Sweet Little Cafe in Derbyshire Dales

Lovely Cafe! Nice choice of lunchtime dishes. Really good coffee. All served very quickly by lovely staff. Certainly looking forward to returning.

It is a lovely place but there are a few things that let it down. 1. The toilets have not been cleaned in quite sometime, not nice. 2. The stables is a lovely cafe but again, cleanliness let's them down, the tables have not been cleaned properly, the floor was dirty as were the skirting boards. 3. Shops closed with no communication to the customer about when they would reopen. Those things alone being rectified would really raise the place.

Next door to the children’s museum at Sudbury hall. We were there 3 times today. 1st for a drink before visiting the museum, then for lunch. Then back at 3 pm for ice creams . Food was beautifully presented.tasty and plentyful. Great value for money. Staff very friendly .

Have visited here many times in the last few years and always been excellent…..but this time was not that great. My wife ordered coronation chicken sandwich on white and I had a BLT on white, both arrived fairly quickly but both breads were dry on top. My BLT was really odd in that it had two mini tomatoes cut in half instead of the normal slices and the bacon was very small just one rasher. On the side was a tiny pot of crisps and a bit of salad leaves. All very disappointing. On the plus side my wife’s cherry ice cream waffle was exceptionally good. Will think twice before going again and be very selective on what we order.

Over an hour wait for our breakfast , many conflicting excuses given . My breakfast finally arrived cold . Was taken back to the kitchen and microwaved . No real apologies or any offer of complimentary drinks .eggs hard overcooked

Popped in after a visit to Sudbury Hall for a quick cuppa. Managed to get a table without any problems, promptly served by a very polite young lady. A cracking cuppa and lots of it - easily got three cups out of one pot. I didn't eat here, as I'd already eaten elsewhere -so I can't comment on the food. Two VERY small gripes: 1) Prices need to more transparent for the cakes. (on a board manybe)? 2) The coffee machine tends to make a loud bang when being used. This may have been the young lady using it at the time, but it got a bit annoying after the fifth loud bang. Otherwise - great.

Found this cafe by chance on a drive out in Derbyshire and really pleased to have done so. Mid afternoon and lunch service was practically over but they cleared a table for us and served us with smiles. The food was homemade and fresh and delicious. A large range of cakes were also available with a long list of hot drinks, perfect for a crisp cold day. Having found this gem, will definitely return and recommend it to friends and family.

Reviews are a reflection of the visit experience and perception of value for money. It would seem that there are a few questions on VFM.

Took my daughter for afternoon tea as a treat. The staff were so friendly and helpful and we had a lovely table by the window. We were given a lovely strawberry sorbet to start, followed by an excellent selection of sandwiches and cakes. We particularly liked the coffee cake, and the coconut, lime and raspberry sponge. We will certainly be going back!

Excellent food,excellent service, thoroughly enjoyable, a special thank you a very efficient and lovely young lady named Abbie, thank you all for a lovely afternoon 😊

Popped into Sudbury Courtyard and decided to have a cake and tea. Was not clear whether it was table service or not but the staff were very helpful. Food was average but such pleasant surroundings that you have to give it a very good overall.

Staff couldn’t have been more helpful and the food itself was very high quality and beautifully cooked. Highly recommended.

Sudbury courtyard is a real find and well worth a visit. The NT property alongside was closed this Friday (22nd July) so we were directed to the cafe in the courtyard for lunch. The menu is interesting, the food excellent and the service very pleasant and quick. We enjoyed an avocado fatoush which was delicious and a Staffordshire oatcake stuffed with tomatoes and cheese. We had a good cappuccino and followed our main course with a first rate afogato. The staff were extremely pleasant and helpful and everything arrived promptly. One minute criticism was the music, which we personally could have done without, but seems to be ubiquitous these days. We shall certainly be visiting this wonderful cafe again when we are passing through.

Lovely cafe, very helpful staff, great selection and lunch was delicious! Would definitely recommend! The courtyard is great and range of local artisan shops definitely a must!

Lovely little cafe for brunch lunch or a snack. ALways have lovely fresh soup. Never feel rushed and service is good.

Called in for coffee and cake and was not disappointed. Really good coffee and the cake was fresh and delicious. The lady even gave our dog and another diners dog some biscuits, which we thought was lovely.

We called here for lunch which was very good the sandwiches were very tasty and the bread was so fresh excellent i would recommend calling here well worth finding.

Two of us went for afternoon tea and we were really glad we did. The food was delicious, particularly the scones, and the service was excellent.

I loved my lunch at sweet little it was fantastic and the views are gorgeous like the area, me and my friends food was just gorgeous I recommend popping in if your in the area !!

The Courtyard turned out to be a delightful discovery as I passed by Sudbury Hall. The service was very good at the café and my order arrived at my outside table fairly promptly. I enjoyed a nice sandwich and cup of coffee. The Courtyard toilets were in good order nearby.

Great food, great service and great location mean that Sweet Little Café needs to be visited. Excellent in all aspects and welcoming to all. We visit with a group of cyclists and couldn't wish for a better experience.

Lovely environment to have tea and scones ! Friendly staff but the scones were tiny ! For £3.25 each I would have expected better ! They were shop brought no way made there ! No wonder they weren’t on display on the cake counter ! Disappointing

The milkshakes will have us returning again and again. The kids have decided that the chocolate milkshakes here are the best they’ve had………and they have a lot! Food was great and service was perfect. The milkshakes are the best around.

The Service is excellent, all that work there are kind and very helpful when I questioned about the gluten free items available on the day. 5 starts are definitely deserved

Came for lunch early afternoon, me and the wife absolutely loved it, the coronation chicken was exquisite, finished off with one of their bakewell tarts with some vanilla ice cream! would definitely recommend visiting!!

Disappointed return visit. The coffee was fine. The cake at best really poor. Supposed to be apricot & blueberry flan. Two thin slices of apricot one blueberry on a dry tasteless sponge. I’m surprised to see the place busy. It’s been a struggle because of lockdown but we stopped going here two years ago because of falling standards. Definitely won’t be returning. Too expensive & poor quality. What a shame.

I am so pleased we found this lovely little cafe, we had sandwiches and coffee and both were excellent, very enjoyable lunch time treat! Friendly helpful staff and beautifully decorated, we will definitly be returning :)

Great cafe! Love visiting here both indoors in the winter and outdoor in the courtyard when the weather is good. We often call when we’re out for a ride on our bikes. The service and food is always lovely. Yesterday we had raspberry and coconut cake and a slice of lemon cake - both were delicious. As soon as the lockdown is over we’ll be back again. Thanks Rebecca and all the team. Take care xx

We visited on Saturday morning for an unscheduled brunch. We were given a very warm welcome and really enjoyed our visit. I had Avocado & scrambled egg on toast , which isn’t in the menu but the staff created it for me with no fuss or problems , it was delicious! My wife had the Bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon which must have also been good as I didn’t get a look in ! Coffees and tea were both good too. I would highly recommend a visit, we both felt really covid safe. Stay safe x

Lovely brunch today with happy smiley service. Bacon rolls with generously sized lovely soft white bread rolls. We loved our Hazelnut Hot Chocolates with cream and marshmallows. Good to see some daily specials on the menu too. Love the seasonal additions. Customer service was truly excellent.

Nice location and lovely surroundings but staff need to learn some manners....choose and pay before you sit we were TOLD and no please, thank you or any kind of niceness, it was definitely an effort for them....asked for two packets of crisps and was barked at ‘have you paid?’ And she then couldn’t add up the price!! Older girl with blond hair was a pleasure though, she could teach her younger colleagues some manners. Food was overpriced but tasty so just the staff that let the place down

Came here with family members for breakfast on a Saturday morning. I had tried to book online and had been ignored, but we decided to chance our arm and go anyway.When we arrived there was a queue snaking outiside the door, no big deal, but it wasn't quick to move and there was a light drizzle. The cause of the queue is a poorly designed system whereby you have to order and pay at the till as you arrive by the door which is a bit weird. I appreciate adjustments need to be made for C19, but this was poorly conceived and impractical. Good to see all staff wearing face coverings though and sanitizing tables.When we finally got in, we were asked by the waitress if we had booked; I explained that I had tried to book online but had been ignored, to which I had the reply of "yeh...we don't always reply online and so we are going to struggle to get to get you in". Even though I had a mask on, my face must have told a story because she hastily said "we could fit you in over there..." whilst pointing to a table. It is worth stating out that besides one other table, the cafe was empty; those in front of us in the queue must have ordered takeaway items and only one other table sat down whilst we were there; there wasn't exactly a rush on! The table we were shown to had a "reserved at 2.45pm" sign on; it was 10.30am. How and why they would "struggle" is baffling.Couple all of that with a breakfast menu lacking in any sort of choice of hot food other than a bacon cob, and the whole visit was quite a disappointment. The most notable area for improvement here is to cater better for vegetarians. With not one hot vegetarian option on the menu, we asked if there was any additional substitutes for the vegetarian in our party to which we were told "no, sorry". So she had to settle for a toasted tea cake. A toasted tea cake for breakfast. What sort of a modern day establishment does not cater adequately for vegetarians!? Really poor.Such a shame because the cafe could be a real destination place, but we will not be in a hurry to return.

Had a wonderful afternoon tea with way more than we could eat so took a doggy bag home to share with the rest of the family. lovely location and very attentive service. Would highly recommend.

We found this little gem and we’re so pleased we did! We were greeted by a very welcoming blonde lady - they were in between service so I can’t comment on the food but we had a great coffee but what made it was the friendliness and service - 100% will be back!

Brilliant, super fast service, great food, great hospitality great for cyclists feeling the love xxx

Excellent afternoon at the lovely Sweet Little Cafe, great service and food. Lovely shops in the courtyard too

We came upon this delightful place by chance! Mouth watering cakes - and lunches! - in light, airy surroundings! There is no hassle - just time to enjoy the great food ans surroundings! outside seating for warmer weather!

What a lovely addition to the facilities in Sudbury. Beautiful conversion of a period building offering a mouthwatering array of cakes and treats together with other food and drinks, all served by friendly and welcoming staff. A true delight. We will be back.

popped in for a bite to eat when we found local pub was no longer open for business but what a surprise. Food was lovely , home made soup and sandwiches. For a quick bite it was spot on.

A friend and I called today for some lunch, arrived at 3pm to be told last lunch orders were taken at 2.45pm and only drinks and cake were available until 4pm! So we went around the corner to the National Trust cafe at Sudbury Hall and had a lovely lunch. Need to up your game guys, or at least put this information on your website.

When ilkeston cycling club visited 5th jan 2020 we brought 35 very hungry people to their door , did they panic?, did they turn us away?, did they roll their eyes at us? Well maybe a bit but NO they were beyond brilliant, super service, fantastic food, it was so good we actually used up all their supply of baked beans we can wholeheartedly recommend the cafe and Rebecca and all the staff, plus they give 10% discount to all cyclists

This was disappointing.1 There is a sign asking customers to wait to be seated and on being directed to a table someone else had hijacked it.Need to get system organised especially when there are two doors of entry- so two separate flows.2 Order was very slow- only one lady making the drinks- others waiting to serve. Appeared to be lacking in organisation.3 Order when delivered was incorrect in that it had either not been written clearly or not read carefully.Oh dear.Could do better but does not encourage a re- visit.

I’m a little surprised by the negativity of some of the reviews...We visited today for lunch and everything was excellent, we were warmly welcomed and the food, broccoli &stilton soup and sandwiches were first class as were the coffees and hot chocolate . The cafe was very busy as it was a wet day and all the staff were lovely.I can only assume that previous reviewers are more used to fast food which is mass produced. The food here is carefully prepared and is excellent.

Had a lovely little breakfast at the Cafe. Sausage sandwich was filling with 3 huge sausages and my partner had the smoked salmon and egg bagel. 2 clear plates and decent flat white!

This was our second visit to this Cafe and thought by now they would have got it sorted. We only had takeaway coffee and it took an absolute age even though there was only one other table with people sitting eating. Even so, the people on that table were eating their breakfast and asking where their drinks were! They've still not got the hang of it yet. It was also very expensive just for a takeaway coffee.

This is a great mid morning cuppa, or a lunch treat, good choice of food well presented, in a courtyard with great little shops, next door to National Trust property, this cafe is away from the many visitors to NT a quite haven.

Gathering here before exploring Sudbury Village and Hall, it made the perfect place to take a break after long journeys. Toasted teacakes, scones and more, with good hot drinks, in a delightful, attractive and relaxed atmosphere - what more could we have wanted?!

Have visited many times and really enjoyed lunch.

I’ve been here many times. It really is a beautiful location and if you stick with a coffee only then you’ll probably have a lovely visit. It’s a lively little clean place but, ........., I keep returning but continuously get let down by the poor food and service. This is a shame because it really could be a five stars little cafe with a bit of care and attention. My recommendation, enjoy the coffee but steer clear of the food or the soft drinks.

Lovely location to this little cafe, and if the weather is nice then the tables out in the courtyard are wonderful.

Group of us met up for lunch. Table had been reserved so we were seated immediately. Friendly staff and good service. Reasonably priced food. Nice environment. Will definitely return to sample the delicious looking cakes.

We stopped off on route to Bakewell for some breakfast. Great atmosphere, food, location and coffee. The service was amazing too. Highly recommended

The sign said wait here to be seated. There were four of us. The lady sent us down to a table with only two chairs and said she would bring us two extra chairs and take our order. She then proceeded to totally ignore us for five minutes and when I went back to the counter to get her attention, not even an apology. Needless to say we didn’t stay any longer. What a waste of time that was!

Where do I start ? ? ? Amazing food , very friendly staff , they even let you have a doggy box if you dont manage it all !!! Would highly recommend it

My mum and I booked an afternoon tea for my mums birthday and was really lovely. Our table was ready and waiting for us and the staff were really attentive and pleased to see us.

Plenty of empty tables although piled up with dirty pots. We were advised it was 20 minutes wait for hot drinks and 45 minutes for sandwiches so opted for a cold drink and cake only to be informed it was a 20 minute wait for cake as the girl on the till could not put a piece of cake on a plate! We gave up and got an ice cream from a very helpful and friendly lady. In the time it took us to eat an ice cream there were many complaints. People asking for their cakes to take away or their money back as they had waited that long and still not been served, people chasing up a pot of tea to discover the slip had been lost. People returning sandwiches that were not what they had ordered. When I returned to the till to purchase a bag of crisps I was talking to a lady who was queuing to pay about how appalling the service was when a customer was advised he could take his cake straight away. Commented that I was not allowed that when a lady appeared from the kitchen to see if there was a problem. She said they had caught up on orders no still a long line of slips to deal with but the girl had been told she could serve cake .......... fair to say we can’t recommend as didn’t get to sample anything other than ice cream and won’t be returning. Shame as it looked so promising.

Unhelpful staff, slow service, tiny portions, such a shame as the venue looks lovely and the food and drinks (once they arrived were really nice).

Went for a groupon afternoon tea but will go back well worth another visit don’t eat before you go or expect to need something later

One of the nicest afternoon teas we have had. An excellent selection of sandwiches and the cheese scone to go with these was a bonus. The cakes were really fresh and tasty with yet more scones with jam and cream. Unlimited coffee or tea. Would certainly go again

A lovely little café in a courtyard with some small shops a couple of minutes from Sudbury Hall. The staff were very friendly and the range of lunch time snacks was just about right and all very reasonably priced. A recommended stop when you're in the area.

We went in here after visiting the museum down the road. The cafe is lovely and cosy on a chilly day and staff were very friendly. We had coffee and cake and both we’re excellent and a fair price. We will definitely go again.

A lovely collection of shops surround this lovely cafe in the old workshop complex of the next door Hall.

It was unusually sunny and warm so we popped in for an ice cream. We waited by the freezer but nobody came (didn't notice the bell) so we asked a lass behind the counter. She fetched someone to serve us. Taking our order she proceeded to write it on her pad (triplicated) before preparing our two vanilla cornets. Then we were handed the chiity she had written our order on and invited to go to the till to pay. So now I am juggling an ice cream, my purse and the chitty standing waiting to pay. Not for long admittedly but obviously there is some strange demarcation of roles that means the girl in charge if the coffee machine can't serve ice cream and the girl who serves ice cream can't operate the till. I am unsure who's job clearing the tables outside was but it hadn't been done for a while

Situated next to Sudbury Hall this lovely cafe is worth a visit. The food was tastu and the portions reasonably generous. All the staff were welcoming and helpful. The backdrop of the courtyard makes it a very pleasant place to enjoy lunch.

Nothing was too much trouble to please my little lady as she’s a bit fussy !!

This is a super little cafe in the courtyard near Sudbury Hall. It’s a lovely setting and the cafe is light and airy with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The menu isn’t enormous, but offers jacket potatoes, sandwiches, salads, soups, Spanish meats, Ploughman’s and various specials, such as game pie. There’s a wide range of cakes and the coffee is excellent. It’s also a shop which sells artisan breads, cakes, drinks, and other goodies. We had a very nice lunch last time we went and we will definitely go back.

Whether it’s afternoon tea with visitors; treating myself to lunch with a friend or grabbing a drink after school with my boy, come rain or shine we love sweet little.

Brilliant cakes, excellent coffee and attentive staff - what else could you ask for? Walking distance from Sudbury Hall and Childhood and Toy Museum (National Trust)

We met up for cake and were impressed with the small but perfectly formed selection. We shared a slice of caramel and a slice of courgette and avocado (gluten-free) both were excellent.

We were looking for somewhere for a bite to eat on a Sunday and our daughter found this cafe online. It’s in a little quiet courtyard and is a lovely cafe. It’s really clean and the staff were very helpful and friendly. The food was really good. Some great sandwiches with fillings different from the usual and very yummy cakes. Will definitely go again and would recommend

What a beautiful setting and one of the most delicious cream teas I've ever had. Delicious homemade scones with fresh cream and jam, cherry bakewell cake, gluten free banana and chocolate cake, apricot and almond cake plus delicate sandwiches and two petite ice creams nestled at the top. Very friendly staff, we were seated immediately and given a generous pot of tea. Will be recommending this place to all my friends.

We often stop here when we are out on the bikes and they offer a 10% discount to anyone in lycra :-). Very reasonably priced and I always have the avocados on toast.

Beautiful setting, lovely staff. First time there today. Booked afternoon tea for 3 to celebrate a birthday. Sandwiches, scones and cake served were very fresh and delicious. Vast choice of drinks were available, very good value will visit again

Great coffee and cake and light meals in a newly refurbished cafe, with very good service. Recommended.

Why can't all cafes be like this.

We have been many times it is always lovely, staff great. Called in today for icecream, it was he best I had for a long time.

This cafe and deli has a rather twee name and look, and so we did not expect much. But the simple lunch was really delicious. One of us had a platter of game pie, cheese and bread, so much he could not finish. And my Welsh rarebit was very tasty with lots of salad.

Visited with my mum last week, firstly for coffee and then for lunch. Service was efficient, friendly and helpful. Prices are reasonable. Menu has a good selection - sandwiches, salads, jacket potatoes, soup, cakes. My mum is coeliac so appreciated that gluten free bread and gluten free cake choices were available. Nicely decorated rooms inside and seats outside in pretty courtyard area. Some food and garden gifts available. We enjoyed our poached salmon sandwich and salad and will return.

Popped in earlier after a play at Sudbury to buy an ice cream. It was £2 for a supposedly large scoop of ice cream in a tub. The scoop was no where near large and I begrudged paying £2 for the tiny scoop, it was the size of a ping pong ball. I never write trip advisor reviews but feel people should be aware, there are other cafes nearby where you will get a lot more ice cream for you money!

We went for coffee and cakes, the staff were friendly but didn't seem able to cope with the volume of customers. They like to seat you rather than you go and find a table but there isn't a sign to say that, so they're not happy when you go and find yourself an empty table = bit of confusion. Cakes (food) came before drinks - this is never done.

We visited the National Childhood Museum and Sudbury Hall and had a look around the nearby Sudbury Courtyard afterwards too, in fact it’s located right next door. In the Courtyard there’s a selection of lovely little independent shops (selling gifts/cards, homeware, children’s clothing etc) and this is where we came across the Sweet Little Cafe. We initially just popped in for a drink but decided after looking at the menus that we’d have something light to eat too. It’s a lovely place, very modern and airy and appears to be newly refurbished. On entering the Staff were very welcoming and found us a suitable table straightaway. There was a good selection of food and drinks available to choose from on the menus.

We decided to try this place as we saw it while we were in the area and also looking at the other shops in the courtyard. We went in and got shown to a table. This place on serves cakes and hot/cold drinks. They have a cream tea but it is order in advance of 24 hours.