little direction or helpfulness. Shame as the food is great and very reasonable prices In great location in the beautifully looked after Southchurch Park

A menudo ve aquí un domingo por la tarde para el té y bizcocho. Excelentes precios y música afuera es relajante. Es Olde Worlde y un típico café park no esperes de gama alta!

Traditional cafe, in a nice park, with lovely staff. Mainly grills, with Sunday roasts, jacket potatoes. Known for their homemade cakes and scones.

We are local to the area, and enjoy coffee here many days of the week, also Lunches, Roasts on Sunday's (which are delicious) and a wonderful selection of home made cakes. Christmas time brings wonderful Christmas Fayre and all at reasonable prices......Our grandchildren love to visit and it is favourite of theirs as well, staff are excellent...........Sundays in the Summer are most enjoyable with a variety of music to sit and listen to usually 12 noon for a few hours.........

Completing a fund raising walk in the park , friends and I sat in the gardens outside this small but welcoming cafe . Long queues were a nuisance , but told the popularity of both food , cakes snacks etc. Fairly good menu choices and very good prices encouraged us to follow our coffee tea etc by a nice lunch at about £4 to £5 a head the cakes were very tempting , but the meal very filling , so another visit is now a must .

We visited with 2 babies and as we do in ANY restaurant we ever go in we got them sorted with their snacks from their lunch boxes quickly so that we could order in peace. Whilst perusing the menu the owner approached our table and categorically told us to pack away our things and go to the park picnic area. We explained that we couldn't because we (the adults) didn't have any food. She basically told that we had to order a meal each for the babies, not just a portion of chips, otherwise we were not allowed to stay. We finished our drinks and left; starving hungry with hungry babies!Ended up in Ocean Beach, even lovelier as usual and NO problems at all with our babies eating their snacks because after all we spent £30 between us!Petty owner, another I won't return to.

This place is a gem, cheap as chips and proper old school, we go for breakfast often, we often take friends along to experience it

when we want a change from the beach we always go to this lovely cafe. The food is good, very good value and the staff are so very friendly - they make you feel special. family friendly. Nice views of the flower beds or at the back the little lake with swans.

The staff are very nice to me becuse I go there with my day center. And lost year they done as a Xmas lunch witch was so nice of them to do That the staff are very heipcule as well

Excellent cakes, good tea and a very reasonable price and just as good as when my MUm used to take me here when I was a boy. What more could you want.

It is nice to have a good meal before you sail your boats you can sit down & have a chat with your friends

Good place to sit for coffee or stay for lunch. Snide and outside eating, so dog walking can be included. Home cooked food looked good with generous sandwiches.

We visit this cafe on a weekly basis in all weathers and enjoy the friendly service. The food and drinks are a reasonable price and the products are good for the price they charge. It can be very busy on sunny days so prepare for a bit of a wait.

By all means the cafe is not bad, but it's not exactly good either. The staff are particularly rude and hostile, the service never comes with a smile, you're lucky if you leave the counter without being 'told off' for one thing or the other. Too much of their food is served in take-away containers, but the food itself is not bad. The cake they serve there is very good! It's a shame because I've got fond memories of this place as a child, and with a bit of brightening up, create a new atmosphere, and employ staff who know (1) what a smile is, and (2) how to use it, could really make this a little gem.

Got barked at by the woman for sitting in the wrong seat. Wasn't made to feel welcome at all and got glared at off for having toddler making a noise. I think they've actually out signs up since stating that kids aren't welcome.Food like any other greasy spoon but with grumps thrown in. Seems to be a big hit with dog walkers and people with not much to do all day.

We live very close to the park and are very frequent users of the café. We have been regulars for over 23years and have had many family meals here. Much of the food is homecooked and very good value. In fact there are many OAP regulars who use this café for their main meal of the day because of the value plus the tastiness! The cream teas are a must as the scones are home baked daily in the summer season and the cakes are home baked too. The staff work from very cramped service areas and their can be queues at busy times but when you consider that there is seating inside and out, a lot of people need to be served and are, well. There is the occasional glitch when people decide to sit miles away on park benches and can't be found! this café is open everyday throughout the year, apart from major public holidays and there's nothing better on a dark, winter's day then a cup of hot chocolate and cream, in the park!

Have only been here a few times but each time the view is great, the food is nice & the value is fantastic.

Today 16th September we found this place by pure chance. A lovely café with interesting "old photos" and interior, staff friendly and helpful. We only stayed for tea and cake and sat outside in the sunshine. Had a walk around the grounds and fed the ducks.A lovely chilled out place to visit. We shall return for a meal next time.

Have been here several times recently after playing chase round Southchurch Park, kicking a football, or visiting the children's playground -- all with the grandchildren -- the 'winks'. In need of ice cream, a cup of tea, or even lunch, it has always met our needs well, with good value food and prompt service. The menu is simple but flexible -- for instance sandwiches can be on white, brown or granary, and can be toasted if required -- what more can you ask? We've only used it for snacks, but they have arrived promptly and have all been good value. Definitely not a 'posh' venue, but a lovely place to sit outside in the sun and have a rest and an ice cream or whatever. Just don't expect too much!

Nice little cafe to come too do nice food and drink not bad princesse and in a good place in the park nice and friendly staff.

Grabbed a quick breakfast here on a Saturday morning after having taken a bit of a walk in the area and through the park.Whilst the venue is not the most attractive and the food is not by any means special it very much served a purpose and can not be knocked. The prices were good and the staff friendly.Great for getting a quick bite to eat or something to drink when in the park.You are not going to rush back here for a family meal, but for a light snack or convenience then it does the job just fine!

Whilst enjoying a walk in the summer sunshine we decided to stop for lunch at the cafe. Big mistake. Walked into this cafe . Ordered 2 teas and 2 sandwiches . Paid a very reasonable five pounds. Went to find a table and was told to wait for the drinks. As I am disabled and use a walking stick I cannot carry a tray so I asked the woman behind the counter if she would take it to the table. I received a very curt reply " We don't have waitress service here". It finihed up with my friend ( also disabled) having to struggle back to a table. When the food arrived we discovered when resting an arm on the table that they had obviously not been cleaned properly as the table surface was very sticky. With regard to the service I would not give any stars. For hygiene 2. Value for money the food rated 3

A great little cafe with friendly staff and tasty grub, supported by home-made desserts. Sat outside in the warm sunshine listentto cricket being played and watching the boats on the boating pond. Cannot wait for summer when music in the park festival begins.

What you see is what you get, the food is freshly cooked. Fast and welcoming. Dogs can sit outside with their owners.

I walked into the cafe whilst out for a walk. The two women behind the till was both very friendly and greeted me as I approached. One handed me a menu and I sat down. Ordering was easy as you just order at the till. The atmosphere in there is lovely and makes you feel comfortable. Would definitely recommend it as my meal was lovely and staff are great

I came to this cafe hoping to get some chips and a can on a hot summer afternoon with my sister. But walking into the dark, dingy and cramped cafe I felt unwelcome and left confused in search for a menu to find a price let alone even knowing if they served chips. I was left to ask, and walking towards the counter, I saw a display of cakes in glass display case, which none of the cakes were covered over of protection from flies etc. the glass case looked rather unsteady and hazadous if a small child walked into it. The staff were abnoxiously rude and practically saw me as a joke. I ended up walking out empty handed past the cobwebbed doorway, pink flaky paint walls on the exterior and trampling over degradinh rubbish. The cafe is a tip! And needs to learn more about hospitalisation as well as health and hygiene!

I haven't been for a while. Popped in lunchtime. We both ordered jacket potatoes. Mine with coleslaw. My friends with tuna. Nicely cooked. Things to improve:- the plates were cute (heart shaped) but were a bit too small- a lick of paint is now very much needed. I wish they'd paint the area where the sweets are with candy stripes. Good points: - value is exceptionally good- food is good- Southchurch Park is a lovely setting- the outside seating area that overlooks the gardens is really beautiful- you're not far from the seafront So overall I think it's still worth a visit. The decor isn't that of a delusions of grandeur Leigh bistro but then neither are the prices which are exceptionally good value.

I have used this cafe many times and often come away unimpressed. On nice days its a busy place and the food is generally ok.I think it's because they have guaranteed custom that they don't feel they have to try that hard.Redecoration needed and little more attention to making patrons feel welcomed, on the whole just average.

Do not expect gastronomy here, just old fashioned fayer in a lovely old ramshackle building in a small local park, dog walkers love it for the friendly cuppa and cake in the cold days of winter, it is cramped inside but nice and warm, and reasonably priced, There are pick nick benches outside, for a doggie treat, friendly staff will often treat the dog with leftovers from the day, lol. if eating outside in the winter they heat the soup extra hot and warm the chip bowl,!Spring and summer it is fab al fresco in the sun ( or by the lake- shaded) whilst the cricket and hobby boat races take place to entertain.As i said for a warming cuppa and cake or a hot meal it is great it will warm your hart.

kitchen staff very rude, ordered full english with toast, they gave me fried bread instead which is totally forgivable. What was unforgivable was when i returned it the woman in the kitchen produced the order slip and abruptly told me she only cooks what is written down and i would have to wait! When waitress eventually bought the toast she threw it on my table without a word. I did nothing wrong but was made to feel as though i had. Not the cleanest place in town either.

The cafe is in Southchurch Park. Food is traditional cafe simple food. We went on St Patricks day & they did a special menu. I had a steak casserole, cabbage and mash. Husband had ham, egg & chips. It's very good value. Popular with families so can be busy/noisy at times depending on the season. Nice to sit outside during the summer overlooking the park grounds one side and watching the Model Boating club the other side.

We went into the Southchurch cafe which is located in the park and it seemed really cute with all of the flowers beside it but inside, it was unhygienic and disgusting. One half of the outside was lovely and the other part was smelly and disgusting and there was litter all over the floor and it made me feel sick! We will not be attending it again!

we only popped in for some drinks and ice cream on a break from the play ground...its good staff were helpful.

Only had a coffee and cake here but its a nice location in the park and food tasted good.

We have visited the cafe many times and have never been disappointed with any of the meals. They offer a good menu although we tend to visit mid morning and generally opt for the excellent breakfasts (the veggie breakfast is particulary good).We have no hesitation in recommending Southchurch Park Cafe.