Hobb’s Cafe at Monsal Head, near Ashford in the Water has been a cafe/tearoom for more than 80 years. Ray & Rose took it over 2 years ago & have completely refurbished it and it is fantastic, tasteful quality. It is made up of a series of small rooms, just like walking through several cottages – throughout tables are dotted around with the occasional sofa. You can sit outside & enjoy the marvellous views of Monsal Dale. Interesting craft bits, cards & potential presents fill the rear rooms. The light lunch menu consists of sandwiches, pannini’s, oakcakes and salads with cakes & scones available all day. We had two types of oatcakes one filled with mushrooms in a garlic & creme fraiche sauce the other with Wensleydale & Cranberry cheese with extremely imaginative salad garnish and not a boring lettuce leaf in sight. All the cakes looked fantastic, I did resist but not next time. Ben had this amazing chocolate squigy cake with liquid chocolate in the middle “the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had”. Proper cappuccino’s are served as well as a good range of other drinks. Everything seems right here, the food, the service & the surroundings. We look forward to going back very soon.
Open Tuesday to Sunday until the end of October with reduced Winter openings. Tel:01629 640346
PARWICH.ORG 
Called in again yesterday (just for research purposes), I had some of the chocolate cake – a slight crunch to the top & so moist inside – it did not disappoint. We sat outside enjoying the sun & view. This cafe really does deserve our maximum 6* rating.
Visited with family after a nice country walk.
We were greeted by a very unpleasant member of staff who promptly told me that my children weren’t welcome! “We don’t have children in our cafe”.
I own and operate bars and restaurants across the UK so simply cannot accept such blatantly poor customer service.
Probably the worst cafe I have ever visited.
We had a similar experience. We weren’t told our children weren’t welcome when we entered and there was no sign indicating any such intolerance but, as we sat down at a table, a male member of staff approached us and told us in a very accusatory manner that our children must not under any circumstances leave their seats or make any noise as it was unnacceptable to the other customers. My husband ensured that the children’s behaviour was appropriate at the table whilst I queued to order, but when my 2 year old made a little grizzling sound, the man, who was then serving at the counter, made an extremely aggressive and unneccessary remark to another customer ahead of me in the queue about my child and proceeded to laugh loudly at his own ‘wittiness’. We, of course, left immediately, making it clear that we were not about to hand over money for overpriced cakes to someone who thought that this was an acceptable way to behave in front of customers! He obviously has a major issue with children but I can’t imagine his attitude does the books much good!