The Stores

4.8 ( 225 reviews )
£10–20
Chelmsford Rd, Great Waltham, Chelmsford CM3 1DE, United Kingdom
+44 1245 362649

Located in Great Waltham, The Stores offers a delightful café experience that has won the hearts of many locals and visitors alike. Open for breakfast and lunch, this charming spot is renowned for its wholesome, freshly made dishes and inviting atmosphere. Customers rave about the friendly, welcoming staff, who contribute to the overall relaxed vibe of the café.

One standout is the homemade sausage roll, praised for its flavour and complemented by a fresh salad, making it a great choice for both adults and children. Guests also enjoy the excellent coffee and home-cooked brunch items, catering especially well to cyclists looking for a satisfying pit stop.

Moreover, the ambiance features cozy interiors and a lovely courtyard, ideal for enjoying a peaceful meal. The delightful carrot cake has been described as one of the best around, further enhancing the café's appeal. With its attentive service and charming decor, The Stores is not just a café but a cherished community gem worth visiting.

Amenities and More

  • Service options
    • Takeaway
    • Dine-in
    • Delivery
  • Highlights
    • Great coffee
    • Great dessert
    • Great tea selection
  • Popular for
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Solo dining
    • Good for working on laptop
  • Accessibility
    • Wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • Wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • Offerings
    • Alcohol
    • Beer
    • Coffee
    • Healthy options
    • Quick bite
    • Small plates
    • Vegan options
    • Vegetarian options
    • Wine
  • Dining options
    • Breakfast
    • Brunch
    • Lunch
    • Dessert
    • Seating
  • Amenities
    • Toilet
  • Atmosphere
    • Casual
    • Cosy
  • Crowd
    • Groups
    • Tourists
  • Payments
    • Credit cards
    • Debit cards
    • NFC mobile payments
    • Credit cards
  • Children
    • Good for kids
    • High chairs
    • Kids' menu
  • Parking
    • Free of charge street parking
  • Pets
    • Dogs allowed outside

Reviews For The Stores

Karen Hobbs
Jun 27,2025
This is by far our favourite place to enjoy a drink, breakfast or lunch. The staff are all gems, so friendly and welcoming. The food is always divine, wholesome, and freshly made. The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting.
Victoria Mannakee
Jun 17,2025
Lovely coffee!
simon nichols
Jun 5,2025
Super friendly place. Nice choice of brunch items home cooked. Great stop off for a bike ride in future.
Austin Jones Group Essex Carpet Cleaning
May 23,2025
What a lovely little gem of a tea room . Perfect for cyclists too Service & food was excellent. Best carrot cake my wife has had for years apparently
S Ho
May 3,2025
I had a homemade sausage roll with salad. It was lovely, even my little one enjoyed it. Love the cosy surroundings and the wee courtyard at the back. Love the chunky cutlery and choice of tableware too! And I'm sure I'll love the cake the next time I'm back.
Matt W
Apr 4,2025
Really nice cafe, with a villagey feel to it, and the food is lovely too. It feels quite pricey for what you get (full English 13), but so does everywhere nowadays and I'd say the quality of the food and meat here is better than most places. Very nice and I'll definitely be back. Worth noting its always busy, but that's a good thing. Their coffee is amongst the best I've had too.
Tessa Rose
Mar 12,2025
Just love this independent coffee shop. Food is fresh and delicious, staff are all lovely
Dawn Potter
Mar 12,2025
First time in Great Waltham. It was lovely to stumble upon this cute little cafe. My son and I ordered a pot of camomile tea (3 cups) and a hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows, plus 2, three cheese toasties with salad and jalapeno jelly. The reasonably priced food was delicious and was served piping hot. The staff were friendly and helpful and the cute decor made it a place we would definitely return to.

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