Pizza
International
Take-out
Cafe at Skelwith Bridge turned vegetarian Easter 2016. Serves vegan pizzas, mains, pastries as well as salad options. Also has a gift shop on site (non-food). Open Mon-Sun 09:00-16:00.
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Skelwith Bridge, Near Ambleside, Skelwith Bridge, England, LA22 9NJ
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 14 May 2024 by BeeSmith
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Added by VeganLauraL on 03 Aug 2016
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102 Reviews
First Review by VeganLauraL
Chickpea1
Points +259
Heaven by a river! - Edit
I haven’t been to this tea room for years. We were on a walk and just popped in… so excited when I asked what was vegan to find out it was EVERYTHING! Amazing choice, beautiful almond pasty and gorgeous frittata… so pleased I stumbled across this as usually I do lots of research but missed this one!!
Read morePros: So much choice, Delicious an great variety, River side view and dog friendly
Cons: No matcha
Guest
DexyA
Points +13
Delicious plant-based food. - Edit
Location was perfect.
Read moreVegan food was fresh, inventive and absolutely delicious.
Pros: Fresh and innovative vegan food. , In a perfect location.
Guest
susiehaha
Points +200
Still vegan heaven - Edit
If you read reviews of Chesters on TripAdvisor or Google, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Chesters sold their soul to the devil when they ended table service and changed a few other aspects of their business model a few years ago. Not having been for a few years, we were expecting paper plates, plastic cutlery, and takeaway mayhem. Thankfully, hardly anything had changed when we went there for lunch today. The choice of food is still amazing, as is the quality and portion size, and it was all served on proper crockery with proper cutlery! We really couldn't understand what the fuss had been all about. Our lunch was delicious - a huge vegetable bhaji for me, a mushroom and spinach toasties for Mrs HaHa, a bowl of chips (still some of the best chips ever), plus tea and cakes - Guinness cake for me and bakewell slice for my other half. Oh, and a couple of raspberry and vanilla scones found their way into my bag for a treat later. Soooo relieved that it was business as usual, and still greatly amused to see from reviews how annoyed some people get when they discover that the delicious food they have just eaten contains no dead animals or their products. Go Chesters!!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2019-11-06
Pros: Generous portions, Great choice of food, Vegan heaven!
Cons: Only 1 salad on offer cf 4 or 5 back in the day
Guest
SusanPlowman
Points +116
Great vegan cafe in a lovely location - Edit
My husband proposed to me here and it is a lovely spot.
Read moreThe food is all vegan apart from the dairy milk, cream and butter for vegetarians that request it.
I had the frittata and roasted celeriac salad , hubby had the lentil spicy soup and an onion bhaji it was all lovely. #Veganuary
Pros: Location , Food, Service
Cons: The worry that they do have non vegan cream and da
TurnipForPlants
Looks so good! And ai want to big pastry.
Read moreGuest
wjm
Points +78
Fantastic food - Edit
Love coming to this place! Loads of vegan options…. Interestingly the staff say that everything is vegan apart from cows milk alternative for hot drinks but it’s strange that Chester’s do not advertise themselves as a vegan place! On this visit we had toasties, chips and the most amazing winter salad. Food is amazing quality, reasonably priced and staff are lovely. Lovely location also.
Read moreGuest
Ahungryherbivore
Points +59
A must visit for vegans! - Edit
Chesters makes me so happy. A big variety of sweet and savoury pastries and cakes, and some meals. From my understanding the only thing they offer dairy milk but otherwise entirely vegan. Everything served in takeaway cups and bags, but space to sit in if you desire. Really nice setting and staff are all lovely. A must visit for anyone on the area, we go every time we visit the lakes and I expect many more visits to come.
Read morePros: Lots of variety , Delicious food, Lovely location
Cons: Lots of wastage
Guest
KristinaLR
Points +177
Chesters is a dream come true - Edit
I love coming to Chesters. It is such an oasis in a somewhat unlikely location. The setting could not be nicer, on the river in Skelwith Bridge, so peaceful and a nice place to walk. Everything is vegan with a couple of exceptions. Often very busy but they still have plenty of options later in the day. I love the Victoria sponge cake. I usually get a savoury pastry as well, with an Indian style filling. I appreciate that they also use my own containers, as everything is served in disposable receptacles.
Read morePros: huge selection, delicious, great setting
Cons: wasteful packaging
Guest
veganaurora
Points +283
Cakes, cakes and doughnuts! - Edit
Really glad we came across this cafe. They had so many different types of vegan cake. They had raspberry and passion fruit sugared doughnuts too! I had the passion fruit one and it was filled with delicious, tangy jam.
Read moreThe coffee was good too, and so was the vegan sausage roll and tofu burrito.
It's busy and rightly so. The food is great here and there's so much choice.
Very much recommended.
Pros: So much vegan cake choice!, Tasty well-made food, Nice staff
Cons: That there isn't one of these cafes in every town!
Guest
StephenWildish
Points +96
Very very good! - Edit
Great menu and choice. The perfect vegan lunch. I had a biryani and giant onion bhaji. Vegan sausage rolls, salads and cakes looked immense as well.
Read morePros: Really good tasting food, Onion bhaji was massive, By the river on a good walk
Cons: Slightly confusing what is vegan and what is veg
Guest
EleanorBP
Points +92
Vegan heaven! - Edit
A mouthwatering array of pastries, cakes and savoury bakes...and everything is vegan! Spoilt for choice - a rare treat!
Read morePros: Large selection of vegan cakes and pastries, Really good coffee, Beautiful riverside setting
Guest
ladyblack
Points +328
Nice lunch at Chester’s - Edit
We go to Chester’s every time we visit Ambleside. It has been more of a takeaway setting (still with indoor and outdoor seating), due to staffing shortages. The food is always great here, however the chips, which are usually amazing, weren’t so good this time. The menu was also much reduced compared to previous visits
Read morePros: Vegan options
Cons: Limited menu
Guest
VickiTaverner
Points +101
Fabulous - Edit
Brilliant location and beautiful food. All the food seemed to be vegan. Dairy milk for drinks appeared to be the only non-vegan item.
Read morePeople were literally queuing out of the door it’s so popular, lots of seating available inside and out.
Guest
williamson01
Points +31
Great destination for veggies. Ok for vegans - Edit
This is a lovely cafe location. Get here by car or via a walk. The veggie options are great. Lots of them, varied and good portions. Hot and cold food. Fewer vegan options as many of the sandwiches are feta and goats cheese etc. However there is always decent vegan food on the menu. V vs Ve Labelling is not always the best so good to check with the staff who are always good. Outdoor seating area is great and fairly large and overlooks the river.
Read morePros: Food quality, Atmosphere and location
Cons: More vegan options would be better
VickiTaverner
The cheese is all vegan I asked
Read moreGuest
katiemall
Points +118
i’ve returned many times - Edit
amazing selection of vegan food. we love the sausage roll, samosas and scones. have been many a time after walking over loughrigg fell. definitely want to come here for a full cooked meal soon!
Read moreGuest
KateEmmett
Points +4414
Lovely cake - Edit
Large slices of delicious vegan cake for £4.
Read moreGuest
HeatherYoung
Points +34
What a find! - Edit
Everything on the menu was vegan or could be made to be, great selection of cakes too 👌
Read morePros: Great selection , Pretty outdoor seating area , Dog friendly
Guest
Dearme
Points +153
Insane vegan cake options - Edit
We have visited before but the cafe has now been extended and offers even more tasty delights! I asked if they had any vegan cake and was informed all of the cakes on display were vegan! There were maybe 7/8 different options. My mind was blown. I highly recommend the date caramel slice, it was my top cake of the Lake District on this visit (and I ate cake every day of our 7 day holiday there). Staff seemed a touch impatient but we ordered coffee and cake 15 mins before closing time so perhaps understandable. Highly recommended, we will visit every time we visit the Lakes!
Read morePros: Amazing cake, Delicious coffee
Cons: Okay service
Guest
Simon_Keller
Points +1796
Oh yes. - Edit
Fantastic place. Brilliant food selection in a great setting. Massive portions. Absolutely have to go back. We had the mushroom kebab, which was spectacular, chips (proper home cooked chips), and Persian Stew. All absolutely beautiful. So many more choices too. Will be back, soon.
Read morePros: Number of vegan options, Size of portions, Setting
Cons: None
Guest
GaryLawes
Points +20
Awesome - Edit
Chesters by the River had long been our favourite eatery in the Lake district, but to find it had gone 100% Vegan was mind blowing. Fabulous range of dishes and all very tasty indeed. Watch the doughnuts though - very dangerous!
Read morePros: 100% Vegan, Great range, Great quality
Cons: Nothing, Nothing, Nothing
Guest
Mattyg
Points +160
A must visit! - Edit
This is a must visit! There is a fantastic selection of main meals and cakes which are all vegan! The food was excellent, really tasty and decent portion sizes. We had the loaded fries, burger, flatbread and curry- all which were fantastic. The scones were also very tasty. The staff were friendly and helpful and it is a beautiful spot by the river! The shop is also good to browse too.
Read moreIt is worth noting that although all the food is vegan, there are some dairy items in the drinks.
Pros: Amazing selection, Tasty food, Lovely atmosphere
Cons: Disposable crockery and cutlery
Guest
xskate-edgex
Points +1060
Awesome. Just awesome… - Edit
I was a little blown away at the variety and quality on offer here. So much to choose from to suit both sweet and savoury fans. Fresh healthy ingredients and an interesting inventive menu. A lovely riverside location too. No wonder it was crammed full of dozy OAPs…
Read morePros: Variety, Freshness , Decent coffee
Cons: Gets proper busy
Guest
mockingbird
Points +3028
An absolute must visit - Edit
Whoa! Amazing place. Unique and extensive selection of vegan baked goods and salads. Best coffee in the lakes. Beautiful cafe area, although very busy. Just go see for yourself.
Read moreGuest
amy743
Points +241
Amazing pizza - Edit
Got the pesto pizza and it was delicious!! I also tried the chocolate donut and that was amazing. All cakes are vegan, and most things are vegan, but double check as some things are just vegetarian. Lovely outdoor area overlooking a waterfall. Only issue I had was when I went there was a severe wasp problem, think they are attracted to the open bins outside. If you sit inside they shouldn’t bother you though, and may be sorted now.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Nice seating
Cons: Wasps
Guest
TracySavage
Points +286
Great Food decent prices - Edit
Majority of the food is vegan but be sure to check, we accidentally got real butter with our scones. Shame they don't do real crockery and cutlery, lots is recycled but I feel its better for the environment to wash up and reuse. Fantastic cakes and pastries
Read morePros: Breakfast tofu scramble , Scones, Bakewell slice
Cons: Takeaway cups and plates
Guest
AndrewLScott
Points +30
Only reason I go to the lakes😄 - Edit
Fantastic place, some clientele are disappointed that it’s no longer table service, but I prefer the more relaxed vibe that’s come with the changes. The food and coffee is amazing. It is all vegan but the only caveat is when ordering a scone or pizza ask for vegan spread / vegan cheese. They don’t publicise it’s all vegan openly in order to stay afloat and for non-vegan folk to support the business unbiasedly.
Read moreIf Chesters went or stopped being vegan I would stop going to the lakes😄
The Reuben or breakfast toasty is insanely good!
Pros: Nearly all vegan , Great coffee and amazing food , Friendly staff and amazing location
Cons: Some clientele are a little pretentious
Guest
Mannisa
Points +89
Paradise for Vegans - Edit
Large, varied menu. Amazing pastries and cakes and the staff are superb.
Read moreShop next door has a wonderful range of items with some great eco friendly ideas, kids books etc.
Pros: The amount of sweet and savoury options offer , Great coffee, Brilliant staff
Guest
summerlover
Points +24
Favourite Place - Edit
So many options, vegan pastries, pizzas, warm specials - and it all tastes incredible! So nice to see it busy😄In a beautiful location too. Wheelchair accessible (including accessible toilet) great for vegans and non vegans. Wish there was one of these down south too!
Read morePros: vegan pastries, wheelchair accessible, hot and cold food
Guest
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