Grounds Café Birches Valley

Much better since refurbishment a while ago, now known as ‘Grounds Cafe’. Nice layout, with separate counter for ice-cream, and a decent seating area indoors and out. Decent freshly ground coffee (good latte) and fresh cakes, although once gone they’re gone and not restocked during day. Can’t comment on hot pies etc, but look nice. Main issue is queues can be long, hence waiting time can be an issue. Not bad though, a nice treat at the end of a long MTB ride or walk.

Lots of fantastic treats on offer at the Grounds Café. We stopped here on our way to the Gruffalo trail for a coffee and cake, both were delicious. They also have ice cream on offer if that’s your preference. Inside is a bit cramped but there is plenty of outside seating for when the weather is nice.

Perfect for a hot chocolate or depending on the weather, an ice cream after a walk or cycle around the lovely Cannock Chase

Visited on 30/08, mid afternoon. Six staff members and a queue out the door...
No idea at all how to work as a team, most of them standing around, deliberately avoiding eye contact.
A great place, nice food, reasonable prices but dreadful service. Half the number of staff could have been twice as effective, if they were prepared to *work*.

I'm trying not trying to give you guys a bad review the only issue is parking not paying twice to park and go to the cafe it's to expensive is one or the other.

It should be free parking if your going to the cafe.

I will not return until it's been changed. Don't get me wrong love the cafe it's just the parking.

Food: I asked if the butternut squash stew was cooked fresh - no. It comes from head office. When it arrived, it looked like baby food. And was scalding hot. The toasted bread with it, was fine, but the butter was solid. Back to the stew. I make my own butternut squash casserole, hence my wanting this. This was pearl barley, boiled, with frozen squash put in, with a bit of onion and turmeric for colour. This is ridiculous. Winter seasonal veg is a plenty. This place is surrounded by farms! No carrot, potato, garlic, ROASTED squash, pumpkin, kale, NOTHING! This, at best, was a microwave meal, which cost nearly £8. Absolute dire. Lovely young woman serving. Always smiling.

Good ice cream

Lovely vegan food after a ride on the trails, tomato soup, sausage roll, falafel and coleslaw wrap, all tasted fresh. Plenty of options for my vegan sweet tooth too👍