The Health Chef in Blackburn with Darwen

We have been coming to The Apple Store for years and it has been one of our favourite places to go after a walk in the beautiful surrounding countryside. The setting and venue are lovely. However, we have visited a few times since the new management took over from the original owners and it has been disappointing. The food used to be piping hot and always looked and tasted very home made. Portion sizes were hearty, too. Our food on recent visits was tepid and portion sizes much reduced. The chips seem pale and soft, the steak pudding pastry very hard on the bottom, the chicken wrap cold and a bit rubbery, a beef and blue cheese salad very thin on both beef and cheese. And, the lovely fig and goats cheese salad gone. Looking around at other tables, the quality does seem to have diminished. The food is served much more quickly now which may suggest that a lot is pre-prepared and re-heated, maybe. It seems disloyal to post a negative review after so many happy visits and I wish I had the courage to have said something face to face - but hey, I’m British. We’re hopeless at complaining. I hope things improve - it’s a truly special place.

Reassuringly and consistently disappointing, so much so our most recent visit to the store will be the last. I understand M&S have had to undertake cost cutting measures, so the store and business stay alive, but it's really noticeable with every visit, less and less of the good M&S is visible. I know businesses do need to change, but the store is a mile away from the core values M&S had. Especially the cafe , the cost cutting is far too noticeable.... regardless if they are reducing the things they need to wash ( probably so they can do without an extra person employed) but impacting the environment using disposable products instead. Very short sighted

Artisan Cafe hosted my parents’ evening reception after tying the knot over the weekend!! 💒 The team accommodated for our tight schedule to surprise our parents. Thank you for going above and beyond to meet our wishes. The ladies on the bar were fab 🫶🏻 We’ll hopefully see you again in the future🥂

I went here during a busy shopping trip and needed a coffee, the experience overall unpleasant. It was a very overwhelming atmosphere the staff seemed unhappy to serve us which made us feel unwelcome. Drinks were okay, but definitely not up to expected standards for a coffee shop, but it did the job. Will be avoiding this brand in the future as there are much nicer coffee shops close by which seem to genuinely care about its products and service.

Lovely food, great value for money and excellent service received from Molly, Keeva and all the staff here!