The Old School Tea Rooms is tucked away in Hollow Lane and is not too easy to find unless you are…read morefamiliar with the area. As the name suggests, it is located in an old school building, small but perfectly formed. The cafe is a little gem when you get here. The food is lovely, afternoon tea is excellent and the choice and service is very good. There is plenty of parking, and the location is great if you fancy a walk either before or after your visit. The only problem is that because it is quite small inside, it can get full, so you need to be willing to wait sometimes.

Today I had the absolute pleasure of popping into one of Leek's hidden gems in Coffee Clique. I…read morestumbled upon it by pure chance as I wondered down an alley exploring some independent shops. The downstairs is an open sofa area with a board displaying the various luxury milkshakes on offer that day. Whilst they all looked very appetising, I was really in the mood for a decent cuppa so headed up the metal stairway to the kitchen to order. I was then greeted by the smell of cakes and pastries which had literally just come out of the oven. In the end I opted for a tea and a muffin which came to a very reasonable £2.60. The lady behind the bar brought my order over to me, a very nice touch I thought which meant I was able to sit and browse the art for sale on the wall. When my tea came, it also came with a little biscuit on the side, again, not much but a nice touch which shows that this shop really cares about service. Overall, the shop has a really "artsy" yet cosy feel about it. It's the kind of place which I could see myself sitting for hours writing or catching up with pals I haven't seen in a while. The quiet and relaxing atmosphere is further enhanced by the scents wafting over from the scented candle shop a few doors down. This place is a real find and I encourage others in Leek to give it a go too.

Waste of time and energy, waited 40 minutes on Wednesday 6th July got drinks after 20 minutes…read more Asked for wholemeal bap got white asked for white only Stilton got Blue, when complained that no one had advised me of the changes to my request was told that they only took over the business on the previous friday and that they had no other chees and that they had been busy so why was I complaining! With remarks like that from the indifferent lady owner i did indeed ask myself why I was complaining. The service was shocking the attitude of the owner was disgraceful and to top it off my daughter advised me that her pasta dish was cold but that she didn't like to add any more stuff to the complant list!! Steer clear my friends it was appaling. There scores on the doors is 2 stars but of course this is not measured against service only hygiene which isn't very good but if service was included in the ratings they would have got -5.

Sheila's Tea Rooms is located at Intake Farm, which is on the road between Leek and Macclesfield if…read moreyou go via Rushton Spencer. The highlight of a trip here is afternoon tea, which provides unlimited cups of tea, mixed sandwiches, cakes and scones. If you choose this, please come hungry or you will never make any inroads into it - we never manage to finish, no matter how little we have eaten before arrival. Sheila's also offers delicious Sunday lunches and is a great place for a trip out into the country followed by something nice to eat. It is suitable for all the family, but particularly for impressing your relatives!

Tittesworth Visitors Centre is a good place to spend the afternoon with the kids. There is a fixed…read morerate car park with loads of space and a very good open air playground which will particularly appeal to younger children, although my teens still enjoy it. There are lots of nice walks around the reservoir, so dogs are also well catered for, and there is a pleasant barbeque area which can be booked in advance for summer activities. The centre itself has a small interactive display and regular seasonal activities, as well as good toilet facilities and a nice, but slightly pricey, cafe. Well worth a visit.

We cannot rave enough about Tittesworth - it is a geat place and has a lot to offer all the family…read more The best bit has to be the amazing play area, catering for children of all ages - it is a real magnet for our children and although it can get very busy, on a quieter day it is blissful - and free! Parking is a small cost, but well worth it. It is possible to purchase season parking tickets and if you live anywhere locally they are well worth thecost. There are well marked walk ways - a shorter route for younger/weaker legs and a longer walk for those wanting to expend a little more energy. The paths are wide and accessible for wheelchairs/disabled scooters - we went with my brother who cannot walk unaided. There is just one place where the path is quite steep for disabled access - but do-able. There are well-maintained toilet facilities both in the car park and the visitor centre. The visitor centre offers a nice eatery, fairly reasonable and cosy- especially on a wet or winter's day. There are a couple of small retail outlets offering the opportunity to purchase gifts and outdoor wear Outside is a kiosk offering a wide range of locally made ice cream. There are plenty of picnic benches and a lovely grassy area for lounging, and/or ball games.