The Longholme Cafe in Bedford

Popped in after a long walk along the river for a coffee and a sandwich.

Lovely coffee in the sunshine and Paula was super friendly and helpful .

Here for breakfast this morning. Lovely location and beautiful weather made this all the better. Food was fantastic and the waitress (lovely South African/Geordie lady) was fantastic and attentive throughout. Thank you. 5*

We were served by Paula who was superb and very friendly. Food was excellent with a good veggie selection on the menu. I had a grilled cheese sandwich which came with a very nice side salad. Everyone enjoyed their food, we won’t hesitate to return.

Lovely place for a cup of tea and a chill out. How great it is to sit beside the water, with the sight and sounds of nature for company. The food is great and the service excellent (particularly mention for Amber and Paula). Recommended for your refuelling stop on your riverside walk

Lovely lunch sitting in the sunshine at the Longholme on Monday. The Longholme hash was delicious and the service excellent - thank you Paula and the rest of the team.

The menu is good and varied, staff are pleasant and helpful if you have special requirements. Very dog friendly. Lovely views

I visited for brunch with a friend and ordered a vegetarian breakfast. I very clearly asked for gluten free toast, as I have severe IBS which is triggered by wheat, amongst other things. When my food arrived the whole meal looked delicious, and particularly the toast looked far too appetising to be gluten free and so before eating I checked with the waitress that it really was gluten free. She assured me it was and that she does 'Keto' (I didn't really know what this was but she was super reassuring) and orders this bread specifically and that it's delicious. I had never seen gluten free bread look so good so I was excited to tuck in. It tasted amazing, far too good, but having been assured it was gluten free I ate half a slice and had made a start on the second half when the waitress came rushing over and told me that the bread wasn't actually gluten free. I was mortified. For almost 20 years I have been gluten free as I have severe IBS which is triggered by wheat, which I have avoided this entire time. And so to have inadvertently eaten wheat was so upsetting and this was evident as I was quite teary. They were really apologetic and took the toast off my plate and offered to make some gluten free toast, which I declined. They didn't charge me for the food but I was so upset that I just wanted to leave and pretend it hadn't happened. Another member of staff came over and apologised and said they were training up a new chef. I really just wanted the whole situation to stop and to leave and so I tried to just brush it all off. But almost immediately my IBS flared up and I was experiencing all the horrible symptoms that I've successfully managed and avoided for so long by following a gluten free diet. To experience it all again was incredibly distressing and upsetting. I really hope this was an isolated incident. I could not have been more clear of my need for gluten free bread and I would hate for this to happen to someone else, especially someone who has an allergy and where the consequences would be far more serious than mine. If you have any plans to visit and you are coeliac or gluten intolerant make sure you are 100% certain that what you're eating is gluten free. My instinct was that the bread seemed too good to be true (because we all know that gluten free bread is nothing like 'real' bread) but I took their word and very much regret that now. Sadly I would not visit here again nor recommend it.

Lovely view of the water and perfectly cooked scrambled eggs with lots of luscious smoked salmon. Would Def go back

A lovely spot by the river, it’s nearly always busy but they didn’t keep us waiting long for a table. The tables are all outdoors with covered areas. Our dogs were welcomed with a biscuit and a fuss. The brunch was really tasty, as was the coffee and cake chasers! Thanks to Paula, Ollie and Seb for great service and good food.

Lovely cafe in a lovely peaceful location. Food and service was amazing. Great choices and large menu. Coffee and cakes great too.

Wow, we totally loved it here today! The best service from Paula and Amber - we shall be coming back soon! Great food and vibe with exceptional views and fresh air- 10 stars :) Thanks!

Beautiful location, lovely set up and fantastic food & drinks. Thank you to chef Ollie, barista Seb and Paula who served us. Friendly, helpful staff who went above and beyond to ensure we had a wonderful experience. Thank you, we will be back very soon. Emma & Jo

My most favorite spot for coffee, breakfast or lunch. We always have a chat and a laugh with the staff who are so friendly.

We had a really lovely lunch at the Longholme. Especially with the heater and blankets making it a cosy affair. Our waitress Paula was absolutely brilliant. Great food and such a nice place to go. Would highly recommend.

Absolutely loved this place . Had the bacon butty gorgeous. Served by Paula who was just a shining star of the place . She made us feel very welcomed . Ollie was the chef fantastic job cooking . Seb was the Barista who done great job . Will be back again and again

Had a brunch and the scrambled Eggs were lovely and fluffy also enjoyed my Cappuchino all in fresh air but under a cover with great views of the river on one side and the Mill stream on the other and as river was in flood had water on 3 sides but was dry in the Cafe

Love this cafe. Lovely setting, great food, my fav is the House Advocado, and great service by Paula! Would wholly recommend all year round

Expensive. Nice mocha . Great scenery

We have been going to Longholme since it opened and are very grateful to have this quality on our doorstep. All staff, but especially Paula makes us feel welcome and greets us with a big smile every time, which is another reason why we go. The full English is amazing, Alex & Nancy

It was lovely to met friends here for some brunch. Food and atmosphere was lovely, and the service was great from Paula and Charlotte. Will come back.

Had a lovely lunch here with a friend at The Longholme sat right by the boating lake. My first time and wasn’t sure what I to expect but it was fantastic. Chocolate milkshake and an egg and bacon roll, no photos as ate it too quick! 5* special mentions to the staff Paula, Ollie and Charlotte. Will be visiting again soon! *Edit* spelling mistake

We went with our dog Albert today . Our server think her name was Damia south African lady was so lovely ... friendly and was super with our dog. My scrambled egg was the best ever it was perfect tasted amazing think she said chef was Ollie. Thanks chef ... all round wonderful brunch highly reccommend for service and food .

The Longholme is one of our favourite brunch spots in Bedford. Paula served us and was lovely and our food was delicious. Ollie the chef did a great job. Highly recommend the Longholme hash

We found the Longholme cafe quite by chance and so glad we did. Even on a Saturday when it was busy, the service was quick, the coffee excellent, and the food fresh and tasty. A sausage bun was super tasty and the chicken chorizo panini was excellent. The side salad was the best I have tasted anywhere. Highly recommended.

Called in for coffee and cake after a stroll along the Embankment. It was nearing closing time, but we were welcomed outside and sat under a heater to keep us warm, most welcome. Coffee and cakes were delicious

The food was delicious, the staff were lovely and the location was great. Thanks especially to Paula who was lovely and very chatty.

Lovely brunch with our puppy who was welcomed and loved. Location is cute and beautiful, staff is friendly and the food is prepared with so much care and effort - I love it!

Lovely place just off the boating lake, easy to overlook but good breakfast and gorgeous views. Seating is outside so wrap up but they do provide Blankets. We went in a cold snap in January and it was still pleasant. Worth a visit.

Lovely setting and lovely food. Unfortunately my experience was spoiled by the lack of distance between smoking and non smoking tables. Did not enjoy breathing in someone's second hand smoke for the entire duration of our visit.

A lovely place next to Bedford Embankment. Very busy today (New Year’s Day) but staff are coping well and providing a grade A service. Coffee brilliant, bacon bun was absolutely divine. My girlfriend informs me her pot of tea and scrambled eggs were delicious. Been here loads of times and will be back soon!

Nice outdoor cafe with good views across to the river. Most of the tables have shelter under an awning. Had coffee, hot chocolate and teacake.

I'm Gluten free and was well catered for, staff where knowledgeable smiley and friendly, I highly recommend and will be back for another visit.

Stunning views of the pond/small lake. Very helpful staff. Reasonably priced coffee and tea and amazing cakes!!

Food cooked by Olly was lovely and Maddie was great as our barista. Service from Paula was great with lots of laughter and fun.

Friendly, cosy atmosphere from showing to seat and offer if blanket if cold to great service from all Thanks to Paula waitress for cheerful service, Ollie chef for tasty food and Charlotte for wonderful coffee

Longholme is a regular stop for me. Sometimes just me and my furry friend, sometimes with friends or family. Great food, service and very friendly staff. Today was made pleasant by Paula, Andreas, and Maddie.

A lovely visit yesterday lunch time. Our favourite place to go. We were served by Maddie who greeted us with a warm smile and look after us so well. Poppy the barista served us amazing coffees and yummy food as alway from chef Andreas. Be back again soon.

This is a beautiful spot on the embankment by the river in Bedford with great food and drink all locally sourced. We always feel warmly welcomed and had great service from Maddie our server and Doppy our barista. The chef Andreas always serves a delicious meal. Today we had the classic longholme hash which hit the spot on a cold November day.

Great food, coffee and atmosphere. Very well looked after by Paula :)

Nice location just by the boating lake with seating both inside and outside, good selection of food and drinks and it's also dog friendly. On this occasion I got a couple of coffees to takaway and received great customer service as always.

I love this little gem cafe. The menu is available all day & so everyone’s needs are covered. I had the Longholme hash - the portion size was good & it was delicious! My friends had breakfast baps which went down equally well. Our server Paula was friendly & service was quick. We were provided with cushions & fleecy throws. The setting is idyllic and it’s the perfect place to stop during your walk along the embankment. We will be back!

Gorgeous cosy little cafe with stunning food and super friendly helpful staff! Always leave with a big smile on my face. First come here in the summer and come back regularly now and bring my family and friends. Thank you to our waitress Paula! Such a lovely lady. Thank you Ollie the chef - the food NEVER disappoints and Thank you to Charlotte the coffee/smoothies are always perfect!!

Love it here, it’s a great spot by the river and very cosy throughout the year with heaters and blankets provided. It’s also dog and child friendly with some great food options for kids which is a huge bonus. Had a lovely bagel brunch recently which looked beautiful and tasted delicious. Thank you to the chef Ollie, and thanks Paula and Charlotte for the quick and friendly service. The only thing I would improve on is the inclusion of some specials on the menu - the menu is fantastic but hasn’t changed much over the last few years.

A great spot with lovely views of the lake and river. Brunch was fabulous - very fresh and tasty, as well as a generous portion. Thanks to Olly the chef for a delicious meal. Paula served us, she was great and knew the menu inside out. Charlotte made us lovely coffees and indulged my need for chocolate sprinkles! My friend's dog was made very welcome and given treats. All in all, a really lovely couple of hours - we will be back soon.

The food was excellent from Olly, service from Paula was fantastic and Charlottes coffee was brilliant. I can’t recommend this place highly enough. Everyone was incredibly friendly and nothing was to much trouble. Well done Longholme.

Lovely restaurant for a spot of breakfast. I went there this morning for breakfast and received a lovely welcome from Paula our server (who I have been helped by before). She made us feel very at home, was so friendly towards my little girl and...

This small boutique cafe on the bank of the river Ouse provides a spectacular menu that sets itself above the average brunch venue. The service supports the hihg quality of the ingredients; choice of dishes; presentation of the food and general atmosphere where one can...

Visited today for the third time and this place just grows on me a little bit more every time. The menu is perfect and the location and ambience is just lovely. The staff are incredibly friendly, we were served by the lovely Paula, our food...

This is a great spot for something to eat and food was amazing, I would like to say thank you to Paula for making us feel so welcomed and great hospitality!

Fantastic food and and great setting! Even in the cold, blankets and cushions provided which made all the difference. Absolutely no problem for them to provide plant milk, gluten free bread and dairy free alternatives with a smile! Have been before and will definitely return!...

Beautiful spot for a delicious family brunch. Upbeat but relaxing, good value for money too. Thanks for your great service Gianluca and your fresh and tasty food Ollie.

My son and I love coming here on occasional Saturday mornings. We're always greeted by very friendly staff and the food is delicious. Today Paula served us, and she checked in regularly to chat to us as well as to make sure our food and drink were of good standard. Olly prepared toast (with dairy free spread instead of butter) and brownie for my boy, and I had a scrumptious Longholme hash. Charlotte prepared a tasty chai latte for me to keep warm under the thermal lamps at the back courtyard. At the end of it all we also bought some duck food to feed the birds at the lake and river. I'll always recommend people to come here, we shall be back soon!

Fabulous place to rest after a stroll down the Embankment. Great service from Paula including advice on the best dishes. All in, a really nice place to eat and relax. Thanks all. We’ll be back!

Olliie, thank you for 2 great lunches today! The food was fabulous and we look forward to coming again! Service was excellent and staff exceedingly friendly. Highly recommended.

This was our 1st visit & have already booked to go back. Lovely atmosphere great food & fab service by Paula, Olly & Seb. Was so nice for staff to actually engage in a conversation. Thank you

First time visitors on a chilly November lunchtime. We pre booked and were treated to a thoroughly delightful lunch. Spoilt for choice on the menu options which catered for everything. The ambiance was super chilled and Maddie our server was absolutely lovely. The food was...

Myself and my mum love coming here for a drink or a quick bite ❤️

Café or a restaurant? Who knows... Awful service, brownie tasted like it was weeks old! Staff claimed it was fresh...

Beautiful setting with fabulous breakfast. Would definitely recommend the breakfast potatoes and a bacon sandwich. Was so good we even got cake to take home - no complaints, we’ll be back asap!

Fabulous little lakeside cafe. Paula our server was very kind and helpful, food sublime, the Halloumi Homage a highlight. Recommended

Lovely family friendly (and dog friendly) place with amazing food and great service. Paula our server came to chat to both our little girls who adored her. We had the halloumi bap, the little fry and the girls shared a bacon sandwich which they loved....

Thanks Paula for a lovely table by the river..such a beautiful spot to stop for brunch or lunch in Bedford and very lucky to enjoy some autumnal sunshine and excellent service. Thank you Guy for the lovely breakfast speciality bap and fab light breakfast cooked...

I took a friend who had never been to the longholm before, the staff were so welcoming, Paula was very friendly and very efficient, I had an amazing dirty chai latte made by Charlotte the best one yet, my lunch was made by olly, it...

Trevor and Floriana at the kiosk are great always cheerful and very helpful. Well done.

Great food and service as always. Paula is especially attentive and very friendly.

Our favourite spot for lunch right on the Bedford river. Friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere, well priced. Longholme Hash is certainly my recommendation!

We love visiting the Longholme on our weekends. Whether it’s for breakfast, a passing coffee or for a cake treat. This weekend we had a lovely breakfast served by Paula, she’s so friendly and welcoming.

A lovely, peaceful cafe alongside the river with a good atmosphere. Served by a lovely lady called Paula who was very friendly and attentive to our needs. Highly recommend to others!

The food and the staff are always lovely. The location is fab, there are rumours of otters in the river next to the cafe

Rude staff, don't seem to like people who aren't 'local' was ignored for best part of ten minute trying to buy a cup of tea, to the point the elder female waitress looked right past me to wave goodbye to a dog before I had to point out the fact that I was waiting to make an order. The cup of tea with milk then took a further 5 minutes to arrive when it should have taken 30 seconds. The elderly waitress obviously refused to serve it to me as a younger man had to come from the back to bring it to me, I'm sure it had nothing to do with my hue....

On the river and with good food

Lovely location and great food!

Very impressed, the food, drinks & atmosphere were so lovely 😊

Thanks for a lovely breakfast And to Paula and Charlotte for great service and coffee. I had scrambled eggs on toast and it was fab

It's a nice little café down by the water side. A lovely little spot to sit down and enjoy a drink and a snack and watch the wildlife on the boating lake. Loads of space to go for a walk along the river and surrounding area. The butterfly bridge is close by too and you'll most probably walk over it to get to this café. All in all its a great area to visit and enjoy a quiet moment.

Really nice spot, lovely atmosphere and great service. Perfect for refreshments after a walk along the embankment. The cranberry teacakes were lovely. And the service was excellent from our waitress Paula.

Went for a late lunch with a friend, first time of visiting The Longholme. The service was outstanding from Seb & Maddie- friendly and nothing was too much trouble. Very pleased to see there was an all day breakfast on offer called Big Fry…delicious and...

We had the most amazing brunch at the Longholme. The food, service, and staff were amazing. We can't wait to come back. Special mention to our server Paula, who was so lovely.

This were recommended to go for a coffee by the staff at our hotel and were not disappointed. The setting is idyllic and with the sun shining was lovely. The coffee very good. A welcome stop off on a leisurely walk along the river

Great little spot on the river. Quick and efficient service with friendly staff like Paula make it a pleasure to stop in.

Went for breakfast at the longholme really good , lovely breakfast hash . Lovely setting, nice coffee Great service by Paula .

Lovely food in a lovely spot by the river. Very friendly service from Paula and all the staff. All 5 of us really enjoyed our meals.

Food is excellent & plentiful. Staff very polite & helpful. Great place to stop & relax with a lovely view of the river. We have been several times & somewhere we will keep going.

A fabulous spot with a great buzz, nice friendly staff (service a little slow sometimes) and unexpectedly good food, pricey but genuine value. One gripe - why do I always get asked if I want milk when I order a black americano?! So many places do it, hilarious.

We have been visiting The Longholme for a few years now and love it. Breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea it's a must to visit. The location is perfect, even on a wet day you can snuggle up in the hide with blankets and overhead heaters!...

Had been to go outdoors and needed food and Dog friendly. Google maps helped. Lovely service from Paula, today’s chef was Olly. Had the sausage rolls. Delicious. The coffee was made by Charlotte and delicious. Would defo recommend and the view is great.

Always an enjoyable place for a coffee and sandwich

Lovely little spot by the lake. Nice cafe, welcoming staff. Food is expensive. £10 for a bacon and egg sandwich. Bacon was fatty and stringy, egg was overcooked. Can throw posh bread on it, it's still expensive for a sandwich.

Superb service (thank you Paula) delicious food (fabulous Olly!) and great coffee (cheers Maddie). This cafe is a real jewel for locals and visitors alike. We are lucky enough to be locals and come often!! Staff are warm and friendly, location is idyllic and dogs...

Friendly staff with a great smile. They have options for every palate.

The perfect place to come for brunch after walking round the river! The staff are always lovely, service is super quick and the food is amazing (shout out Ollie)! Especially the buns! Paula was lovely and gave a treat to our dogs.

My friend and I went out for a breakfast yesterday and everything was very nice. We were greeted and sat by the friendly host and I appreciated that Paula came straight away to offer us drinks. My vegetarian breakfast was cooked and seasoned perfectly and...

My wife and I had an excellent bruch. It was in a lovely setting by the river. Not only was the food good, Paula, our server was kind and attentive. The vegetarian breakfast, prepard.by chef Olly was well presented and tasty. We would recommend this...

Really good café at longholme, wonderful tasty food, served very quickly and friendly staff. Was served by Paula who was really helpful in advising our food as my friend and I have small appetites. Nice to find somewhere that you are comfortable in, have been several times now. Thank you Paula.

I have been a regular visitor to The Longholme & along with the wonderful setting, good food, there are also amazing staff. Can I say Trevor deserves promotion! Both at the cafe & The Pavilion he is a star, so friendly & great at his job.

This is my favourite cafe in Bedford. The food is wonderful, the staff are friendly and the atmosphere is really laid back. It is a lovely place to go all year round. In the summer sitting in the shade or the sun enjoying a cold drink and a lunch with a friend or in the winter enjoying a steamy rich hot chocolate whilst wrapped in a blanket watching the world go by. What’s not to like? There is a wide menu that caters for vegetarian and gluten free too.

The cookies 🍪 and cream milkshake is the best I've ever had and the cappuccinos are amazing 👌. The service is quick and efficient. There is a great view of the river 😀.

We love this brilliant cafe by the river in Bedford. I use a wheelchair and the staff are very helpful and ensure I get to my seat with no fuss. Lovely vegetarian choices. Brilliant staff, friendly and nothing is too much trouble. Thank you to...

Great food, friendly service, pretty location. Always a destination cafe for when I’m back in Bedford. Yesterday I had the salmon & scrambled eggs which was excellent.