Robyn's Nest Cafe - Bracknell Forest

First impression sign saying Cafe leads to a corridor. Glazed windows to left with a gloomily lit crèche inside. Follow corridoor, no sign of cafe, but an Italian Deli nearby that sadly doesn’t do breakfast. Second impression competed the 200 yard loop to arrive back at the cafe sign. This time spot that it’s not a crèche but might be a cafe. Paper sign on the door says ‘exit only and please use main entrance’. No clear directions where this might be. Third impression look behind me, check what might be another outer wall of the cafe, dead end, no obvious entry. Fourth impression spot a cash desk and a young lady preoccupied on the screen. Politely ask “Excuse me, how do I get into the cafe?” “It’s outside” accompanied by a vague arm wave, head still down and in a ‘how dare you interrupt me’ tone. Fifth impression: Turn a couple of corners and spot what is probably a cafe entrance up a ramp through some outside tables. Sixth impression: wait at the sign saying ‘please wait to be seated’ for a minute or two, but confused by the fact that there are customers at a counter 5 meters away, several members of staff (albeit that some were on the preparation side of the operation) by no one coming to serve me. Seventh impression: waitress reasonably helpful and the food was very nice (though if you are charging £14 for breakfast, you should never be using horrible cheap vinegary ketchup) but so aggravated by the lead up that it was very hard to enjoy. Overall it’s clearly a reasonably successful business with lots of franchise outlets and what looked like a well stocked core business garden centre but the food offerings g still needs a huge overhaul to achieve its maximum potential. Everything in the cafe was on a make do and mend basis. Fridges blocking the artwork, old outside bin reused inside, cheap ketchup as mentioned and many others. They were doing a tiny fraction of the food business that other garden centres in the region would be doing at this time of day and it’s not the food that’s lacking but the organisation, signage and (presumably) leadership.

I used to love this cafe but just recently I feel it’s become a bit hit or miss, mostly down to service and food lack of availability, or missing items. On a good day it is fab! Great cake selection and a friendly team. On another day it is not the same. It hasn’t put me off visiting and I still will as love the garden centre and supporting independent businesses, it’s just not the same as it was.

Lovely cafe, great staff and perfect for kids. Our food was lovely and fresh and there was something on the menu for old and young

Breakfast at Robyns was fantastic. The Breakfast was cooked to perfection and great value for money. Super friendly staff, the young lady working the seating was FANTASTIC. We will definitely be back!

We decided to stop at the cafe for breakfast today, whilst picking up our hand painted pottery as we had heard by word of mouth that it was a great cafe. It was quick and easily to book a table online. The staff were lovely, friendly and helpful. Our cooked breakfast portions were big and very tasty. The staff provided plastic cutlery for the little ones and were very attentive. Thank you! We will be back one day.