The beginning of 2021 was obviously a write off when it comes to eating out but as the year progressed we went out more, by July it was hen do in Leeds, September honeymoon in Scotland, and in between and after trips to Anglesey, Blackpool, Sheffield, Southport, London and some other locations too.
Being North West England based at lot of these are round that area however with honeymoons and weekends away there are other places on here too, maybe in 2022 I will get down south again and maybe Norfolk for some new places to go too.
These are 21 places I ate at this year and highly recommend if you can get to them, all of these I will be heading back too. A couple are chains so you may find branches of them close to you too if these aren't close by!
We found this gorgeous little tea room in November and what a find it is. They have an amazing gluten free menu, so many options and even do breakfast. First time we went we were staying in the Travelodge up the road and went there for breakfast, I had french toast with bacon and maple syrup and it was absolutely amazing. The safe really know how to cater.
We returned for a day trip with my Mum just a day or two ago too and this time I had an omelette which was divine, Mum had bubble and squeak. They have cake options too all covered individually and looked delicious, though we didn't have cake this time. They do afternoon teas as well which I will have to try one day.
This is a place I never knew did gluten free and boy was I missing out. Being local to Nantwich I see this tea room mentioned a lot by the "muggles", I never even realised they did gluten free afternoon teas!
When my ex colleagues wanted to take me for an afternoon tea at beginning of December they mentioned here so I said I'd find out if they cater for me and they did! I had to book a table and when I reserved they did state it was a shared kitchen but they prep away from everything else but couldn't guarantee no cross contamination, the same with all places these days with the new laws. OMG the afternoon tea was AMAZING. One of the best afternoon teas I have had, and one of those rare occasions I had to bring some of it home there was too much for me to eat!
The Stapeley Tea Rooms is now the Tea Lounge and relocated to Nantwich Football Stadium
It is very, very rare I ask to go a chip shop, unheard of asking to go there twice but I did with this one! Best chip shop ever. So, while we were on honeymoon back in September in the second week we stayed in Fife and after looking through our where to eat guide I spotted this one an hour drive away. We were roaming all over the place anyway just exploring, as we do anywhere we go, so an hour journey up the coast was fine by us (we even found a secret nuclear bunker to visit).
Anyway we found the chippy on the front and they did so many options including scampi! A rarity! So that is what I chose to have and it was absolutely beautiful. There menu was very extensive too, so much to choose from. All gluten free is fried separate and the staff were so lovely, they also had some amazing desserts available too. I loved my scampi so much later in the week I decided we were driving back round to there...just to go the chip shop, and after hard deliberation...I had scampi again but this time ate in.
The Lounges are a chain, each one has a different name, in this case Vintro lounge and they really are fabulous for gluten free, I don't have one local so when we stayed in Blackpool back in November (before going Southport) and needed somewhere for breakfast (and also an evening meal) we ended up going here.
On entry they asked if we needed gluten free and if Coeliac, they are so accommodating with a fab gluten free menu, really enjoyed all my food here, even better when there is plenty of choice! The eggs benedict I had for breakfast was amazing and the burger was lush too.
I have been to Lisa and Helen so many times before, I have even done a gluten free Chinese cooking course here in the past which is amazing. So when we visited Manchester Christmas markets we just had to pay a visit.
It was really quiet even though it was a Friday night but that didn't let down the meal at all. We had pre ordered a meal for two banquet and it was so good, crispy beef, sweet and sour chicken, chicken thighs, salt and pepper chips, fried rice, spring rolls...all cooked in there own dedicated area. There was more than enough for both of us and it was all so delicious, you can beat going Sweet Mandarin when in Manchester.
I first went Cello back in 2014, not long after my diagnosis and it's taken forever for me to get back there but it was worth it, just for the egg custard!
Cello have a fantastic range of gluten free, pretty much the whole menu can be done gluten free and all the staff are really knowledgeable. There is always at least two gluten free cakes but usually more. Such a fantastic little place to eat at. On this visit I had a smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich followed by egg custard, something which is definitely a rarity to find gluten free.
If you go Leeds Wildcraft is a must, it is 100% gluten free and does the best doughnuts. Having known Mina and Sam as long as I can remember now, I have seen them grow from strength to strength. So when I planned on having my hen do in Leeds back in July and there was 3 Coeliacs in tow, Wildcraft was a must and my Bridesmaid, Sophie, made sure it happened.
In this instance my bridesmaids planned a Alice in Wonderland themed hen do, and Wildcraft went above and beyond to sort me an afternoon tea all themed around that, with a little bridesmaid supervision of course. And it was no normal afternoon tea it was a doughnut afternoon tea with scones and a panini or sandwich as well as an amazing chocolate cake to take with us. Absolutely fabulous cafe, you need to visit at least once even if you go out of your way to go!
Once you've finished at Wildcraft, head back into the main part of the city and go to Oxford Place, again this one is 100% gluten free too and this was another we went to while on hen do.
They have a lovely menu but we all chose to have fish and chips here and it was the biggest four fishes you have ever seen, so much so we took to calling it "whale and chips" we could have eaten two between us. We'd ordered onion rings too then couldn't eat them as we were stuffed! There are so many amazing options here and they cater to dairy free too which is an added bonus for some people. They do have some gorgeous desserts as well but after that whale we couldn't eat a dessert!
I have known Charlie since I started Coeliac Sanctuary many years ago, she is amazing, originally it was just cakes she did but now she has a cafe at Applegates Farm (and even did my wedding cake and catering for me). Being Coeliac herself, and her husband too, she gets it and her food is amazing!
Her little cafe does all sorts and pretty much the entire menu can be gluten free, she even has a separate kitchen for gluten free. We have had all sorts this year from her from sandwiches down by the lake when we couldn't sit in because of covid to full English breakfasts, sunday lunches, pies and cakes. We are regulars here and not much on the menu we haven't sampled. Ask far enough in advance and she will even do pies and sausage rolls!
Unfortunately Willow Cottage Kitchen has now closed down as of 2022
I have heard Grom mentioned a few times in the Coeliac world and while I was walking past it while we near Leicester Square on a very wet day in London...I had to go and try it didn't I, nothing like ice cream for lunch on a cold wet day!
Everything at Grom is gluten free, all the ice cream and even the waffle cones and cups which are delicious. The ice cream is to die for too! They also sell the little biscuits they have for the ice creams, again all gluten free, so you can take them home. The ice cream isn't cheap but very nice!
Grom has unfortunately closed down in piccadilly, as of 2023
Cotto is a lovely authentic family run Italian by the Thames, and the owner is Coeliac to, or "special like him" as he likes announces to anyone who says they are Coeliac. All the family and staff are really clued up, when asked if there was any allergies, I said I was Coeliac and the guy serving immediately said "I will get you fresh gluten free bread" which came in a little basket and was some of the best bread I have had.
They have a huge gluten free menu with so many pasta and pizza dishes available, I had carbonara on this visit which was lovely and my gorgeous friend, Sophie, has had the pizza before and said that is amazing. They also do a variety of desserts too but I didn't have any of those on this visit.
John at Coastal Cafe is lovely we have got to know him pretty well over the years, he has so many gluten free options you will be spoilt for choice, even with the restricted menu because of covid there is still loads of options. He suffers with a lot of gastro issues himself so really understands the importance of gluten free.
We've been going to John for a long time now, nearly every time we visit Anglesey, and he is always so accommodating, nothing is to much trouble. This chip shop is another of those rarities that do scampi which mum had on this visit, I had a gluten free sausage, chips and gravy which was gorgeous. He does eat in and take out too so if you wanted you could walk down to the sea with them.
On our first night of honeymoon we treated ourselves to staying at Lodge on the Loch at Loch Lomond, absolutely gorgeous place. The restaurant is open to none residents too.
I mentioned I was Coeliac in just one email and when we arrived there was gluten free biscuits in the room. When we went for our evening meal there was limited options but they could adapt a lot too. I chose chicken bhuna which was delicious and then our waitress came out with a gorgeous plate with mini cakes and "Congratulations" wrote in chocolate, all gluten free. We'd only briefly mentioned it was our honeymoon too, such lovely unexpected touches. We ordered dessert to and I had the most luscious chocolate creameaux.
We had breakfast there too which is buffet but they have a menu to which I chose from, they already knew I was Coeliac before I even mentioned it and knew what I could and couldn't have. Never known a place so attentive as here.
Catch 22 is almost entirely gluten free, not that you would know as it doesn't say anywhere, however when you ask what is gluten free they will tell you want can't be gluten free, which is usually one or two options, everything else is gluten free and they have a fantastic choice too.
I have had all sorts from here in the past, on our visit early this year both mum and I had a gorgeous sunday roast complete with huge yorkshire puddings and I have also had a burger too there too, they don't do buns so but it in bread but it was still fab. They do amazing desserts too, there creme brulee is amazing and the sticky toffee pudding even better.
Another lovely place in Nantwich, we had a few part of our wedding here, the night before with the bridal party and the afternoon with our family and whether it was the two of us or a party of 20 they were always so accommodating.
On one visit prior to the wedding I had a gorgeous omelette and chips and then the evening before my wedding I had an amazing burger followed by cheesecake. We stayed in one of their apartments the night before my wedding and we pre-ordered breakfast which they brought over to us as we needed it earlier than breakfast was usually served and they kept all the gluten free separate. Amazing people and service. On my wedding day I can't remember what I had for my main, I think it was gammon but I definitely remember the amazing Eton mess for pudding which was more cream than anything else!
Wagamama are a chain who are so clued up on gluten free, when you walk in they ask if anyone is vegan or gluten free and make sure you get a menu then the manager will take the order and make sure only them and one chef oversee all allergy orders.
Mum loves their ramen so on both our visit to Leeds and Manchester she had that each time, I had harusame noodles at one and pad thai at the other, both gorgeous and the desserts are lovely too, though not much choice. I had matcha and white chocolate cheesecake at Leeds and coconut ice cream in Manchester.
We went to Mums a few years ago, they specialise in comfort food, especially sausage and mash, it doesn't really state on the menu but nearly everything is gluten free.
They do loads of varieties of sausages and they are all gluten free, they do some other things too like stews, and most of them are gluten free too. I had sausages with garlic mushroom mashed potato and gravy (all the gravies are gluten free too). They do a fab banana split as a pud which I had a few years back but this time chose apple and blackberry crumble which was delicious.
I don't have many chip shops local that do gluten free and certainly not all the time, this one isn't close enough to go regularly as it is take out only but if I could get it home without it going cold it would be a regular.
If I remember right the owners daughter (or son) is Coeliac and they wanted they to be able to have plenty of choice so there gluten free menu is almost as large are the normal. Absolutely delicious they are too, I had sausage and chips and could have eaten them again (maybe if the queue wasn't so large I'd have gone back!)
As my family couldn't get to Leeds I had a second hen do closer to home and we went to the Lord Combermere, these don't really advertise they are gluten free until you check the menu. Here anything marked on the menu contains gluten, the rest doesn't! As it stood at the time there wasn't anything that contained gluten marked on the menu as everything could be gluten free if it wasn't already, including onion rings and flatbreads (but that's subject to change with the menu), though they do do regular bread for none Coeliacs.
I had a gorgeous curry with a gluten free lovely flatbread and dessert was a gorgeous peanut butter cheesecake, though I was tempted by the chocolate sundae too!
Lord Combermere has now changed hands and no longer offers gluten free, as of summer 2023
I love Hickorys Smokehouse, it is a proper American style restaurant, I go my local one in Crewe quite often, the staff are always so nice and really helpful. This year I also went the branch in Southport. Both restaurants deal with orders different, in my local Crewe one the staff just take the order but in Southport the manager came over took the order from the gluten free menu but also double checked everything in the allergy book to make sure nothing had changed.
My favourite in the cajun salmon with amazing sweet potato wedges but the pulled pork is also to die for, don't get my started on the desserts. That chocolate cake...AMAZING. I wish they still did the blueberry cobbler which was gorgeous too.
I have heard a lot about Bills, they are a chain restaurant but don't have a great lot of branches. While in London we were struggling for a decent breakfast and I found Bills did a breakfast menu, we ended up going 2 mornings out of 3 it was so good.
The staff were really aware and knowledgeable and double checked everything, I had a full breakfast one morning which was lovely but I noticed they didn't give butter for bread...then I realised everyone around who had butter had it in a serving dish so it was from a shared container which I guess was why I didn't get any, possible cross contamination. I didn't get any the following morning with with salmon and scrambled egg, confirming by suspicion, but it was delicious none the less.
There is probably other places I at too this year but these were the most memorable and we enjoyed very much. Remember you can find places to eat in our where to eat guide for all over the UK, all have been recommended by other Coeliacs, we do try to keep it as up to date as we can but do rely on you to let us know if somewhere changes!