The Larder in Preston

Bernadette & I called in for a "Light Lunch" after we had been performing on Preston Flag Market" Our first visit to The Larder. We were made very welcome - the food was marvellous - far outweighing our expectations. The place has a wonderful relaxed atmosphere. Well done I can honestly say - never, in my 68 years, have I had a baked potato, served to me, that looked so appetising.

We went for lunch and was impressed with the quality of the food and the ambiance of the place such a relaxed feeling and very friendly staff. The cafe was recommended and we was so glad that we went and will certainly be returning in the future.

Visited this cafe as not been into Preston for a while and! I was really surprised! I had previously been to this venue when it was Ham & Jam a fabulously run independent coffee shop and Arts Venue in the city centre! .What a let down! It looks gruby the blinds and windows are filthy, plastic table cloths coffee is not a mark on when they sold Atkinsons Coffee! Selection of cakes poor so dark in the main cafe area not sure who runs this but could be so much better! Disappointed 😞

There are fewer sadder days from my years in Preston than when the Ham & Jam Community Cafe closed down. Fortunately, The Larder has sprung up on the same location, offering much of the same quality service, home made cakes, beverages and a neat supply of bottled craft ales. Like its fore-runner, the cafe supports many community groups and events, and local artists & photographers present changing displays of their work. Service is friendly, and there are books to read, giving a sense of unhurried relaxing pleasure. A great place to meet friends and for attending / running events and workshops too. Arthur Chappell

I just wanted to again thank you for the delivery of the Christmas hamper to my inlaws, organised via email from Australia very easily with Ruby's assistance. I received a barrage of very excited messages this morning and they are so happy with their gift. They love that we managed to source local and are very excited to try everything over Christmas, especially now their travel plans have been so Interrupted. So again thankyou, you have scored my husband and i massive brownie points with them and I wish you a wonderful Christmas and happy new year. Harriet Burke - a very happy customer

Stopped in here for lunch while visiting Preston for work and turns out they'd been celebrating their one-year anniversary the day before. Wonderfully friendly staff, a nice place to sit and great fresh food sourced from local producers. I had a lovely pot of tea with a 'Lancashire rarebit' and bought some spiced chutney to take away as well. The cafe also exists for a social purpose - cutting food waste, profits to communities in need and working through a training academy - so customers are helping them support the community too, even if you're just making a flying visit.

Nice local community cafe with decent coffee and lovely cakes. They host a lot of events. They are also dog friendly. Personally I don’t like dogs, but people who do, might like The Larder. Very ethical place with everything locally sourced.

We went along during the evening for their Christmas menu in a party of 13. Included in the reasonable price was a glass of Prosecco on arrival and some olives. The food was well cooked and there was plenty of it - spiced pumpkin soup was excellent as was the venison - plenty of veg as well. Puds were great with an option if a well stocked cheeseboard. Nice selection of locally sourced bottled beers Kay and the staff were very friendly and welcoming and served us well Would definitely return - the only adverse comment was that the room was a tad cold, however, Kay happy to sort this for future - nothing too much for the staff. Well done!

Welcoming blend of cafe with art gallery and pop-up shop selling unique clothing on a rail and oddments. Was served within minutes exactly what I ordered - baked potatoe without tomatoes in spicy bean sauce. Even tho' the red beans were undercooked, the sauce made up for it, and I appreciated the landscape photo's in the aubergine interior and the solid Roman blinds preventing the cold winds from getting in.

Popped in for a drink and cake. Welcoming staff and glad to acept the carrot cake recommendation. Plenty of places to sit from large tables to sofas loose leaf tea and extra hot water offered

Having noticed, in passing, that this establishment is fairly popular my wife and I decided to 'give it a try' and have lunch there. We sat at a table and after waiting for almost ten minutes decided it was waiter service. I then approached the 'front counter' where the member of staff was engaged in conversation with two customers. Despite the fact that I was facing her, and the conversation was about 'everyday matters' the staff member made no attempt to speak to me. Eventually one of the customers, who had her back to me, noticed my presence and apologised for keeping me waiting, which the staff member failed to do. After asking "what was on offer" I ordered soup, two 'straightforward mains' and two cafe 'lattes'. After about an eight minute wait the lattes arrived. We presumed that the soup and mains would soon follow. However after ten minutes has passed I asked a passing member to remove the lattes as they were getting cold.After a further ten minutes the soup was presented, by the staff member who took our order, she 'seemed' unhappy' and commented that we should have told her that we did not want the lattes until the food was ready. I replied that if it was 'company policy ' to serve beverages ten minutes or more before the 'main meal' we should have been advised accordingly. The soup was very 'different'and 'looked' nothing resembling the title which I think was 'something and leek'. My wife did not care for the soup and left most of it. However I thought it was very tasty and finished both bowls ! Both 'mains' and the lattes were served some ten minutes after I had finished the soup. The 'mains' were both very nice but the lattes were 'stone cold' and 'appeared' to be the same ones as we had initially returned, as, unlike my wife, I had consumed about a third of the contents and one cup had one third 'missing'. I do not have a major problem with the shortage of content in one cup but surely they could have been warmed the lattes in a microwave ! In conclusion I would say that the decor and the setting is very well done, and 'some' staff member had a pleasant disposition, just not the one we dealt with ! Perhaps she was having a 'bad day' and 'God knows' we all can have one. I would perhaps have returned to sample another 'unusual soup' and a 'main' dish but the 'nonsense' with the lattes, the lack of any menus, the overall 'waiting time' for service and the attitude of the member of staff who attended to us would dissuade me from doing so.