The Mixing Shed Cafe

Clanver End, Saffron Walden CB11 4UL, United Kingdom
$$$ Cafe
(64 Reviews)
Price Range £10–20

Welcome to The Mixing Shed Cafe, a charming café nestled in the picturesque countryside of Clanver End, Saffron Walden. This delightful spot is not just a place to grab a quick bite; it’s a haven for food lovers seeking fresh, wholesome meals in a serene setting.

The café prides itself on offering a menu that emphasizes quality ingredients and a mindful approach to eating. Whether you're an early riser or savoring a leisurely brunch, options like the Mixing Shed Microbiome Lover (£9.75) or the Smashed Avocado (£8.50) are sure to tantalize your taste buds. The Rockells Farm Eggs On Toast (£6.95) comes highly recommended for its simple yet satisfying preparation, perfect for those who appreciate the classics.

For those looking to indulge a bit more, the nutrient-packed Mixing Shed Nutrient Dense Breakfast Plate (£8.50) will leave you feeling energized throughout the day. Pair your meal with one of their flavorful extras, like juicy bacon or the rich halloumi, for a meal that truly hits the spot.

The ambiance at The Mixing Shed Cafe enhances the dining experience. With stunning farm views and a warm atmosphere, it's ideal for enjoying a sunny day outdoors or cozying up inside. Many guests rave about the peaceful surroundings. One customer, Jenny, felt an instant connection, stating, "The food and the cafes are great with a clear farm view. It's lovely to dine there especially during sunny days."

While the cafe attracts numerous satisfied patrons, real experiences from visitors highlight its authentic charm. Jotham Gauntlett spoke highly of the lovely setting and friendly staff, though he noted a minor preference for his eggs to be cooked a bit differently. Similarly, Tracey Kehoe expressed her delight with the quality of the food and particularly enjoyed the clementine cake, a sweet highlight for many who stop by.

In terms of service, guests appreciate the generally quick turnaround, though it’s important to mention that freshly prepared meals may take a moment longer to arrive at your table. Terry Dickerson provides insight into the convenience of the location, with ample parking and a welcoming attitude towards both two- and four-legged visitors.

Whether you’re on a cycling journey, taking a break from a long dog walk, or simply looking for a comfortable café to unwind, The Mixing Shed Cafe invites you to savor some of the best locally sourced dishes Saffron Walden has to offer. Don’t forget to try the Bakewell cake, as Lesley-Ann Newman recommended; it has earned rave reviews for its melt-in-the-mouth deliciousness!

Next time you find yourself in the area, make The Mixing Shed Cafe your destination for quality food, friendly service, and a lovely countryside escape. Your taste buds—and spirit—will thank you.

Service options
Outdoor seating
Takeaway
Dine-in
Delivery
Highlights
Great coffee
Great dessert
Great tea selection
Live performances
Popular for
Breakfast
Lunch
Solo dining
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol
Coffee
Free water refills
Quick bite
Small plates
Vegan options
Vegetarian options
Wine
Dining options
Breakfast
Brunch
Lunch
Dessert
Seating
Amenities
Bar on site
Gender-neutral toilets
Toilet
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual
Cosy
Crowd
Groups
Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
Children
Good for kids
High chairs
Kids' menu
Parking
Free parking lot
Parking
Pets
Dogs allowed
Dogs allowed inside
Dogs allowed outside
Openings Hours

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Wednesday

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Thursday

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Friday

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Saturday

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Sunday

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

64 Reviews
Jotham Gauntlett

17 Sep 2025

Searched around everywhere while travelling in this area, to find a Café just like this, it didn't disappoint! The setting is lovely and peaceful, staff were friendly and toilets were clean. However the reason I have left a star off the food was for a few specific reasons. For me, I prefer if the Eggs are over easy, keeping the yolk runny while the white is cooked, here there was a bit of uncooked white around the yolk from sunny side up while the bottom was very well cooked. The Toast was lovely however a little thick and crunchy, one or the other would be better as it was quite hard to crunch. Sausages and Bacon were lovely. The 'hashbrown' was probably the least impressive bit, very soggy potato pate, if you oven cook till light brown and then deep fry some 0% onion hashbrowns they will be golden and crispy and absolutely amazing. Avocado smash was nice and so were the beans, however, I actually prefer plain sliced Avocado myself and therefore a couple of options on how a customer prefers something might be nice - especially as my preference is actually easier to produce! Just an honest review to help, had a very nice time and most importantly the coffee was lovely!

Jenny

05 Sep 2025

This place is recommended to us by friends and we absolutely love it. The food and the cafes are great with a clear farm view. It's lovely to dine there especially during sunny days.

Tracey Kehoe

28 Aug 2025

Amazing find! Super tasty food! Excellent Quality! Brilliant fresh menu! Superb surroundings! Comfy seating! and clean! We had mixing shed full breakfast, mixing shed nutrient breakfast and an amazing piece of clementine cake. Thank you and look forward to seeing you soon.

Terry Dickerson

19 Jul 2025

I to this cafe which is nicely located in the countryside, a great location for . Good internal and nice external , some of which is undercover. There is plenty of parking for your , if you're foolish enough to go by , there's room to park that too. The service is generally quick and the staff pleasant. If you order cooked food there may be a slight wait as it is cooked specifically for each person. Not a bad thing. Generally the food is very good, the things I've had have been very tasty and the size reasonable. The coffee is great too. My only mild criticism is the lack of choice of . Also, I'm not sure they have enough stock as some items often run out buy lunchtime. The are a bit ↑ but not unreasonable considering the quality of the and . I am more than happy to go back again, and again, and again.

Tisal Edirisinghe

12 Jul 2025

Stopped over at the Mixing Shed Cafe with a few other cyclists from Cambridge. We unfortunately didn't prebook a table before our visit, so we had to get a table outside in the middle of winter. Would recommend to prebook a table so that you get the best experience in the winter. The cake and coffee was very good, especially at the mid stop of a cycle ride. The service was a bit slow, but it was very busy when we arrived around 10:15am on a Saturday.

Lesley-Ann Newman

01 Jul 2025

Stopped for coffee and cake with a friend after a long dog walk, coffee was very smooth, not bitter like at some of the chain stores. I had bakewell cake, absolutely delicious, the base literally melted in my mouth. We were served with a lovely smile. The bakery had sold out of virtually everything, will definitely be popping back to purchase some sour dough. Well worth a visit.

Cath

01 Jun 2025

Had a lovely late lunch here today and the coffee was particularly good. It's a very family friendly cafe but it's a shame some parents think it's ok for their children to make a huge mess, leaving the staff to clean the tables, chairs and floor. The cafe is also dog friendly and the canines are better behaved.

Join the The Mixing Shed Cafe Newsletter

Get the latest updates on seasonal pastries, special events, and local highlights directly in your inbox.