The Hollies Coffee Shop in Cheshire West and Chester

I’ve been to the Hollies a few times over the past few years. This is by far the most disappointing experience. All customer service or consideration of experience has gone out of the window. It really isn’t anything special so recommend not travelling far for it. I know life is expensive nowadays and hospitality is having challenges but £37 for two sandwiches, fries and two coffees is astronomical. The cherry on top of this disappointment was being served average tasting food/ drink in paper cups and bags. They just want you in and out as soon as possible. Interactions with staff in the shop were pretty poor as well. The Hollies is glamourised but there actually isn’t much substance behind the aesthetics. Save yourself the £s and visit a more deserving establishment.

Little pricey for simple food. But what really needs addressing is it's soooo cold in there its uncomfortable. Everyone was sitting with coats on.

Great shops and good cakes, but mediocre food unfortunately.

The dine in experience is very poor for the price they charge for the food and drink. Food served in a paper bag takeaway format charged out at table service prices🙄 The smallest serving of French fries I've ever received for the princely sum of £4.00. A very averagely tasting Americano coffee in a disposable paper cup for £3.70. The burger we had was very nice and tasty. This agian was served wrapped in paper like a McDonald's burger but changed out at a whopping £9.00😲 The cafe is very pleasant inside but the the table we had hadn't been cleaned down. This is probably because they don't have to remove plates and cups as everything is disposable. This was primarily a visit to the farm shop on a very wet rainy day when myself and my wife were staying in a nearby hotel. The farm shop is fantastic with lots of great produce. Unfortunately the cafe doesn't give the same vibe.

It's called a takeaway and service and disposable cups, food trays etc are all like that - be prepared to stand around whilst numbers are shouted out AKA McDonald's (but more pricey) until your drinks are ready. Then after that experience you get to sit in quite pleasant surroundings... But it is 2024 - and that is not sustainable. Re-use (washing crockery) is far less wasteful than dumping/recycling every cup/food box that's used... It's presumably due to saving money on staff costs.

Such a great farm shop. I will make this a regular stopping place after airport run. It's beautiful inside and outside . Scone and coffee were great . Can't wait to visit again .

Feel I have to add my comments to the many other reviews- what has happened to the extremely pleasant coffee/tea venue at The Hollies? Queued at the door for our drinks served in a paper cup with a splintered wooden stirrer. My friends scone was served in a cardboard box rather than a plate - making it impossible to cut and spread with butter/jam. Wheelie bins are sited in the restaurant area for self clearance of tables - prices are very high and do not reflect this takeaway concept. Please consider returning the old cafe style set up.

Lovely coffee and tasty food if a bit expensive. Purchasing of food & drink very inconvenient as one is served the coffee straight away but 'hang about' with all the other customers waiting for food.

Food prices continue to increase but the quality decreases. Again my sandwich has been over cooked. The staff are very polite and I got an apology but no exchange. Not somewhere I personally recommend if you want to guarantee the quality of food I’m afraid.

I had a lovely latte ,my partner had a lovely fresh warm sausage roll ,and a smash burger and fries ,the smash burger was soooooooo good , all 10/10 food ,staff were very pleasant, lovely place to eat x definitely goin bk

Very busy, lovely bacon 🥓 barm. Wasn't keen on the 3 massive wind charms that had air blown on them making a constant intrusive noise.

The staff are friendly and chatty, and they make you feel welcome. The prices for both beverages and food are very well priced. The atmosphere is relaxing as well as stylish, to unwind for a while before endulging your legs in walking around the abundance of fabulous gifts and food on offer here.

Strange place. We had no idea how the place worked so we took a menu off the counter and found somewhere to sit before realising that you had to order and pay at the counter and then queue for the food and drink. Americano at £3.50 each was decent but didn't expect it to be served in a takeaway cup. Food was limited so we opted for a yoghurt, fruit and granola pot, again served takeaway style in a small plastic pot with a wooden spoon - at the ridiculous price of £4.70 each. And then you clear your table and dump your rubbish in a not very stylish huge black wheelie bin. We shall not be returning anytime soon.

It's ok. Busy with slow queues at peak time and quite pricey for food. Feels a bit food court rather than cafe.

Love it here, but you will defo spend more money than you wanted to🤑, there is sooooooooo much lovely stuff, I only hoped in for 2 boxes of sausage rolls.....£30 later

Farm shop was full of nice things, bit pricey but lots of choice. Bought a cheese & onion pie that was ok for a tenner but wouldn't buy again. Husband bought some sausage rolls & a sour dough loaf that we've yet to try. Not impressed with the cafe, unorganised & cardboard cups are a no from me. 2 medium coffees, 1 small scone with butter & a ring doughnut for £16 was a bit much!

This is quite a special place to visit. It is allot more than a farm shop. The Hollies is one of my favourite places to visit. Coffee /cake and hot food to eat in the seating areas inside and outside. Ps. I still miss your restaurant. MickH

I look forward to visiting The Hollies farm shop and a coffee afterwards but I was disappointed today to find all indoor seating was closed. We had our 3 year old grandson with us who had to sit on the floor to be able to eat his doughnut as the tables available are too high for children to stand at.

Friendly staff, tables cleared quickly even at very busy times, toilets clean & working...

One of the worst cheese and ham Toasties I've had in ages, barely any filling. If you fancy some lunch, head up to Blakemere up the road...

I love The Hollies shops and the takeaway drinks but omg called in there this week and it was crazy in the sit in cafe part. Took ages ordering and collecting drinks, although the ladies work their socks off! The place itself was , I thought, untidy, sticky and the sofa was dirty with food and chips. I didnt see anyone collect any of the rubbish from the tables or wipe them. It was noisy, no ambience except for the clattering lights swinging about. Disappointing as I didnt think this was up to The Hollies standard.

For an establishment like The Hollies to provide a "café" like this is poor. I went on a Tuesday and it was heaving. I wish I had left rather than eat, but my friend and I were very hungry. Ordering was done at the counter from a very limited menu. The staff did their best, but there were just not enough of them. I ordered a cous cous and halloumi salad box. My friend ordered a ciabatta roll. The food was, to be kind, average. Hastily made with evident lack of care. My cous cous was grim. My friend enjoyed her sandwich. But ...over flowing bins, dirty and blocked toilets, messy tables. I will avoid at all costs in the future. Super disappointed.

Overpriced but that’s every place since losing business in Covid. All drinks order cocked up. Man definitely not reading orders! Used to be so much nicer with a proper restaurant.

Strange concept. It looks like a restaurant outside. Then inside …You queue to order. Then given a hot drink in a paper cup and a cold drink in a can. We ordered 2 sausage barms. I got a buzzer to then go back to collect it when it was ready. It was given to me in a paper bag and it was wrapped up in foil. For the price that you pay you’d expect it to be served to you and given with proper crockery and cutlery. The staff wasn’t very pleasant either. The farm shop was nice not that expensive either.

Too busy but we Love it. Strangely very worth it. Make your own call If you can be bothered waiting. Shop is also excellent and although pricey its top notch ! Especially the food hall 😋😩😍

Menu quite limit, quite pricey, £30 for 2 sandwiches & 2 coffees.

Very long wait, staff didn't seem to know what they were doing,too few staff. Very small selection of food. Wouldn't eat here again

Great location, friendly staff, great food then a walk round the fabulous farm shop and gift barns, its like a day out in the country

Great food although you m we did have to queue to pay and then go back to collect our food and take it to the table ourselves.

Ok, so if you are looking for table service and fine china best give the hollies takeaway a swerve…. But don’t miss a visit to the Farm Shop and Gift Barn though or you will definitely be missing out. However for Great Coffee, casual easy dining in gorgeous surroundings this is your place. The best sausage and egg bap alongside the best shopping experience in mid Cheshire. Very very busy so I always go early. It’s definitely giving Christmas vibes at the moment, and I’m definitely going to be back for the Christmas sandwich Ho ho ho Finally the cakes…. Take a look 😊 so impressive. Very friendly helpful team (having once worked in hospitality I see how hard these guys work) special mention.to Elaine, she is a dream 12 out of 10 - thank you Hollies🙏

Far too busy for me but a lovely place. Would prefer proper pots instead of paper cups etc

Not been since the cafe closed during lockdown. Always enjoyed the cafe, even though pricey for the area. Visited again as I’d heard the cafe had reopened. Wished I hadn’t bothered it’s just a very expensive takeaway with tables. £8.50 for a mediocre ciabatta. Plus all that waste of the cardboard cups, plastic lids, foil wraps and paper bags. There are loads of lovely far superior cafes in Cheshire.

Absolutely awful. Do not visit. This used to be a lovely restaurant pre pandemic but we were so disappointed when we visited after. I can only describe this as a very expensive fast food outlet but without the “fast”. Food and beverages were inedible and expensive. What happened? Management need to seriously reconsider bringing back the old style restaurant. Missing a trick here.

Terrible it's been turned into an overpriced takeaway so disappointed this used to be a lovely dining experience but unfortunately it's lost it, please go back to the way it used to be you are losing a lot of loyal customers

The whole site is very busy with cafe serving take out drinks, hot breakfast rolls and many cake and bakery products. There are tables and chairs to eat and drink inside or outside In addition the clothes and trinkets etc are very individual. On the run up to Christmas they have an amazing Christmas shop that is just wow! I would also recommend the farm shop and foods available. This place is a must visit venue

Excellent hot drink & cake. I had 2 hot drinks as so nice.

Beautiful place with a good range of hot drinks and food. Fantastic location and atmosphere 👌

This place is a joke...why everyone rates it I really don't know!! We called in for lunch and a hot drink, it's no better than a glorified Mcdonalds with less on their menu. £5.50 for a spiced latte in a take away cup !! After finding a table and cleaning it ourselves as it was filthy, we had our very syrupy drinks and a toastie, which was obvs heated up by a tea light as it was barely warm, the cheese wasn't melted and bread was definitely not toasted and we paid £ 8.50 forit to be wrapped in tinfoil. No luxury here !!! The Christmas and Halloween gifts looked lovey but unfortunately the only scary thing about them were the prices. I'm sure the local farmers are not getting there money thats due to them at the cost of what the shop are selling them at. Don't bother the hype is not real. ( I do shop in other local farm shops so I am not adverse to paying slightly more tha average for ' home grown' but these are something else !) Stay clear..that's if you can find a car park space in the fist place. I have a disabled badge but unfortunately the only one blue badge space we could find was taken. So our luxury lunch would of beenbetter going to the fishpool Inn down the road. Lesson learnt!!! What a joke !!!!!

Always great service by polite stafr

Great experience, lovely place.. will be coming back!

Helpful friendly staff, very pleasant atmosphere. Would recommend.

One of the few places that we visit where we are contented to stay a while. The food and atmosphere are excellent.

Beautiful salmon and cream cheese bagel . Lovely staff at the order desk However the reason I'm giving 4 stars is It was my first visit to the cafe / take out - but sit in and it was slightly confusing. No menus on the tables so you had to wait until you got to the till to order but this isn't very efficient as you can't keep ppl waiting. Also I couldn't find cutlery anywhere. Not sure I'm keen on the takeout packaging but sitting in. Although the food was very good and staff Lovely. Also could do with some sign saying SLOW DOWN a young girl nearly knocked my toddler over on the car park.

I haven’t visited The Hollies for a number of years but I called into the cafe with a friend, somewhere I remember was always popular & clearly it still is as it was very busy & the decor is lovely but that’s were the positives end. Having read some of the previous reviews it appears the cafe became much a self service style during & post covid. Food & drinks are all served in disposable bags/cups/boxes & customers are asked on signs to clean their tables of rubbish before leaving but there was one large bin for the whole cafe & most people I watched were just leaving their rubbish behind - What this did do was highlight tables that had been used but no one came to clear them or wipe them down, in the hour or so we were there I saw one staff member wipe down one table. Food choices were limited which seems silly considering there’s a fully stocked farm shop next door & everything seems overpriced considering you’re essentially looking after yourself. The hot chocolates stacked with whipped cream did look very impressive but at £5+ I did expect them to be. I had a toasted cheese ciabatta & cold drink for £10.40. Definitely not somewhere I’d recommend or return to. Only positive was the decor.

First impressions were great but what a let down from the there . We had an avocado bap and bacon bap. No love gone to it what so ever . When we asked if they ever did the proper service , the reply was “ we used to before Covid , but now THATS HOW THE OWNERS PREFER IT “ well the CUSTOMERS DO NOT . Awful and poor food quality, very overpriced. Never coming back ! If I want that kind of food , I will go to macdonalds . Pls check my pics .

Having decided to drive a considerable distance to visit the Hollies with a friend for lunch, the farm shop exceeded our expectations, unfortunately the same cannot be said for the cafe . Our orders were taken we were told to wait for our drinks which were served in paper cups we were given a bleeper and told to come back when it alarmed. I was shocked to be given food in a brown paper bag, no tray or cutlery.Sadly a return visit is doubtful.

Lukewarm coffee at a price of £3.60 in a small cardboard cup. Toasties at £7.90 (!) had minimal fillings and bulked up with sauces. Horrendously expensive.

Food was 10 out of 10. Me and my Mrs got the burgers and skin on fries. The beef was very fresh just like a butchers. We sat inside and it was a very nice atmosphere and very clean. I also liked the way it was decorated for autumn/Halloween on our visit. The layout was a bit confusing for first timers, you seat yourself and then have to go up and queue to order your food. Would recommend a visit to this place as there is also a nice farm shop next door.

Poor quality and a fortune, surrounded by wasps. Won't be back.

What a brilliant place to visit , and even better to stay at the lodges.

It's a lovely place with nice food and shops

Era nuestro favorito desde que era un pequeño café, pero desde que se convirtió en takeaway / self-service ha perdido su encanto, además sigue siendo excesivamente caro y encima te tienes que llevar tus cosas en plástico y al final tirarlos tú mismo en la basura! eso si, al menos podrían darte una bandeja.

I went there for alook round the shop, bought some fruit. And had a slice of cake and a drink of tea. No parking problems for all people. Entrances for all people situated on ground floor. Had a good browse round all shops,butchers, bric a brac and garden plants. Bought some items, probably paid over prices in supermarket. Well worth a visit will be going again.

Lovely place for lunch. Atmosphere is great, as is the service. The prices are very reasonable. We had bacon ciabatta roll, a bacon, brie and cranberry ciabatta and 2 cream teas, with cappuccinos. Everything is in takeaway packaging but we always dine in. The cream teas came home with us for later 😉 Always a pleasure to visit 😊

Lovely friendly staff and great food would recommend

Just a diamond of a place for food,gifts , plants and coffee. The cakes are amazing 😍. A little piece of culinary and deli heaven just 30mins away ...we are very lucky 👍🏻 top marks for staff too.

Didn't have no food only a hot chocolate, but the staff r extremely friendly.

Very pleasant staff in the coffee shop.

We found this on a drive home so have never been before It looks lovely on arrival, we were lucky as the sun was shining so we could enjoy the outside area. You order at the counter and then wait for your order, everything comes in disposable boxes, paper bags and compostable cups. We shared a sausage roll and a cherry scone, really delicious... Coffee was good as well The whole place is a great spot to have a wander, with lots of retail therapy available 😊

My wife and I thought it would be a nice treat to have breakfast at the hollies to end our short break at a nearby caravan park. It couldn't have been further from the truth. Over £17 for 2 coffees served in cardboard cups and a bacon barm & sausage barm,( due to lack of choice) that had obviously been warmed in the microwave, wrapped in foil and placed in paper bags. The barms were soggy as they had sweated in the foil. No knife and fork and no table service. I asked for a plate to eat off to be told it was takeaway only. Absolutely disgusted in both the food and the service! IF YOU ONLY SERVE TAKEAWAY FOOD, REFLECT IT IN YOUR PRICES OR LEARN SOME DINING ETIQUETTE, SIMPLE THINGS LIKE A MUG OR PLATE WOULD BE A GOOD START. I eaten better in a transport cafe for A LOT LESS!

We had breakfast at The Hollies to break our journey. Sitting in the sunshine enjoying good food was the plus side. However, apart from a possible advantage of avoiding VAT, I cannot see how this set up lends itself to takeaway service only. The prices were definitely restaurant plus. Also, if you are going to serve everything in disposable packaging, I was extremely disappointed to find there were no recycling facilities. Very strange in this day and age.

Great food reasonable prices and lovely waiting staff.

Nice place to sit outside but slow service queued 24 mins for coffee.

Sadly the cafe has lost its way. It used to be 5/5 but since they messed with it... Well it feels a shambles I'm sorry to say.

I’ve not been for quite a while and it has gone vastly downhill from a nice cafe to a glorified equivalent of a fast food place with the only bonus being a relatively nice view (apart from dirty tables.) I queued up for 15 mins to place my order and then another 15 mins to get my drinks and another 5 mins to get my food. My breakfast tea had stewed and tasted vile and our paninis were served in paper bags and were falling apart and luke warm. No customer service at all and no sense of urgency with the young staff. There was rubbish on the tables outside as the bins were overflowing. £27 for a tea, coffee and 2 paninis absolutely ridiculous and I definitely don’t recommend it and won’t be going again.

The experience at The Hollies should be a great one, location, facilities and menu offering is fabulous but thats where it ends for me. The lovely staff are young and leaderless and there doesn’t seem any sense if urgency or organisation ‘it’ll come when it...

Really nice hot coco I would suggest going their, It is aimed for the middle class to get a taste of luxury. My favaite server is sam.

Great food great selection nice place

This has changed since last here not impressed with the changes it's like a visit to a burger bar.

Just had coffee which was pleasant. The Hollies generally is a bit expensive but some good quality stuff there. Got some nice perfume for my wife's birthday and the deli has some great stuff. Worth a visit.

Farm shop is good, but cafe is another thing entirely. Car parking good and furnishings good. The cafe used to be excellent pre Covid but unless you want your food to be served in paper bag which you have to use as a plate as...

The food and drink here are just amazing and the homeware is just as good. Worth a trip if you're in the area.

Disappointed in the Hollies . This used to be a lovely restaurant and is now a takeaway involving a lot of standing and waiting , a lot of environmentally unfriendly waste and frankly, very average food . The room was cold and the seats uncomfortable...

Excellant food. Good value for money

Good coffee accepts Reusable cups - preventing single use. Nice farm shop too.

Really nice place with really good coffee. Unfortunately the service is a little slow and could maybe benefit from a second till. Queues were out the door.

Simply marvellous and a fantastic Gluten free menu. Tastiest food around with service to match

Good food realy enjoyed our stay in the log cabin. X

Gorgeous setting for coffee and a catch up

Went to the Hollies hoping to warm up inside after being in the snow and was still just as cold inside. Staff in the cafe were just having conversations amongst themselves and weren’t very welcoming as we entered too. Food arrived, I went for the...

Food took ages to arrive but was nice enough, tad on the expensive side. Personally think it's poorly organised, you have to stand waiting next to an open door so it was freezing cold. Numerous bags of food waiting to be collected off the side and the staff having to call out numerous times. Would make sense to give people table numbers and have somebody running it back and forth to tables when it's ready, would lead to a much nicer experience.

A lovely relaxing place to have a coffee and food. The farm shop is brilliant too

Visited for the first time.. Service and atmosphere were good and coffee was delicious..Will visit again

Wonderful catch up with a beautiful friend … sat in The Hollies mini eating area … staff were extremely accommodating and offered excellent service, especially when I requested a vegan salad … as always, exceptional service and highly recommended … many thanks … Maggy x

Perfect very relaxed atmosphere good selection on the menu

I think the staff are brilliant here incredible helpful always willing to help my self my dad as we are disabled they always myself 10/10

Great food and choice, pricey but worth a trip.

Now renamed by us as McHOLLIES So unbelievably disappointing, this used to be lovely - a place for coffee and cake or a full lunch with wine. Had celebration lunches here in the past. The seats are changed to hard bench type.. obviously so you...

Really enjoy visiting here . Good quality produce and always fresh . Not the cheapest but you get what you pay for so we'll worth it

Nice place for a coffee. Good choice in Farm Shop. Lovely meat counter

Stopped for coffee, nice place, offered takeaway, but provided an indoors seating area which had a nice feel and atmosphere. It was clean and modern.

Gorgeous produce and lovely gift shop. Have stayed in the wonderful lodges on a previous occasion too. Well worth a trip!

Christmas "Sorry we are busy" attitude .Would not attempt to eat here again.

What a disappointment the Hollies now is on the food front. We popped in for lunch and there was such limited choice for vegan / gluten free and a lot of unhealthy options. Plastic cups and food in bags for staying in - what a waste when it's such a nice environment inside. Not what we expected at all.

Disappointing. Over priced. Minimal choice offering for breakfast

Very disappointing. Pre-covid this was a lovely café, selling good food in a pleasant atmosphere. Pricey, but good, and always busy. Obviously, places have had to adapt, but this one has turned in a curious direction. A takeaway, with seating. Cold, soulless, and mediocre food, but with café prices. Paper cups, foil wrappers and a ton of waste that you are invited to place in the bins yourself. If I’d wanted a McD experience I’d have gone there.

Freezing cold. Staff were wearing coats and hats. Expensive coffee served in paper cups. I won't be returning unless it's the summer.

Cannot fault the lovely smiling takeaway staff and the amazing Oreo hot chocolate for a little girl who needed a sugar rush after a hard game of rugby! We purchased 3 cakes and I can highly recommend the malteser tiffin. The queue although long went...

We first visited this cafe between lock downs and had to sit outside but experience was still lovely! We returned as a family today with 2 dairy free in our party. It was very difficult to work the menu round the allergies and quite stressful...

Fantastic place that keeps on getting better, feels like a luxury restaurant these days but self service which is fine , amazing coffee shop with great treats abd huge deli and gift ship