Cafe Hope

Background 

Image taken by Aiden Dawson at Café Hope in Keswick

A café in Hope Park, which is in Keswick in the heart of the Lake District. It serves a wide choice of food and snacks.  

Location 

The café is situated right on the edge of the marketplace of Keswick and within Hope Park, where there are plenty of activities from miniature golf and boules to remote-control boats. The Derwent Lakeside is also right by Hope Park, offering boat tours and the Theatre by The Lake.

It is also surrounded by plenty of other tourist attractions and hospitality venues, including the Lakeside Café.  

Food and Drink 

The menu offers (amongst other things) light bites, desserts and cocktails.  

Their lunch menu includes burgers, hot baguettes, sandwiches and baked potatoes. There is also a selection of sides including chips, salad and soup. The sweet treats are home-baked cakes and tray bakes including brownies and cream teas.  

You can also come for breakfast; they serve pancakes with various toppings, crumpets, breakfast sandwiches and a full English breakfast. 

As for the drinks menu, they have hot drinks (including fresh coffees made using an espresso machine and hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows). Cold refreshments include cans of pop and bottles of water, and other cold drinks include their milkshakes and smoothies with a selection of different flavours. This café is also fully licensed so, they serve a selection of alcoholic drinks as well; cocktails (including Espresso Martinis, Mojitos and Strawberry Daquiris) and bottles of beer, wine, prosecco and gin and tonic. 

They also have a dog menu, consisting of sausages, frozen yoghurt and their very own pick ‘n mix cones.  

Click here to have a look at their menu.

The VIP Pods 

There are also transparent dome-shaped VIP pods that can be hired for up to 6 people for a private afternoon tea. You will get a selection of finger sandwiches, homemade scones, pastries and cakes. The pods are located right outside the main café, overlooking the pitch and putt course in Hope Park. Click here to find out more about booking the pods.  

Ice Cream Kiosk 

As part of the café, there is a separate ice cream kiosk serving a range of flavoured ice creams as well as other cold treats (including ice lollies). You can also buy children’s toys from the kiosk, including fishing nets and balls.  

Private Events 

The entire café can also be hired out for private events.  

Accessibility  

Wheelchair Access

There are no steps leading into the main entrance of the cafe’s indoor seating area. Wheelchairs can also access the outside seating area which is on a flat even paved floor.  

Outside Space

The café offers outdoor seating, including a sheltered terrace with more tables and chairs out the back which can be accessed around the outside of the building or by going through the indoor seating area and out another door at the back. 

Toilet Facilities

There is a separate toilet block located around the back of the café. It is accessed by walking around the left hand side of the building, past the sheltered seating area and straight ahead. There are both male and female toilets, and separate accessible toilets. There are also baby changing facilities in the toilet block.  

Child-Friendly

The café offers meal options that are suitable for child-sized portions. Highchairs are also provided for babies. They sell drinks suitable for infants, including fruit shoots.  

Table service

You place your order at the counter and receive a table number and your food will then be bought to you. 

Dog-friendly

All dogs are allowed into the café, including the indoor seating area. This includes guide dogs, and the menu also includes a separate section for dogs.

Inclusive Menu

As well as catering for younger children and dogs, the menu also accounts for people with dietary requirements. There are gluten-free options which are clearly marked as well as vegan/vegetarian options too. It is also mentioned in the menu that allergy information can be obtained by asking the staff, with it being a small kitchen there is no guarantee that there isn’t any cross-contamination. 

Atmosphere

The indoor space can get noisy when busy.  The sound of chairs/tables scraping on the floor can be sensory overload. The acoustics can be a little bit echoey.

Parking

The nearest car park is the Lakeside Car Park which is a brief walking distance. There is always other parking available around the town, including the Booths car park and the Centre Car Park.  

Public Transport

The nearest bus stop is a short walk going under the underpass and up to the main road. Other bus stops are located all around the town centre of Keswick. 

Location

The Café Hope is located near the main town centre. It’s also near the tourist information centre, the supermarket (Booths) and accommodation. The Lakeside House B&B and the Highfield 3-star hotel are within walking distance. It is also near to the Derwent Camping and Caravan Site (just across the Hope Park). The marketplace is linked to the cafe via an underpass that connects the town centre to the park.  

Conclusion

We hope you found this listing really helpful in your search for accessible cafes and places to eat in Keswick. Other similar listings on the site for Keswick include the Lakeside Café, Crafty Baa and The Chief Justice of Common Pleas Wetherspoons.

Planning on staying for a few days in Keswick? Here are some caravan/camping sites that are accessible;

• Castlerigg Hall
• Burns Farm
• Threlkeld Hall
• Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club
• YHA Borrowdale

An accessible friendly tourist attraction near Keswick is the Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum.