First of all a great name, see what they did there? It is a craft/gift shop so they went and called…read moreit the "crafty" fox, double meaning and all that. Although I may be reading way to much into it. Anyway back to the review, after getting a leaflet through the letter box about the Crafty Fox I was intrigued, they call it a "hidden country gem" and that sounds like something I would write so I thought I had better check it out. The building itself is stunning, it used to be a bank but has been refurbished, although it still looks like a bank from the outside, inside has been decorated like a stately manor. Being that It resembles a manor it is certainly up market, selling luxury items. It is certainly charming with each item appearing to be hand crafted. This is not only a gift shop, it also has a Coffee Shop that sells a selection of delicious pastries. After browsing the shop you will feel right at home whilst eating a scone and sipping tea. The staff are warm and welcoming and you will feel like heading up the stairs into the bedroom and never leaving the Crafty Fox.

Recently visited the Crafty Fox at Balloo and was very impressed! Its a beautiful old house that…read moreused to be the Northern Bank - its been decorated beautifully and has the biggest selection of 'gorgeous things' everything from pottery to jewellery to clothes and baby things! Bagged myself some lovely mugs in the style of emma bridgewater - only a fraction of the price! Will defintely be back.

Called in here yesterday for a sneaky lunch after a workshop in Scrabo children's centre…read more This place is beautiful albeit small place..but that adds to the charm It's a renovated gatelodge (hence the name) and it is awesome! Has an old world charm about it mixed with modern touches with vintage fireplaces, bare stone walls as well as trendy lighting and beautiful canvasses on the walls The food was lush! The menu is quite small as it caters for the breakfast/lunch crowd...but had a good selection of sandwiches, salads, lite bites and homemade pastries like sausage rolls & buns The best thing though, has to be that this place is in collaboration with Stepping Stones NI, which allows training for adults with a learning disability or difficulty, helping them gain employment and life skills. Profits from this place go to help Stepping Stones NI regenerate their funds and provide ongoing support for adults who need it. What a fab place, with a brilliant ethos and a fantastic atmosphere, food & staff! We'll be back down in Newtonards in the near future, and will defo be making another visit!

While killing time between hospital appointments I thought I would treat myself to a coffee in this…read moreplace. Now I know this building well as it is the actual Gatelodge for Ards hospital and years ago it used to be the accommodation for the junior doctors who worked there. It has been beautifully renevated maintaining the charm and character of the old gatelodge while blending in a new building. It is run by a charitable organisation who helps support people in the work place with learning disabilities , so all the profits go back into supporting this project . Inside the building there has been a great deal of thought put into making use of every area and it is so well laid out even incorporating an outdoor seating area. There is a variety of seating , ranging from tables for two to sofa seating for bigger groups. The service is excellent ordering at your table or at the counter and it being brought to you.The menu ranges from breakfast to tea with quite a wide choice of good quality food. I sampled a cappuccino and cherry scone both of which were moreish! All in all my experience of The Gatelodge was not only a trip down memory lane but also a pleasant relaxing cuppa in tasteful surroundings and I definitely will be back again and I won't need a hospital appointment as an excuse to do so!

This was a great pit stop for lunch. We were driving along and saw this place. We decided to stop…read morefor lunch. They also had lots of delicious pastries. You get in line and order at the counter. Then we found a table to sit at. I order the chicken goujon sandwich. Super good and filling. It came with fries and there were condiments you can grab and use for your table. The employees were very friendly. After we ate our lunch, we got back in line to grab some pastries to eat when we got back in the car. Definitely a place to stop if you're sight seeing along the coast!

Awesome coffee. Friendly staff. Great places to sit and have coffee. Food is great with a good…read moreselection of assorted pastries and freshly made breakfast menu. Love it. Been here two times in 3 days!!

Everything about Craic'd Pot Coffee House is pretty perfect. Especially good coffee, ambiance,…read morevegan snacks and service from cheerful staff. Although their vegan offerings aren't huge, in terms of the usual vegan options in Armagh what is available here is good. Small range of vegan German Biscuits, chocolate and Rocky Road Tray-bakes. Haven't yet tried any savoury food, but there's a salad/ sandwich counter so I'm sure they could create a few vegan meals. Lovely coffee house in which to catch-up with friends or relax at a window seat and watch the sleepy, slow-moving streets of Armagh...

This really is a 'secret' garden…read more My sister and I were seeking a venue for a little treat and she recommended we try here. Afternoon tea without the ridiculous price - perfect. At £24 for two this really is a steal. Sandwiches of your choice, scones (with the usual accompaniments) and some yummy traybakes. This is more like non pretentious, Northern Irish style afternoon tea. With the tray bakes including mini fifteens and malteaser squares. If you are looking for something cutesy, scrumptious and not breaking the bank then look no further! Will definitely be back. Don't forget to check out the gift shop for some trinkets and the perfect gifts for mums.

Well what can I say my mum took me out for lunch to this place over Easter week and I was a bit…read moresceptical. Tea rooms attached to a garden centre, tend not to have the most out there reputation. I'm glad to say my scepticism was blown out of the water. This place is definitely a little gem of Belfast. The actual tea rooms/restaurant are an elegantly appointed building with stunning views of the countryside. You feel like you are in the great hall of some stately Victorian home. Sumptuous décor and a varied and delicious sounding menu. As we were there during the week we availed of the two courses for £9.99 (I think that was the price so apologies if I got this wrong, my mum was paying) We both ordered the soup for starter, Butternut Squash, chilli and coconut. Very tasty and a huge portion, I couldn't finish mine because I wanted to leave room for the main. My mother ordered slow cooked beef brisket, Mash and roast root veg while I had the smoked haddock, creamy bacon and leek sauce and the same sides. I cannot fault the food, it was delicious. My only tipple would have been that a selection of different sides for the fish may have been a little better, Maybe some samphire and potato croquets or some such. We also caught a glimpse of their cram tea on another table which looked stunning (I think the Waitress said it was £20/25 per head) Overall an amazing place for lunch, but it doesn't end there. They also offer a dinner menu Thursday to Saturday and it is BYO so definitely cannot be doing wrong there. I highly recommend this place for lunch or for dinner! If you go for dinner though I think you have to book as this place is making its mark on the map and seems to be getting ever more popular!

Rumour's Coffee House has recently opened up in what for many years, used to be the old 'Twilight…read moreZone' gaming centre. It has a great position right in the centre of the town, with fantastic views of the castle and Belfast Lough. The inside is bright and has lots of seating. They offer the usual teas and coffees, with an amazing range of milkshakes, soft drinks and hot chocolate. I had a bacon butty when I visited which was delicious, but they also have a good range of sandwiches, sweet treats, and waffles! Limited parking is available on the street outside, and further up Main Street. Failing that there is lots of free parking available in the Castle Car Park, just a short walk away.

Superb coffee and I'm a coffee snob! Moist scones with good jam. A great view to boot.read more

Wanted to find a nice local spot for brunch while we were in Belfast. This was a 5 min walk from…read moreour AirBnB. It looked like a serious coffee shop, so we decided to give it a try. This was a great choice. I grabbed a cinnamon roll, and ordered a cup of their filtered coffee (they no longer offer Chemex, sadly) and an order of poached eggs on toast with a side of bacon. This was something new for me, and I loved the simplicity of it. The sourdough toast was amazing, and the poached eggs went with it perfectly. High marks for the bacon also! Service was quick, and everything was brought out promptly. This is a nice coffee shop, plenty of seating, and a quiet place to have a conversation or get some work done. I know the people in the UK love their tea, but I would happily be a regular here if I lived in Belfast.

The food, service, and vibes were immaculate! Would definitely recommend this place to anyone for…read morebreakfast.

I do love this place, they have truly excellent coffee, and I mean truly excellent... and the best…read morebit for me... they offer the beans (whole or ground as required) for home use. The pastries are lovely, the almond croissant I had today was something else and the staff are always very friendly and warmly attentive in a way that is genuine and not as a result of training! Can be a little tricky to get parked as on street is the only real option, but if you have to park up and walk then it you'll find it worth it.

It definitely took me a good ten minutes to work our why this little cafe was littered with little…read morelemon ornaments, lemon shaped candles, lemon wall hangings / plaques, and other associated lemon-esque accessories. As I looked around at the various features, I was left wondering 'why so many lemons?!' And then it hit me. The cafe was called The Lemon Tree, and I hadn't even noticed. How embarrassing. Aside from the lemon tree theme and name, there wasn't a literal lemon to be seen. Not even on my sister's scampi (which was deemed delicious despite the lack of said lemon). Cute name though. The Lemon Tree is somewhere you would imagine to be located in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales. With it's wooden chairs, old-fashioned lace table cloths, huge dark fireplace and low ceilings, this cafe certainly has a very snug and traditional feel to it. The menu reflects this, with a good number of solid 'pub grub' type options, including soup, pies, sandwiches etc. As I previously mentioned, my sister opted for the scampi, which came with a massive side of chunky chips, while I went for the chicken goujons (predictable...as always) with a load of those fab chips, plus a sweet chilli dip. The scampi was gorgeous, the chips were wonderful, and the goujons weren't bad at all. If only they'd been coated in breadcrumbs though...why do these places insist on making them in batter?! A very pleasant, homely experience, which left us well-fed and happy...no bitter tastes whatsoever.

The Lemon Tree from the outside is barely identifiable as a coffee house, it just blends into the…read moremain street of Saintfield as if it were just a house, but inside it is a small and quaint little cafe/ coffee house. I t is not exactly cutting edge here, it is more meeting your granny for a scone and afternoon tea than moccachinos and lattes to energise you and then send you off to a high street of hustle and bustle. They do a range of breakfast meals like fried and pancakes, soups, quiches, salads, sandwiches, wraps, scones and a range of tray bakes, all of a homemade nature. Everything is lovingly made and prepared. Things here are homely, filling and satisfying, if nothing particularly mind-blowing. A chance stop off here will not be a bad choice, though try and go in will someone older or you may feel a bit out of place!

Stopped in here this morning. One of the best cups of coffee ever. proper creme head and pure…read morerocket full. It's a cosy place with extra seating the sunroom. They stock a range of pastries as well as other dishes.

My favourite coffee shop by a mile! The standard is as high every time it go in and the service is…read morealways so friendly!! This little coffee shop is a hidden gem and a must try!