About Us

About the Area

Hayloft Cafe Open For 2008

For more photos of the Hayloft Cafe please look at out Photo Gallery via the link on our Home Page.

The Hayloft Cafe opened in March 2008. We plan to provide full English breakfast in the morning and dinners in the evening. Opening times may vary depending on how busy we are but generally the opening times will be 8am to 10.30am for breakfast and 5.30 pm with last orders at 8.30pm for evening meals.

Hayloft Cafe

Sample Menu

Starter

Chef's Home Made Soup of the day, with a Warm Crusty Roll.
The "Hayloft Stack" Black Pudding & Bacon Topped with Garlic Mushrooms in a Cream Sauce.

Prawns In a Marie Rose Sauce with Brown Bread & Salad Garnish.

Pork & Chicken Liver Pate, With a Port & Cumberland Sauce, Brown Toast & Garnish.

Breaded Place Goujons, Tartar Sauce, Brown Bread & Garnish.

                                                  Main
Locally Made Cumberland Sausage, Mash Potato’s Vegetables    & Onion Gravy

Jumbo Battered Haddock, in a Light Crispy Batter With Chips, Salad & Vegetables.

16oz "Horseshoe" Gammon Steak, Egg or Pineapple,      Chips & Salad or New Potato‘s & Vegetables.

Oven Baked Lasagne Verdi, Chips, Salad & Garlic Bread.

10oz Sirloin Steak, Tomato, Mushrooms, O,Rings, Chips & Salad or New Potato’s & Vegetables.

10oz Rump Steak, Topped With Bacon, Melted Cheese & BBQ Sauce, Chips, Salad & Vegetables.

"Surf & Turf" 5oz Rump Steak, Scampi, O’Rings Chips & Salad.

Oven Roast Leg of Lamb, Cooked in Red Wine & Fresh Rosemary, On Mash Potato, Vegetables & Rich Red Wine        & Rosemary Gravy.

Breaded Scampi, Chips, Salad & Tartar Sauce.

                                    Selection of Sweets

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The Hayloft Cafe

In 2006 we decided to apply for planning permission to convert a barn in to a Cafe. The barn we decided to convert was previously used for storing hay. In one corner of the barn floor was a hole where hay bales could be dropped through to feed the cows in the byre below. The old barn was chosen for the cafe's location, firstly because it was close to the camp site but also because it was in much need of renovation.

In 2007 plans were passed but work could not commence until the site closed in November. Before we could even consider anything that resembled a cafe the old building needed a lot of work just to make it waterproof and safe. The roof had been leaking for years and buckets were placed around the floor to catch the water, anyone entering the barn stood a good chance of disappearing through the floor and landing in the byre below with the cows. The old beams in the roof still looked good but the rest of the roof needed to be replaced.

Barn Before Renovation

Before renovation started we commissioned a bat and owl survey, although we see bats and owls around the site none were found in the building. We decided to leave appropriate holes in the outside walls of the barn to accomodate the bats in the future.

Work on the barn started in November 2007, the roof and barn floor were the first priority and once these two things were completed the internal work commenced.

The small building next to the barn had originally been the "bull hull" and used for what the name suggests and housed the bull. Once the roof was removed from this building the walls started to fall down, it was decided to take down the walls and start again. It was important to keep the buildings looking as original as possible and the skilled builders helped us to achieve this. The small building will now be used for all the boring stuff such as pumps, water storage and dustbins.

We needed an outside seating area and this was achieved by levelling the garden. The garden started life 10 years ago and was originally a grassy bank, it wasn't the easiest garden to maintain as it was mainly stone and grew a lot of weeds so it wont be missed. The view from the seating area towards the Blencathra range of mountains is amazing and changes daily depending on the time of year and the weather. Lighting has also been installed around the outside seating area, now all we need is some warm weather.

View from the cafe seating area towards Blencathra

Inside The Hayloft Cafe

It soon became clear the walls and beams inside the barn should be left exposed. The oak beams and natural walls gave the cafe the rustic look we were aiming for. We had to combine the rustic with the modern and incorporate a fully equipped kitchen, hopefully we have managed to do this successfully.

A log burning fire gives the cafe a cosy feel and works well with the visual effect. The large glass window where the old barn doors used to be supply the cafe with plenty of natural light and the window to the north of the barn gives wonderful views towards Latrigg and Skiddaw.

Our aim is to provide good food from local produce. We plan to open for breakfast and evening meals.

When the site is quiet opening times may vary.