REfUSE
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Quick info
About REfUSE
On Front St in Chester Le Street, REfUSE is a cafe and coffee shop at 143c, run by volunteers and built around food that would otherwise be wasted. The kitchen serves breakfast and lunch from that surplus. Some items are available on a pay-what-you-can basis, which lets visitors decide what they give for them. The cafe has also held a vegan summer tasting menu as a taster event. Food donations are accepted, and apples from a home tree are one example of what has come in.
Good to know
- ParkingUsually plenty of parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Kids' menu
- DietaryVegan options · Vegetarian options
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Menu & Prices
31 dishes- Halloumi Fries With Pomegranate & Tamarind Dip
- Minted Lamb Lollipops
- Revithosoupa - Greek Chickpea Soup
- Double Indulgent Chocolate Cheesecake
- Rose & Spice Infused Berries And Yogurt
- Caramelised Banana, Chia Pudding
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention vegan summer tasting menu, pay-what-you-can items, food waste reduction and hot lunch.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention vegan summer tasting menu, pay-what-you-can items, food waste reduction and hot lunch.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often praise the vegan summer tasting menu, calling the food fantastic, tasty and well prepared, with good portion sizes and swift service. Several describe friendly, smiling volunteers and like that the cafe uses food that would otherwise be wasted, including donated apples and take-what-you-can-pay items. One reviewer reports a Saturday breakfast that never arrived after four requests, and the staff offered no apology when they left.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often praise the vegan summer tasting menu, calling the food fantastic, tasty and well prepared, with good portion sizes and swift service. Several describe friendly, smiling volunteers and like that the cafe uses food that would otherwise be wasted, including donated apples and take-what-you-can-pay items. One reviewer reports a Saturday breakfast that never arrived after four requests, and the staff offered no apology when they left.
Featured reviews
- Wayne Mitchell
“Attended the vegan taster event, the food was fantastic. Super tasty, great portion sizes and swift service Fantastic value for money The staff/volunteers were all friendly and engaging Will be returning and would recommend”
- Ken R
“Find it hard writing this as I know the purpose of this place, but you should expect to receive what you pay for. I have just been in on Saturday morning at 10.45, 16 May, with the wife where we paid for breakfast and drinks. Wife got hers, I didn't.. over the course of next 45 mins, there were 4 occasions where we had to ask where it was or were told by a young lad that it was on the way, but in the end we left as it never did. On leaving we said we were going to the 3 people behind the counter.. they never asked why, no explanation, no apology, just an 'ok'. The thing is no one was really interested, even when my wife had went up earlier, one of the ladies said to one of the girls 'was that the breakfast you've just given me to have'. There seemed no supervision or organisation and no one really seemed to care in sorting it out.”
- Kevin Adamson
“We called into ReFuse to donate some apples from my father's apple tree and they were gratefully received. We stayed and bought lunch which was very tasty and hot. Every volunteer had a smile and spoke to us both. There are items for people to take and pay what they can afford. It really is a wonderful use of food that otherwise would be wasted. Please try and call in and support this wonderful cafe.”
- Andy Jenkins
“This was our first visit to the cafe and it coincided with the vegan summer tasting menu. We were both thoroughly impressed, not only with the food and how it was prepared but by the service from the staff, who were all very polite, and also the layout and style of the cafe. You are doing great work to make use of food that would otherwise be wasted for no good reason, more could learn from this approach”
- Joe Holtby
“Amazing food, great atmosphere and wonderful service. Worth a visit if you’re in town!”
Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Usually plenty of parking
- Dogs allowed
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Family-friendly
- Vegan options
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Coffee
- Free water refills
- Dining options· 8
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Offerings· 4
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Highlights· 2
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for· 2
- Solo dining
- Good for working on laptop
- Pet-friendly· 2
- Dogs allowed inside
- Dogs allowed outside
- Facilities· 2
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Restroom
- Atmosphere· 1
- Casual
- Crowd· 3
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safespace
- Family-friendly· 3
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
Location
Cafes near REfUSE
- Fuel Coffeeworks5.01120 mi£1–10
flat white, chorizo scrambled eggs, bagels
- Citrone's4.62850.1 mi£1–10
egg and bacon breakfast, cup of tea, fresh orange juice
- Cafe Neena's4.81140.1 mi£1–10Vegetarian options
full english breakfast, potato skins, reasonable prices
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REfUSEVegetarian options · Vegan options · Wi-Fi | 4.8274 | — | £1–10 | vegan summer tasting menu, pay-what-you-can items, food waste reduction |
| Fuel Coffeeworks | 5.0112 | 0 mi | £1–10 | flat white, chorizo scrambled eggs, bagels |
| Citrone's | 4.6285 | 0.1 mi | £1–10 | egg and bacon breakfast, cup of tea, fresh orange juice |
| Cafe Neena'sVegetarian options | 4.8114 | 0.1 mi | £1–10 | full english breakfast, potato skins, reasonable prices |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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More to explore in Chester Le Street
5 places
Cafes in Chester Le Street
Photo: Miss Elephant · 4.6 · 335 Google reviews
See all 5 cafes in Chester Le Street