The Apple Tree

Been to Barton Marina a few times. It’s just as you get off the A38 and head toward Barton Marina. There are a number of shops, a pub, Thai restaurant and a cinema. As it was raining this afternoon we decided to grab a drink & came at The Appletree. A café in a beautiful setting next to the Marina with a high ceiling, fancy lights, mirrors and a baby grand piano. I had a glance at the cake counter there was a good selection of cakes but I decided to go for a cream tea.
My partner wanted the same but with coffee. I had to pay extra for coffee but not much. We waited a little while for the drinks etc to come. The only thing that spoiler the tranquil setting was a child screaming which was amplified by the vaulted ceiling.
My cream tea arrived, a large pot of tea with a fruit scone accompanied by jam & clotted cream. It was all lovely.
Our visit was only marred by the noise of the child but that happens everywhere we go and the toilet being out of order and the nearest public toilet being at the top of the Marina. Glad the large pot of tea didn’t take effect.

Hiya pie man here,
What a place, lovely friendly staff, absolutely lovely setting, peaceful, friendly. We were not rushed and treated so well. I had the bargemans platter and can i say what a platter! The pie was so good i actually persuaded the staff to sell me a pie, result, whoopee.
Certainly will go back, when next in area as it the café and marina were such a perfect place, recommend going round the toy store as well!
Loved the place.

As a local resident to Barton Marina, I have regularly stopped by at The Apple Tree since they first opened. I have watched the owners and the staff work extremely hard to establish this great coffee shop, delicatessen and restaurant it is today. They started as a small family business yet quickly had to expand to accommodate the customers they attracted. Weekends seem to attract a flow of tourists, although you may expect to wait slightly longer when the weather is good, the speed of the staff is remarkable to ensure that every customer is served with the highest standards. Reading the other comments on qype, it is great to see the genuine compliments. Obviously a couple are too impatient and eager to grumble and must be extremely hard to please. Well I have high expectations and yet I have always had a perfect experience every time, the staff always remember my coffee, and are extremely friendly and polite which is hard to find these days. The coffee which is their own blend is better than any other outside of Italy I have tasted, and they genuinely care and put their customers first. Don’t let a couple of rude visitors put you off, The Apple Tree has a great local reputation and they deserve it.

Spent a lovely day at Barton Marina, only spoilt by the visit to the Apple tree deli.
I hope we caught them on an «off day» and this isn’t the normal service customers are treated to.
The place is in a fantastic position, it seems to have a good choice .
We ordered 1 tea, 2 Late, 1 Americano and 3 Slices of cake.
After a 25 minute wait the order arrived, The wrong cakes and my wife’s americao looked like watery instant coffee or a low grade filter coffe.
We asked for the coffee to be replaced and also pointed out the cake order was wrong.
The young waiter mumbled a bit (I think he said sorry– but not sure)
ANd a few minutes later the right cakes arrived, with a coffee just as bad as the first one.
I should point out that the second cake order arrived without the garnish of 2 mint leaves and a dusting of icing sugar. I can only assume that this intricate work was the reason the first ones took 25 minutes to arrive.
I took the coffee back and pointed out how bad it was, I was told it is the usual beans??? I said «But it is revolting, and there is no «cream» on the coffee (The head)… SHe said, yes I know, it’s a new machine and it needs to settle in. I didn’t bother to explain that my wife runs an Italian coffee bar, so we know what rubbish this was — They just had not got the machine set up correctly, or were not using it correctly,
I refused another coffe, as I didn’t think it would be third time lucky.
We ate the cakes. they were not the best and a little stale.
Retrned home to get a decent coffee.
All in all, very expensive and a BIG dissapointment.

The best coffee shop in Great Britain.

I have just tried to book a table for 8 for a birthday party with two coeliacs (gluten free)-wouldn’t allow me to book… could only book for 4 and couldn’t keep 2 jacket potatoes to ensure the coeliacs had some food…(and one is the borthday girl)…I spoke to the owner too… how appauling? A very disappointed 17^th birthday girl… poor customer service and over priced… I am amazed at their approach…

The Apple Tree is a coffee shop and delicatessen which is part of the Barton Marina complex. Friendly and cheerful staff as you enter is always a good start, so the first impression was a good one. A small delicatessen area with interesting looking cheeses and preserves was on one side of the counter, with tempting looking cakes and biscuits on the other. The drinks menu adorning the wall in large regal picture frames, added to the overall classy feel of the Apple Tree. After choosing from the multitude of coffees and teas on offer, we went in to the main part of the coffee shop, which has a great feeling of space. High ceilings, large chandeliers and a good view onto the marina, rounded off with comfortable leather backed chairs. A great cup of coffee too, at a reasonable price, we shall definitely be returning to sample more of the menu!

What a fabulous place. We travel from Tamworth just for the homemade cakes! I chose to go there for a quick birthday treat on Saturday and was not disappointed. Staff were welcoming, atmosphere was friendly and cannot wait for the evening openings coming soon! Such a lovely setting.

another great additon to the waterfront marina! great food and drinks and the service fairly good however the day me and my family went we found the staff not very friendly and not very assertive! which we were quite surprised at as we had heard great things from the apple tree! perhaps it was just a bad day! and will certainly return in the future!!.

I took the family out for a Sunday drive and came across this amazing little coffee shop quite by chance. It was a cold crisp autumns afternoon and after walking around the Marina we were all in need of a hot drink to take away the chill.
We came across the appletree and the place was a thriving hub of activity, all the seats and tables were occupied by a myriad of clientele all happily chatting away, each enjoying this momentary pause to warm their souls and indulge in the many tempting delights the shop had to offer.
The inside of the premises remained full, but a family group seated at one of the many tables just outside on the promenade were making their leave. The owner of the appletree, a friendly-​faced young man in his twenties who had been busy interacting with his many customers, gave them a genuine and sincere cheerful goodbye, thanking them for their custom and wishing them a safe journey.
Noticing us standing anxiously on the sidelines, he smiled and beckoned us across to the now vacant table, pulling out a chair in a gentlemanly fashion seldom seen these days for my wife to sit down. Quickly clearing and spotlessly cleaning the table he went on to explain the vast menu of hot drinks and goodies on offer and patiently took our orders.
My good lady wife opted for a pot of Lady Grey Tea, Myself a strong mug of peculated coffee and the children (spying what others were drinking on a nearby table) chose glasses of steaming Mocha cocoa topped with cream and marshmallow pieces.
The drinks arrived quickly and were exceptional. Sitting there watching the many colourful narrow boats sleepily bobbing up and down on the gentle ripples in the water adjacent, I felt at ease and very content.
My two young boys who are normally very boisterous on trips out, hadn’t uttered a word since their cocoa arrived, a quick glance over revealed the reason why (I smiled inwardly). Watching them both completely engaged in the difficult task of chasing small marshmallow pieces around the bottom of the narrow glasses with their long handled spoons.
What a wonderful place the appletree is in being able to re-​create the nostalgic and authentic atmosphere of days gone by. Great drinks, Great Food and a genuine customer service that I had thought for a long time had gone extinct.
I plan do take another visit closer to Christmas to include some seasonal shopping in the many individual shops along the front. I will without doubt be stopping in at the appletree to rest up afterwards. I only hope they decide to add roasted chestnuts to the menu closer to the time, now that would be something. I think it would be too much to ask for snow!

This place is a little oasis in staffs! Great food (the coffee was probably the best ive ever had), the staff were welcoming and friendly. Yes we had to wait a couple of mins for a table but that didnt matter. It was ran by a young husband and wife team who couldnt be more helpful and knowledgeable about their products. If only other places could be as inviting as the apple tree!

We recently visited this coffee shop at Barton Marina, after being recommended by a friend. We have never found such a quaint and welcoming place. The coffee is the best my husband has ever tried, and I can personally recommend the Tapas — we went on a hot day, and had a table looking over the water — it was just like being on holiday! Even though it was busy, we felt we were very well looked after. Definitely returning with my friends!