Top 10 Cycling Cafe's in the UK

We asked our amazing community of around 50,000 people to recommend their favourite places to stop for a coffee and a cake when out cycling and they didn’t hold back! Here at Fat Lad At The Back we take rest and refreshment breaks VERY seriously, so we decided to investigate these recommendations even further. Taking into consideration 4 key components that we think make up a successful cycling café; the cake, the ride, the value and how accommodating they are for cyclists, we deduced the Top 10 cycling café’s from our community’s recommendations. Here they are in no particular order.

Stan's Bikes Shack

The Old Farm Shop, Bines Road, Partridge Green, Horsham, RH13 8EQ

Situated in the heart of the West Sussex countryside Stan’s Bike Shack is a rest-stop and meeting place for cyclists and walkers. Founded by Steve Sole (coincidently not called Stan) who is also the head barista and a coffee connoisseur. The café turned bike shop serves locally roasted specialty coffee and homemade cakes. They even offer FREE sample’s of coffee! all you need to do is ask when you arrive. They also do local coffee and cake delivery for those of you non-cyclists that are partial to a fancy breakfast at home. They have previously held Christmas movie screening with hot chocolate and free popcorn as well as live music acts. Cycling UK's Cyclist Café of the year 2018 and 2019 nominee.

Caffe Velo Verde

Home Farm, Car Colston Rd, Screveton, NG13 8JL

Running their Italian inspired café with an equal emphasis on great coffee, good food and even better atmosphere, this cycling café has managed to acquire 5 stars on Tripadvisor with the badge of honour that is the Tripadvisor’s Travellers' Choice 2020 award. A favourite among cyclists of the area, they were nominated for the Cycling UK Cycling Café of the Year award in 2019 so are super bike friendly. They have vegan, veggie and gluten free options available and you can even get fancy coffees like chai latte’s!

The Hay Barn Café

Old Hall Farm, Newark-on-Trent, NG22 0AD

Situated in a converted hay barn in Newark-on-trent, this café has bags of charm. They thrive themselves on their well-presented, locally sourced and fresh food, with special boards depending solely on what has been grown, picked and delivered by their suppliers that day. Not only do they source their ingredients locally but they also stock a range of local produce such as ales, ciders, liquors, jams, sauces and chutneys. All of which they use in their menu which includes an all-day breakfast and lovely lunch boxes – deli style salads and sandwiches. The homemade cakes however, steal the show and trust me you’ll be drooling just looking at them. They don’t take bookings so make sure you time it right! They’ve achieved 5 stars on Tripadvisor as well as their Travellers’ Choice Award 2020. Veggie and vegan friendly. Outdoor seating.

Birkin Fisheries Tea Room

Birkin House, Haddlesey Road, Birkin, WF11 9LT

A kitsch little tea room with sweet treats to die for – not just cakes but also cookies and ice cream too! They even do delicious milkshakes. With over 160 reviews on Tripadvisor, people really dig this place, especially cyclists. Considered a ‘cyclist heaven’ by one reviewer, they were nominated for Cycling UK’s Cyclist Café of the Year Award in 2018 and 2019. They offer decadent afternoon tea or a hearty beans on toast, whatever floats your boat. Either way you will be surrounded by cute décor and friendly staff. They are veggie and vegan friendly and serve gluten free options. Dog friendly.

Escape Route Café

3A Atholl Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5BX

This edgy Scottish café come bike shop offers repairs and bike hire as well as performing as a café. Rustic wood and bike frames lining the walls and amazing views of the surrounding countryside. They serve an extensive menu from a full Scottish breakfast all the way to a good ol’ curry. Freshly baked cakes and a varied selection of lunch food isn’t all they offer though, you can even pick up some lovely cycling gear while you’re there. They have been awarded the Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice and have veggie, vegan and gluten free options. Dog friendly.

Honeystreet Mill Café

Honeystreet Village, Alton Barnes, SN9 5PS

Mother and son duo Anne and John Whykes established this café in 2018. A quirky café that’s hidden away in the middle of nowhere but busy as a honey bee, people love this place and clearly pass the message on! They source their produce fresh from local businesses within the same county as them to support their local area and really embrace the historical heritage of Honeystreet Mill. They serve a breakfast and lunch menu alongside irresistible homemade cakes, cupcakes and tarts, even cream egg brownies and crunchie cake (drool!). They are disabled friendly with no steps, have an outdoor seating terrace and lots of space to put your bike. Awarded Tripadvisor’s Travellers Choice 2020. Veggie and vegan friendly with gluten free options.

The Commute Cycle Café

20 Leeds Road, Ilkley, LS29 8DS

Situated in our home town of Ilkley, this café come bike workshop brings together the founders’ 3 passions - cycling, coffee and community. Don’t be put off by its location in a town centre because there are some breathtaking routes extremely close by! The cycle shop covers the essential cycling purchases and offers an onsite mechanic. They also work with independents to provide customers with a bespoke selection of streetwear and cycle clothing as well as cycle gifts, T-shirt and socks. Not only that but their food is to die for, serving healthy, locally sourced breakfast, brunch and lunchtime food from soups, sandwiches and paninis to avo on toast and a spot of curried rice. We can’t forget about the cake though and they definitely don’t, serving freshly made cakes and pastries alongside their fresh and delicately chosen coffee. They have some outdoor seating with lots of space to store your bike too! Vegan and veggie options.

Bad Girl Bakery

Forbes Buildings, Great North Road, Muir of Ord

Finally, a café that’s cake focused! Bad girl bakery have managed to earn themselves a 5 star rating on Tripadvisor with over 200 reviews AND the Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice 2020 badge. So they must be doing something right. They thrive on baking cakes fresh everyday with interesting flavours and fab decoration, without being completely saturated in buttercream and frosting. Their ‘naked’ cakes are their signature bakes. They offer a breakfast and lunch menu as well as Sunday brunch if you’re a little hungrier. It’s not exactly a pit stop but there's Glen Affric not too far away so fear not cyclists you will still be able to do your thing. Veggie, vegan and gluten free options available.

The Filling Station Cafe & Colyford Cycles

Swan Hill Road, Colyford, EX24 6QQ

This lovely little place is an independent cycle shop and café that’s managed to bag itself 5 stars on Tripadvisor. They supply bikes and cycling accessories alongside serving fresh coffee and homemade cakes. They’re cyclist friendly which is pretty obvious with bikes at every turn but they have lots of space to store your bike after a gruelling ride. They even put a little chocolate cyclist on your coffee! They offer a breakfast and lunch menu with some classic favourites in there. An all rounder!

Cafe Velo

2 Star Lane, Ringwood, BH24 1AL

Café Velo is a family run café in the center of Ringwood and is a great pit stop if you’re cycling through New Forest. They’re not just a café though, they also have a little cycle shop inside where you can pick up any nifty accessories you need. They have been given the Tripadvisors’ Travellers Choice 2020 badge and offer a great menu of freshly cooked and locally sourced breakfast, brunch and lunch food alongside freshly baked homemade cakes. Vegan, veggie and gluten free options available. Outdoor seating and lots of space for bikes!