If you're driving from Scotland down into England but you're turning off before Tebay, this is the…read moreplace to stop instead! Just off the big roundabout at the A66 Penrith exit from the M6, the cafe sits above Cranston's Cumbrian Food Hall and it's a fantastic place to stop. The menu is simple, good quality, home-cooked food from local sources. The cafe is a lovely space, large and bright with artwork from local artists on display. The breakfasts are wonderful, they have specials on all day as well as the regular menu, the home baking is amazing and the prices are pretty reasonable. The food hall downstairs is also fantastic - from fresh to frozen, vegetables, meat and fish counters, fresh bread, an amazing deli area and a lovely selection of wine, craft beer and local ciders. This is a travel stopover that will delay you a lot longer than you expected!

Stumbled upon this whilst the kids were swimming at the local Leisure Centre. Off the main street…read moreset back in its own gardens. Largely staffed by volunteers, this is a bit of a gem really hidden from the hullabaloo of the centre. For a tourist town, prices are very reasonable. £1.30 for a beaker of fresh filter coffee. Two rooms house the dining areas and the rooms afford plenty of space, ideal and very Family friendly! An extensive menu is available for lunches and the freshly made soup with a large chunk of freshly baked bread was a hearty treat. Sandwiches, baked spuds, homemade pies and Quiche and a children's menu as well. In a nutshell, family friendly, reasonable prices, helpful staff and you are supporting a good cause and local community as well. Worth a visit. Hope this helps? Ps. Just had a homemade slice of cake, superb!

They have llamas, (and bunnies, guineas, ferrets and lovely marmosets), and a cafe, I'm not sure…read morehow much karma they have though. Really bright and colourful, little playpark out of the back for kids, and you can sit outside or in the conservatory too. Great, fun decor, and a lovely gift shop. The food; cakes, sandwiches, tiffins, soups, quiches, and drinks; coffees, teas, pops, milkshakes, juices, are all pretty standard, but they're reasonably priced, and better quality than something out of a packet at a motorway services or such. I can imagine this being a good break on a long drive with whiny or restless children in the back of the car, but it's good for restless adults too!

Very, very quirky, but a GREAT place to call in to for a coffee and food. This is a café, gift…read moreshop, B&B and a nature reserve all in one place! Highly recommended stop if travelling on the A66 (especially Eastbound, as there's really not a lot on this road until you get to Mainsgill Farm Shop, 30-odd miles further towards the A1). Well worth a look at also for unusual gifts, as there's not much like this place in Penrith. Very friendly staff, and very cute Llamas!

I used to love going here...but i encountered an extremely rude member of staff thet refused us a…read moreseat. we had been waiting inside ...but he seated someone who came in after us...his excuse was my friend was on her phone..!! We went back later to complain to the manager ..but it turned out that the rude man was the owner. He wouldnt let us speak and shouted over me !! I have never met such a rude individual ... I obviously will not be returning...and as a local regular i will he telling all my friends too.. Such a shame

The Narrowbar offers a slice of Camden in Cumbria; cool staff, hip sounds, trendy food. The Jack…read moreVettriano print on the left as you enter from Devonshire Street strikes a slightly naff note, but this is redressed by contemporary exhibitions currently featuring glass designs by Kathryn Pearce. The menu ranges from the full English breakfast (£6.35) to wholemeal pittas (£2.50). My favourite snack is curly fries with garlic dip (£2.65) and a latte (£2.05). Lunchtime O'Booze can choose from: Richmond Ridge, Semillon Chardonnay (£3.00/£12.50); Pinot Grigio San Antonio (£3.50/£14.50); Villa Rosa Merlot (£3.00/£12.50); and Castle Creek Shiraz (£3.15/£13.25) among others. There's a seating area at the rear, in Little Dockray, for fresh-air fiends/nicotine addicts.

Cranstons, the family-owned butchers in Penrith, has been serving local meat since 1914. Now it has…read moreopened a new café above the Cumbrian Food Hall, close to the M6 on the south-west side of the town. When I visited on a lunchtime in late November, the place was packed with locals, no doubt taking the opportunity to get out and about following the recent Biblical downpour. As you'd expect there's plenty of meat on the menu: an 8oz Gammon Steak; Cumberland Sausage with mash and red onion marmalade; an 8oz steak burger with streaky bacon and home made chips. Each of these costs £8.45. For £10.25 you can try the 'Cranstons' Local Platter, which features pastrami, roast ham and smoked pork loin. I was told that the soup of the day was parsnip and banana. I gave this a miss and opted for Chicken and Mediterranean Vegetable Terrine with tomato and olive chutney. It played safe, in my opinion, and would have benefited from a more imaginative accompaniment. A nod to vegetarians comes in the form of Grilled Goats Cheese & Pickled Beetroot Salad and Quiche of the Day. But I think a vegetarian in Cumbria is someone who has resolved not to eat meat between meals. The café is bright, spacious and unfussily furnished. The tall windows offer panoramic views of the lowering skies over the northern fells. On the opposite wall, a water-painting depicts a more benign riparian scene.

what can i say about this fine specialist butchers, apart from you have to go to buy to experience…read morethe quality of the food. The meat is so fresh, and they do fab stir frys plus so much more than you would expect frfom a butchers. There is also a really good fruit and veg section in there along with a local family run bakers whose bread is good.They also sell locally produced desserts and specialist food tha you wont find in supermarkets. If its something different for tea you are looking for then i strongly recommend you give this place a go.