West Wing Restaurant in St Edmundsbury

Rude and very unfriendly staff , food was way below average , Has gone down hill over the years , just like many other national trust cafe , national trust sanwiches served in carboard packaging are simply awful , would recomend to take your own food and drinks because going to the cafe will ruin your day for sure

Staff seemed uninterested we serving our coffee's. Tea room very clean,with loads setting available. Our two coffee's were hot and tasted lovely.

Dreadful staff. Queued at 11:45 and was told "didnt do hot food till midday. Went out for 15 minutes and was then told they didn't have kids lunchboxes, they had 2 types of sandwich, neither suitable for children. Apparently, all food is pre-made, so couldn't make bacon toastie without brie or chutney for a child. Teenage girl at checkout was very unprofessional. Asked me for my table nunber, as you are meant to find a table first. There was no sign to tell customers. I said 2nd on the left and teenager said whats the table number? So I went to find a table, because she didnt know what "2nd on the left meant", and whilst I was doing that she was sniggering and smirking with another teenager, presumably at my frustration. I then asked for the manager who did little except to say "will pass on my comments". Clearly not a manager. The food was quite nice when it arrived, but dont expect a childs jacket potato to have coleslaw and rocket all over it. Its nice for adults, but DEFINITELY not child friendly.

Considering how well-staffed this café is, it’s actually impressive that their service is so bad. Despite having multiple members of staff behind the counter, only one till was open so the queue moved at a glacial pace. By the time it was our turn to order, over half the dishes on the menu had sold out (barely an hour into their lunch service!) and they then had to refund all the people ahead of us who’d ordered things that had run out, which slowed them down even more. After paying, we stood waiting for our coffee but noticed the two staff members manning the coffee machine hadn’t moved - apparently the guy who took our money didn’t bother to communicate our order - so we had to go back up to the counter and prompt them to make it. All in all, it took 30+ mins for one flat white, a few soft drink cans and some packets of crisps, and we left the place as hungry as when we arrived. Not a single apology was uttered for the long wait, the dwindling food options or the missed coffee order. And don’t even get me started on how overpriced everything is! Safe to say we won’t be coming back here in a hurry.

The food is quite expensive, and unfortunately not local. I really liked my croque and cake, but my sister and brother-in-law did not enjoy their meals at all. I recommended taking a packed lunch, but no one wanted to carry it around. There are no prices available online, so I took pictures of the food and menu available at the time in the hope that it will be useful for future visitors. I think the restaurant could be made bigger and have a broader selection personally.

Lovely cafe shame my coffee cup wasn’t full, I love a cappuccino. Unfortunately this time it was a big let down

West wing cafe has Good food and coffee, light meals, sandwiches, cakes, cold drinks. A bit pricey though. Great atmosphere.

Being National Trust I looked for “local” produced items on the menu. I didn’t see anything. I asked a member of of staff if the sandwiches and snacks are made on site and she relied no, I think they are brought in daily from somewhere up north. How disgraceful to trunk down hundreds of sandwiches daily when it’s a product that could and should be made fresh on site. I suppose it’s easy to buy ready made sandwiches from “up north” than to make them fresh. Clearly this organisation has no interest in supporting local business. There are several “local” coffee roasters and suppliers and I bet not one of them have been approached .. we left without buying anything. Disgraceful .,

There is also the fascinating National Trust house to visit, as well as extensive and beautiful grounds including the estate church.

My husband, toddler and I ate lunch here twice the past few days when we were staying next door at the Ickworth Hotel. Yes the menu is quite small and the queues can be long but there's lots of friendly helpful staff serving as quickly as possible. The cafe is clean and well maintained and the outdoor seating overlooking the gardens is wonderful.

A lovely Cafe and cracking outdoor terrace - but not if you have a dog. Your only concession is the Porters Lodge Cafe which is a hole in the wall kiosk tucked under trees next to the car park. Why on earth can you not use the main cafe terrace ? Compare this to Say Sutton Hoo - fabulous cafe which welcomes all dogs inside and out. As a result we will not be returning to this particular national trust property until they catch up with pretty much every other similar establishment out there. Poor show.

There are always long long queues, even before covid. The choice is limited and the prices, especially for sandwiches and childrens portions ridiculously expensive. Had to return a meal once as their was plastic found in it. At one time you could count on something decent from a Trust cafe but apparently they are now standardised but not for the better. The staff are polite enough but not enthusiastic. We give it a miss now. The Porters Lodge and a picnic is the way to go.

The choice of food on offer is so limited. It is as if no-one has any actual cooking experience and simply wants to serve 'hot' food that can sit for hours, e.g. sausage roll, soup, or baked potato. Maybe it is Brexit, maybe it is Covid, or maybe it is lack of ambition and laziness. It was the same poor food offering at Sutton Hoo yesterday. Someone at the National Trust needs to up their game and stop taking visitors for granted.

We're regular visitors to this fantastic NT house and park. We visited most recently for my wife's birthday. We ate in the West Wing cafe, where the food was excellent (some truly fab vegan options), where the serving staff are so friendly and helpful, and Jordan, with an act of kindness, even gave my wife a scone with all the works for her birthday. Thank you for a wonderful day!

Went with friends and had a poor selection . We had tuna jackets but quite small with two lettuce leaves as a salad and drink bottles on a hot day admittedly were barely cool . We had coffees an teas on arrival which was okay but could and would not recommend a Main meal

We were a group of 4 - popped in for a cup of tea Excellent service and a lovely cuppa Very helpful staff

We visited here after our tour of the house. What a lovely setting.....we ate outside as it was a lovely sunny day. There is an indoor cafe and then a Long conservatory where you can sit and admire the view....would be nice on a colder day. Really enjoyed the cheese scones...staff excellent...,even got a slice of lemon with my earl grey tea! Decent prices too.

Visited the café during a weekend visit to the estate. Staff friendly, scones excellent and you can sit looking out over the garden.

Excellent choice of scones, cake, sandwiches, hot food, coffees, teas and cold drinks. You can sit inside the cafe or out in the orangery or even outside when it’s nice. Staff very friendly.

Great place to refuel after an extensive walk of some of the grounds at Ickworth. Plenty of choice but recommend the scones - flavour of the day was toffee apple! We managed to get a table in the conservatory so were treated to wonderful sunny views of the garden.

Good service and a choice of delicious cakes and scones for afternoon tea. Sat in the conservatory area overlooking the beautiful grounds of the Italian garden.

Only called in for a coffee and cake which were both very good. If you are lucky to grab a seat in the former orangery at the front of the cafe then you will get to enjoy the garden and the sunshine.

Standard NT cafe with decent specials (brisket in a bun on the day we visited) with views of the Italian garden. Poor choice for children who can't tolerate gluten though. Both pasta choices had no gf option and the highly desirable picnic boxes were only gluten free if you missed out the sandwich. Not uncommon at NT properties but disappointing nonetheless. Jacket potatoes are gluten free but not as exciting as the children's menu but obviously fine for adults/older children. Two gf cakes on offer but a pity the gf offering is always the dessert!

A typical National Trust cafe serving light lunches and a good selection of snacks and drinks. Very nice surroundings in the West Wing of the Ickworth House with the Rotunda adjoining. The café is modern and contains a lot of seating. Additional seating is available in the narrow orangery that borders the café and, if the weather is fine, outside, with stunning views of the Italianate garden and Rotunda. A good selection of cakes and scones as you would expect with any NT café, together with soups, baked potatoes and some more local specialities. Not cheap, but all profits go toward maintaining the property so you are effectively helping to safeguard the house for generations to come. Very friendly service, queues can be long at peak times - best to avoid 12:30 to 2pm for a more relaxed experience.

Not usual standard of National Trust attraction. My jacket potato was brown inside so not freshly cooked.Most visitors relied on getting food here so was very busy.Staff very polite despite being overworked.What a pity such a stunning historical building should have a cafe resembling a canteen rather than tea rooms.

A very pleasant and spacous restaurant with sensible pricing and nice food. The only downside was the lack of enough tray holders for finished meals. People were milling around trying to find somewhere to deposit their trays

just a tea or a full blown meal it is good value and up to NT standards. We went there at least twice during the day and had to wait less than 2 mins to be served.

We enjoyed our food at the West Wing Cafe. The soup (Pea and Mint) was nice and was served with a big chunk of bread. The prices were the usual for a National Trust property i.e. not particularly cheap. The staff serving in the cafe were very pleasant and friendly.

Disappointed. The jacket potato and beans were so small it could have been a child’s portion and my egg mayonnaise sandwich had the filling put in the middle but nothing round the edges at all.

On a recent visit to Ickworth House we needed sustenance as the Rotunda was so good we spent more time that we thought, lunch and loos became a necessity!

Excellent food, fantastic local sourced produce, I would eat their everyday if I could. Amazing location.

Over the years we had lunched in the cafe many times.

We had the potato skins, a cheese scone, and a vanilla & lavender scone, all of which were amazing.

We went for a very special occasion and it was dreadful. Food was expensive, tasteless and very slowly served. Would never eat there again;

Range of food on offer was predictable, pricey and not great quality. Went for some heritage tomato soup. Love the way words like 'heritage' and the like are used to sell tat as upmarket. This was no exception - soup was watery and tasteless and not cheap. Guessing this cafe is run 'in house', i.e. by the National Trust itself rather than tenants. When we've visited National Trust cafes run by tenants, food and range on offer has been vastly better.

Very busy cafe , staff amazing , food over priced and potato skins inedible sent them back . Blicking and felbrigg cafes are far superior

Great range of food and drink at very reasonable prices. I had the Lamb Ragu with fresh carrots and cabbage at a cost of £10.00 . This was excellent tasting and filling despite being a small portion. The lamb shoulder at the heart of the meal was tender and juicy with herb seasoning, The mashed potato was creamy and soft and the carrots tender and firm. This was exactly what I needed after a walk through part of the Ickworth house Estate!

Had a quick snack here with my wife - 2 Ciabatta's and bottle of sparkling water. Fairly small portions and very average, but surprised the bill came to £25.

Great for English afternoon tea scones cream and jam, or smoked mackerel pate with a glass of wine. Very good National Trust Property, well worth a Visit.

After a walk out in the cold-damp we needed something to warm us up, and the smell of the Onion and Garlic soup from the restaurant was compelling...and very nice. The service was fine, although food/drink a little bit overpriced. The Orangery is a nice place to sit, although the restaurant itself is more of a canteen vibe.

The lunch I had in this restaurant rates as one of my worst lunching experiences ever. Massively overpriced, enormously unfriendly staff and patronising waiter. I did write to the manager to let him know how appalled I was by the lunch I had here. He did not have the courtesy to respond. I am not one for posting damming reviews, hence the letter to the restaurant rather than rushing straight onto trip advisor. However the fact that no one has replied in six weeks I think shows the true care that this place has for guests. Jam pots on the table at lunch time - really? Save your money and lunch elsewhere. I assure you it will be better than spending £18 on a very average vegetarian main course here.

We visited in September for a friends birthday there were 6 of us and we were seated in the Orangery.

We had a lunch here and the sandwiches were good. The tea and scones were really good. It was very busy but staff coped well and service good. Would be back if that way again.

WE called in for a cuppa and scones before the tour of the house.. We sat in the "corridor" on the sofa, with views over the lawn, as it was a bit too breezy to sit outside.. Lovely food, nice pleasant staff, good service... Then came back later for a pot of tea... Reasonably priced for a NT cafe...

Tuvimos un almuerzo durante nuestro viaje a Ickworth, el personal era muy servicial y educado. la comida, una chaqueta de patata y ensalada mixta y un quiche pimienta y sala, d era precioso. fue una buena relación calidad-precio y comimos fuera. La comida llegó y...

Bien hecho NT para catering para estrictos, de ninguna manera, pero estrictos deben ser conscientes de que si llegan antes o después del período de calor sirven, no hay nada para usted o sus hijos.

Tuvimos un agradable almuerzo para 9, incapaz de asiento en la principal zona de comedor, pero hizo una buena mesa en el comedor privado, sólo reservamos el día antes. El servicio era bueno y el personal es agradable. La comida era buena y llegó en un tiempo razonable. Preciosas vistas a los hermosos jardines, agradable almuerzo.

Nos alojamos en el hotel ickworth, así que conseguí pases para la casa y los jardines. No tenía intención de pasar mucho tiempo en la parte National Trust, pero este café es una delicia. El café es excelente (quizás un poco caro, creo que Costa) pero muy buena, los bocadillos y pasteles están super. Me señaló algunas pizzas bastante delicioso, pero lamentablemente, nos perdimos por unos minutos después de tomar nosotros mismos para una paseo en bicicleta 7 milla. Es una pena, tenía muchas ganas de probar uno. Las comidas y las bebidas con buena pinta, sin duda fue siempre muy ocupados en allí durante los dos días de fin de semana que visitamos. La otra cosa agradable es poder sentarse en uno de los pasillos largos con ventanas del piso al techo y mirar los hermosos jardines. Hay mesas y sillas afuera en la terraza si el tiempo lo permite. En general, un lugar encantador para refrescos.

We were given an afternoon tea voucher for Christmas and decided to use it as a birthday treat in April. The dining room was about half full when we arrived and everyone seemed to be having afternoon tea. We were seated next to a window, thankfully the door was open as it was an unseasonably warm day. We were offered a variety of teas or coffee. Then after a short wait the food arrived, we assume the sandwiches were very fresh as the bread was delightfully soft and we were advised that if we required more we should just ask. We had ham, cucumber, egg mayo and the most delightful smoked salmon sandwiches, you can guess which ones we asked for more of. The sandwiches went down a treat and the scones were lovely and fresh and slightly warm. Everyone in the restaurant asked for boxes to take the remainder away, and there was such a lovely selection of cakes that we did the same. Unlimited tea or coffee was also available. The waitresses were so helpful and friendly and the place was spotless. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to treat ourselves again later in the a year. Highly recommended.

Very good cream tea with homemade scones and Cornish cream. Cream had run out in the restaurant so staff made sure more was available from the store. Very good menu and tempted to return at lunchtime

Delightful staff great foodVery clean with really comfortable chairs and decor.Well worth a visit whilst you visit the house

A great setting with a variety of places to eat. It is clearly popular which means there can be a wait at busy times. The half jacket potato was outstanding value and the chocolate brownie was enormous. Nice teas from Taylors of Harrogate meant that this was a perfect lunch stop in wonderful surrounds.

A good sized restaurant within Ickworth House, besides the internal room there is also a passageway along the back which offers great views of the garden and further outside seating for the warmer weather. We were only there for a light snack and opted for a sausage roll which wasn’t great to be honest – we asked for it to be warmed and it came back from soggy, and the sausage seemed mass produced. Not what you’d expect from the NT. The sandwiches were pretty decent though, if a little on the expensive side, and we enjoyed a proper apple juice to go with it. All in all, a great setting, but maybe the food needs a bit of work.

They served one of the Best Cup of teas that I have had plus the Fruit Scone was huge , very enjoyable quick snack.

We arrived at Ickworth with time to spare, so, what better excuse is needed to get a cup of tea?The 1st impressions of the resaurant are good, it was clean, busy (but not silly busy) and we'll staffed with 4 young ladies at the counter, ready to serve the visitors.When asked, they confirmed that;1. The fruit scones are made to the NT recipe 2. They had chocolate and orange sconesDecision made! One of each please.The fruit scone was right up to scratch, nicEly crisp on the outside, light and fluffy inside and served gently warm . . . . Excellent.One of the better scones I have been servedThe chocolate and orange scone was surprisingly good. Not too much chocolate and not too much orange, but, a nicely balanced taste.Unlike the fruit scone, I would not want more than one of the chocolate and orange scones, just because more would be too much of both flavoursThis is a very pleasant stop, conveniently placed close to the house entrance and right on an access to the gardens.We will certainly visit when we next come to Ickworth (which will probably be in a couple of months, with our eldest grandson)

Food was as expected for National Trust but the staff could have been better here. Weren't very attentive and unwilling to assist.

This restaurant is attached to the Rotunda, you may have to queue at busy times but when you reach the counter you will be pleased with the variety of food and drinks available. They do a good sausage roll.

Queued half an hour for lunch even though restaurant half empty due to inefficient staff and lack of organisation. Dirty plates and trays left on floor and tables while staff wandered around apparently aimlessly completely unaware of their surroundings. No sign of a Supervisor. Food average, not worth the wait.

Reasonable prices and good selection, however it was very busy. We had a really nice soup for lunch. Prompt service

On prompt arrival at 12 o`clock the restaurant was already full, but that is to be expected in the half term holidays. This probably also accounted for the burger option no longer being available on the menu, although it was only half way through the week. Of the two remaining "main course" choices two of us chose "Beef and Ale pie with veg".When this arrived the pie contents were contained in a small dish on top of which was perched a smaller triangle of "puff" pastry. Accepting that many eateries have now redefined a pie by adding the pastry after the cooking when it should of course, have been included in the cooking process, at least they have had the courtesy to provide a pastry lid that actually covered the contents. The veg consisted of a goodly mound of potatoes and a small spoonful of beans which regrettably didn`t help my "low carb" diet.On the other hand, I must acknowledge that the staff were working as efficiently as could be expected and our meals arrived quite promptly and hot. So would we go again? I regret to say certainly not during school holidays. Apart from the National Trust needing to up their game as far as the food was concerned, the atmosphere was crowded and noisy. Those that looked in at the restaurant and then left to find something at local hostelries would almost certainly have made a wise choice on this occasion.

Service was chaotic and not very enticing.On a busy Saturday in October should have adjusted staff and food accordingly.

Probably one of the best looking National Trust restaurant / tea rooms we've visited. A great selection of homemade treats on offer and a nice environment, inside or out in which to enjoy them. We had 2 pots of Earl Grey Tea, 2 Kids Hot Chocolates, a Brownie, a slab of Victoria Sponge Cake and 2 x Apple Crumble Muffins and everything was very good indeed and cost a reasonable £17.40 Would certainly dine here again if visiting the splendid NT Ickworth House and Gardens.

Went here today and to sum up I would say prices are very reasonable and plenty of choice of home made food, however my jacket potato with chilli beans was only luke warm, have encountered this before, guess I should have complained but the staff are so rushed off their feet and £4.95 for a filled jacket (albeit barely warm) is not breaking the bank. Next time will either have a sandwich or take my own.

The restaurant had been recommended to us so we decided to try it for lunch. Fortunately we had decided on a reasonably early lunch and soon after we were seated the queues extended out of the door. There is a queueing system where you order and pay for food which is then delivered to your table by, we think, volunteers ( who also clear the tables. The food was quite good and fairly quick to arrive. The dining area is quite large and comfortable. Staffing at the counter seems a little chaotic and this probably why it takes a while to clear the queues. On balance if visiting Ickworth again we would eat here again.

Pleasant airy rooms but not what we were expecting at all. Friends had recommended the restaurant as one you would visit for the good food even if you weren't planning to visit the house! We were expecting a pleasant lunch similar to ones we had enjoyed at other NT houses such as Wimpole House or Killerton, but it was mainly snacky food such as baked potatoes or sausage & mash. Even afternoon tea was disappointing, when we called in at 4pm there were no fruit scones, & very little choice of cake. Not at all up to the usual excellent NT standards.

Unlike other reviewers we have in the past enjoyed breakfasts and lunches here. On sunday we were told the national trust were back in charge but there was no bacon roll for a tenthirty breakfast. The much smaller coastguard cottages at dunwich could certainly teach them a lesson. And at dunwich three very well presented sausage rolls are available. Here we had a poor quality sausage roll, a delicios feta and olive scone and a cheap white roll which ruined a fantastic cheese beetroot and relish filling. No possibility of a granery roll and at 4.75 a poor second to a granary coronation chicken sandwich again at dunwich for 3.50. We live in beccles and met my daughter from london at ickworth for the day. We left once ready for lunch as we were not going to eat in the west wing a second time. Very disappointed national trust members

This restaurant has changed markedly since last year and is now offering much better and tastier product along with very good service . I haven't eaten a lunch here yet but I have had various afternoon treats and snacks all of which have been delicious and served with a smile ! Ickworth is a stunning location and deserves a top notch dining experience for its visitors

Self service now with soup and snacks. Rather naughty cakes that are not good for the waist! Lovely keen friendly staff.

Only eaten a light lunch here / nothing amazing but it was good enough food in very pleasant surroundings. Not supposed to be fine dining so didnt expect that.

This restaurant has just reopened and I was told by the staff is now run in house rather than by an external contractor..The seating area hasn't changed much but the addition of some brightly coloured settees adds a more relaxed feel. The display of shop goods is attractive and encourages you to have a look in the shop on your way out. The staff are very friendly and happy which makes for a good atmosphere. The food was however disappointing. Some over cooked some undercooked. Roast veg that was tasteless and appeared more boiled than roasted except the mushrooms that were raw.. Quiche with a tasty topping but a soggy raw bottom. One of my cousins had the " one pot" it was overcooked, dry and only lukewarm. Come on you can do a lot better.. We have another family trip planned next month and will try again!

We sat for 15 minutes waiting for someone to take our order, in the end we decamped to the hotel in the East Wing. The only thing I can say is that the restaurant did us a favour by allowing us to discover this wonderful hotel and it lunchtime menuForget this restaurant, they think that they have a captive audience and act accordingly

Our lunch here was not outstanding in anyway, but it was fine for a lunch on the road. The house is worth the visit and having lunch was an added necessity.

I didn't enjoy this restaurant for lunch , the salmon was so overlooked that it would have been better to play frisbee with it instead of attempting to eat it . Having said that the cake was very good, so I would recommend for tea and cake but not for a meal. The other issue is that it is expensive .

It was a Wednesday when we had a light lunch here, the Cafe wasn't open so we tried the West Wing. The Tea was typical tea bag in a pot job and the cakes were about average, nothing wrong with them but nothing brilliant either, looking at other plates of food being served up on other tables we were glad we didn't opt for a full lunch. OK service,

Small, inviting and very elegant. Superb atmosphere with candle lit tables. Food was Ok and would have preferred more choice

Pleasant staff who seated then forgot us. Soup also salmon pie with salad were good, though dressing haphazardly applied. Large prawn bagette and paté were also pleasant. We gave up and fetched cutlery ourselves. Staff seemed to have no set tables, simply wandered aimlessly around. Would recommend the food.

The menu was lovely for a lunch out. Service was good and prices average. Its a nice place to rest after looking through the house and gardens

Visited on a Sunday and wanted to sit in a comfy chair in the corridor outside with a takeaway drink. This was not possible because the waitress said they were expecting large numbers of people.... There were very few people there at the time!!! Tea was good.

The west wing restaurant is part of Ickworth House. Clean, modern, varied menu, excellent staff. Second time I have been and will go again.

Waiter service National Trust cafe.Smart room built into the once empty west wing (never fininshed)Normal NT menu and prices.

This eatery serves the standard NT fare, which is always good but slightly overpriced. Since it helps maintain the fabric of the buildings and the grounds, it's an accepted charge. The food is good and tasty and served by willing and friendly staff. A very popular place, so if you want to eat at lunch time, you'll need to get there early, or you'll have to wait for a free table.

Very nice setting after a walk round the gardens, Ham, Eggs and Bubble & Squeak are really good value, I had a small portion size which was plenty for lunch and very good value for money.

On a busy Sunday this place ticked all the boxes - quick professional service, plenty of staff, pleasant environment and tasty food choices different from usual UK fare. The celeriac soup was excellent as were the roll mops on rye. Well Done!

great food and service,my wife had a problem with one dish which was exchanged with no problems ate all

Oh how things have changed at Ickworth - since the National Trust gave up running the restaurant and farmed it out to a catering company the food has steadily deteriorated.Before moving to the West Wing the restaurant was in the basement of the East wing where local women cooked delicious home made food. After speaking with staff it appears as if the main problem revolves around the number of different agency cooks being sent top Ickworth many with little understanding of the food or menu. On our last visit the sandwiches were made of stale poor quality bread and the cheese scones contained little or no cheese, herbs or mustard. For such a dreamy location the food is now so disappointing, how we miss that lovely home cooked food prepared lovingly by the ladies from the community!

My husband and I attended a wedding at ickworth House 2 weeks ago. Although it was raining the staff were really helpful and even provided umbrellas for us. We didn;t really know what to expect as we'd never been before but we had a lovely wedding breakfast and the staff were superb, nothing was too much trouble and we heard positive comments all round. The only disadvantage was that we couldn't park next to the venue and had to walk from the car park (hence the umbrellas) but other than we had a perfect day.

I have had tea/cake here many times with friends after a run in the grounds. The choice of cakes is good and service is friendly albeit with a tendency to be a bit muddled - people seated after you may be served before you, and there may be a big gap between the cakes arriving and the tea! Overall though it is a positive experience. It is a lovely setting and the shop is worth a good browse.