The Lantern Cafe in East Dorset

This is a place where everybody is pleased to see you.Everyone says hello.The coffee is good and at present with a home made mince pie great value

We have not been to the lantern since the new chef and menu were introduced but decided to have a mooch and see as we love the gift shop anyway.We had a lovely fresh healthy lunch with homemade hummus falafel kale avocado and salad super tasty ! Service was prompt and chefs wife bought round cheese biscuits hot out of the oven as a taster .A very warm welcome to our old favourite the menu is different during the week and we haven't tried that yet but look forward to our next visit.

Have been to this cafe on many occasions now and really can’t say enough about it. Firstly, what a wonderful opportunity for adults with learning disabilities. Secondly, the food. They have the best cheese scones in the area. Made with a herb (not sure which!) that just adds that something special. Or you could opt for quiches, Frittata, salads, jacket potatoes .... the list goes on. All home produced. And thirdly, the shop. There are some wonderful items in there; for yourself or gifts. Plus you can buy the most amazing cheese and pumpkin rolls. Shouldn’t tell you about them (as I don’t wish them to ever run out) but they are to die for and at 3 for a £1....well...you’d be mad not to try them. This really is a gem of a place and if you didn’t know it was here, you’d never find it. So look it up and pay them a visit.

I’ve eaten here several times & enjoy the lovely natural surroundings, browsing through the adjoining gift shop & the fact it helps their lovely community. However, whilst I enjoy their cakes etc I feel the selection of the vegetarian main courses are poor, tiny portions, & overpriced. Also, the tables were sticky each visit.

This lovely restaurant is set in beautiful surroundings and the quality of food is of a very high standard. All vegetarian and homemade. Their cakes are scrummy too! Coffee and other beverages are all freshly made to order. A true hidden gem.

Our friend took us there for coffee and cake, it’s a lovely setting. The coffee and food was delicious. It’s a shame they cannot open Saturdays as they cannot find any staff for the day. We will be back.

Visited today to try out their NEW menu and to see what was on offer. VERY Happy as there were the 'old' favourites like their yummy salads and coleslaw along with a new fantastic range of lunch time specials along with sandwiches/toasties/jacket potatoes. Im sure there will be something for all tastes here, freshly prepared. Breakfasts will mainly be pastries, smoothies and yoghurts with muesli along with porridge. My only additional suggestion there would be, a basket selection of 'toasts' from the on site bakery offered with marmalades/jams and perhaps even eggs? (poached)?? Once in the Lantern Cafe you will then browse the lovely shop with so many gifts and items of food too....

Hidden away but only a few hundred metres from the main A31 Charming place ( with lovely gift shop alongside). Lovely staff and beautiful fresh, homemade food. Thank you!

Have been to this cafe on and off for a few years, but this visit was first for a while. The food is delicious, quiche and fritatas on the menu today with choice of salads. Would recommend this restaurant, can sit outside in good weather.

This is a wonderful cafe, with a varied menu, a wide variety of dietary options and the best staff! A treat!

Superb wholesome food, wonderful selection of salads in particular,charmingly served, lovely surroundings.

Superb cafe serving amazing home cooked lunches, cakes and bread rolls. Fab shop too selling unusual gifts. All for an excellent cause too. Just off the Castleman Trailway. Well worth a visit.

Such a nice place, great cake (today I had Banana cake, lovely and moist and tasty), another favourite is the Pokenta cake. Great lunches can be had here mostly vegetarian. Amazing Quiche. Nice gift shop, they sell cards, bread, and have a veg stall on a Wednesday. Tucked away, bit hard to find... But SO worth it, a little haven.... Thank you I will be back

Went for coffee and cakes - both excellent. Especially like the Mexican wedding cakes. Lunch looked good though we couldn't stay this time

Great cafe supporting special needs adults. Excellent food, coffee & cakes. Retail gift shop in sane building offering a wide range of goods

I visited today off the recommendation of my sister and it was lovely. It was quiet and out of the way and just a lovely little place to grab a spot of lunch. We had quiche and salad and it was lovely, the portion size was good as well.

Amazing value salad plate! The hummus is delicious. Sat outside in the beautiful peaceful garden by the relaxing water flow-forms. The quiche, frittata & jacket potatoes looked wonderful too. Their chocolate brownies are lush (& gluten-free)!

Great food all Fresh from there garden lovely people lovely scenery lovely shop there as well with all local food

We decided to meet a friend at a convenient place for all of us and landed here. It's a magical place; it feels like an oasis of calm and yet only a few hundred metres from the A31! We had a light lunch of home-made soup and freshly baked seeded rolls, both of which were delicious. There is also the added pleasure of knowing that you're supporting this community of people with special needs. We saw that other dishes looked equally delicious; for example the quiche and salad, both of which looked really interesting. There is also disabled access, a really charming shop and the seating area outside with an original fountain are beautiful. There is a bakery next door, which provides the bread and vegetables and salads are provided by nearby Sturt's Farm. Overall it was good value and certainly a place we want to return to.

Frittata, coleslaw and salad was my chosen lunch and it arrived very quickly and tasted very good. Water is available for self service. Best gift shop I have ever seen. Plenty of seating inside and lovely seating area outside.

1st visit two weeks ago. What a totally stunning location, esp for folk with learning dissabilities - such a safe and secure community for them. You can barely hear the A31 dual carriagway, yet this is one minutes drive from it! I enjoyed the cafe a lot, great use of ambient light and a pleasing inner sanctum. Lantern Cafe is not the best place to go on a vegan diet however they do have 1 or 2 choices most times. I never buy salads out but theirs looked great. Sorry to say I forget what I had, jacket spud & side salad I think was the only choice for me - maybe it was a bean chilli filling - and they do understand my requesting olive oil on the salad instead of milk/chemicals-based spreads. It was really good and the coffee was a goodun too with soy(a) milk on the side. It isnt the cheapest place by far buy emphasis is on very fresh + healthy + interesting without being silly + presentation. Incredibly firendly staff (Andrew). Then I discovered the gift and book shop!! Totally enjoyable afternoon. (BACS will be fine guys....).

Lovely lunch of quiche, salad and new potatoes, followed by coffee and walnut cake with latte. Yum!! Photo halfway through eating the cake, I couldn't wait! 😊

We came to the Lantern café for lunch and had a lovely time.

The fresh food is made in the kitchen by staff assisted by adults with learning difficulties. The food (I had soup and a quiche) is excellent and it’s s lovely atmosphere. Nice outside space on this sunny day. Will be back for sure

We had always got excited about visiting The Lantern, it was excellent fresh, tasty food at very fair price. Went today after a 6 month break, What happened? Tasteless food, small portions size, little choice, empty cafe and over £5.00 more expensive than before for our pains!! We always saw this as a guaranteed place to get superb food, lovely atmosphere and value for money, we will not be back and will not recommend it, as we have to so many people in the past. How is it possible to destroy such a wonderful business so quickly? The answers given to previous negative reviewers is awful, to be polite, but seems to offer continuity to the experience of the cafe now.

Thought we would give it another try since changes took place. Had a salad plate. Coleslaw, potato salad (both drenched in mayo) v standard mixed salad and one more interesting one but again too much mayo dressing. Coffee was tasteless. Left feeling not at all good. Where are the fresh vibrant colourful original and nourishing salads we all enjoyed in the past? Such a shame to find the management have not acted on the many recent critical reviews . Doubt we will try again.

What a great shame that the cafe, previously and for many years so lovely - welcoming, atmospheric and wonderful and serving delicious food has lost what made it special. The atmosphere has changed in part because of the stark white colour and the removal of the warm looking serving counter displaying all the delicious offerings... the limited menu that you can no longer view and choose, the slightly harassed staff... far fewer diners.. oh its such a shame. I sadly agree with all the other reviewers since the changes and am unlikely to return there. Please, Lantern, think again and see if things could be returned how they were before... I'm sure it would be more successful.

The cafe was recently refurbished, and the menu and serving system changed. It has really not done itself any favours. We have tried it twice since the changes, and were really quite disappointed with what is now on offer. Last Wednesday we went to check the menu, and walked away, definitely not inspired. The previous time we had soup which was fairly tasteless, and salads that lacked the fantastic flavours of the excellent ones on offer previously. We do not think it is worth it any more. What a pity. This is of course about more than just the cafe. We have been visiting for several years from Southbourne (Bournemouth) on a regular basis on a Wednesday. We have bought vegetables from the Sturts stall, and bread and other provisions from the shop, and have regularly met friends for a very pleasant lunch. At the same time we are aware that we are supporting the Companions both financially and with our presence. How many other people will not be coming? It was sad to see the cafe last Wednesday at 12.45. Previously you would have encountered a bustling, busy cafe at that time, but there were just three or four in the (virtually) empty room. The changes, intended to help the Companions in various ways, will apparently have the opposite effect. It would be interesting to check the takings since the changes; it's not all about finance, but the cafe provides a focal point which for us was the main attraction of our weekly visit. We are in the process of checking out alternatives. Unfortunately.

I went here for lunch today.the staff were harassed because there was a small queue and were unfriendly. The lunch was cold when it arrived and was horrible.very poor.

Very much regret not knowing this place before it changed! Had a soup which was very nice but really small portion. Appreciate the charity but overall experience not so great.

I am so sad to experience the changes at the lantern

This is a lovely place. Much more than a cafe, it is a community with a bakery, a lovely shop...

It really hurts to be the first to criticise the new arrangements at what used to be the best vegetarian...

I love this place! Hidden away in a pretty woodland and garden location, this little gem adjoins a special school...

This is a little off the beaten track and along with the adjoining shop has a distinctly hippy vibe; however...

Buena comida, café y pasteles y área de juegos infantiles. Agradable comida sana recién preparado. Menú limitado pero es realmente bueno.

Nos encontramos en la necesidad de comer y se convierte en tripadvisor para ayudarle a encontrar el lugar perfecto. . Y lo ayude. efectivamente.

We planned our lunch stop using trip advisor. When we stoped to have a look at The Lantern Cafe we were impressed, so we stopped. Charming staff and excellent salad, simple food but very well done and not far off the road. I also bought two bread rolls for later, I wish I had bought more they were special, light and tasty.

Beautiful food and great service. Lovely surroundings and fairly priced. We had a delicious lunch, all homemade with fresh local ingredients and full of healthy vegetables. I had frittata and my mum had quiche, both came with tasty side salad and all very generous portions. We finished off with tea and homemade chocolate brownie and carrot cake. Yum yum! Highly recommend for anyone.

My friend suggested we meet here as it was about halfway between us. What an amazing place. Fabulous shop that not only sells gifts and Jewellery but also the kind of things you would finds in a health food shop. Lunch was delicious, obviously handmade and full of fresh ingredients and prices were fantastic. I had a sweet potato, caramelised red onion and pecan but tart slice with two salads £6.50. When I say salads I don't mean a big of ice burg lettuce and a limp cucumber. These salads were exceptional. Very relaxed atmosphere, no rush, plenty of places to fit, highly recommend and will be going back there.

I love this cafe, as they serve delicious food & cakes. They always have nutritious, colourful salads on offer and tasty quiches. The decor is warm & natural. One of my favourite places for a healthy lunch.

Lovely restaurant and shop. Little gem tucked away in the forest!Food is fresh, tasty and wholesome. Shop is handcrafted goods, organic food and natural cosmetics. Highly recommend a visit

This lovely little cafe serves tasty wholesome food. It is what is says it is, a cafe. Quiches, salads, soup all served in a unique environment designed to support those with disabilities.....A book shop, bakery and gift shop and garden centre (small) all add to the experience

Welcoming atmosphere and great coffee, friendly staff and a gift shop as a little bonus - great find!

I am vegetarian and this place always offers great suggestions, dishes you won't see elsewhere and salads you will want to copy

The cafe is always a delight to visit for coffee, lunch or afternoon tea. Food is varied, intestine and home cooked with plenty of flavour. Staff are friendly and the surroundings always pleasant whether it be the cafe or the shop or the grounds. It also supports a very good cause. Well worth a try.

The Lantern sells lovely wholesome natural food, which it makes on the premises. They have a bakery attached to the cafe, so you can also buy fresh bread or rolls. The shop in which the cafe is situated is a treasure in itself, with really unusual products. You can also go out the back if you want a lovely walk in the forest or to Moors Valley Country Park before you eat, or just have a coffee

So lovely to visit food is delicious with healthy vegetarian options that everyone would love.Frittata,quiches and a colourful array of salads.service with a smile and excellent value .Don't miss this little gem .

Yummy Cakes, good hot Tea. And while we were there we bought some cards and gifts in the shop joined to it.

This is a lovely cafe in a tranquil place. We always walk there, down the Castleman Trailway and feel we have earned our lovely piece of homemade cake. We haven't tried the lunches yet but they look very tasty especially the salads and homemade soup. There's a very nice gift shop and lots of Christmas decorations to choose from. Definitely reccomend it

We had the Orange Polenta Cake with a pot of tea...Very nice.I love the fact that there is so much diversity at the Lantern they sell organic veg and bake bread on site.A very nice little gift shop too...

This is a really special find in a beautiful location. My daughter and I enjoyed a delicious lunch of homemade spinach, olive and goats cheese quiche served warm with 2 salad choices at £6.25 each. A really great price and it was delicious. The cafe is situated to one side of the shop area, but the whole ambience is tranquil and encourages a browse of the shop, as we did, following lunch. We will be back. Thank you.

We went to the Lantern today for the 1st time and were most impressed with the whole operation. Lovely atmosphere, good food and substantial portions The location even in autumn was appealing. We will definitely visit again.

We live close by and had been meaning to call in for some time. As the restaurant only opens during the day this has not been especially easy. Having finally made it our trip was thoroughly worth while. The restaurant itself is simple and cosy, and the food is all made on the premises by the staff and students - from home grown ingredients where possible. The bread served is delicious and is produced in the adjacent bakery which is also run by the school, and all of the dishes on the day we visited were looked mouth watering. If you are looking for simple home cooking executed very well at very reasonable prices it's hard to look past this place if you are in the area.

As a number of other reviewers have said the Lantern is a hidden gem tucked away alongside the busy A31 – I imagine even many locals do not realise it exists. It is much more than a very good café, it also has a nice gift shop, bakery, outside seating, gardens, pond and community workshops. The food is homely, rustic and good value for money (light lunch and a pot tea change from £10). Ringwood is blessed with many good cafes and restaurants but I suggest it is worth the 15 min walk to check out the Lantern if you want to sample something different which also supports the local community. NB: The Lantern is also very close to the Ringwood end of the Castleman Trailway great for walking, cycling or horse-riding the 16.5 miles to Poole.

FABULOUS home made food , Cafe / Lunch / shop " A Must " visit if you are in the area . I went with a Group . The Food and whole ethos of the place wont disappoint... ( google their Website )

Great little cafe serving tea's coffee cake and a small lunch menuTheir is also a small shop attached and an onsight bakersIdeal for everyone especially vegetarians or vegans And also a very worthy cause

Love visiting the lantern , food is always amazing and such interesting menu . Shop to wonder and browse through. Friendly staff . Look forward to visiting again soon.

As always we have had another fantastic meal. Excellent Staff and Service. One of our favourite place to visit, especially with friends and family. We take them for a treat and each and everyone of them have loved The Lantern and can't wait to visit again. Thank you x

My first visit and will definitely return. A little oasis, well run, great food and drinks, beautiful shop and excellent bakery.

This is located in a nice, quiet rural setting and is attractively laid out. My wife and I were staying in the New Forest for a few days and called in for lunch. I had a very tasty ginger and fennel curry with rice and salad and my wife thoroughly enjoyed her chunky vegetable and barley soup. With two coffees the cost was £15.25. We enjoyed our lunch here and felt this was good value. We perused the items on offer in the upstairs book shop and bought some marmalade and chutney from the shop attached to the café. This is a place with a nice ethic and one worth supporting.

Nice little place. Food was vegetarian, limited choice, but delicious and reasonably priced. Staff friendly.

I often visit the Lantern Cafe with its amazing atmosphere and lovely staff . Top quality lunches ,all prepared on the premises , beautiful selection of cakes . But for me it is what they sell which makes me go back . Salt lamps , little gems stones , wooden toys , hand made craft , books and so much more . It is like an Aladdin cave .....pay this little gem a visit , you will enjoy it .

Very first visit and the most delicious quiche and salads for lunch. Can't wait to go back. With a group so we had a tour of the bakery, weavery, pottery and one of the houses. Lovely sunshine made our day.

Take the quality of the food as a given, both it's provenance and preparation. Home-grown and home-made (even your coffee is organic) will be par for the course, but although such a remit may be uncommon among eateries, it is not too difficult to find several such places within, say, a 30 minute driveHowever, what you aren't likely to find, within well in excess of a hundred miles, is another 'Intentional Community' of this ilk. The Lantern amounts to a thriving Village of charismatic individuals providing purpose, homes, support-and-friendship from 'Co-workers' for adult 'Companions' with special needs. Co-workers subscribing to the principles of Rudolf Steiner, help the Companions in their houses and in their chosen employment from various State of The Art Workshops overseen by 'Workshop Masters'. These comprise seasonal decor, art, pottery, weaving, carpentry, on the land, and in the bakery, in the shop (such a riot of colour) and in the cafe. But just as you can observe all this materially happening around you, you can also, as others here have testified, feel the spiritual ethos of these people. Companions and Co-workers of different faiths and beliefs work together in harmony, some living physically within the community and some outside of it. But, so it seems to me, all coming together believing in the power of Go(o)d to make the world a better and happier place. Yes I know this sounds like hype - and yes, you are right; nothing can be perfect all the time, but it will cost you relatively little to try this cafe once and decide for yourself. You can drive but if you Google in (sic) 'walking to The Lantern Community Folly Farm Lane from Ringwood Town Centre, you will see that, on foot, the one is 17 minutes away from the other and that you won't have to cross the A31. After The Fish Inn, take the short footpath alongside the A.31 direction, 'Verwood & Matchams', walk under the bridge and take that first turning to the left (an ugly little slip road from the A31 from Bournemouth Direction that could? be much improved) and then turn right into Folly Farm Lane. Within minutes you'll pass the Waldorf Steiner school, and the Bakery on your right, then you'll see the Lantern Shop. The cafe can be accessed through the Shop or via the terrace near the car park. If driving, stop, once you see the shop entrance, turn immediately right and follow the bend left to the car park. Enjoy your adventure!

The Lantern Cafe is so good that it's a bit difficult to say anything new that has not already been said. The food, people and atmosphere are all excellent and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I was first recommended The Lantern Cafe by a friend about 3 years ago and been back of numerous occasions. The food is home cooked and lovingly prepared. There is an atmosphere of peace and calm. On one occasions I took my sister and brother-in-law. We went in at 12.30 and didn't come out until 3pm. Its a lovely experience.

Visited The Lantern Cafe for the first time today for lunch and was not disappointed. The food was delicious and there is something for everyone. My husband is a meat eater and I am vegan and we both enjoyed our lunch. Friendly, helpful staff and a lovely shop for unusual gifts.

This is a place where you can eat,good old home cooking,food is fresh and there is plenty of choice. The people who run this place are polite and pleasant. The shop and bakery are worth a visit.

Good home made food. Quiche is served with choice of 3 salads from 5. Nice place to eat with friends - the conversation is more important than the surroundings.

We had the great pleasure of visiting the Lantern Cafe today, I had home made quiche with salad which we clearly home made with fresh ingredients and my wife had a frittata equally good and tasty. We then visited the shop and bakery and purchased other gifts, altogether a grea experience and highly reccomended.

This exists for all the right reasons and deserves support.Thoroughly recommended. Shop is good too!

If you are looking for a cafe which uses good quality, locally sourced and often organic ingredients at an inexpensive cost, then the Lantern is my first port of call.

When i come here i am never disappointed. The meals are always delicious and everyone is so friendly. Would always recommend this place

Only had a sandwich and a pot of tea at this off the beaten track cafe but it was really good. It makes a real change to have lovely fresh and crusty bread. The location is a little out of Ringwood but access along the Castlemain Track is a pleasant way to get there and is good exercise - it would probably justify a slice of the great looking cakeGood choice of food particularly vegetarian and health options. Prices are very reasonable and service friendly and promptThe shop is also worth a look and an opportunity to get a little present for someone who has everything!

Food is fantastic, fresh, vibrant, nourishing... great value. And you can browse the shop after your meal!

This is the second time I have visited The Lantern cafe for lunch and once again I was not disappointed. The home made food, using locally sourced produce, much of which is grown onsite by the residents is delicious abd very reasonably priced. There is a buzzing atmosphere in the cafe with a great seating area outside in good weather. The attached shop is also a great place to purchase gifts, items made by members of the community as well as a range of organic and vege products.

Superb , home cooked food [worthy of an award for flavour, nutrition and colour] and very friendly staff . This is a favourite for many fans . Visit and you'll be delighted!

Nestling on the edge of Ringwood Forest, we have been visiting The Lantern Cafe, weekly for about 5 years. It never fails to be an up lifting and positive experience, all for a very reasonably priced pot of tea and teacake! The grounds, shop and bakery are all well worth a visit in their own right too.

For those of you that were fans of Cranks which originated in Covent Garden this place is the next best thing . Lovely organic whole foods at a very reasonable price , vegetarian of course and lovely atmosphere with the added bonus of a very interesting shop selling different things to elsewhere , good for gifts.Nice selection of health foods and toiletries available too .You need to check directions if visiting for first time as you are unlikely to find it by chance .

An original place where also people with special needs are part of the establishment. Friendly and efficient service, with a large selection of gifts, an attached book shop and a bakery with delicious bread for all special needs of customers.

Lantern Cafe (formerly known as Busy Bee Cafe) has been a regular stop for us on - or just off - the A31 for some years. It's hard to locate but so well worth it. Good food and drink, very friendly service and a lovely accepting atmosphere for people of all types and abilities. This is part of a Rudolf Steiner inspired community where people with learning disabilities live and learn and work alongside others. This ethic pervades the cafe. In the same distinctively styled building as the cafe is a lovely shop selling all sorts of gifts, books, toys, beauty products, many of them handcrafted or fair trade. So different from most eating stops on the main road.

This café is very close to Ringwood but off the beaten track in a wooded setting. The service was quick and efficient, the food served is of excellent quality and of reasonable price.

The Lantern Community creates life-enhancing opportunities for adults with Learning Difficulties. In the grounds (which you can walk around) you will find plants for sale. There is also a gift shop with beautiful fair trade gifts and organic skincare products and a bakery selling delicious bread and cakes. On Wednesdays there is a stall selling fresh fruit and veg. The Lantern Café is within the Lantern Centre and serves Organic and wholefood produce, grown and made at the Lantern Community. The food is wholesome and very tasty. The cakes are homemade.I have been visiting the Café for over 2 years, usually at least once a week and have never been disappointed. Most definitely recommended.

Small cafe in a relaxed surrounding that serves amazingly delicious food. Coffees are great too.There is also a wooden boat outside for the kids to climb in and play on. Staff are friendly.

I am lucky enough to work within walking distance of the cafe. I treat myself to their lunches as often as I can. The quiche is always great, jacket potatoes, salads and hot meals always look interesting and different.The pumpkin seed and cheese rolls (which are also sold in the bakery) are my true weakness though... Divine!A visit isn't complete without a wander round the shop that is very reasonable no has great gifts!All this and wonderfully happy, friendly and approachable staff ensure I keep coming back!

i have never had a disappointing lunch the price is so reasonablethe food is always up too a very high standard .it looks wonderful and tastes amazingthe staff always friendlythe shop always ready to delight and the bakery now offers bread making coursesi would eat there every day if i lived closeri love the lantern cafe

Went to the Lantern for lunch with a friend. It's the only place I know of which sells organic coffees. And very good it was too. We had quiche and an aubergine and couscous bake. Both were delicious and search with a good selection of unusual salads. I can't eat gluten and there was plenty for me to choose from, including a dense sticky chocolate brownie. Definitely worth a visit for a light lunch.

This sells great coffee, cake and food. All done in a fully sustainable way. The staff are lovely and it is a pleasure visit and enjoy.

Im very lucky to live locally to appreciate the Lantern for lunch with my Aunt nearly every Wednesday.... Weve always had tasty wholesome food, served by the lovely ladies and Pam the Queen Of Quche! I would advise that you arrive early to get a table and the best choice of the small selection of delicious dishes! All the food is sourced locally if its not grown on their grounds...what more can you say.... Deliciousness, Wholesomeness!! P.S They also have their own Bakery, and i can confirm that all the goods i have tasted have been lovely!.. gluten Free options available too!!

This cafe is just down the road from us so we pop in every now and then for lunch. The food is always fresh and delicious. Always healthy choices and quick to come. Water you help yourself to. The people that work there are lovely and the companions that live there and work within the community will come and talk to you. shop adjoined to it sells many handcrafted toys and bits that are made onsite. It's a lovely relaxed atmosphere and definitely worth a visit for lunch if your in the area.

As a family of four we visit this cafe for a truly relaxing experience. The cafe has delicious home made cakes, the salads wonderfully colourful and nutritious and the quiches to die for. A lovely hot cup of coffee is made by friendly and welcoming staff. Once you've been nourished step into the gift shop and browse the gorgeous nik-naks, jewellery and toys. You'll also have the opportunity to buy fresh produce, including bread. With walking and cycling access from the surrounding area including the Castlemain trailway there are many ways to make this a must on your social calendar!

The food here is consistently fresh, wholesome, flavourful and interesting. The setting is beautiful inside and out, and as a bonus is part of a community that creates wonderful opportunities for people with learning disabilities. The cafe is attached to a craft and gift shop. Drop by and nourish your body and soul. They also have an on site bakery and sell local organic vegetables on a Wednesday morning.

I often visit the lantern cafe with my husband, children or friends. We always receive a warm welcome and a fast, consistent service.The bread used in the sandwiches I think must come from their on site bakery as it's delicious, the hot plate menu is changed frequently and is always healthy and delicious and the jacket potatoes are cooked to perfection.The prices are very reasonable, water is available to help yourself and the good is presented beautifully.The staff are always friendly and helpful. Definitely worth a visit!