Cakes & Ale

+44 7434 668081

17-19 Castle St, Carlisle CA3 8SY United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Open Today: -

Cakes & Ale Info

17-19 Castle St, Carlisle CA3 8SY United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
+44 7434 668081
[email protected]

Amenities

From the business

Identifies as women-owned

Service options

Outdoor seating
Takeaway
Dine-in

Highlights

Great tea selection
Live performances

Accessibility

Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Wheelchair-accessible toilet

Offerings

Alcohol
Beer
Coffee
Free water refills
Kids' menu
Prepared foods
Small plates
Vegetarian options
Wine

Dining options

Breakfast
Lunch
Dessert
Seating

Amenities

Good for kids
High chairs
Toilets
Wi-Fi

Atmosphere

Casual
Cosy

Crowd

Family friendly
Groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Transgender safe space

Payments

Debit cards
NFC mobile payments

Best PlaceJuice Reviews

The atmosphere is great, love the quirkiness of the cafe. However as a regular customer I've seen a decline in service and food on offer over the last year. A few months ago l was told there would be a 45 minute wait for a sandwich when the cafe was not heaving with customers! We walked out. Recently the quality of food on offer has not been good and often there are still long waits. It's such a shame as this was my favourite cafe.

Met with some friends while visiting for Christmas - had an amazing turkey/stuffing/cranberry ciabatta with gravy. Still thinking about it 12 hours later, absolutely lush. Also make a mean cup of tea and very friendly staff.

No longer living local and was in town so visited my 'favourite' cafe - massively gutted to find it in new hands - big shoes to fill after the previous owners built up some amazing work even winning Gold in Carlisle Livings Awards.

Now table service - would help if there were signs this is the case for both customers and your sake, saves on the snotty response from yourselves.

Menus don't have times on when the warm/more wholesome food is served.

Drinks are very over priced - in comparison to other independent local cafes that also do loose leaf tea and also serve local John Watt & Son coffee. Hot chocolate good quality but the flat white served for the price could have better coffee art and be served hotter.

The ambiance has changed in the cafe - it was freezing! I noticed that a lot of customers were actually sitting with their jackets on - the point of a coffee shop on a cold day is to be able to go in and warm up. Was never cold in winter previously.

No music! There was zero atmosphere except from being able to hear banging, whizzing of machines and chatting of the two cafe workers. Takes zero effort to stick on some music when the cafe had been open since 09:30.

Will stick to visiting just Bookends now.

Always such a friendly atmosphere and welcoming....with wonderful array of cakes and teas

Great Cafe, cracking food and a lovely sun trap garden in the back. Loved to fruit trees, which hopefully can be used to make some chutney to serve with the food.

Great place to come have local cup of tea and scone. Friendly staff, beautiful historical building with fantastic vibes ☕

Excellent salads worth the visit alone. Coffee, tea and scones show a consistently high standard of food and service. Recommended.

Really tasty sandwich - the Attwood (all named and with literary connections). Brie, avocado and chilli jam. Washed down with a Blacksail from Hesket Newmarket Brewery.

Quick Facts About Cakes & Ale

Cakes & Ale place has received a mix of positive and negative comments from customers. In order to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the cafe, we will examine each comment and identify recurring themes.

One recurring theme in the comments is the positive atmosphere of the cafe. Several customers mention the welcoming and friendly atmosphere of the cafe, which contributes to a positive dining experience. The quirkiness of the cafe is also mentioned, suggesting that it adds to the unique ambiance of the place.

On the other hand, there are multiple comments about a decline in service and food quality over time. One customer notes that they were told there would be a 45 minute wait for a sandwich even though the cafe was not busy. This suggests a decline in efficiency and customer service. Another customer mentions that the quality of food has not been good lately and that long waits are common. These comments indicate that there may be issues with consistency and overall quality in the cafe.

A customer who visited during Christmas had a positive experience with the turkey/stuffing/cranberry ciabatta and praised it as "absolutely lush." They also mentioned that the staff was friendly and that the cafe makes a mean cup of tea. This suggests that the cafe is capable of providing delicious food and maintaining good customer service at times.

However, there are also complaints about the cafe's new management. One customer expresses disappointment that the cafe is under new ownership after the previous owners had built up a strong reputation. They mention that the previous owners had even won an award. This implies that the cafe may have lost some of its charm or quality under new management.

Several comments address specific issues or weaknesses in the cafe's operations. One customer complains about the lack of signage indicating that there is now table service, leading to confusion and frustration. Another customer mentions that the menu does not specify when warm or more wholesome food is served, which could lead to disappointment for customers expecting certain options. Pricing is also mentioned as an issue, with drinks being described as overpriced compared to other local cafes. The quality of the coffee art and the temperature of the flat white are also criticized. Additionally, one customer notes that the cafe has become colder in the winter and suggests that the ambiance has suffered as a result. The lack of music is also mentioned as a negative aspect, as it contributes to a lack of atmosphere.

Despite these weaknesses, there are positive comments about specific food items. One customer praises the salads, calling them excellent and worth the visit alone. Another customer specifically mentions a tasty sandwich and recommends it. These comments suggest that the cafe is capable of producing delicious and high-quality food items.

In conclusion, Cakes & Ale place has a positive atmosphere and friendly staff, which contribute to a welcoming experience for customers. However, there are concerns about a decline in service and food quality over time. Issues with efficiency, consistency, and pricing have been mentioned. The cafe has also undergone a change in management, which has led to disappointment for some customers. Despite these weaknesses, positive comments about specific food items indicate that the cafe is capable of producing delicious food. Overall, the cafe may need to address the issues raised by customers in order to improve its offerings and regain its previous reputation.