I am a regular visitor to Rose Cottage Team Rooms as I find their coffee is as good as it gets. I…read morehave also tried various paninis and toasties and they have always been excellent. The staff are friendly and chatty and always make me feel welcome. An added advantage is that they always have a selection of Sliming World Free food options available.

Rose Cottage Tea Rooms is situated on the Mill Lane Mews, which is one of the walkways from Ashby's…read moremain car park to its main shopping street. Inside the fixtures and fittings are similar to its previous incarnation 'The Giggling Goblin': comfortable sofas and leather chairs, interspersed with tables and chairs, in a variety of sizes. The décor has changed somewhat though, predominantly pink, to fit with the name of the tearooms. The menu is expansive, with a good variety of breakfasts and lunches, and a great selection of hot and cold drinks. There speciality is an afternoon tea, which I have to say looked very tempting. Being a damp Saturday morning, we popped in for breakfast, the scrambled egg was superb and my wife's toast came with marmalade, lovely; the coffee was flavoursome too. The staff were helpful and unobtrusive, and the sofa was as comfortable as I remembered it. The only downside was the ambient temperature of the tearoom, it was quite cool, even with all the heaters on. In all the time we were eating breakfast, no other customers came into the tearoom, maybe it was just a post Christmas lull; I hope the tearooms succeed, because the food, drinks and service are great.

The Courtyard Cafe is situated just off the main street running through Ashby de la Zouch. It is…read moreaccessed by a small covered walkway into the courtyard that gives the cafe its name. This would be a wonderful place to sit in the summer because it is a bit a sun trap. The courtyard is fairly large and the walls are adorned with old food signs like Brooke Bond tea. Inside the spacious nature continues, with tables of varying sizes, both upstairs and downstairs; it never feels cramped like some cafes can feel. Menu wise, very comprehensive, from breakfasts to lunches and more formal dinners. Prices seem initially on the high side for the food, but when you see what you get for your money, you'll see why. We've only dined there for breakfast, and are yet to try the delightful cakes on offer or the tempting looking lunches. However, the breakfasts fare is very impressive, from a full English Breakfast, to generous sausage and egg cobs, to my personal favourite - the scrambled eggs on toast. Too often scrambled eggs can be tasteless, but at the Courtyard Cafe they are a real triumph, full of flavour and a portion to fit even the heartiest of appetites. Haven't hit on a decent hot drink to go with it yet though, the coffee is very weak and flavourless, still it will be fun trying when the food is this good!

Costa moved into the old Woolworth's around a year ago, and it's proven really popular with working…read moreadults, housewives and students alike - I have never seen the place empty. As a sixth-former, I'd arrange to go with my friends when we had Monday mornings off, every other week - turns out a lot of us had similar systems. If you go in around half past three on a weekday in term time, you're likely to see at least two groups of schoolkids at tables with their (often shared) cappucinos and cakes - it's a peculiar, but not unpleasant sight! It's a regular-sized place - not too big, not too small. They had an extension added a couple of months ago; there are 10-15 tables, I think, including a couple of leather sofas, some bar stooling and smaller tables for couples or threes. The lights are dimmed, there is soft, folky music playing - take "Thieves" by She & Him as an example - and it generally feels quite modern, yet mature. You get free WiFi, and the password is displayed on posters around the shop. The range is big; while they're really pushing the coolers for summer, you can order all manner of drinks with different syrups and blends. There is tea (Twinings - breakfast, green, peppermint, fruit) as well as hot chocolate, and in the chiller they stock Innocent Smoothies, juices, water and fizzy drinks alongside their sandwiches and fruit. Their baked selection is good - they always have some wrapped biscotti and traybakes like tiffin as well as the mandatory muffins, pastries and cake slices. The staff aren't knowledgeable about the ingredients, but they don't bake anything on premises. Other offerings include toast, with Marmite if you like - made on the grill and brought to you. I've found that staff are really friendly and willing to help you out if you have any requirements or questions - I've had enough requests to drive most baristas mad, but they get answered! They will happily swap milk for soy, sugar for sweetener, remove honey/cream/yoghurt etc and check what's in everything, although they don't always have access to that information if the items are made off-site. They know their goods, too, and will give tips on the most popular or their favourites if you ask. It's the little extras that make me smile - they'll cool your drink down if you're going outside and want to drink it soon, and let you stand around a bit if it's rainy and cold outside! They are, however, quite strict about outside food and drink - even if you've bought several drinks and a plate of cakes, you can't have cakes or other really substantial food at your table. It's worth getting a Costa card; you get 200 points when you register online, which is enough for a coffee, I think. I've had a free cup of green tea, and I visit somewhere between once a week and once a fortnight. The points mount up quickly if you're a regular, and they don't have any time frame in which you have to redeem your points. As a brand, Costa is really consistent, so I can't exactly tell you that the Ashby branch is exceptional. What really sways it for me is that it's much more personal than, for instance, the branch is Leicester - in a small town, you get to know your baristas and you get just that extra bit of service. It's a great place to frequent.

Had a nice coffee and cake with the family waiting for the remembrance day parade to come back down…read morethe street. Big queue!

A great place to grab some food whilst browsing the local town market. Easy access and they serve a…read morewide range of hot and cold food. So if you are after a sandwich or a full english you can get them here and sit in comfort.

Situated at the end of the main shopping street in Ashby, is North's, primarily a delicatessen…read more With high ceilings and plenty of space, the variety of products offered by the deli is impressive; at the far end is a variety of cold meats, cheeses, homemade quiches etc. To the side is the ever popular homemade chocolates section, where you choose you own combinations, as well as other delights like sugar laden tarts. In the centre and around the side are artisan breads and rolls, impressive looking pastas, which are the colour of the rainbow, fine tea and coffee brands, as well as a multitude of other products geared towards the upcoming festive period. North's also has a coffee shop area, with bar type tables adjacent to the window, and larger tables for bigger groups by the door. A good selection of hot and cold drinks, including a very tempting looking hot chocolate, as well as fresh Danish pastries and croissant's on the counter where you order. More substantial meals included a variety of sandwiches, hot panini's and homemade soup; a festive Turkey, stuffing and cranberry sandwich was popular on the day. We plumped for an Earl Grey tea and an Americano, with chicken, pesto and mozzarella panini to share. Refreshing tea, strong flavoursome coffee and a delicious ample portioned sandwich, with a side of dressed salad and coleslaw, was a bit of a triumph, and the homemade mince pie was a sweet treat after too. North's also make up hampers to order, which is definitely worth knowing for next Christmas!

The Lakeside Bistro is situated just off the main road as you drive from Moira to Netherseal. The…read morecar park is a good size, due to the fact that it also supplies a fishing lake, as well as the restaurant. This provides a picturesque backdrop to the restaurant, which overlooks the majority of the lake. The Lakeside Bistro is a popular place and as it is not huge in size, it's a good idea to book, even during the week. The staff are warm and friendly, which adds to its popularity, some people have a meal here every weekend! The menu has expanded of late for Sunday lunches, offering other dishes, as well as the always popular roast dinners; with the Venison Pie being my particular favourite. Most of the dinners come in two portion sizes too, standard and for slightly less money, a portion with diners with a smaller appetite. The food won't break through any culinary boundaries for inventiveness, but it is tasty straightforward food at a reasonable price.

Since my very first Qype review many years ago, Dolce Cafe has been through a considerable…read morerefurbishment. Situated half way down Market Street, Dolce Cafe has a small area of outdoor seating, resplendent with parasols. Inside, truly transformed from its previous incarnation, it now has a long sweeping bar, where you order your food and drinks, and rock encrusted walls, which may sound odd, but strangely works. For me the new tables are little bit too small, two drinks and a couple of plates of toast, and its like a game of chess, trying to arrange things on the table. They are also too close together, I know more tables means more profit, but a foot between you and the next table, feels a little claustrophobic. But why the high rating, well quite simply, Dolce comfortably serve the best coffee in Ashby, strong and flavoursome, a wonderful hot chocolate, strong and dark, and some of the best breakfast dishes in our area. The bacon and egg focaccia is a fine start to any day, and even the toast is made with artisan bread. The staff are mostly friendly and helpful, the Sicilian influence still remains and their range of dishes has expanded, I really must have lunch here one day! Our first stop every time we visit Ashby, which speaks volumes.

Nice little coffee shop for just a cup of coffee, breakfast or a snack - before the real reason for…read moreyour visit - the hardware store in which it is housed. Since it is small they do not have the scope of a B&Q or Wickes but they are (in my opinion) a small-ish cross between those stores and Range. They have a pretty wide variety of kitchen goodies and appliances for example. Staff could be friendlier but for those who do not want to drive into Burton (15 minutes) for hardware, or go to Costa for coffee this makes a nice change

We often go to Massey's for breakfast at the weekend. The cafe is spotlessly clean and the staff…read morefriendly, with free wifi if you need it. I would recommend the crumpets or the sausage and bacon sandwiches, the cakes are good too. There isn't a vast amount of choice on the menu but everything we have ever tried we have enjoyed. The cafe area, although not very big is never crowded so it has never been a problem to find a seat. Give it a go!