Cuckfield Pantry and Tea room in Mid Sussex

I took my wife to The Pantry, having visited it on my own a couple of years ago on a cycling trip and been impressed by the coffee and cake I'd had.I had the fish pie and veg from the specials board, which was excellent: big chunks of salmon and (I think) smoked haddock in a really tasty sauce. My wife had a baked potato, which she also enjoyed.The real standouts, though, were the puddings. My carrot cake was, quite simply, the best I've ever eaten, and my wife said the same of her fruit crumble and custard. Delicious!The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming, and the decor charmingly quirky. I also liked the Covid-safe measures in place. Food is served to a central table where you can collect your food, avoiding close contact with staff.We'd recommend a visit for the puds alone. More please!

2 cream teas, 2 hot chocs and some chocolate cake all delicious and good service.

Warm and welcoming, traditional English tea rooms. Quality food at reasonable price

Beautiful tea room lovely people working here lovely menu and food it tasty

A bright little cafe, but, being vegan it was practically impossible to find anything to eat or drink. Most cafes now have an alternative milk or a vegan spread for toast etc. The lady serving me at first declared she had nothing for vegans. When I suggested mushrooms on toast she grudgingly said she could do that for me. But I couldn’t even have a tea or coffee unless I took it without milk. And dry toast. Would be good for them to move with times... and not make people feel unwelcome.P.S. I have just read your response to me, dear owner. Your manner is unpleasant and bigoted, it speaks for itself and qualifies my experience there.So I need not defend myself.Good luck, from your other reviews I see I am not alone in feeling offended by the service and quality there.....

I hate to give somewhere a bad review at a time like this, but my god, that was a terrible experience: Microwaved eggs, bacon that had been cooked days previously, burnt toast. All that might have been forgiveable, but the owner was rude to the point of it almost being funny. At one point someone came in and wanted a cup of tea and was told there was a ten pound minumum, then sent on their way. Later we were told we werent allowed another cup for our pot of tea. The owner said he wanted to retire soon and everything about the place screamed that he already had. (According to other businesses he's known for his rudeness, if only we'd known before) Avoid and head to the nicer little cafe just up the road, service amd food there is lovely.

A nice little place but with current restrictions due to Covid we were astonished to find that the 2 staff were not wearing face masks whilst preparing food. And the man working there kept coughing which was most alarming. He was also quite rude and abrupt .... but doesn't care!

Good value, unpretentious food served in a comfortable, traditionally decorated room.We found the service friendly, welcoming and very accommodating. Despite suggestions to the contrary from other "reviewers", everything was impeccably clean.In summary, my son and I had a lovely meal and will surely return when we find ourselves back in Cuckfield.

Had an excellent full English breakfast here at the weekend (at 2pm!). Perfectly cooked - not greasy at all. Nice relaxed atmosphere too - great find. Will be back to try the cakes!

RUDE, DIRTY CUPSI visited this establishment on the 3rd of July with my partner and our 2 friends who were on holiday travelling from america.We were in the area and they had asked to have a traditional English afternoon tea to get a taste of the culture.My partner and I instantly regretted choosing this establishment upon arrival as the owner simply pointed to a table without saying a word.We decided to get 2 of the scones and tea meal and ask for another cup so all 4 of us could have a cup of tea and a scone. The meal was one pot of tea and 2 scones with jam and cream. It said nowhere on the menu how many cups we were allowed.when we asked for 2 extra cups, the owner bluntly said "NO" And there was an awkward pause and my partner asked why and the owner replied with "'coz that's not how it works" in a tone making us all feel uncomfortable.After discussion he agreed to charge us for 2 extra cups of tea but when it came to it, they were empty teacups so we could pout the tea from the pot into them, so we got charged the price of 2 cups of tea for empty cups.On top of this, once looking into the cups, we found dust in all four of them so they cannot have been recently washed.Finally, if you scroll through the negative comments, you will notice how the owners are bluntly and sarcastically replying to negative comments or simply dismissing the ex customer as mistaken in a way that suggests they can't the  handle negative feedback that may stop customers bieng driven away.I can honestly say I was ashamed that this establishment represented Britain for the American tourists we showed around and we will not be returning or recommending to anyone.REPLY TO OWNERS REPLY, in fact it was dust as I distinctly remember pulling some out on my finger, as did one of the Americans we were with in her own cup. Disgusting.