8 of the best quirky cafés in Leicestershire

For me, the best kind of days out are the ones that involve a trip to a café.

Whether it's for a well-earned cup of coffee and a cake after a long walk, or for a lunchtime treat with the children, you just can't beat it.

There are some brilliant cafés in the city and county, but for this particular feature, I was keen to unearth the places that are a bit quirky - those that perhaps have their own theme, or are simply like nothing else out there.

Here are eight of what I reckon are the best quirky cafés in Leicestershire:

Café Ventoux, Tugby

This is a cycle-themed 'destination' café and shop, but you don't need to be a cyclist to enjoy it.

Most visitors are likely to be impressed by the bikes suspended from the ceiling and hanging from the walls, and the fabulous classic Fiat 500 which is parked on the lower floor of the café.

Inside Café Ventoux (Image: Becky Jones)

Named after a mountain on the Tour de France, Cafe Ventoux offers superb views of the surrounding countryside, and, for cyclists, it is right by Cycle Route 64.

There is a range of homemade food available, including sandwiches, jacket potatoes and breakfasts. I opted for a Ventoux Classic Big Breakfast (£8.75) which tasted good and was very filling.

The Ventoux Classic Big Breakfast (Image: Becky Jones)

There are also homemade cakes, and, as it is a fully licensed bar, you could sit back and watch some cycling on the television while enjoying a cold beer.

Opening hours: Monday - Friday 9.30am - 3.30pm

Address: Wood Lane, Tugby, LE7 9WE.

Food hygiene rating: 5/5

Leicestershire Handmade Cheese Company Tearoom, Sparkenhoe Farm - Upton near Market Bosworth

Leicestershire Handmade Cheese Company will be well known to cheese fans, due to its produce such as Sparkenhoe Red Leicester - all of which is made at Sparkenhoe Farm.

As well as producing the cheese here, the owners also give members of the public the opportunity to buy cheese at the on-site farm shop, and enjoy cheese-based delights at its tearoom.

Leicestershire Handmade Cheese Company Tearoom (Image: Becky Jones)

Both are located in a former brick and tile wagon hovel, which has been beautifully converted. As well as enjoying views of the farm out of the large windows, you can also admire photos of the farm that are hung on the walls.

The simple menu features the likes of cheese scones, cheese toasties, and a Ploughman's (£7.50) which I went for.

A Ploughman's and a cheese toastie at Leicestershire Handmade Cheese Company Tearoom (Image: Becky Jones)

Offering a generous portion of Red Leicester, Sparkenhoe Blue and Bosworth Field cheeses, it tasted superb.

Opening hours: Friday and Saturday only, 9am - 2.30pm.

Address: Main Road, Upton, CV13 6JX.

Food hygiene rating: 4/5

Wymondham Windmill, Wymondham near Melton Mowbray

When it comes to a tearoom with a view, you won't find much better than the Wymondham Windmill Tearoom.

Take a seat inside the quaint tearoom, or even sit outside at one of the tables made from 200 year-old mill stones, and look up at the incredible Grade II Listed five-story tower mill.

The tearoom at Wymondham Windmill (Image: Becky Jones)

It is in the process of being restored, and visitors can find out about The Living Mill project as they climb the mill.

The tearoom offers traditional, home cooked food, using homegrown vegetables, as well as other locally-sourced, organic ingredients.

BLT baguette at Wymondham Windmill (Image: Becky Jones)

The menu includes the likes of an all day breakfast, jacket potatoes, sandwiches and cakes. I had a BLT baguette (£4.75) which was very good.

The windmill site also features a play area for children, and a selection of boutique shops.

Opening hours: Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 6pm.

Address: Butt Lane, Wymondham, Melton Mowbray, LE14 2BU.

Food hygiene rating: 5/5

Triumph 1902 Café, Hinckley

Motorbike engines, helmets and even an extreme ice bike- that’s what you can expect to see in the 1902 Café at Triumph.

Inside the Triumph 1902 Café (Image: Becky Jones)

It’s a cool little place adjacent to the fantastic free Visitor Experience exhibition where you can see bikes including those ridden by Tom Cruise and Steve McQueen. Plus there’s a couple in the entrance foyer that you can sit on!

The café serves sandwiches, soup, jacket potatoes, pastries and cakes - including a very good triple layer vegan chocolate cake (£2.50).

Vegan chocolate cake at the Triumph 1902 Café (Image: Becky Jones)

Opening hours: Wednesday 10am - 7pm, Thursday - Sunday 10am - 4.30pm, and bank holiday Mondays 10am - 4.30pm.

Address: Normandy Way, Hinckley, LE10 3BZ.

Food hygiene rating: 5/5

The Dairy Barn Café, Leesthorpe near Melton Mowbray

Situated in a beautiful rural location, The Dairy Barn Café is a must for any ice cream fans.

Visitors can enjoy some delicious Ferneley's ice cream, made on-site using milk from the farm's herd of predominantly Friesian cows. Not only that - you can also watch the ice cream being made through the viewing window in the café.

The 'Ferneley's' name is inspired by a bull owned by the family in the 1990s, who fathered a number of the cows in the herd.

Flavours include traditional favourites such as vanilla, mint chocolate and strawberry, as well as other more exotic flavours such as banana, salted caramel and coconut.

It costs £2.50 for a single scoop (double is £3.50 and triple is £4.50). I had a single scoop of the mint chocolate ice cream, which was deliciously rich and creamy, and full of flavour.

Ferneley's ice cream (Image: Becky Jones)

The café also has an excellent children's play area, including a sand pit and climbing frame.

Opening hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9.30am - 5pm, Sunday and bank holiday Mondays 10am - 5pm.

Address: Brickfield Farm, Leesthorpe, Melton Mowbray, LE14 2XJ.

Food hygiene rating: 5/5

Back In Time For Tea, Lutterworth

Tucked away inside a huge military shop, this is a brilliant wartime-themed café.

The café itself is tiny, with just seven tables - so booking is highly recommended.

Inside Back In Time For Tea (Image: Becky Jones)

The surroundings are amazing - from the parachute on the ceiling, the flags in the windows (which have been taped as they would have been during the war, to prevent flying glass during bomb blasts) and the photos of planes and soldiers on the walls, to the helmets and gas masks on display and even ration books and newspapers from the '40s.

The menu reflects some of the food that would have been eaten during the war, and there is a good choice available.

Hot food includes the Black Market Breakfast and even dripping on toast! There are sandwiches, pork pie served with bread and butter and pickle, and homemade cakes and puddings.

Our Victory afternoon tea (Image: Becky Jones)

Plus, there are two types of afternoon tea available. We tried the Victory afternoon tea (£12.50 per person/half price for children) which comprises a selection of sandwiches - including Spam - as well as salad and crisps, a medley of homemade cakes, and a bottomless pot of tea or coffee.

We were very impressed - especially with the cake and scones.

Opening hours: Thursday - Saturday 10am - 4pm, Sunday 11am - 3.30pm.

Address: Unit 22, C&V Business Park, Leicester Road, Lutterworth, LE17 4HE.

Food hygiene rating: 5/5

New restaurants in Leicestershire

Ella Louise Bus Café, Woodhouse Eaves

This café is based on a fantastic 1981 Bristol VRT double decker bus.

Named Ella Louise, the bus - run by the folks from Peppercorn Catering - is currently in residence next to the car park at the Outwoods near Woodhouse Eaves.

Ella Louise Bus Café (Image: Becky Jones)

Food such as sandwiches, hot rolls, cakes and ice cream is served from the lower level of the bus, and there's seating for 35 people upstairs.

It's ideally placed, as you can enjoy a wander through the beautiful woods and then treat yourself to lunch or a snack from the bus.

We did just that - and enjoyed some lovely freshly made sandwiches (priced from £2.50) and delicious cupcakes (from £1.75).

Lunch on board Ella Louise (Image: Becky Jones)

There is also an adventure playground for children to enjoy at the site.

Opening hours: Weekends and bank holidays only, from 10am until 3pm or later, dependant on the daylight and weather conditions.

Address: Woodhouse Lane, Woodhouse Eaves, LE11 3YG.

Food hygiene rating: 5/5

Petite Chouette, Hinckley

Fancy experiencing a taste of France right here in Leicestershire? Then look no further than this gorgeous French-inspired Hinckley café bar.

Petite Chouette was opened in February 2018 by Paul and Ali Lancaster, who have lived in the area for more than a decade.

Inside Petite Chouette (Image: Becky Jones)

With a love of French food and culture – which is focused on eating, around a table, with friends and family - the couple realised their dream by opening Petite Chouette (which translates as 'Little Owl').

The name is influenced by Ali's love of owls and her favourite restaurant, Little Owl, in New York City.

There's plenty of Gallic charm to the place, thanks to the likes of the bistro-style chairs, the gingham half-curtain in the window, and the French posters on the wall.

The simple menu focuses on authentic, homemade French food. This includes croissants, which can be filled with the likes of Bayonne ham and Emmental cheese, as well as French omelettes, croque monsieur, and an assiette de campagne (selection of cold meats, cheese, pickles, French bread and biscuits).