Heritage Cafe at Samlesbury Hall

Heritage Cafe at Samlesbury Hall reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

1. TK

   TerryK

   Derbyshire8 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 25, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   A lovely cafe , good choice of menu and good quality food. The best feature was the staff who were excellent. Very pleasant and friendly and very efficient, but also they gave us time before and after the meal, as it was a " meet up" with an old friend. Thank you
   

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2. TR

   TinaR

   Lancashire1 review

   4.0

   Dined on April 14, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Dog friendly cafe, good service & staff friendly. Good menu choice & food was nice. Only 4 stars as the cake I had was a little dry. It is quite pricey & a very busy cafe which did affect the noise level but I guess as it was a weekend you’d expect that and it’s possibly quieter on weekdays. Overall enjoyed our visit & would go again.
   

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3. JR

   JulieR

   Cheshire1 review

   3.0

   Dined on April 7, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   The main reason for the low score is because of my meal. I ordered Moroccan couscous salad with feta cheese and falafel, the falafel were rock hard (burnt on the outside) when they came and I mentioned it to the waitress who at first said that was how they should be then came back and offered to bring some more out, which was good, I also asked at the same time for some salad dressing as it was so dry and which she obliged with. It was a mustard dressing which I didn’t think really went with the meal but didn’t say anything as it had been too problematic already. What I did say when paying was I thought the meal was poor because the salad part was just a pile of rocket lettuce on top of some couscous from a packet with cheese and falafel around the edge. It was very dry until I asked for the dressing which didn’t really go, balsamic would have worked better, I was really disappointed as I thought there would have been chopped tomatoes, cucumber, onion, pepper, chick peas etc to make a salad, other peoples meals looked good, the person on the till said she would let the chef know, my husband’s meal was jacket potato was cheaper than my meal and far more nicer and great value for money. It was a shame as I had booked the meal for our anniversary and I was really looking forward to eating there after a lovely walk around the hall earlier, I would suggest that the meal was taken off the menu or the salad part improved, there was a huge amount of feta cheese on the plate far too much for one person to eat so could reduce this and improve the salad, as to me a salad isn’t a pile of rocket, it’s so dry on its own like that too.
   

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4. SV

   SVJO

   Manchester1 review

   2.0

   Dined on March 10, 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 1

   Wouldn't recommend for a special occasion, although cafe is fine for an everyday visit. Booked for Mother's Day as family members wanted a meal rather than afternoon tea, but really wish we'd gone for the tea in the hall instead. The cafe is not really suited to an occasion experience - too many plastic plants! Was our first time visiting and did not realise it was situated so far from the hall. It is basically a completely separate venue with a separate car park and so doesn't even feel as though you are visiting Salmesbury Hall. Staff were really rushed and we waited ages to be served drinks - ordered on arrival and didn't actually get them so had to order again at the table. Our server was really good however and we did receive our food promptly. Food was ok - would have hoped for more than one veggie option. Our mums had the beef of which there was plenty, but it looked really thick and tough. It seemed more of a venue for families and dogs are also allowed. Price of meal was ok and good how you could choose between 2 or 3 courses with the Mother's Day menu. Musician was a nice touch and helped to cover the background noise. Overall, it seemed a bit chaotic, although there were lots of staff around. I guess it's about expectations and what you are looking for. I think for people with children or in a group, this would maybe have been a good option, but for us it wasn't really the treat experience were were hoping for.
   

   Heritage Cafe at Samlesbury HallResponded on March 12, 2024

   Thank you for your review, we appreciate that the Heritage Cafe may not have been what you were expecting but there's no cafe in our 700 year old Hall. The plants aren't plastic - we have a strict watering schedule. As you are no doubt aware, Mother's Day is the busiest day of the hospitality year and it sounds like there may have been a small wait for your drinks for which we apologise. We're glad you received your delicious food promptly. On the menu we had 4 choices for each course, with 3 veggie starters, 2 veggie mains + 3 veggie puddings - we try really hard to accommodate everybody's tastes but understandably we can't please all the people all of the time. Overall we're pleased you enjoyed lunch and we hope you can visit again. Perhaps try our delicious afternoon teas next year?
   

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5. OM

   OxMan

   Manchester1 review

   2.0

   Dined on March 9, 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   Where do I start with this horrendous experience. Pre booked mother days about 4 weeks ago for a really special day with my mum. The website said mother day so I picked the date and time. The reservation all confirmed. Arrived 12.45pm, were we where taken to the table and on the table were standard menus sandwiches etc. Told my mum we’ve booked mother day, so the staff gave us the mother day menus. 15 minutes later the waiter took our order. 5 minutes later we where told the mother day menu isnt available on Saturday. This special day surely can’t get worst. The staff didn’t have a clue about anything. Training or communication doesn’t seem to be one of there values. We ordered from the standard menu. It got to 13.20pm and our drinks still haven’t arrived. I got up to ask the staff about our drinks order which did and follow shortly after. Later tables started to get there food delivered to their table so we waited and waited. This was disappointing so I went up again and asked if they could check. Nobody returned to inform us. At 13.45pm the food arrived it was ok, but not special. I asked for the manager who didn’t seem to be available so I spoke the assistant manager who agreed to deduct off our drinks, which I thought was a good jester but should have been slightly more. She waffled a load of rubbish, so I just paid £33 for a homemade pie that’s didn’t look homemade. The good things the company I had didn’t spoil my day to much. The hospitality industry is being challenged with prices rises etc if this place wasn’t a charity I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t survive. You can have a great brand but if the staff haven’t a clue this brand will slowly get tarnished.
   

   Heritage Cafe at Samlesbury HallResponded on March 11, 2024

   Hello Oxman, thank you for your review. As explained to you on your visit, we don't serve the Mother's Day menu on days that aren't Mother's Day (when you visited). You requested to see the Mother's Day menu and our staff obliged, but we have been advertising the menu for a few months and this isn't an unusual request. It was not offered to you to choose from on the day. We understand you may have been disappointed, but our usual menu is much larger and with more choice on less busier days, so don't feel this would have ruined your day. The handcrafted pie does not cost £33, nor do we state it is a homemade pie (a fantastic local pie man makes these for us).
   

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6. S

   Sulune

   Manchester1 review

   4.0

   Dined on March 3, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great service and a nice atmosphere. The lunch menu had plenty of choice.
   

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7. CT

   ChristineT

   San Francisco1 review

   4.0

   Dined on February 25, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Very light,airy, well decorated environment. A recommended place & especially in the nicer weather as there is lots of outside seating. The bathroom facilities were excellent. Always a sign of a well run/attention to detail establishment. Do not think the name ‘cafe’ reflects the ‘personality’ of the place.
   

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8. JT

   JanetT

   London7 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on February 23, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   I have eaten here several times and the food has always been excellent, however today the food and the service was not up to standard. The plates didn’t look as appetising. My jacket potato and beans were cold, there was little cheese and salad and this dish was not up to the usual standard. The cake we had was very dry. I don’t know if there was a different chef on today.
   

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9. C

   Cathelizm

   Manchester2 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on February 23, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Nice bright venue. Warm welcome from staff. Food arrived promptly- hot & tasty pie of the day.
   

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10. L

    Lynne

    San Francisco3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 22, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Great food lovely staff couldn’t fault our visit.
    

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