The Pit Stop Cafe in Waveney

Excellent breakfast before a round ar next door Southwold Golf Club . All day breakfast very well priced at £8 and it set us up nicely for a battle against the wind.

Anne the owner is a very accommodating owner. She provides the personal services you have grown ‘not to search for’ as the major brands take over. Once you have found the pitstop and its service especially for children you will search it out always. A real thumbs up to PitStop

Stumbled across the café while on holiday but clearly a hit with the locals too. Fabulous little ‘hidden gem’ by the tennis courts near the golf club.

This is Southwold’s best kept secret! Locals know about it but many visitors don’t. I’ve been coming here for years and there’s always parking and seats and they can cater to large groups or a solo visitor like me. Kids can play on the tennis courts, there’s toys and a Wendy house for kids, and space to run around safely. It really is a very special place. The food is good value and portions are large and there’s never any rush to move on so I can sit and read and chill out after a long dog walk. Staff are friendly and even set up the hose for me to wash my dog today! Food is not all fried breakfasts - I usually have the ‘everything salad’. This is a real find if you are on holiday with family and/or dogs in Southwold. It’s round the back of the golf course by the water tower.

Have been here many times - an absolutely excellent cafe, with great food, service and excellent value for money.

A great find. Excellent food, lovely staff, great location, lots of toys, games, very reasonable prizes, plenty of seating indoors and out, nearby parking. What’s not to like?

Very nice Breakfast in unusual surroundings with children bikes and toys scattered around and Tennis courts available for those inclined. The breakfast was Very good with generous portions. The coffee could have been better, but good value and the two ladies were very pleasant we were all served together, look forward to visiting again next year.

Southwold’s best kept secret! This is a lovely, welcoming café serving excellent, good value food, with a smile. Nothing is too much trouble. There are loads of toys outside for children to play with, and tennis courts on site. The tables are well spaced out, and there is a covered outside area as well in case of rain. We have been several times, for breakfast, morning coffee and lunch, and have never been disappointed. Highly recommended.

Found this place when we were desperate for an activity for children. This place we’re holding an Easter event. We now make a point of coming here. A couple of times for each visit. Given the breakfast is cooked on a tiny cooker ( with the old school grill above!) and given the prices… I am always shocked at how good the food is and how quickly it comes out even when there is a cue out the door. It’s a hearty breakfast without everything dripping is oil like at a greasy spoon style cafe. There are a bunch of toys ( old but the choice is huge) and as soon as we arrive I pretty much don’t see my daughter for an hour or two as she hunts through the treasure trove of toys and games, slides and scooters. Always a warm smile when it’s busy and a friendly chat when it’s quiet. No frills, bells or whistles. Quality, good price and entertainment for all. Much better in my opinion.

OK we're biased as whenever we visit Southwold we end up here for brunch after a highly competitive pitch and putt. Service is friendly and first class, food and drink are served quickly and are always well-prepared. Watch out of for marauding seagulls we saw one girl's lunch snatched from her hands!

One day we had the breakfast, another we had sausage and onion ciabatta, not to mention the chocolate cake. Excellent as ever, a hidden gem that more people need to be aware of. A regular visitor, and never disappoints.

As I had an early day in Lowestoft I checked out places for breakfast. This cafe didn’t disappoint, nice staff and perfectly cooked and really tasty breakfast with a good mug of quality coffee, highly recommended, the prices are excellent for the quality of breakfast received

A brilliant breakfast. Cooked very well and with love! Great value for money. It was nice to sit outside with plenty of seating.

We popped in for a coffee and ended up staying for nearly 2 hours. Games and toys for kids and lovely homemade cakes and coffee for the big kids! Anne and her team are very attentive and have great knowledge of Southwold and the local area. We sat under the shelter eating and drinking our lunch while watching our 2 year old play and have fun in the play park. For those wanting to exert themselves, you can rent tennis rackets and balls and play on one of 3 tennis courts. We’ll definitely be back for probably the best breaky we’ve had in Southwold - especially for the low-price.

Totally love this eccentric , so chilled out cafe ,in an old quarry beside tennis courts. The food is delicious, freshly prepared and home made, simple , healthy nutritious.. The seating and the decor are basic, mostly outside, in this sheltered spot.. It is so peaceful. It is the perfect safe place for young kids to potter about , amongst the extensive collection of suitable outdoor toys. The staff are lovely.

We have been coming here since our daughter was little - she’d play on the trikes and in the Wendy house , making friends , whist the grown ups drank their teas and eat bacon sandwiches. Now she ‘s a teen we thought that she might want to go somewhere different - but this was first on the list of places to visit. If you’re in Southwold for a traditional family holiday, make this part of your tradition.

Had a lovely tuna ciabatta, friendly staff, has tennis courts available for hire and lots of toys for kids to play with Very reasonable prices

Great value breakfast and then a quick game of tennis - fantastic. Lovely set up for families with toys big and small for children.

Quality breakfast, followed by slice of chocolate cake. We have been coming here for years now, and never disappoints.

Breakfast at the Pit Stop on their first week of being allowed back inside. What a find! Lovely friendly cafe with a good choice of breakfasts, lunches, cakes etc. I had sausage and onion chiabatta, chap had a cooked breakfast, both delicious, hit he spot.

Visited during a very busy season in Southwold where you are required to book ahead in most places. We didnt wish to do this so wandered around and stumbled across this hidden gem. NO booking required! Great Value, no fuss, fresh hot food cooked to...

Harbour cafe was closed and we stumbled upon this absolute gem! Full English was 10/10 and so was the service we will be back! Father impressed with milk jug!

D&L, Halifax - A lovely week in Southwold finished off with lovely full English breakfast, the first we’d both enjoyed since before Covid lockdown. I particularly like the chipalata breakfast sausages. Lovely secluded location. Quite a secret really. Friendly staff happy to cater for all...

1st visited the pit stop Cafe at the Common 24.07.2020 ordered breakfast an 2 drinks, after a short ,wait food was hot a perfect looking breakfast arrived and with drinks as requested plus bread and butter, the bread and butter was soft and fresh and...

A trip to Southwold on the boat would not be complete without a visit to the Pit Stop. Fantastic all day breakfast consisting of good quality butchers chipolatas, lovely back bacon, beautiful tasty fresh egg, mushrooms,beans,grilled tomatoes a choice of white, brown or granary toast...

Had a good English breakfast and big mug of tea great, set up for the day, and you can take the dog in.

Popped in for lunch with our two grandchildren. Children had a lunch box which was excellent value and we had a salad and an all day breakfast which were all very good. Children enjoyed playing with all the toys there.

The Pit Stop is a bit off the beaten track, but well worth the visit especially if you have children. There is a huge array of toys, from dolls house and toy garage to climbing equipment and sit and ride bikes, and all available in...

I’m a regular visitor to this place with my grandchildren and it’s great for a traditional British breakfast, Ann’s home made cakes, child friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome. It would be nice to see a little bit of a makeover, but I guess it’s...

What a lovely little place this is , lots of toys for children with , in a great area out of the wind , good for grown ups too, great food and drink at reasonable prices , a place to chill

Called in again, as we usually do when visiting Southwold. Nothing has changed, food as good as ever, fresh, cooked to order and plentiful. First class vegetarian breakfast as usual, made even better by the surrounding area which is different to the usual one would...

Fab place to go with small kids or if you fancy a quick game of tennis. Hidden behind the water tower and the golf club it is a secret gem or hidden treasure. Very basic, only jut got electricity last year, but that means they...

No visitar si eres un snob. La primera impresión es de un edificio destartalado en un hoyo de grava, con una selección aleatoria de bicicletas de segunda mano, en juguetes y niños corriendo salvajes. Fuimos con nuestros nietos y que pasamos un tiempo fantástico con las bicicletas, jugando en casas wendy y haciendo amigos con los otros niños mientras nos sentamos y bebimos café, luego jugamos al tenis. La comida era buena, gran relación calidad-precio y recién preparado. Canchas de tenis estaban bien y bien organizado con raquetas y pelotas. Personal muy amable y un verdadero ambiente familiar.

Este lugar es un verdadero hallazgo y es un crédito a Southwold. - justo lo que necesita, el café está ubicado un poco fuera de la ciudad, junto al campo de golf, pasando la torre de agua. Siga la señal de pista de tenis y tejer su camino por la tierra y no te decepcionará.El propietario, Anne, ha pensado en todo.La cafetería está pegado a las canchas de tenis - básica y de buen precio - y sin duda entretenido.Entonces hay una gran variedad de juguetes, camiones dumper, coches, bicicletas, muñecas, alas y pelotas!Muchos asientos y todo el lugar está aislado, y es un poco de trampa de sol, ya que está rodeado de gorse, lo que significa que está bastante protegida. Incluso si la lluvia viene puede tomar refugio en la cafetería o en el área cubierta con terrazas.La comida es de estilo café, raciones básicas pero bueno y pasteles caseros son deliciosos. Hay porciones de adecuadas para niños pequeños, y el personal es amable y servicial. Un lugar ideal para familias, jóvenes o viejos y un excelente destino para los excursionistas.

Very good lovely cakes good tea fun for children fantastic on a warm day would defiantly visit again

Gran lugar para detenerse y relajarse. Un montón de juguetes para los niños y una cancha de tenis para el energético. Excelente comida de la cafetería y, probablemente, la mejor relación calidad-precio en Southwold. Más cafés en Southwold parecen ser diseñadas para cobrar al cliente tanto como sea posible mientras que la hoguera parada da buena comida a un precio razonable. Siempre comer allí si es posible. El personal también es muy acogedor y amable.

My very first visit today 8th April, Southwold very uncomfortable, But this little gem made my visit to the area very special. The food and the Service provided Outstanding. With Very Best Wishes. Terry ( P ) South Cambridgeshire.

This hidden gem is under-rated. It cannot be seen from the road and has a slightly scruffy appearance. The full breakfast was superb. On previous occasions coffee/tea and cake were excellent. The welcome from Anne and her helpers was warm.

Situado justo después de la torre de agua, este southwold tiene gran relación de comer. Muy orientado a la familia, con numerosos juguetes para mantener a los jóvenes ocupados. La comida caliente es cocinado a la orden del desayuno inglés completo, una obligación. Pasteles y sándwiches caseros. Buena comida a un precio muy razonable. Amor a nuestros nietos. Veremos de nuevo en la primavera

very basic venue in ex essence a large shed with canopy and nice touches. lovely good value snacks, cakes and drinks. great for families with young children lots of toys bikes etc you can use in sandy area or on the tennis courts. not easy to find next to the golf club.

My wife and I had frequented virtually every food establishment in Southwold over the years with the exception of this one...so we thought we'd give it a go.The service was prompt and attentive; the portions generous, and you can clearly see that everything is cooked to order.The location is also quite charming, tucked away from the crowds and clearly a great spot for children.I would say it's the best breakfast I've had in Southwold and having tried them all (and there are many options), I hope that's taken as a compliment.Keep up the good work!

The weather was beautiful and the hot sunshine had brought crowds to Southwold's seafront and beaches. We were on our bikes and looking for a light lunch when we spotted the Pit Stop signboard as we cycled across the Common. A short stony track led down to the cafe area, which also included three tennis courts that could be hired at very reasonable rates. What a lovely discovery! Several families were happily eating at the outside tables and small children played with bikes and toys provided by the cafe in a safe and relaxing environment. We found the staff to be very pleasant and the food well produced and good value. The salad that came with our sandwich and panini was fresh and inviting. Highly recommended.

Really enjoyed our visit this morning. Came with dad, mum, and two girls who loved the freedom to play, run about and sample the delicious cake. It was provided with happy friendly staff and had a real fun,relaxed,family friendly atmosphere to it. Thanks x

Visited the cafe on a couple of occasions, excellent value, great food and lovely people. What more can you ask for?

Visited with family , lovely food, friendly staff, lots of toys for children to play with, bikes to play on. My grandchildren love it there, out of the wind tucked in an old gravel pit, hence the name

Had full English, tea, served up with a smile and sat watching the kids play on the many, many toy tractors, bikes and other toys available for free.Very relaxed and informal atmosphere, free newspapers and comfortable chairs, all in all a brilliant little place tucked away in the gorse,Brilliant.

We went here this morning and were so disappointed given the positive reviews on here. The lady at the cafe did not seem pleased to have customers and the whole place looked a bit tired.

Superb full English breakfast. Kelly and Shelly did us proud. The Pit Stop cafe needs seeking out as it is off the beaten track but is well worth it. It is a safe place for children to play and has a massive collection of bikes and other toys.

The wife and I searched the centre of Southwold for a breakfast venue to no avail and then stumbled across the Pit Stop Café. Nestled amongst the gorse on the edge of the golf course, the pit stop café is a surprisingly generous place to eat. Not only does it cater for all travellers, but for those with young children it must be real hit. There is an abundance of open space, but with toys and games that would grace any play group or nursery that are all free to use as customers. Plus three tennis courts with a minimal rental charge.The food was great too, freshly cooked, good quality and pretty fair pricing.I would certainly go back again and would recommend anyone to drop in and enjoy the "surprise amongst the gorse" in Southwold

My mum, dad and I took my 18 mth old son here for lunch on a very wet day. He had lots of fun with all the toys and my dad enjoyed his full English! This place is great for kids and dog friendly too. We'll be back!

My husband and I enjoyed a very good English Breakfast at the Pit Stop Cafe this morning a very wet Monday. Although we were a bit apprehensive when we saw all the children's toys we needn't have worried not a child in sight - a great location for families lots of space outside. Very reasonable prices and good service.

Took our daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren, 3 years and 16months, here for lunch on a cloudy then wet Wednesday (18th May). Brilliant place for young families with so many outdoor and indoor toys to play with.Lunch was very good, unpretentious food but good specials board and unpretentious prices. Best value food all holiday. Kids lunch bags especially pleasing with sandwiches, crisps fruit and drink and extra little homemade cakes, which they loved. Our paninis were packed with filling and the side salad with extras like grapes, strawberries and orange looked great. Something some of the more expensive and somewhat stingy establishments in Southwold and Walberswick should take on board. Great fun for all.Some of the indoor toys could have done with a clean up but otherwise this was an excellent choice and thanks to previous reviewers for finding it.

Found this by accident while out walking, very pleased we did.Only had coffee and flapjack, but it was lovely. In fact we bought some to take away but unfortunately left it as we decided to buy one of the pictures for sale on the wall,(all monies going towards getting mains power) as we found out while chatting to Anne (i think) the owner. Nothing posh here, just a really honest coffee stop, if we are in the area again we would certainly stop off.

Having visited Pit Stop at Southwold at least 12 times this summer, I can recommend it as a lovely place to visit particularly if you have young children. They have the largest range of sit and ride toys and bikes that I have seen anywhere and my grandchildren have spent many happy hours playing while the adults sit enjoying the excellent tea ,coffee and home made cakes. The lunches served are well presented and excellent value for money. The all day breakfast is a particular favourite. There is also three tennis courts and the cost of hire for these and rackets and balls is also very reasonable.

Dirty, unclean, kids love it but I think some serious risk assessment need to made on both the kit and facilities, I ordered a veggie breakfast to find my mushroom where cooked in the same oil that sausages where cooked, so opted not to eat, too scared to ask the owner for a refund

Tennis and fry ups. The perfect answer to a long Saturday night. Kids running riot in this safe enclave.A hidden gem tucked away down hill from the Water tower.

The Pit Stop is a brilliant little cafe, hidden away from the crowds in Southwold. There are an incredible array of toys for the kids, from bikes and tennis rackets, to dolls and ride on tractors. My kids were thrilled with it and happy to stay all day. The staff were extremely helpful, and, after contacting them in advance, they were able to prepare food for my son, despite of his serious food allergies. This mean a lot of extra work for them, which they did cheerfully, listening very carefully to his needs and finding something appropriate. Thank you guys!

Probably the best, and cheapest sandwich in Southwold. Great Place for a bit of peace and quiet if the other beach cafes and town cafes are full. Plenty of space for children to play and lots and lots of toys.Some shade or sun to suit everyone and pleasant staff.

Great for lunch, milky coffees, juices, and sandwiches, and of course good for children's entertainment, lots of bikes for them to play on, and toys to play with, and also there are tennis courts to hire. Reasonable prices .

Have had a number of great visits to the Pit stop Café. Please help them in their efforts to get Mains Electricity to the site to make it even better! All donations will be welcome.

LOVE this place! Don't know what my friends and I will do if Anne ever decides to retire. Brilliant place for adults with kids, so many great toys there is never time to play with them all. Yes, there may be the odd tricycle with a flat tyre but thats because they're constantly in use…there are lots more to choose from and if a child can't entertain themselves from the vast array of toys on offer then maybe they would be better off colouring in a picture of Ronald McDonald in a soulless plastic hole? I can't think of anywhere that offers such a lot for children without charging an entrance fee so us reasonable local folk overlook the odd broken toy……………. Anyway, the food is scrummy (and totally caters for people on a budget) and if you dont get there in time for lunch then a couple of slices of Annes famous courgette bread or homemade cake (at least 5 or 6 different kinds )go down a treat with a cuppa. We all look forward to our visits, knowing the kiddies will eat well and play happily in a safe environment where they feel very welcome. Thanks Anne!!

I'll start by acknowledging that I'm the minority here and likely to be shot down for the comments. But it's an honest review, and the first I've ever done.When some friends discovered we were holidaying in Suffolk, they gushed about the Pit Stop Cafe and how we should make a beeline for it. The safe play area and availability of bikes were the main selling points, along with the good value food. This is why we were disappointed...The tennis courts were full and folk looked like they were having a great time. The courts looked in great condition and my kids were itching to have a game. So, for those aiming for a bit of court action will be delighted. The kids were also very safe I felt, and knew there would be no way for them to wander or be snatched. So, this bit was spot on as well. Now for the gripes...Every single bike that fitted my 6 & 7 year olds had punctures, and many of those had brakes that weren't working. I went to the cafe owner and offered to pump up the tyres and sort the brakes out, but I was told there were no tools and the pump had been stolen. Looking at the condition of the tyres, they hadn't been pumped for several months, so ample time to buy a new pump if it had indeed been swiped. This is possibly the first bit we'll get shot down for, but my argument is that if you're providing something as a selling point, then it should work. Being fair though, if you have toddlers they'll be delighted with the toys on offer for them and you'll have a coffee in peace. Now onto the prices:I didn't consider the grub to be good value. It was around the £5-£6 mark for a small baguette, so for a family of five on a cheap & cheerful break, a light lunch for over £30 (considering drinks were £1 for the cheapest items) is rather steep. We're not the kind of family who live in McD's, but if you consider the entire family could be totally filled up there for a tenner less, hopefully you can see my point. Again, I may be shot down by those thinking this is acceptable: we were on a campsite that was £11 a night. So for us, a light lunch worth three days' accommodation was too much. Needless to say, we only had a drink each after seeing what was on offer.The wife had a coffee which was instant. Again, a little gripe that many would argue with. But for prices similar to Costa, I was hoping for something that may have come from a coffee machine, rather than granules from an urn.It was then that I realised they are campaigning for electricity, so they were actually surviving on gas (which would explain the warm cans). In that respect, they're doing really well and we supported them in their fundraising to get some sparks. For me though, you can't charge the prices other places charge if you don't offer what they're offering. I can see how the place can be charming with all of its character - but for me, the character needs to be functioning. There were just too many things that looked like they were great a couple of seasons ago, but in need of some attention in 2015.I'm probably well shot down now, but I've been as honest as possible, while doing my best to acknowledge the good points.Needless to say, we won't be going back but I'm sure others will be chuffed to bits...if they have more cash than us, are happy to drink warm cans of fizz and overlook things that look like they were once working well.Sorry :(

Would never have come across this place if it want for someone telling me about it. Ideal place for families with young children whose parents want a game if tennis. Lots of toys to keep kids entertained for a while. Food is always excellent and enjoyed by all.

If you like tennis, if you have children, if you just want a cup of tea and a roll or cake. Tennis courts add a further dimension as do the very safe play area's for children with an abundance of suitable toys. The staff are also very friendly and welcoming.

We arrived at the Pit Stop on a rainy Southwold Sunday on the recommendation of the Tourist Information Centre and found it to be the only place in town that would accommodate our group of 12 for full English breakfasts. The breakfasts really hit the spot and we were treated to live choral music by Music Vox. Epic. Frankly, the Sunday would've been an absolute nightmare had we not found the Pit Stop.

This is the most unique, beautiful and tranquil place. On my most recent visit, the children went off exploring, then played tennis while we read the papers under an impossibly blue sky, surrounded by the sound of skylarks and the coconut scent of the gorse flowers. The food was delicious, fresh and well cooked using good quality locally sourced produce. We had cooked breakfasts. The homemade courgette bread was fantastic. It's a wonderful place to stop, and shelter mid way across Southwold Common on your way to the harbour, or to Walberswick. The children are kept busy with lots of outdoor and indoor games, puzzles, toys and books, and there are papers for the adults. The cafe is in a old sports pavilion, which has been beautifully preserved and carefully looked after by Anne. It's as if the clock has stopped sometime during the 1950's, but with better food. Anne looks after this place so beautifully, she deserves a medal for her services to children and stressed out parents. It is really special place with proper home cooked food, and wonderful service. I hope it never changes.

looking out over the golf course and tennis courts eating a full English breakfast is great.Lots to do for the kids and good value for money

Arrived at 10am on 29th July 2013. Deserted but on closer inspection 1 member of staff was opening up. Shortly after second member arrived. Place was clean and presentable. We ordered 3 breakfasts with tea/coffee. These came in a timely manner and were very good, particularly the sausages.My only gripe is that the staff were obviously having an off day as one member of staff moaned about the other as to where they had been. And when my daughter wanted a straw we were told "We don't have any" You could cut the air with a knife. And the moaning about the cheese not being on the shopping list. We had to ask ourselves how our breakfast was as no one seemed to care!Apart from this it seems to be a popular place, but a one off for me just for the customer service, or rather lack of!

Visited the Pit Stop Café today - a nice welcome and plenty of shade in the veranda and marquee, excellent sandwich, nice breeze, good place to get out of the sun and away from the beach, plenty of tea!.A whole room full of games, toys, books for children and plenty of space for activities.

We visited the Pit Stop in Southwold regularly whilst on holiday. The breakfast was very reasonably priced for Southwold. Delicious scrambled eggs, baked beans, mushrooms and granary toast, rounded off with a lovely cup of tea. There is a good variety of cakes, sandwiches and other foods. The Pit Stop is a hidden gem in Southwold. Dogs are most welcome in the covered enclosure.