Based on 243 opinions finded in 1 websites
Opinions
First visit for a little while, but as good as ever. It is quite a small tea room so booking is essential. My friend and I had ploughman's, which was excellent. The staff are friendly and helpful. Only negative is that the loo could do with some tlc, but it was clean.
Extraordinary779575 . 2024-09-26
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Stopped here on our way home from Worcestershire, as we prefer helping local businesses, rather than motorway services. Set in a quiet location. Very popular with the locals. Great selection of food, even for a vegetarian. I had the risotto & the homemade apple crumble & custard. Absolutely delicious. Well staffed for a small tearoom. Good prices for a tearoom. They have a great rapport with locals & knew them by name. Would advise reserving if possible. It was busy, even on a Wednesday morning. Would stop again if passing this way. Only 6 minutes off the A14.
Karen H . 2024-06-05
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out for a motorcycle ride with friends we initially went to Milligan's in Finedon to find it has closed ( not suprising looking at recent reviews on here ) so looked on the phone for neardy cafes and The Old Forge came up. 12 minutes later we were sitting down and ordering, there isn't much parking available but that's about all I can find as a minor critisism. The service was pleasant and cheerful and the food was very good with that rare thing these days proper pudding ( spotted dick in my case ) with an adequate amount of custard. It was quite busy but luckily the weather was nice so we sat at an outside table. altogether a pleasant experience
keith W . 2023-07-31
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We have been to the Old Forge many times as the food and service is normally good. The food today was equally good, when we took our 80 year old friend for a birthday treat. However, we were appalled that the staff were rushing to clear everything straight away and to be asked to vacate the table after just 1 hour as someone else was waiting. We booked this over a week in advance, and were not told we would be on a very limited timescale, otherwise we would have gone elsewhere. We had a 1 course lunch and drinks. What would have happened if we wanted more, as we would not have had time to eat them? An explanation would be appreciated.
Lynn J . 2023-02-08
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Stayed in hotel but due to an issue no breakfast facilities available. Not from area so looked on Internet and found here. Jumped in car 12 mins later I found it, in a quaint little village. Jestured to choose my table friendly staff, even commented on being their smartest visitor today as wearing my suit for funeral. Chose my order didn't wait long. Eyes bugger than belly. It actually beat me. Great food great service. No rumbling tummy in funeral for me. Thanks to the staff
edward s . 2022-06-10
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Visit the Old Forge for the best cooked breakfast in the area! To paraphrase Bill Bryson on Durham: stop what you're doing and go there now! The Formidable Forge Fry-Up represents great value. It was freshly cooked to order (even accommodating a fussiness about the bacon) clearly using high-quality (presumably local) ingredients and presented well. All staff were very friendly and unobtrusively attentive, enhancing the experience of a lovely morning out.
sja1961 . 2022-04-19
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Lovely friendly staff, good service, great food. My first visit post Covid, and they now take cards as well as cash. Nice little tea room. Booking advisable as it is very popular.
Extraordinary779575 . 2021-11-09
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I often come here with my grandad, as it is a favourite of his. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. A good range of starters, mains, snacks and cakes…. Something for everyone. Portions are plentiful, tasty and well priced.
sarpor . 2021-10-09
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Great food, amazing friendly staff, attentive and a lovely place to go! Would recommend for breakfast and lunch! Would always go the extra mile for customers and the owner is such a friendly chap!
ctt221 . 2021-09-18
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4 of us dropped on The Old Forge at Cranford after 40 miles of hard cycling. We were greeted with a friendly welcome by the good humoured staff. Beans on toast and poached eggs were just what was required. Definitely returning here 😋
Boltcropper . 2021-09-08
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We turned up on the off-chance at lunchtime, and though the place was (understandably) busy, the two ladies serving welcomed us and found us a nice table outside. The food was fabulous – freshly made and super-tasty. The range of drinks on offer was very good too. The service was cheerful and helpful. The setting was very attractive. We’ll definitely be back.
NorthantsNige . 2021-08-31
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Always greeted warmly by friendly staff. Lovely cake & drinks much needed after my walk. Thanks to Rob and his team. Definitely worth a visit.
Katie P . 2021-08-19
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Easy 5 out of 5! We had breakfast at The Old Forge. The service was great, the food was amazing. Very good value for money. Would highly recommend and will definitely be visiting again… soon!
tul0fsg . 2021-06-29
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Was desperate to get back here since restaurants could open again and I have been twice since; once to sit outside and once inside. Both times we have been very happy with our meals, always finding them good value, fresh and tasty. The portion sizes are good and although there isn't a huge menu, there is certainly enough choice to please everyone. Staff are always incredibly friendly and clearly doing a great job at quite a difficult time.
sarpor . 2021-06-04
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I ventured through Cranford for a bike ride. Cranford by the way is an absolutely lovely village, quiet easily navigable and so so quintessentially English. The Old Forge is located in a terrific spot and albeit closed inside...the outside area is very well appointed with all safety protocols adhered to. The sense of calm and relaxation once situated at my outdoor table was incredible...silence with birds tweeting the only sound. Lovely. I ordered a full English that was everything you would expect it to be. Very nice. The staff were very friendly and the owner took the time to converse with me about cycling...being a keen cyclist himself. I will be recommending The Old Forge to all of my friends and will be returning sooner rather than later. 10/10
martymM2759HV . 2021-05-09
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I chose The Old Forge based on previous reviews, I was expecting more based on the ratings.........Positives: the breakfast was nice with really good quality fresh ingredients, there’s a fantastic selection of homemade cakes too, the staff were really pleasant, attention to sanitising surfaces/hands was thorough and the setting is quaintSadly despite there being many team on duty the service was a little slow, my “formidable” fry up wasn’t much bigger than the standard,the temperature of the room was cold, some of the staff weren’t wearing face coverings and the lay out of the room meant that social distancing was impossible - in this current climate that’s crucial!I would probably return but not until we are the other side of the pandemic.
richwZ3725BP . 2020-10-31
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The food is excellent, it's a lovely setting and the staff are first class. They even squirted the brown sauce for me on my Vegetarian breakfast that was tremendous value for money. My partner had a nice breakfast and we couldn't resist the cakes either. So glad this survived the lockdown and Rob and his team deserve tremendous credit as well as our local support.
Malcolm B . 2020-09-11
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Stopped in for coffee and cake with my walking group last Friday. Great to have such a lovely selection of GF cake options. I had the lemon polenta warmed with cream .it was delicious ...good amount of lemon ...making my mouth water just thinking about it 😀. Coffee was great too . We sat outside and were served by very friendly staff who made us feel very welcome . Will be back to try out the breakfast and lunches 😀
305francesb . 2020-08-30
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Lovely find. Booking recommended. Food and service excellent. Menu had lots of options with daily specials. A nice selection of drinks available. Bottled Luscombe range. Food was fresh and delicious. Finished off with Bakewell and Latte which again was delicious. We ate outside and felt safe with Covid
mmeg1 . 2020-08-10
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We went for the first time for breakfast. Arrived just after 9am so no need to book. Ordered fry up and eggs and eggs/bacon on toast. Food was great quality with lovely thick granary bread. We all had 2 drinks each. Latte’s were amazing. Prices were good anyway but also had half price deal for August so was amazingly cheap. We will definitely be back next week to try lunch. Great food, great prices and lovely service. A real hit for all of us. Very highly recommend.
Jeffs4u . 2020-08-05
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We hadn't been here for a while and it was good to be back! Excellent food served quickly, politely and with a smile! 👍 😁 Thanks for looking after us!
stevep-UK . 2020-07-31
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Just had a lovely family lunch at The Old Forge, great friendly service, more than ample choice of menu & special’s all served with smile on faces. Seating indoors or outdoors. Will be returning soon for sure.
Fordie1 . 2020-07-15
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We visited for lunch on their first day open post lockdown and were very impressed. The service was warm and welcoming and they had put lots of additional safety measures in place. The food was delicious and the pear and raspberry juice was absolutely gorgeous! Great value too.
bekind2014 . 2020-07-07
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This is a lovely but small tearoom, although in summer the garden provides more tables etc. It’s wise to book if you can. Delicious sandwiches cakes etc and some nice hot dishes.
Margaret B . 2020-03-06
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First class in every way Will vist again .Puts others to shame.It was clean,friendly,and freshly cooked yes very good.
johnsZ8993WU . 2020-03-06
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This cafe was recommended so a group of friends decided to try and were astounded. The cafe was set in a beautiful village with plenty of street parking. The menu extensive and delicious. Even catered for gluten free friends. Amazing coffee and all round lovely atmosphere. Friendly staff too. Will be coming back, just to try more delicious cakes!!!!!!!!!!!
POMSNZ . 2019-12-29
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This was my first visit and it was lovely. The staff where so friendly and very understanding as one of our group was running late . The sausage sandwich was great . Lovely fresh bread and packed with sausages . Value for money is excellent . Will certainly be back .
janesW7203FN . 2019-12-22
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Popped in for a quick coffee. Very friendly staff and a lovely drink so stopped for a second. Place got quite busy but left just before the lunch rush. Will certainly return to try the food. The breakfast looked lovely.
phillipdownham . 2019-12-18
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We had been on a four night leisure break last week and stopped off for lunch on Wednesday when travelling from Peterborough to Kenilworth. The Old Forge is a favourite lunch stop for us whenever we are travelling in this area and certainly did not disappoint. Normally we have a light lunch having enjoyed a good breakfast in the morning and looking forward a to dinner in our hotel in the evening. The fresh soup offerings in the Old Forge are really very good and plentiful and certainly set us up for the rest of our journey. The tearoom gets very busy with many now booking tables in advance. Fortunately we managed to get a table when we arrived and once again really enjoyed our lunch. We cannot recommend this establishment highly enough and certainly will look forward to returning once again the next time we visit the area.
legend14 . 2019-11-28
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Lovely little place and fair food offering. I am fairly new to the area so nice to explore this little place. Very small venue but cosy. Would visit again.
Cross K . 2019-11-27
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Lovely place, lovely food and good selection of drinks and cakes etc...just a little small in there thou and can get very busy. Nice courtyard in the summer months. Good ambience and quirky. Enjoyable monthly live music events
Daisy P . 2019-11-06
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Wow! Fantastic! Great staff and interior. So much choice of home made food, difficult to choose. We opted for Corned beef hash and quiche with new potatoes. Absolutely delicious. Background music of sixties and seventies! Lovely log burner as well. Loved it!
NorthernSouly . 2019-11-05
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Stopped off here on the way to walk the dog. Friendly staff and inexpensive breakfast makes this a great little spot.
JaneyWanie . 2019-10-18
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Visited here for a baby shower. Their afternoon tea was amazing. Plenty of food and unlimited tea or coffee. Staff were friendly and had a great time.
Deborah B . 2019-10-09
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A lovely place for breakfast situated in Cranford village. You can get good breakfast in a decent price. Outside seating available. Friendly staff and good service. Dogs are allowed. Street parking.
mzahirelias . 2019-09-09
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Very friendly small cafe in the small village of Cranford. Food is all freshly prepared and very tasty. Can get busy so recommend phoning to reserve a table.
Davethediver1 . 2019-08-07
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A nice small cafe serving everything from breakfast - afternoon tea - the staff are welcoming & friendly, the menu good with a good specials board & good well presented food
chrissiebells . 2019-08-07
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We were looking for somewhere new to eat for lunch , looking online found The Old Forge .The reviews were so good we decided to visit & see for ourselves.We were not disappointed. The food was excellent , lady who served us was very friendly and helpful. We had our lunch in the eating area outside ,which was very pleasant and relaxing .Thank you, will certainly make a return visit.
Elaine T . 2019-07-24
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Another visit here and, once again, an excellent meal. My smoked salmon and scrambled egg on granary toast was tasty and filling. The menu is varied and inexpensive. Prior to all of our party arriving, we sat outside and enjoyed a pot of tea, which provided 3 cups of good tea. Polite and helpful staff made us welcome and the standard of service and food is proved by how busy this little restaurant has been on each occasion. There is wheelchair access, but parking is on the narrow roads in this pretty village.
bizzydragon . 2019-07-02
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Looked at reviews on local trip advisor and Stopped off today with better half for a breakfast -
Stevethrapston . 2019-06-15
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My husband and I went to the Old Forge after typing “Best Breakfast near Kettering” into google and seeing this pop up at the top of the list! It absolutely did not disappoint. I had eggs benedict which came with a really fantastic hollandaise sauce (which they kindly served in a little jug on the side as per my fussy request!) and exceptionally yummy poached eggs. My husband wolfed down what looked like an excellent Full English, and we ended with two empty plates and two full tums for two very happy campers. Will definitely be coming back!
annacjr . 2019-04-27
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Three of us has a light lunch, it was very nice, and we'd go again. The staff were helpful and accommodating.
StumpyEA . 2019-04-13
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Visited Saturday lunch time with family...
574stevew . 2019-04-06
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A rare find of extreme friendliness and great food.
Gemma G . 2018-10-31
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We visited here on the morning of my birthday. My wife rang in advance and was advised to book so she did, good job too as when we arrived the only free seats were at our reserved table.
Weldon-LUFC . 2018-10-03
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After a long dog walk we were looking for somewhere to have lunch. Several pubs in the area were full, so we drove on and explored the Cranford area. Down a side road we came upon The Old Forge Tea Room. What a welcome surprise it was. Very pleasant staff, good service and quality food. Indeed so good I must say we were more than happy to have not gone to a pub! We will go again when in the area. Just wish there was such a great quality tea room nearer home.
David L . 2018-09-16
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This café is a lovely friendly place to eat especially if you have walked across the fields to get here. Great varied menu and lovely outdoor seating area for fine weather. Friendly staff and a happy homely feel.
adventuroushare . 2018-09-16
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Came here on a recommendation and had a jacket potato no mayo was agreed although not on menu. The potato was done to perfection lovely side salad and great coffee. Had great selection of gluten free cakes I can recommend the lemon and polenta washed down with a cup of earl grey tea. Definitely be back here
Joo-bug . 2018-09-12
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My first visit to The Old Forge and it was a great experience. The service was excellent, so accommodating to dietary requests and all done in a friendly manner, it felt like nothing was too much trouble. Highly recommended!!
nitnywilf . 2018-09-12
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The breakfasts, priced at £5.50 and £6.75 are excellent. Service wasn't too speedy, but the plates all arrived at the same time. A cosy and popular eatery, with locals and visitors alike.
bizzydragon . 2018-09-04
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Have been here before, and would recommend this as a friendly place with great food. Although the food was good when it arrived, the delay and attitude of the staff was not what I would expect. We had called ahead and reserved a table as we knew they would be busy on a Friday. We waited over an hour for the food to arrive, when we inquired after 30mins how much longer we would have to wait, we were informed that our food was being processed in order with other orders . The restaurant was not full, there were several empty tables, and there were four staff present. The waitress then advised us that if we had wanted to be served quicker we should have ordered sandwiches! Not impressed, Rob the owner was not present, and I am sure he would have rectified the situation. Might think twice before recommending this cafe again.
lovetheatre . 2018-09-03
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Rob and his team put on an afternoon tea for my mum’s 80th birthday. Fantastic atmosphere and a wonderful spread. So much so that a number of doggy bags were taken home! Very helpful with all practical arrangements and very friendly and attentive service. Highly recommended.
Richard M . 2018-08-18
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Lovely cafe in a perfect spot in the middle of the village. Excellent service and dog friendly. Lovely cream teas.
flossielabrador . 2018-07-09
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This is definitely my go to place great food great service really friendly never had a bad meal good selection of meals drinks and cakes I had the quiche on this occasion which is one of my favourites was enjoyed by all
clareehartnett . 2018-06-13
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This is my go o place to meet up with friends for some yummy dishes or coffee. I don't usually manage to have a coffee or a tea without ordering some food. One of my current favourites is scrambled egg with smoked salmon on toasted granary bread..it's a generous portion of everything and scrumptious. They have a daily specials board and a good menu for breakfast, lunch and tea. There are musical events too, check out the dates in the restaurant. I'm looking forward to more visits to the Old Forge.
JustJoyful . 2018-05-28
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Had lunch for two here recently. Good range of food that is freshly cooked and clearly uses good, fresh ingredients. There was lots on the menu that we could have gone for beyond our chosen dishes. Pricing is sensible and service was impeccable.
sja1961 . 2018-05-12
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Although the family have been here before, it’s my first time but what a treat I’ve been missing. Arrived around lunch time with the place fairly full and not having pre-booked. The staff however were excellent and worked around bookings and seating arrangements to fit us in. We were handed menus and explained that unfortunately the coffee machine had broken the previous day but they had instant coffee which was acceptable in the circumstances as all the other drinks were available. We placed our drinks order and wonder of wonders we could hold a conversation as the music was as it should be - background music ! Placed our food order from the specials board although the menu had a varied selection. This gave me the opportunity to take in the atmospheric surroundings-brilliant. It really was an old forge with the original fire replaced by a log burner, which I imagine would keep the room nearly as warm as in its original useage. Meal arrived and was wholesome and thoroughly tasty !! For pudding we had choice of hot/cold sweet or cake and again nothing too much trouble as one of our party asked for cold custard with apple pie which we got. Cannot complain either about the price as we had drinks, main course and pudding for under £10 per head - what a bargain!!!The only slight downside is parking as this is on street and popularity, as unfortunately several people had to be turned away due to limited space inside and as it was chilly they preferred not to sit at the outside tables. Would very highly recommend but book in advance or you may miss out on a great experience. Will be having words with the family for keeping it from me!! Service and staff all excellent and In the words of Arnie, I’ll be back!
Plonkshop . 2018-05-11
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First visit to this restaurant and very pleased with it. Gets quite busy at lunch time so best to reserve a table in advance. Very friendly and helpful service. Enjoyed our meal; mine was risotto which was very tasty. Will definitely visit again.
Tricia166 . 2018-04-25
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So I realise many places share the exact same title! But this is a little gem of a cafe, always a delight. The food, staff, atmosphere is lovely and it's one of the nicest places. Small and friendly. Thankyou!
492nicd . 2018-04-12
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Took a friend here for a birthday celebration. The food was delicious. The place is warm and friendly with a lot of character. When I came to pay I did not have cash. My bank transfer did not go through. (I paid today!) They were very accommodating. Thanks
Gertbert1 . 2018-03-29
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Ideal for morning coffee/afternoon tea but not so good for large groups at lunchtime and expensive for what you get. Service a bit slow and food average,
Bea2750 . 2017-12-20
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I recently celebrated a significant birthday and chose the old forge as I’ve been there before also it was local for my friends. We had a brilliant time, the staff made it special and I felt they treated my friends and family like their own making sure everyone had what they wanted and even catered for one of my guests who is a vegan. At no point did we feel rushed and the food was delicious. Will definitely be back here.
Leila H . 2017-11-06
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We have been here a few times in the past and have always been pleased,on this occasion the service was slow to order and on the meal arriving.The corned beef hash that I had was not a corned beef hash but a cottage pie with a load of mashed potato spread on the top,it totally lacked any seasoning and I had to put plenty of salt and pepper in the 'hash' to bring out any flavour,but my companion totally enjoyed her meal.
lynmorris . 2017-11-04
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Have been visiting this place for several years now. The quality of food, service, and pleasant atmosphere never fails. The people who run it are friendly and polite, keep the place spotless and always have scrumptious dishes on their menu. Whenever we fancy a little...
Medu_Girl . 2017-09-07
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Food was good but the Waitress was rude telling my son he should have told them before he ordered if he wasn't going to eat all the tomatoes in his lunch.
spilsby52 . 2017-08-31
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We use the Old Forge throughout the year come rain, sun, or snow, and have never been disappointed with any aspect of the establishment. Usually we visit after walking our dogs and eat outside if possible. On colder days the dogs stay in the car and we eat in the very rustic restaurant.
Locketier . 2017-08-25
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So pleased my friend suggested going here what a gem. Situated in an old forge with seating inside and outside. It is a beautiful building in pretty village setting.
AmandaB1968 . 2017-08-11
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Fantastic selection of wonderful, well cooked food in a small but very friendly atmosphere, located in a beautiful village. Excellent staff!!
stulebe . 2017-08-11
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He visitado este fantástico lugar en varias ocasiones. Escondido en precioso pueblo bastante se perdona si el coche. Sin embargo, si te metes en será recibido por el amable personal y variado menú casero, incluyendo ofertas especiales. En los fines de semana el forge frituras se preparó para las actividades programadas. Sin duda vale la pena el viaje!
skerritt68 . 2017-07-30
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El personal es encantador, excelente comida, excelentes vistas, todo el fantástico café. Un montón de carácter. Ofertas especiales.
Blunteh . 2017-07-15
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I had used tripadvisor to find a suitable place to stop on a journey along the A14. The Old Forge looked ideal so we duly stopped by on a recent Sunday. The positive reviews were right, what a lovely little gem of a place. Lovely polite staff and busy, which is away a great indication of how good a place might be.Unfortunately the busyness meant that I could only have one egg on my corn beef hash instead of two and it took a little longer to arrive than expected, but the appropriate apologies were offered and bill adjusted without any word from myself.I will call again if I am in the area.
X7326steven . 2017-07-11
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Ended up here by accident as pub too busy. How lucky were we. Polite staff. Good range of foods from light bites to more substantial pies and corned beef hash. Salmon and dill tart delicious. Great ice cream. Only downside is that it's cash or cheque only
Fiona H . 2017-07-08
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Five of us went to the Old Forge in Cranford St Andrew and were more than happy with the food and efficient service. The Forge breakfast at £5.50 is recommended and was enjoyed by 3 of us. The food was piping hot and of good quality. By 11:00 am the place was really busy, so booking is perhaps a good idea. Would certainly visit again.
bizzydragon . 2017-07-04
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Fabulous food in s fabulous setting with friendly service. I had the coronation chicken sandwich which was possibly the best I've ever had. Husband had corned beef hash he loved it. Then he had the treacle sponge pudding and he said it was perfect as usually they are too sugary and too much syrup and this was just right. Toilet could do with a clean round that's all.
susanvetbird . 2017-06-30
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Had a superb breakfast here this morning. Great service with a smile, excllent value and the breakfast was superb with some of the best tasting bacon I've had for a long time.This will definitely be a place we come back to many times. They had loads of delicious looking homemade cakes in the counter too, plus have a great selection of drinks.Well done!
Greg H . 2017-06-27
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I spent a lovely Sunday lunchtime/afternoon listening to great music and enjoying the food and coffee at The Old Forge. It is a lovely tea room that provides a wide ranging menu of food and drinks in a nice country village setting. There was two hours of live music provided by local folk musicians which was perfect for a summers day. I would well recommend a visit to sample the lovely food at this tea room.
Richard L . 2017-06-26
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Mum and I go to the Old Forge alot - the staff are unfailingly lovely and the food is excellent and great value for money, I cannot praise it highly enough and would recommend it to everyone.
Mara L . 2017-06-23
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We had lunch with friends today, ploughmans an BLTs. It was just perfect sitting outside with good friends and good food. This is another little place that just has got it right with simple good tasting food, well presented and good portions. We will definetley go back.
popodum . 2017-06-14
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Intended to have a coffee and cake, but had lunch instead, Home made corned beef hash served with wo poached eggs.The meal was beautiful and plenty of it. The eggs were cooked to perfection and slit open to allow the yolk to run.Very filling and very very tasty.Service, as always, was prompt and very pleasant,
Tim S . 2017-06-11
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Had a relaxing lunch in this quaint, historic building in a beautiful setting. There was a good variety on the menu to choose from. I had soup and my friend had the soup and sandwich combo which were both very tasty. We then had chocolate brownie and Bakewell tart, both with cream, yummy! My lunch and 2 pots of tea I thought were very reasonable at under £12. Well worth a visit.
JAM369 . 2017-04-18
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We visited here as a group for afternoon tea following a walk and we had pre booked due to numbers and capacity of tearoom. The staff were very pleasant and obliging and we were very well catered for .Nice warm scones served with jam and cream and a friendly relaxed atmosphere- we couldn't wish for more. Some of us had eaten a sandwich there at lunchtime as well before we checked out our walking route and they were jolly good as well.
miranda s . 2017-04-15
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Dropped in on spec, and what a find! Cakes superb. Tea brilliant! And the service and staff were excellent. They don't accept cards but said I could post them a cheque !!! Luckily we had enough between us.And to top it all the Sun was shining
Nick T . 2017-04-08
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Breakfast on a sunning day in March couldn't have gotten any better than the warm welcome, great location and amazing food. Sat outside and enjoyed a full English whilst reading the weekend papers and enjoying a good cup of coffee. Will definitely be going back!,
jrallen01 . 2017-03-25
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This place has everything: brilliant menu, delicious food, superb coffee, beautiful building, lovely ambienc and extremely pleasant staff. Have been here a few times when visiting area and it's always top notch. Had the nicest Eggs Royale there this morning that I have ever had (and I'm not exaggerating) and there was no fuss when I went 'off menu' and asked for a couple of hash browns as an extra.
Nancysbeachhut . 2017-03-22
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A little haven in the countryside in the village of Cranford. Just off the A14 at Junction 10. Lovely use of old forge building; several chairs and tables packed into this little building in a friendly cosy way, but still enough space.Great menu for lunch with a friend, good prices and lovely food well presented. very clean, tidy and friendly, service very good. For the better weather, some lovely outside tables looking out on the fields under a lovely eucalyptus tree. Red Kites can be seen circling around all across this area. On street parking. 10 minutes from Kettering town centre..
adventuroushare . 2017-03-07
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We visit the old forge every Friday for the delicious breakfast muffins and always receive a very warm and friendly welcome. Rob and his lovely team are great. I can vouch for the breakfasts, the coffee, the lunches and the cakes which are all homemade. They always have a gluten free option too. It can get very busy sometimes so book if you want to be sure of a table, they will try their best to accommodate you.
Lucy H . 2017-02-26
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A beautiful place with the most delicious quality food. A perfect amount of choice on the menu, have been many times & always love it, especially the home made biscuits with tea/coffee!
Cothow13 . 2017-01-27
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Did a search for local lunchtime venues and liked the sound of The Old Forge. Called beforehand to check availability and they very kindly reserved a table for us near the wood burner. As it was very cold outside, this was very much appreciated! From our arrival through to our departure, the service was very warm and friendly. The menu had a good selection, and you would have to be very fussy not to find something to your taste. The food arrived quickly, nicely presented and the hot selections arrived hot! Not always the case at other establishments. When they realised it was my birthday, they included a candle in my jam and clotted cream scone dessert . A funny, thoughtful touch. All in all, a very nice lunchtime experience, which as my title reveals, we will definitely be repeating.
debsdp . 2017-01-26
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The smart move would be not to give a good review. When you know of a really good place to eat with substantial, hearty and tasty food you might want to keep it a secret - that way it won't be too busy when you want to go there!Don't worry - this place is excellent and they always seem to get you in even when busy. Especially good if you are walking or cycling. Seems to me that it's not just the staff that are friendly - it's also the other punters. This just indicates to me that everyone is happy and relaxed. Enjoy...
br00kski . 2017-01-21
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This is a lovely hidden gem, nice menu options but as it's a small cafe it can get full very quickly. The service and food is always good. Great for brunch & lunch.
Rabbit1974 . 2017-01-18
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Took a friend here for lunch. Food was excellent and portions substantial (smoked salmon/scrambled egg was moist and delicious). Despite being busy, service was speedy and courteous. The premises are clean, warm and cosy with a wood burner in the corner of the room. This place is very popular so booking advised. So impressed, I'm back again this week!
maureenyule . 2017-01-14
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A place where you can relax, enjoy the freshly cooked to order food, and you feel so comfortably at home that you nearly forget that you do actually have to leave at some point...Top marks to the staff who are unassuming ,natural and attentive..
elmakes . 2017-01-14
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We went for a Christmas meal with family and friends (inc my 2yr old granddaughter) and were not disappointed. The menu was wide ranging and the food was very good quality and well presented.. The staff were very friendly, attentive and nothing too much trouble (inc doing a special meal for my granddaughter taking into account her requests) We were not rushed although it was busy. An enjoyable lunch and good value for money
wedge158 . 2016-12-19
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Fantastic value for money breakfast cooked to perfection. I had eggs royal, my husband had the full forge big breakfast. We sat next to very welcoming woodburner, a cosy enjoyable meal. Staff friendly and helpful. It must be the best value around the area. Will go back very soon.
Androls22 . 2016-12-01
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Had a great brunch with hubby and daughter excellent service and the food was lovely will be going again
gipsy20 . 2016-11-24
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Really nice place great weekend breakfast spot great, staff and atmosphere so much nicer than a chain as you are talked to like a friend not just a customer
RLM1000 . 2016-11-09
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My daughter and I have been here twice now and each visit has felt special and memorable for all the right reasons. The building is aesthetically pleasing, as is the food, the ambiance and the service. The prices are very reasonable for delicious food. There is nothing fussy or false about this place. It is well worth a visit & we look forward to our next treat there.
mazlanma . 2016-10-25
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Went here recently for my Mum's birthday lunch. We had phoned ahead and reserved a table and also visited in advance to drop off her birthday cake. Staff couldn't be more accommodating if they tried. They are so friendly and helpful, nothing is too much trouble. They have such a small work area in the kitchen but itdoes not impact on the service at all. Book ahead as it was very busy during lunchtime on a Saturday. Food was delicious especially the spiced parsnip and Mexican stew. We will be back.
kaznn15 . 2016-10-24
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We stopped for a cream tea and landed up having lunch due to the tempting menu.The staff very friendly food great .
wellsvolvo . 2016-10-10
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Very small and intimate. We usually sit outsdie with the dogs. Friendly helpful staff and really dog friendly. Great food and lovely cakes!
Chris R . 2016-09-29
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This was our first visit. I reserved a 3hr slot as we were meeting family for Christmas. A family member ordered the pulled pork burger, she is not a fussy eater but what was served looked like dog food. The pulled pork had disintegrated. I tried some and the texture was not nice. Coated in a very large amount of bbq sauce. Not what you expect when you order pulled pork, you expect the nice shredded pieces of pork. This was mush. I raised this with the waitress and they said they can cook a plain one as there is a issue with there pulled pork, but the waitress said she would need to charge me for the new burger. This is the first time I've come across this. If your food is not up to standard and doesn't taste nice is is rude to charge them for something they haven't eaten. I went ahead and got charged with it as it was more important at the time to enjoy our family time and make it memorable than to be arguing with the waitress over extra charges. When the new burger was brought out the burger itself was stone cold, to the point where the cheese slice wasn't even melted so it had clearly been sitting around in the kitchen for a bit before serving it. Which I don't understand why as they were not busy there was only 1 other table dining at that time with 4 people on. My family member decided to eat it but diddnt enjoy it and left most of it. About an hour and a half into our booking the waitress comes to our table and said I've rung your bill up you can pay at the bar. Which made some of my family feel like they wanted us to leave even though I had booked the table for 3hrs. Overall decor is nice. But the food is awful. Dry cold burgers and pulled pork mushy and customer service bad, charging us for a new burger when there food is not up to standard.
605 Opinions
This is like home from home. I was at a vets a few mins around the corner & had 4 hours to kill. I had travelled 60 miles to get there & asked if there was anywhere near by that I could get a coffee. I was directed to Stirrups. Arriving tired starving disorientated & quite stressed after a long drive in the snow with a very sick animal in the passengers seat. I ordered a fat fry up for breakfast which was amazing & a coffee which was superb. They even do Gluten free (I'm allergic just to extra awkward) BUT WHAT STANDS OUT (apart from the food & spot on coffee) was the staff & service. Amber who was behind the bar was so so lovely not only offering top service but also asked about my animal at the vets, stopping for chat gave me WiFi password & offered such kindness & compassion that it genuinely made me feel so much better. The staff put the heating up for me & gave me a nice spot by a radiator as it was freezing which was so so nice of them. My only other option was a waiting room or the car for 4 hours not nice in 1 degrees! Kindness is such a rarity in the world that we live in. Thankyou staff at Stirrups & especially Amber for you hospitality & kindness, compassion & smile.