Quick info
About Park Life Heavitree
Park Life Heavitree is a cafe in Exeter, based in a Heavitree park on Whipton Ln. The menu runs from coffee and cake to gluten free cakes and a granola breakfast bowl. A book swap sits inside the cafe, so visitors can pass on a read and pick up another. Alongside the cafe, a large hall hosts activities and is available for private hire, which gives groups room for their own events. Dogs are welcome.
Good to know
- ParkingUsually somewhat difficult to find a space
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Kids' menu
- DietaryVegan options · Vegetarian options
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention community hub events, book swap, gluten free cakes and granola breakfast bowl.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention community hub events, book swap, gluten free cakes and granola breakfast bowl.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often describe Park Life as a community cafe at the heart of Heavitree park, and the coffee is the draw they return to. One calls it really good, another praises the granola breakfast bowl as excellent, and a third mentions the coffee and cake. Close behind is the community role: the book swap standing in for a nearby library, gluten free cakes, activities in the other room, a large hall for private hire, and a spot where students study in the mornings. The complaints are specific. One reviewer waited far longer than the quoted time for bacon rolls and chips and called the service poor for the total. Another found a raspberry milkshake with no raspberry flavour and a mocha that tasted bad. Others describe an unhelpful, unfriendly staff member, takeaway prices on the expensive side, and people smoking at the outside tables despite the no-smoking signs. The smoking is the one thing a reviewer says keeps it from five stars.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often describe Park Life as a community cafe at the heart of Heavitree park, and the coffee is the draw they return to. One calls it really good, another praises the granola breakfast bowl as excellent, and a third mentions the coffee and cake. Close behind is the community role: the book swap standing in for a nearby library, gluten free cakes, activities in the other room, a large hall for private hire, and a spot where students study in the mornings. The complaints are specific. One reviewer waited far longer than the quoted time for bacon rolls and chips and called the service poor for the total. Another found a raspberry milkshake with no raspberry flavour and a mocha that tasted bad. Others describe an unhelpful, unfriendly staff member, takeaway prices on the expensive side, and people smoking at the outside tables despite the no-smoking signs. The smoking is the one thing a reviewer says keeps it from five stars.
Featured reviews
- Anthony Andrews
“Nice coffee and cake, a little on the expensive side for a takeaway. Let down by the unhelpful and unfriendly staff member. Disappointing for a community hub. Won't be going back.”
- Steve Munday
“Lovely café alongside a large hall available for private hire.”
- Ana Maria Sanchez Carrillo
“Sometimes I just don't get it... a place like this—a huge park—with the only café open on a Sunday afternoon... why isn't the staff better? For £4 a coffee, the owner could at least bother to hire competent people who actually want to work and know how to make coffee... instead, you get useless people and girls behind the counter who haven't got a clue... standing there with their sunglasses perched on their heads... The world is going to shit.. .”
- Andrew Hammett
“Ordered a Raspberry milkshake and didn't taste anything Raspberry at all , abit disappointed with it costing over £3 , same thing also happend when I ordered a mocha , was quite bad tasting and was left disappointed with that.”
- Yvonne Rautenbach
“What a little gem -Heavitree so lucky to have this relaxed and sociable hub. I use the book swap as there isnt a library close by and my friend appreciates the gluten free cakes.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Live performances
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Vegan options
- Casual
- Onsite services
- Coffee
- Quick bite
- Dining options· 5
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dessert
- Seating
- Facilities· 2
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Restroom
- Crowd· 1
- Groups
- Offerings· 2
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Highlights· 3
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Live performances
- Parking· 1
- Usually somewhat difficult to find a space
- Family-friendly· 2
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
- Popular for· 2
- Solo dining
- Good for working on laptop
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Pet-friendly· 2
- Dogs allowed inside
- Dogs allowed outside
Location
Cafes near Park Life Heavitree
- The Daisy Cafe4.83840.1 mi£10–20Outdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
vegan breakfast, breakfast roll, vegan sausages
- Morrisons Cafe3.62150.9 miDelivery
full english breakfast, vegetarian breakfast plate, kids play area
- The Tasting Room4.61781 mi£10–20Outdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
pistachio croissant, poached eggs on sourdough, coffee
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Life HeavitreeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.4165 | — | £1–10 | community hub events, book swap, gluten free cakes |
| The Daisy CafeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.8384 | 0.1 mi | £10–20 | vegan breakfast, breakfast roll, vegan sausages |
| Morrisons CafeDelivery | 3.6215 | 0.9 mi | — | full english breakfast, vegetarian breakfast plate, kids play area |
| The Tasting RoomOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.6178 | 1 mi | £10–20 | pistachio croissant, poached eggs on sourdough, coffee |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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