The Nook Farm Shop & Cafe
Quick info
About The Nook Farm Shop & Cafe
The Nook Farm Shop & Cafe sits on Castle Nook in Alston, near the start of walks to Epiacum Roman fort and close to the Pennine Way. The farm shop stocks local produce including pasta, sauce, eggs, meat, hummus and snacks alongside the cafe counter. Breakfast options run from bacon butties to the Foot Soldier's breakfast, with toast, sausage rolls, soup and toasted sandwiches through the day, plus a steak pie served with roasted carrots, parsnips and peas and a cream tea of home baked scone, clotted cream and jam. Across 43 dishes the menu covers both quick bites and sit-down plates. Service is walk-in, and the cafe opens daily during the day only. Dogs are welcome inside. Toilets are kept separate from the main cafe and remain accessible overnight to campervans using the site for parking, making it a stop for walkers heading out early toward the fort or the Pennine Way.
Good to know
- ReservationsWalk-in only
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Free parking lot · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible car park · Has wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs available · Has kids' menu
- DietaryServes vegan dishes · Serves vegetarian dishes
Menu & Prices
43 dishes · mains £4–16- Centurion Breakfast£15.50
- Foot Soldier Breakfast£11.50
- Vegetarian Breakfast£11.95
- Toast Or Beans With Eggs Of Your Choice Or Beans£4.50
- Toast£3.60
- Nutty Nook£7.95
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention cream tea scones, breakfast sandwiches, overnight motorhome parking and farm shop local produce.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention cream tea scones, breakfast sandwiches, overnight motorhome parking and farm shop local produce.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers repeatedly single out the cream teas, especially a warmed home baked scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam, as a highlight, alongside breakfast items like a breakfast sandwich and a Foot Soldier's breakfast enjoyed by walkers and motorcyclists stopping near Hartside pass. Close behind, diners praise the lemon cake, gluten free chocolate cake, and a takeaway steak pie with roasted vegetables. Several also mention the small farm shop selling local produce, pasta, sauce, eggs, meat, and hummus. The cafe draws consistent praise for friendly, efficient staff and food served piping hot even when busy, plus spotless toilets. Campervan travelers note affordable overnight parking with toilet access, calling out the fair pricing compared to campsites. Vegetarian options are noted favorably. No recurring complaints appear across the reviews. One visitor recalls being unable to sample the pastries and scones despite them looking appealing, and another mentions a difficult approach due to a road closure before finally arriving.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers repeatedly single out the cream teas, especially a warmed home baked scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam, as a highlight, alongside breakfast items like a breakfast sandwich and a Foot Soldier's breakfast enjoyed by walkers and motorcyclists stopping near Hartside pass. Close behind, diners praise the lemon cake, gluten free chocolate cake, and a takeaway steak pie with roasted vegetables. Several also mention the small farm shop selling local produce, pasta, sauce, eggs, meat, and hummus. The cafe draws consistent praise for friendly, efficient staff and food served piping hot even when busy, plus spotless toilets. Campervan travelers note affordable overnight parking with toilet access, calling out the fair pricing compared to campsites. Vegetarian options are noted favorably. No recurring complaints appear across the reviews. One visitor recalls being unable to sample the pastries and scones despite them looking appealing, and another mentions a difficult approach due to a road closure before finally arriving.
Featured reviews
- Tyvian Vigrass
“Lovely people running this wonderful cafe. One of the best cream teas i have ever had. Home baked scone was warmed and perfect. A slight crunch on the exterior with a tad salted soft warm inner. Perfect. Clotted cream…butter and tiptree strawberry jam. If it was house made jam i would give it a Michelin star… thank you.”
- Janet Bee
“Lovely little cafe with a small range of local produce for sale. Prompt and friendly service even though it was busy, but we did manage to get a table inside. Coffee and a very lovely lemon cake. A small menu of lunch items looked very tasty and I would return to try this.”
- DrWa11is
“Found this place as they offered overnight parking for campervans for a very reasonable fee with access to the toilets. The carpark is very spacious and level, with beautiful views surrounded by farmland. The toilets are absolutely immaculate. We popped in for a breakfast sandwich in the morning which was really nice, but what made it special was the atmosphere and lovely staff working there. There is information about the history of the farm and local area, and they also champion local producers with the farm shop. Due to a road closure it was tricky to get to, but so glad we persevered, as definitely worth it. Looking forward to returning in future.”
- Clary Binns
“What a lovely cafe! The toilets are separate so easy to use for walkers, definitely worth the short detour from the Pennine Way. I was able to stock up for dinner in the wee farm shop with pasta and sauce; they also had eggs, meat, hummus, and snacks. And the gluten-free chocolate cake was super tasty.”
- Yua Haw Yoe
“A lovely cafe at the start of the walk to Epiacum Roman fort. Super friendly staff, delicious food ( I had a takeaway dinner of steak pie with roasted carrots, parsnips and peas, and a Foot Soldier’s breakfast). Pastries and scones looked amazing, but no opportunity to sample.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Has great tea selection
- Popular for popular for breakfast
- Popular for popular for lunch
- Popular for popular for dinner
Amenities
- Has Wi-Fi
- Has wheelchair-accessible car park
- Free of charge street parking
- Has outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Offers takeaway
Show more amenities
- Serves dine-in
- Family friendly
- Serves vegan dishes
- Casual
- On-site services available
- Serves coffee
- Dining options· 8
- Serves breakfast
- Serves brunch
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Has catering
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Highlights· 2
- Serves great dessert
- Has great tea selection
- Crowd· 2
- Good for groups
- Popular with tourists
- Offerings· 5
- Has free water refills
- Serves healthy options
- Quick bite
- Serves small plates
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Atmosphere· 2
- Cosy
- Historic
- Parking· 3
- Free parking lot
- Paid parking lot
- Plenty of parking
- Pet-friendly· 2
- Dogs allowed inside
- Dogs allowed outside
- Popular for· 4
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Accessibility· 3
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Family-friendly· 3
- Good for kids
- High chairs available
- Has kids' menu
Location
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