Waterside Cafe
Quick info
About Waterside Cafe
Sitting right on the river Nene overlooking the boating area, Waterside Cafe is a small cafe on Bedford Rd in Northampton that shares its building, and its toilets, with Northampton Active, so kayak and raft hirers and cafe customers use the same facilities. Cooked breakfasts anchor the menu, including a full English with eggs, bacon and toast, with cappuccinos and tea alongside. Seating runs both indoors and outside, giving the option of eating in the open by the water. A step-free entrance keeps the room reachable for visitors with mobility needs, high chairs suit families with young children, and dogs are welcome. It opens daily during the daytime, and reservations are recommended. Walkers can reach it from the town centre along the Nene Valley riverside path, and parking is available with no pay and display signs. Payment is by card rather than cash.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible car park · Wheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Kids' menu
Menu & Prices
29 dishes · mains £3–10- Bacon Or Sausage Bap£4.50
- Bacon Or Sausage Bap Deal With Any Hot Drink£5.50
- Waterside Mega Breakfast Roll£7.00
- Waterside Full English Breakfast£9.95
- Waterside Small English Breakfast£7.75
- Waterside Vegan Breakfast£9.95
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention riverside setting by the nene, full english breakfast, cappuccinos and shared with kayak and rafting centre.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention riverside setting by the nene, full english breakfast, cappuccinos and shared with kayak and rafting centre.
Customer Review Summary
The riverside setting draws the steadiest praise, with several reviewers describing the spot by the Nene and the boating area, in the same building as the kayak and rafting centre, and one arriving on foot along the Nene Valley. Drinks fare better than food: cappuccinos are singled out more than once, served hot, fresh and a full cup, alongside a cup of tea, and one visitor calls the breakfast lovely and good value. Breakfast is also where the sharpest complaints cluster. Several describe cold plates and cold food, lukewarm coffee with no butter or spoon, toast and fried eggs reheated in the microwave, and a full English swimming in liquid with undercooked eggs and bacon overdone enough to snap. One reviewer advises bringing food along and sitting outside instead. Staff divide opinion, fantastic and very pleasant to some, miserable or merely functional to others, and one notes the fried food smell that lingers on clothes.
Customer Review Summary
The riverside setting draws the steadiest praise, with several reviewers describing the spot by the Nene and the boating area, in the same building as the kayak and rafting centre, and one arriving on foot along the Nene Valley. Drinks fare better than food: cappuccinos are singled out more than once, served hot, fresh and a full cup, alongside a cup of tea, and one visitor calls the breakfast lovely and good value. Breakfast is also where the sharpest complaints cluster. Several describe cold plates and cold food, lukewarm coffee with no butter or spoon, toast and fried eggs reheated in the microwave, and a full English swimming in liquid with undercooked eggs and bacon overdone enough to snap. One reviewer advises bringing food along and sitting outside instead. Staff divide opinion, fantastic and very pleasant to some, miserable or merely functional to others, and one notes the fried food smell that lingers on clothes.
Featured reviews
- Jeff Brown
“The food was preheated and terrible, Just looked chucked together. Miserable staff with not even a hello or greeting. Definitely not the best café in Northampton as stated, possibly the worst don’t bother”
- Paul Luck
“Lovely breakfast good value for money 💰”
- louise rose
“My dad took me here for coffee and I hadn't visited before. Set in lovely scenery by the boating area, by the river Nene. The cafe has indoor and outdoor seating, toilet facilities and friendly staff. The service was prompt and atmosphere relaxing. We didn't have food but did have cappuccinos and a cup of tea. These were served hot, fresh and a full cup. Outdoor seating would be better for mobility aids, e.g. wheelchair, scooters, as the doors were push and pull and space between tables limited. We didn't pay for parking and couldn't see any pay and display signs. This cafe only takes payment via card and not cash.”
- Kerry Colligan
“Very poor service. Two young girls who quite frankly did not want to be there. The place needs better extraction systems, you come out smelling of fried food.”
- David Deer
“Dreadful! Cold plates, cold breakfasts, no butter, luke warm coffee, no spoon. Serving food on cold plates has only one result. COLD FOOD. Rectifying this by microwaving cold toast and fried eggs does nothing to enhance their flavour. Wasted £20 on rubber eggs and panini flattened toast. Which I couldn't chew. I have no idea who decided to award themselves the 'best café in Northampton' but they are sadly deluded. My advice, bring your own food and sit outside.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Free parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed inside
- Takeaway
Show more amenities
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
- Casual
- Coffee
- Quick bite
- Dessert
- Dining options· 4
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Seating
- Crowd· 1
- Groups
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Parking· 1
- Parking
- Highlights· 1
- Great tea selection
- Facilities· 1
- Toilet
- Family-friendly· 2
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
- Pet-friendly· 1
- Dogs allowed outside
Location
Cafes near Waterside Cafe
- Dreams Coffee Lounge4.72241.2 mi£15–30Outdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
hot chocolate, açai bowl, matcha
- The Park Cafe4.01,0171.3 mi£15–30Outdoor seatingVegetarian options
fish and chips, coffee, ice cream
- The Giggle4.54611.3 mi£1–15Outdoor seatingVegetarian optionsDelivery
full Monty breakfast, giant veggie breakfast, bacon baps
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterside CafeOutdoor seating · Reservations | 4.088 | — | — | riverside setting by the nene, full english breakfast, cappuccinos |
| Dreams Coffee LoungeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.7224 | 1.2 mi | £15–30 | hot chocolate, açai bowl, matcha |
| The Park CafeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options | 4.01,017 | 1.3 mi | £15–30 | fish and chips, coffee, ice cream |
| The GiggleOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Delivery | 4.5461 | 1.3 mi | £1–15 | full Monty breakfast, giant veggie breakfast, bacon baps |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
Similar Cafes nearby
More to explore in Northampton
12 places
Cafes in Northampton
Photo: The Boathouse Cafe · 4.5 · 639 Google reviews
See all 12 cafes in Northampton
