"My review has two parts: our visit to the cafe, and what happened to spoil our visit. Firstly, we parked , and read the notice saying parking was just whilst customers were eating, which we thought was a bit off, but as we planned to visit the ruined abbey, didn’t particularly concern us. We very much enjoyed our filter coffees and a delicious toasted tea cake. While I was looking at the tourist leaflets, my husband crossed the road in search of a public car park, as we had no intention of outstaying our welcome in the cafe car park, and I then went across to show him one about Grassington being the set for Darrowby. Secondly, as I was about to do so, a man who had been grating lemon in the kitchen called out to us. He told us to leave their car park, shouting to us across the road ‘Hey Guys…’ and told us to leave. ‘ We’re going now,’ I replied, but told him that although we had very much enjoyed our food and drink, this rude shouting had spoilt the memory of what had been a pleasant visit. We left. However, very shortly we learnt the background to their policy, when we attempted to go to see the abbey, something we intended to complete within 20 minutes, before visiting the steam railway., we were absolutely shocked to read that it would set us back £15 to park for the abbey. I suppose if a family had decided to spend the entire day there, it would have been less shocking, but for a twenty minute quick look, it appalled us. I guess that the tea rooms have had a fair bit of trouble with customers parking in their car park to walk up to the abbey, so that new customers cannot park and patronise their tea room. The village badly needs a large free car park, but meanwhile, it would be preferable to avoid shouting at customers, telling them to leave promptly!"
