The Old School Rufforth in York

Lovely friendly pit stop on a walk from York and back. Oh, and the chocolate fudge cake was excellent! Highly recommend calling in to support them.

A lovely shop with lovely staff

Always perfect food, service and friendliness. Recommend it to all. Cafe great and shop super for something a bit special or different

Visited a few times lovely little cafe food and well stocked village shop for every day items plus. Owners/ staff very pleasant friendly. "A little hidden Gem!"

Excellent little shop and tea room. We had a decaf flat white coffee and I have to say it was one of the nicest I have had. Decaf is often a bit tasteless but this was excellent. Also had a nice warm fruit scone with butter and jam. Really good and quite cheap. Nice staff too. Highly recommend it.

Lovely friendly staff and gorgeous cakes

We had a nice coffee stop on our Sunday ride. The building is lovely, old brick school and we enjoyed sitting outside in the garden by the carpark. Not sure how many can sit inside when the weather is bad as majority of the interior is the village shop. Coffee and cakes were good and reasonably priced but the caramel on the millionaires shortbread was not properly done and still looked more like condensed milk than caramel. Recommended if you're in the area.

Friendly great service and large portions enjoyed our visit

The staff are very friendly and helpful Dawn and the rest off the team has made this shap lovely and used the space brilliantly

Lovely little tea room with a nice shop and welcoming staff.

Delicious Coffee and Ham Sandwich! Nice concept of little Shop for the village and tea room, have own parking space and playground for the kids!

Really lovely place to relax in the garden Very pleasant staff. Scones and cakes exceptional. My friend and I are going to make it a weekly treat after shopping. My only suggestion to make it perfect is to have some more comfortable seats with backs. Older people find benches very difficult to sit at.

Came across the old school on way home. What a great experience. Thank You.

Very helpful staff lovely coffee and ginger cake

Had a lovely walk from knapton to rufforth then for tea at this lovely gem . Had coffee with ginger cake . Best cake iv had in ages .

Very small so its necessary to book a table in advance

Nice cafe and shop good prices nice and handy

Called in for coffee and a bacon and tomato sandwich . We were lucky there was a table free as some were reserved for lunch and it's only got five or so tables . Food was good and service was excellent and friendly .

Fabulous little cafe that is dog friendly and an excellent general store. Lovely staff too 😊 and would highly recommend 👌

Nice friendly cafe. We had really nice cappacino coffee, cheese toasties, with crisps and chutney. lovely millionaire shortbread to finish off. Ladies running the shop and cafe very helpful. Plenty of parking at back.. Reasonable prices. 🙂

Lovely building. Great selection of cakes and drinks. Friendly staff and also dog friendly. Will visit again

Now under new management and a huge amount better.

Popped in for takeaway coffee on a walk, did notice lovely selection of greetings cards at reasonable prices, shop is well stocked. Assistant pleasant. Used facilities which were nice and clean

A very nice, quaint little coffee stop.

If they don’t have it, you don’t need it. Very handy store and well priced.

My friends and family recently had a post funeral gathering here. The whole experience was welcoming, professional and friendly. The food was delicious and catered for special diets with ease. We took some decorations which we were able to set up prior to the event and the playlist of our music went over the café WiFi. I can't thank them enough for making a sad day very much more memorable and happy.

What a lovely little cafe. I was shocked at some of the reviews on here which apparently are from a previous ownership. Don’t be put off, it’s lovely. The food was quickly served, hot, delicious and the staff were attentive and efficient even though the cafe was busy. The new owners are working hard to shake off the previous negative image and have succeeded very well. Thoroughly recommended.

Excellent coffee. Staff friendly and helpful. Clean toilet facilities. Nice shop with a bit of everything, household goods, quirky farmhouse pottery, fresh baked goods etc. Highly recommended.

Looking for a coffee shop on a Sunday and came across here was not discussed the coffee and sandwiches were lovely, and the staff very friendly and very helpful with gluten free options, would recommend popping in

Went for afternoon tea. It was probably the best afternoon tea I've ever had. Arrived and they had our afternoon tea ready on out on our table. A little cup of warm soup was already on our plate which was homemade and delicious, then a cake stand with sandwiches - and proper sandwich size too (egg mayo, coronation chicken, cheese & pickle and ham salad) and cakes (cookie pie, lemon drizzle & rocky road) and two enormous fruit scones with jam and cream. There was also a warm sausage roll and half a pork pie served with a little pot of Branston pickle and a bowl of lovely crisps. In addition to this, was a cute bottle of strawberry milkshake and we we also had 2 x large pots of tea (coffee available too). The people running the cafe were lovely and very attentive. It cost £16.50 each which I thought was unbelievable value for money. My 16 year old daughter loved it and she's a harsh critic! Definitely avoid the crowds in York City centre and get yourselves to Rufforth for this little gem!

Booked an afternoon tea for four. When we arrived table was set all ready. It was lovely, in fact it was delicious, best one I've had. Lovely atmosphere and lovely hosts. Have been before for lunch. Will definitely be back. We'll worth a visit.

A pleasant lunch at the weekend. We sat outside in a shady spot and perused the menu. You order and pay for your food inside the shop. The menu had a good choice and reasonably priced. The shop itself was lovely with a cake display! The food was nice, as was the Biscoff milkshake and iced latte!

Realy nice place to go the staff are good and food is nice

Food lovely and drinks. Cosy little eating place also has shop attached selling all sorts. Easy to find on the main street and parking round the back.

Lovely friendly village shop and coffee shop which is an asset to the village. Long may it last. Dawn, Michelle and the rest of the team are so friendly and welcoming and nothing is too much trouble. The afternoon teas are amazing and they cater for small groups too. It's lovely just to pop in for a latte and a chat and stock up on greetings cards, posh jams and local honey. I would also recommend the homemade soups, the sausage rolls and the cakes 😋 Dogs are welcome too. Don't forget to buy a village tea towel souvenir on your way out 🙂

Small village cafe. We'll worth a visit if you're passing.

What a lovely find!! Would highly recommend anyone a visit here. The food was delicious, the staff so warm & friendly & a lovely shop too. 😁 We will be back without a doubt!! Thank you!

Charming little place for coffee and a cake.

While it was a long time ago since we called in for a coffee ☕,we found it a very pleasant experience.

Lovely place to get kindling and Logs from. A great variety of goods, customer service outstanding

Popped in for a coffee and bacon roll. Both excellent. Dawn also offered to act as a collection point for our food bank donation. A great local resource all round.

Great little stop off when out for a walk on the Bridleway. Good friendly service and food. Will call again.

Always my favourite go too place. Dawn, Michelle and staff are the perfect hosts

Excellent cakes and delicious drinks. Thank you!

Lovely cafe. Coffee and scones great. A regular visit for us when in the area.

Called today after passing several times , what a lovely place , nice cuppa and a ham salad sandwich,, deffo be calling again ,,

Lovely little shop staff polite & friendly. Very nice coffee but coffee machine very noisy uncomfortable for hearing aid users

My friend and I have just returned from eating afternoon tea at the Old School and I have to say its one of the best I've had. The shop and cafe are light, bright and super clean. The ladies that run the shop and cafe are extremely welcoming and lovely to chat to. The afternoon tea was plentiful, fresh, traditional and great value for £15 per person. There is the added bonus of an outside seating area and car park for 6/8 cars. The shop and cafe have been under new management since March 22 and it really shows I will definitely be back.

Very nice little restaurant and coffee shop in a lovely place. Good service and friendly staff.

Great coffee cake and service plus dog friendly 🐶☕🎂👍👍👍

Lovely little cafe in Rufforth. Great cakes!

This is a lovely little place to stop off for lunch. My wife and I visit a couple of times a year just to savour the quaint, friendly atmosphere. The business has now changed hands but remains first class. Simple, delicious homemade food, well priced and served up by welcoming staff. Even passed my wife's stringent coffee-test, no mean feat. Highly recommended... we'll be back.

Very nice staff and drinks nice shop nice cafe it's got a new name old school coffee stop and village store

What a great find. Stopped in on the way home and had a scrumptious home made scone and cheese and ham panini. It was fab to be able to sit in the garden and enjoy everything at leisure. I think it’s under new ownership,service was speedy

Wonderful tea rooms and shop with delicious food and lovely staff 💖. Thank you for looking after us so well!

Excellent service dog friendly with lovely staff

Coffee & cake break during a motorcycle ride. The weather probably helped being able to sit outside in the sun, but the cake (and coffee) was delicious and the staff were delightful and couldn't have been more helpful. Lovely deli/shop inside as well. I look forward to returning.

A little hidden gem West of York, the menu is not extensive but I am sure it will be suitable for mist people for a lunchtime snack. The old school is a real treasure to look around and the wonderfully enthusiastic staff are so friendly and helpful.

Fabulous afternoon tea for lunch .

Loved listening to the old clock chime & The food was enjoyable.

Pie dried out could of been better

Found the owner Unhelpful and poor service when we recently went for lunch. Decided to leave without staying. Will not be returning

Lovely coffee and cake, very pleasant staff, car parking available round the back. Good covid protection in place. Wide range of products in the shop. Toilet available also.

We had lunch yesterday for my husband's birthday. They were busy & service was a bit slow, but we weren't in a hurry & were made so welcome. The food was really lovely & everything was delivered with a smile. A really quaint venue. We shall be back!

Good food & drinks clean& tidy very well priced.

Fantastic 😀 Tea and cakes 🎂 ☕ were excellent. Staff very friendly and great service with a smile. Only shut on Monday. 😀

Took our very well behaved dog. Sat outside and enjoyed the sunshine. Afternoon tea was well presented and tasty. Special mention for the scones. Staff very friendly

A hidden gem on the outskirts of York, can't fault this place, the food is amazing and the staff are top notch, if you can, take a look in the inside sitting area, the pic of the Linton on Ouse airmen with the Lancaster is worth the trip on its own.

Great cafe and shop to stop by whilst out walking or cycling. I had a beautiful Victoria sponge cake and latte. Will be back again soon.

Such a lovely tea room and shop! Food is really nice and the staff are really helpful and friendly. Love the old style shop!

On our way back from Knaresborough, spotted sign for the tea rooms in Rufforth, needed something to eat and drink so we pulled in. We sat out side had coffees, soup, ad homemade scone and homemade apple pie. Superb value for money, excellent food, will call again, very quaint old schoolhouse, if you are in the area and not in a rush we strongly recommend you give this place a try.

We extended our walk by half a kilometre having seen boards on the nearby bridleway advertising this place. Arriving there we found it is closed on Monday. Either take in your boards or put "Closed Monday" on them.

We had great service very nice food thankyou very much. Dog welcome outside.

First time visit to this little cafe very nice lovely friendly service coping well with the covid restrictions

Excellent and will visit again when restrictions lift

Lovely place to stop for refreshments and cake 🍰

What a Top place, Fresh Sandwiches, home made cakes and great coffee.. Stop in and take a look.. Great little stop if you're out for a walk or out on your bike. 10/10 Supa Dupa

Very friendly staff,top class hot pies, sausage rolls, and sandwiches we always stop when passing

Lovely shop. Cup of tea very welcome

Lovely hot chocolate and cakes. Friendly service.

Lovely friendly local store. You get get some delicious food indoors and outdoor.

Great little shop delicious cakes

It took too long for us to get the meal. My friend had waited that long for her soup she had ask it to be reheated it was expensive for what it was

Very friendly outside space cakes yummy pies look great to 😋🍰

I just love going to this tea room , friendly , great service, my go to place if I just want to chill out. My husband and I have just been this morning, I would recommend their ginger cake but please don't eat it all leave me some best ginger cake ever

Lovely village shop and cafe. Food is good but not brilliant. Staff very helpful and friendly.

Slightly strange experience. All the advance signage said open til 4:30. We got in at 3:30 to be told that we were just in time! Amiable couple running shop and café, if a little eccentric at times. Good teas and marvellous ginger cake, served in huge portions. Newly completed cycle paths to village make access from York much more pleasant. A good cyclists' stop.

Cafe closes at 2pm on Sundays at the moment although not sure if you can actually sit inside as it wasn't obvious. Seems to be mostly cakes and drinks rather than so much on the savoury side. Mental note to get there earlier another time to get a better feel of what they're doing. Lovely cakes and hot drinks though.

I have been waiting for the spare time to cycle through to this cafe having driven through a month earlier and seen the cakes. What a disappointment, do not opt for the Victoria sponge it’s like a Venus flytrap visually appealing but as false/ synthetic tasting as it comes. The coffee is mediocre at best to add insult to injury. I do like to support local businesses as I live in the area but there will be no more visits from me. Rob

Came past 'The Old School' tea room & shop when travelling towards York and wondering where we could go for a decent coffee. So, so pleased we turned around and went back to this tea room with a difference. There is good parking at the back with outdoor seats, and 4 tables in the tea room inside, which is off the main village shop, and what a delight. The building and photos adorning the walls give you the sense of the history of the school and the village. Whilst the surroundings are lovely, the rating is based on the food, drink and service which was nothing short of excellent. The service was attentive & friendly, the tea rooms are very clean and due consideration is given in these Covid-19 times, whilst still maintaining a warm welcome. The drinks were piping hot and the food was presented in an appetising way and did not disappoint. A little gem, which we shall be returning to!

Seemsrun by very nice people but service is awfully slow and unorganised. Menu looks nice but didn't get chance to sample after waiting nearly half an hour for just a cup of tea.

Got there just before it closed so full menu not available but had a very nice scone and a cuppa

Lots of sandwiches and other "snacks" on offer, alternative fillings are made on request. The school is on a corner in the village which at popular and busy times might be dangerous to other vehicles.

Looking for somewhere to eat saw the tea room sign, turned around and called in. Glad we did. Two lovely panini, fantastic hot chocolate and a great piece of Victoria sponge. They also serve limited alcohol such as wine and lager. The shop is quaint and looks great. The owners were such lovely sweet people. Give it a try if you're out that way.

Excellent service. Very friendly staff. Great coffee. Good place to stop for a break on our cycle ride.

Nice cup of tea, polite service

Friendly staff and a great setting

The food is wonderful and expansive. The company is even more expansive with Frank and Rosa. If you come to Rufforth. DO Not miss out on the Old School Rufforth. Once trying, you will always return. Frank and Rosa are the perfect hosts. If you don't go you will have missed a chance of a lifetime.

Nice coffee and lovely Sausage Roll. Good choice of food and drink.

Needing a pit stop on the way to Harrogate, and there are not many with parking on this road , I pulled into the car park and as I walked found a great village shop with many delicacies befre going through to the cafe - a nice pot of tea - I will try the food next time I go past