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Vegan
Bakery
British
Plant-based team room offering vegan soups, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, cakes, and scones. Located right on the lock. Open Wed-Sun 10:00-16:00.
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Last update on 21 Apr 2025 by EatwellEatPlants
Update business info -
Added by MichaelIveson on 27 Oct 2021
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38 Reviews
First Review by MichaelIveson
Williams95
Points +155
The perfect spot for tea - Edit
Thank you Happy Cow reviewers, it was based on reviews that we stopped here on the way home from York and it did not disappoint! Great team running the show, adorable dog and cats walking around greeting everyone and the food was just perfect!
Read moreWould highly recommend and will definitely be visiting again 😍
Pros: Great menu selection - all plant based, Beautiful outdoor area, Great team, including the animals
Guest
koenxkoen
Points +139
Simply amazing - Edit
We made a reservation for “afternoon tea” and since I’m from Belgium I first inquired by mail what that was. The owner Ruth kindly explained and made the reservation. Today when we arrived we were greeted by the friendly staff and a couple of minutes later Ruth came out of the kitchen to welcome us in person. We picked a table outside (with a lovely view) and were highly anticipating the food. What followed was a cornucopia of well seasoned, flavour balanced food. The soup, sandwiches, sausage roll, sorbet, cakes, scones and chocolate mousse was all brilliant, no exception. It was so good, all freshly baked and well presented. We felt so fancy😄
Read moreWe really enjoyed our time at the lock and recommend it for everyone! You will not regret it!
Updated from previous review on 2026-05-01
Pros: Atmosphere , Egg salad sandwiches, Scones
Cons: Tiny chairs.
Guest
hudost
Points +54
Best vegan cakes - Edit
Ruth is a lovely lady and her passion for vintage bakes is clear in the taste. I can't get enough of these fresh cakes and scones.
Read morePros: Fresh cakes, Warm welcome, All vegan
Guest
gracelovescows
Points +122
AMAZING !!! - Edit
We did the afternoon tea- the portions were big, the food was delicious and the animals were gorgeous!!
Read moreGuest
veganian
Points +243
Amazing! - Edit
Ok it's not the cheapest but this place is something else! Fantastic setting, in a shabby chic repurposing of a grand old building. Lovely welcoming staff and delicious food. I had a pasty which came with two small salads. The pasty tasted really great (not really robust enough to pick up and eat by hand but knife and fork ok!). The coleslaw was so good - I would order that with every main if I could! The tabuleh / couscous was really good too. It all had a homemade thing going on, in a very good way. For drinks I had a chai latte, which was so good it only lasted a few seconds! Then a pot of lapsang to go with the fabulous lemon curd (!) and poppy seed cake.
Read moreI also got some cake to take away. I shared it the flowing morning. The lemon and poppy seed was still just as good! The carrot cake was also fantastic - similarly moist and tasty. The coffee and walnut was not so good: dry - but maybe it doesn't keep as well as the others.
Anyway, highly recommended!
Updated from previous review on 2025-09-12
Pros: Resident elderly cats (and dog in the back room), Great staff, Delicious all-vegan food
Guest
CharlieAllen
Points +289
A lovely cafe in a lovely location! - Edit
Very grateful for Happy Cow as we would not have found this place otherwise! A lovely cafe, amazing homemade food in a unique setting. It’s worth checking their Facebook page as they do regular event events too!
Read morePros: Cake selection , ‘Egg sandwich’, Beautiful building
Guest
Janinsca
Points +21
An absolute gem! - Edit
After seeing the great reviews on Happy Cow we just had to visit. What a lovely, friendly place with wonderful vegan food. We enjoyed the soup, fruit scone with jam and butter and a couple of slices of vegan cake, lovely flavours and perfectly moist. We really enjoyed the coffee as well, and meant to ask which coffee they served.
Read moreWe sat inside with our dog who was very excited to see Ruby the cat, Ruby was very friendly to us but understandably aloof with our dog.
The former banqueting hall was filled with comfy sofas, a mixture of tables and chairs and antiques everywhere.
It’s so nice to go for coffee & cake and be met & served by really lovely, friendly staff.
The only mistake we made was not having much cash or coins on us, not only to leave a tip (they cannot take via the card machine), but also to buy some of the jams, marmalades and chutneys they are selling with proceeds to St Leonard’s Hospice.
Afterwards we took a walk alongside the lock, and down towards the river.
Next time we visit we intend to take the River Bus service from York, that is available four days a week through the Summer!
Pros: Great Vegan Food, Friendly Staff, Dog Friendly
Cons: Nothing, other than no cheese scones left.
Guest
cmhwak
Points +3802
Amazing hidden gem! - Edit
Never visited a place like that. A location full of antiques with a café in it, all vegan,looots of cakes, wonderful big plain, fruit or cheesy scones, icecream, afternoon tea, sausage rolls and further lite bites. Nice outside area to sit and relax, stroll around the old lock, buy some charity crafts and used books, very dog friendly as well! Defintitely worth a visit!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-06-29
Guest
mollyhyland96
Points +208
Lovely afternoon tea - Edit
Me & my partner had the 5 course afternoon tea & it was delightful. They gave us so much cake we had to take it away with us! Really pretty place & lovely staff. Would definitely recommend.
Read moreGuest
angcat
Points +311
A lovely place in a lovely setting - Edit
We had lunch here and enjoyed sandwiches on homemade bread followed by delicious cake.
Read morePros: It's in a lovely location, Dog friendly (resident cats and dog, too), The cakes!
Guest
LynseyMarriott
Points +39
Lovely but expensive - Edit
After reading all the good reviews, I had high expectations. Appreciate that the menu was all vegan. However, I found the food to be average and very expensive. The interior looked a bit run down but did add a little bit of rustic charm to the place. Coffees were filter coffee only and served with a tiny pot of milk, thankfully we were able to request refills as there definitely wasn't enough. Cakes were quiet stodgy but had good flavour and pasties were a bit bland. Overall was okay, but not sure I'd go back as was very expensive.
Read morePros: The two cats and the dog, Coffee, All vegan menu
Cons: Expensive
Guest
EatwellEatPlants
Points +1081
Well worth a drive out! - Edit
Tea By The Lock is about 45 minutes from where I live but it is definitely worth a drive out.
Read moreThere's always home made cakes, scones and then soups, pasties, sandwiches etc on rotation.
Gorgeous spot to walk along the river too.
Updated from previous review on 2025-04-05
Pros: All vegan, Selection of cakes is impressive, Feels like a treat with proper crockery
Guest
Nicholas08
Points +23
Lovely hidden gem - Edit
If you like cakes, this is the place to be. Great friendly staff and always happy to help. This is how a tea room should be run. I come when I can weather permitting, never had an issue so far.
Read morePros: Cakes are lovely, Friendly staff
Guest
DavidMatthewBrown
Points +1117
Nice cakes, great atmosphere - Edit
Lovely picturesque setting, warm and friendly atmosphere. Unbelievable amount of cake choices.
Read morePros: Choice of cakes, Food also available , Not having to ask if stuff is vegan
Cons: Can be a bit hard to find
Guest
Harryvx
Points +523
Delightful - Edit
I loved this place. Not only is the food excellent, but the vintage plates, teapots, cups etc are super cute. It’s a gorgeous environment and very friendly vibe.
Read morePros: Vintage vibe, Old fashioned scone and cake selection , Friendly atmosphere
Guest
saminalrights
Points +69
Spectacular afternoon tea - Edit
Gorgeous listed building housing a lovely family-run tea room.
Read moreWe spent a wonderful winter afternoon in the cosy snug, with underfloor heating and a fireplace, enjoying the most spectacular 5 course afternoon tea with more cake than we could possibly eat.
Norman the cat made us feel especially welcome. Hope to visit again!
Guest
parttimebuddha
Points +568
I have arrived, I am home. - Edit
Like many others I have been wanting to come here for a while. We made it today. What a lovely cafe - we'll done on creating a lovely but simple cafe and most importantly plant based. I love the environment and the coffee and cake. I will be back with various relatives to try other things on the menu after having coffee today and 3 different cakes - so great to be able to have anything on the menu and for you to be flying the plant based/Vegan menu.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-06-11
Pros: The environment , The coffee , The Lovely simple menu
Cons: Bone China
Guest
soydumplings
Points +1941
Quaint cafe with a lovely view - Edit
A fully vegan cafe in such a cute location! We stopped here on our way to York and were so surprised because it’s in such a lovely location.
Read moreThere were lots of light lunch options but we both got soup - I got the roasted red pepper one and my partner got the mushroom one. They were both really good and came with a bread roll! The food was reasonably priced and were good sized portions. We were also eyeing up the cakes (they all looked incredible, we will have to go back and try them)
Pros: Great location, Lots of great options, Tasty food
Guest
Lulu2020
Points +144
Little gem of a place - Edit
Dog friendly inside and out, fully vegan menu.
Read moreGuest
ljtierney
Points +134
Plant based goodness - Edit
We have been here a few times and have never been disappointed!
Read morePros: Choice, Friendly staff, Quirky
Guest
helenbmills
Points +146
Unique place in lovely setting - Edit
I have been coming here since Ruth opened with a portaloo outside. Her determination to grow and develop the business in an awkward old building in a rural location that frequently has to close due to the river flooding every time we have one of those named storms, is second to none- she never complains and is always back open again asap. The building is a gorgeous historic Georgian rectory by a river and the constraints of the layout and utilities mean the kitchen is small and fully open plan which the staff determinedly work with. The food is simple, homemade vegan cooking done well. The wait times can be long when busy, but they are so up against it you can’t complain. I wish them better luck and every success.
Read morePros: Determination and resilience of the owner , Lots of herbal teas and cakes , Beautiful location
Cons: Long wait times when busy, Has to close at short notice in adverse weather
Guest
xskate-edgex
Points +1434
Delightful and delicious - Edit
Wonderfully unpretentious bordering on eccentric this place has a lovely cosy atmosphere and welcoming vibe. The menu is full of exciting and well portioned traditional treats and delights. You won’t be disappointed. The staff are also lovely and accommodating and don’t skimp on cake slices!
Read morePros: All vegan, Lovely staff, Superb decor and atmosphere
Cons: Area prone to flooding so check ahead!
TeaByTheLock
Thank You!☕️
Read moreGuest
KellyJo356
Points +93
The BEST afternoon tea! - Edit
What a FANTASTIC PLACE! I live 200 miles away, and while visiting my pal in the area, I was utterly delighted when she took me here for Vegan Afternoon Tea (book at least 48hrs in advance and a deposit required). It was a delight. Everything was fresh, delicious and delectable. I'm vegan and savoured every mouthful - but you seriously don't need to be vegan to appreciate this amazing place. A gorgeous setting, the most friendly welcoming staff and food to rival the best tea rooms in the country. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon, I'll be back!
Read morePros: Unique surroundings and delicious food, Unbeatable cakes - just wonderful, Knocks non-vegan's socks off!
TeaByTheLock
Thank you! We are so glad you enjoyed it
Read moreGuest
Kcroots
Points +50
Amazing - Edit
What a beautiful place. But it was on a terrible day weather wise, blustery and raining very heavily. Only makes me want to return to be able to go for a walk along the canal.
Read moreThe unusual banqueting hall and snug are perfect for a lunch meeting friends, as I did yesterday.
The smells were delicious as you opened the door and were greeted by products to buy fro. Local makers.
The menu is small but everything we had was made on the premises, very tasty and all plant based! I still find it exciting when I have the choice of everything!
The cakes were phenomenal and so difficult to chose which to eat now and which to take home.
Perfect surroundings, excellent service and the food is all worth searching this gem out.
Pros: The setting, The food, The service
TeaByTheLock
Thank you so much!
Read moreGuest
SashaPriddy
Points +20
Perfect vegan cafe! - Edit
So glad to have found this spot! It's the perfect vegan cafe. Delicious food and a very welcoming atmosphere. Very dog friendly, all the staff were looked after our little pup. We'll definitely be returning!
Read morePros: Atmosphere , Cakes, Friendly staff
Guest
Cj0989
Points +217
Lovely café, great location - Edit
Good menu of sandwiches and teas as well as lots of cakes. All vegan and really nice location by Naburn lock with plenty of outdoor tables
Read morePros: Loads of cakes, Lots of tea, Location
Cons: No fancy coffees (just very nice filter)
Guest
indianact
Points +28
The fanciest cheez scones ever - Edit
Fantastic creative food, relaxing location, friendly attentive staff, dog friendly
Read morePros: Even non-vegans were happy with the choice.
Cons: The whole menu was not available
Guest
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