Testimonials

Gayle Sykes

Dear Martin and Lynne Thank you both so much for such a wonderful lunch yesterday, we all really enjoyed ourselves (especially Izzy….!). I Am sending more people to experience the mince pie delight!!! Thanks again and Happy Christmas (think we may be in beforehand anyway!!). Regards - Gayle

Kath Lee

Thanks for the meal on Sunday it was lovely. The kids loved Father Christams so thanks again!!

Polaris Sled Dog Team

Many thanks for the great food and hospitality over the Dean Doubles sled dog race 08-09 October 2011. Hope to see you all very soon. Polaris Sled Dog team.

Tessa Whitehouse Secretary Friends FFC

Dear Mr Turner Thank you so much for letting us use Gavellers Cafe for the evening last Monday and for providing such a splendid Ploughmans Supper. All your staff were so friendly and helpful and the meal surpassed all our expecatations. We, also have to thank you for th use of the upstairs room where the talk took place. It is helpful when we can provide entertainment for those who cannot walk far. Again many thanks

South Wales Morgan Club

Dear Lynne and all staff On behalf of the South Wales Morgan Club (Taff Mog) please accept our thanks for organising an excellent breakfast. Your swift serving and tasty food added to an enjoyable trip to view the Severn Bore. We do publish our trips in a monthly magazine and you will get a recommendation. Many thanks. Keith Glover

Amanda Willetts

I took my 3 kids to see father christmas today. It was absolutely brilliant, father christmas spent a long time with my kids and even used sign language with my daughter, we then had a bite to eat in the cafe my kids highly recommend the special hot chocolate and i recommend the breakfast baps. i will definately take my kids there again next year to see father christmas plus it is a beautiful area.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at your cafe but were angered by the council for charging £3.50 for parking. We thought it very unfair to visitors and yourselves as we would love to come more to have a coffee and something to eat but are totally put off with the car parking charges. How does the council expect to attract visitors! It is disgusting and they don't even give visitors the chance to have just half an hour or an hour charges. As a council tax payer of the forest I am totally disgusted and dismayed. I also feel extremely sorry for the owner of the cafe as I am sure this has put off alot of people using your cafe and this must be noticable to your trade. We wish you luck and hope the council take notice of your suffering trade due to their greed and shortsightedness. Regards Caroline Beatty

Musher from Husky weekend

Can we please have a glade hand dryer in the ladies toilet as it is a bit pongy?

The Hands Family, Cirencester

Had a fantastic walk in the beautiful forest to be completed by a lovely meal in the cafe and the hospitality of the Turners was second to none. Thank you.

Julie Pegler

I just want to say thank you very much for a superb evening Friday. Both my husband and I really enjoyed the evening. The food was 1st Class. We are both looking forward to the next one. When you get your Christmas diary organised can you please let me know? Once again thank you for a wonderful evening and look forward to see you soon. Julie

Harvest Supper

No Serving Spoons for veg and did not have knife for cheese! On a positive note, We all had a most enjoyable evening, impressed with the use of local produce. May we have more evenings like this please!! Compliments to the chef.

Harvest Supper

Meal was lovely! An ideal venue - Local Gem

Harvest Supper

Meal was lovely! Thank you

Harvest Suppper

The Hardest Questionaire that I have ever completed. We really enjoyed everything! Cannot Fault anything, but I do miss the old murials

Anon Harvest Supper

Absolutely \"Fab\" cannot wait for the next one

Anon Harvest Supper

Absolutely "Fab" cannot wait for the next one

Anon 13th September

Lovely to find a venue with such friendly & helpful staff. Thank you

Anon September 8th 2010

Very Impressed! Excellent food and service! Sorry about our barking dog

Anon

" Far better Value than anywhere else in the Area!! Good Quality Nutritious Food at Keen Prices".

Anon

" Bread pudding was delicious!! it was full of fruit and moist. However the chicken soup was dissapointing in comparison to the rest!"

Anon

" The cakes looked all very appettising but we were dissapointed in our main meals as they did not live up to our expectations. Also there were no jacket potatoes with fillings. The cheese and potato pie was a bowl of cheese and mash with no pastry! This was improved by us adding the Red Onions and Peppers from the accompanying salad." Gavellers Reply: Sorry about the Jacket Potatoes but we at Gavellers pride ourselves on not nucing them in a microwave to cook them, but all of our jackets are cooked in a potato oven. Regarding the Cheese and Potato pie to our expertees and knowledge cheese and potato pies are exactly what you have described. (Potato with a cheese topping). However perhaps your slant of adding Pastry could rectify the generations of people that have cooked it in a traditional manner. Thanks for Your Comments Gavellers Cafe

Anon 20th August 2010

A great day out for the family & a cafe that the family can eat at without 'breaking' The bank! Food was of a good quality too.

The McGinnes Family (www.childfriendly.co.uk)

" We stopped here for lunch after walking the Sculpture Trail. It was on a bank holiday Monday and the queues were pretty long. We were told we would have to wait 15 minutes for hot food but luckily it arrived in about 5 minutes. The choices for kids weren’t bad with hot dogs and chips being our favourites. There are lots of tables outside and we managed to get a nice spot overlooking the play area. The food quality was good and quite cheap. After lunch we relaxed with a hot drink whilst the kids ran off to the play area.Good service and nice food!"

The Explorers (www.childfriendly.co.uk)

" Really handy café. We always pop in when we visit woods and play areas here. Either for drinks and snacks, or to get ice creams for the kids. There is a fairly large seating area inside which is good on cold or wet days. Outside there are loads of picnic style benches with umbrellas, perfect for the summer. Beside the benches is a large grass area where you can sit or play ball games. On hot days the café have a drinks and ice-cream cart here. The wooden play areas outside are lovely, really unusual. Toilets are next door to the café in Beechenhurst Lodge and include a baby changing area."

Sam & Dean Golding

Hi, we just wanted to say thankyou for a fabulous buffet for Arthurs` party! Food was amazing and so was the service! Thankyou so much! :-) xxx

Anon

As you can see by our scores we enjoy our meals etc in your cafe, we have been many times and it is always the same standard Many thanks

Rob & Gillian Guest

Hi there Just a quick note to thank you once again for the fantastic buffet at my retirement event last week. The whole event was really enjoyable and the venue worked perfectly, but it was the quality of the food which helped to set off the whole event. Thanks and best wishes. See you before long Rob and Gillian

Sharon Warren

A great big thankyou to all for the fantastic meal we had on Valentines evening. It was a really romantic atmosphere and there was no hurry. My choc mad hubby was well satisfied with his pud and the chocs which I had to fight him for. Cant waite till the next time. Sharon x

Chris & Jane

Much enjoyed our Valentine\'s evening, excellent food cheerfully served in a lovely setting. Thanks to all at the Gaveller\'s and look forward to upcoming functions

Cheryl Bennett Glos County Council

Used the Gavellers together with the Loft for an Awayday. It was a pleasure to work with the team at Gavellers to match our timings with regards to the breaks and lunch. The venue and catering were excellent and it worked so well being able to move from the loft to the upper part of the cafe. I have had numerous compliments from my delegates. Please pass on our thanks - I have no doubt we will be back

Kay & Barrie

Hi Lynne &Martyn Just to say thank you very much for the lovely evening on Sunday (Valentine Day). The meal was superb and extremely good value for money. Thank you also for sorting out my gluten free issue! Look forward to the next function

Mountain Biking Uk Magazine

Gavellers Gold Ric McLaughlin Friday, Nov 6, 2009 10.48am Gavellers Cafe (Gavellers) We've all been there; you're wet, tired, hungry and emotional. Winter is a pretty minging time of year to be out on your bike and as much as you've enjoyed it, all you want is the soothing comforts of cake and tea. Jamer, Doddy and Ric were out on an all-dayer yesterday deep in the Forest Of Dean when they stumbled accross a treasure trove of kerb stone sized confectionaries and piping hot beverages: Gavellers Cafe. We've been riding in the FOD for years now and ashamedly this is the first time that we've found this little gem. Located in Beechenhurst Lodge just down the road from the Cycle Centre this little cafe is up there with the heavy-weights of the trail centre catering world. All the food is made 100 percent in-house with options from full-on lunches to take-away sarnies, there are all the usual quick energy fixes and the biggest slabs of cake that we've ever seen. Honestly, if thrown they could seriously wound someone. The staff are all really friendly too and don't mind manky mountain bikers cluttering up their cafe! Anyway, next time you ride the Dean pop in and say hello. Just don't go for the Gavellers Burger before a long ride... You mightn't be seen again!

Anon

" After a pleasant stroll through the leave-strown forest, what a better place to return to for a cuppa?? The warmth of the drink was only matched by the friendly warmth of all the staff. Next time we will head straight here to the cafe for lunch as the menu looks so appetising!! "

Hi Lynne, Would just like to say a big thank you to you and your team for the service and great food the other day. I know that everyone enjoyed their lunch and the their trip around the Forest of Dean. If ever we are in the area again you will be our first point of call. Many thanks Janet

Shirehampton Coach group 13th October

Food was excellent, rather too much when can we come again please!! Pat, Kath, Jean & Shirley. Just lovely, great eats, nice people a top spot! Thanks

Gwen Forman

" We will Definately be Coming Back Again!! Superb!! Many Thanks "

Anon

" I would recommend this place to anyone!! The Food and Service is Top Class!! "

Anon

" Very Welcoming and Enjoyable!! The Cafe is Situated in a Lovely setting and the food was Top Class!! "

Anon

" The food was as Lovely as ever!! The Atmosphere was Fabulous and Friendly with Background music that is just right and Nice and Quiet!! "

Tom Green

" The Nicest Onion Soup Ever!! "

Misses Elaine & Janet Fisher

Name: The Misses Elaine & Janet Fisher This is just to thank you for the very pleasant morning coffee and lunch sessions on 20 August, when we were members of the Action 50+ group brought to you by Mr. David Hill. We were impressed by the quality of the catering and the friendliness of the staff. We were also very glad to meet that lovely dog Star, who has obviously fallen firmly on all four paws now that she\'s at Gavellers! Oyr best wishes to you all for the future success of the cafe.

Richard D

Martyn & Lynn Just a note to thank you and all your team for the buffet on Thursday. All of the group who were from around Monmouthshire were full of compliments. Very Best Wishes

Margaret Tyler

" Gavellers cafe was absolutely excellent, the food was excellent and so was the service, must try the cottage pie special tasted lovely, I really recommend this place, will definately go back ".

Gary and Jackie from Peterborough

" Staff were very friendly and great for local info. Value for money well, where else can you get two fresh coffees and two homemade cakes for less than a fiver??? Great Food and Excellent Value too!! Well Done!! "

The Forge Centre Cinderford Craft Group

Service - Excellent Staff appearance - very smart Staff attitude - very nice Helpfulness - very obliging Friendliness - very friendly Menu - very good Quality of food - Good to wonderful Quantity - plenty Value for money - OH YESS!!! Building - Still standing Decoration - Clean Ambience External Environment - Will look when we leave THE ONLY BAD NEWS IS THAT WE WILL BE BACK!! (we must be doing something right) Many thanks for your booking Thanks guys for your honesty

Ken & Linda Scott

Had a very enjoyable evening event at the cafe on Saturday 16th May. Everything scored a 10 thanks to the staff for being helpful and positive the whole event was well managed and extremely enjoyable. The food was very good and ample our only complaint was that there was no illumination when leaving after dark and a lack of directional way out signs.

Bev from Bristol

My filter coffee was not quite hot enough but everything else was very nice. A lovely setting and I will be back to try the climbing wall.

Ross on Wye, Goodrich Court

Thank you very much for looking after us so well. We will come again! A lovely Atmosphere

Lisa Smith (Gloucester Charities Trust)

Thank You Once Again For A Lovely Lunch On Behalf Of The Ladies (And John!!). You Always Treat Us Well And We Love Comming Down To See You All At Gaveller's. I Know It Was Very Short Notice But You Weren't Phased One Bit. First Class Service As Always. Thank You Once Again !!!!!

It was great to have happy and smiling faces. Thank you

Quite good choice of menu but some items a little expensive. Delicious fresh cakes reasonably priced. Clean and pleasant cafe and would be great if dogs were allowed in as where else can we go in the rain. A clear definition of what a Gaveller is would be helpful for many visitors. Clearer pricing on items such as cake and sandwiches would be helpful also a sign identifying where the milk etc is. Well done for taking the cafe on and we wish you every success.

Anon

Very helpful staff, gave us useful information into the sculpture trail which we did and really enjoyed. Toilets could be a bit better! Thank you

Julie from Cinderford

Came to the new cafe with my little boy, I was very impressed how clean it is now including the outside. Staff were very helpful and made us welcome. Will be back again!

Anon

"The Queue for food is very slow, The selection of food is poor and to stop serving hot fodd at 1.30pm is rediculous during a school Holiday" " Gavellers would like to apologise for this bad experience with us. However this was a one off situation that couldnt be avoided due to a member of the kitchen staff being taken into hospital by her husband who is gavellers head chef, leaving ths staff numbers down by 2 people. This caused a few problems for us at the cafe. "

Mrs E. Balmforth

" may I add my real gratitude for the excellent and delicious tea you served on that occasion including the lovely freesias as table decoration. The Service was so welcoming and struck just the right note of comfort. Everyone remarked upon it and im sure our visitors (from all over England) vowed to visit the Forest again. The family wish to add their sincere appreciation. "

The Eagles & Mulraines

" We came with friends of ours for the Christmas menu. The one downside was the fire alarm in the neighbouring building went off. However that was through no fault of the staff at The Gavellers and they succeeded in making our day really special. The food was delicious and we rounded off the day with ice skating! Thanks so much."

Ian Scott (Heart of the Forest Special School)

"Staff and Pupils of the heart of the forest special school have been using the cafe regularly since it opened. The staff here in everyway made us feel welcome. Many of the children find the cafe and public spaces challenging and are not always understood or welcomed. It is refreshing in every sense to visit Gavellers. If everyone is made as welcome as we have been then their success is assured."

Visiting Bird Spotting Party From Birmingham

" The Cafe is Very Clean but was very noisy. It could do with having a bird table and more feeders for the birds. "

Anon

" Martyn was very helpful in attending to our food allergy needs. Many Thanks!! "

Anon

" An Extremely Satisfactory Visit. The Only Bad Point Is That The Disabled Parking Needs To Be Closer!! "

A.K

" This place is brillient " Glad you and your Grandad enjoyed your time with us at Gavellers!!

Elizabeth Hall

" We visited the cafe during the school half term. The Cafe and Surrounding area was fit to burst but the staff still managed to make us feel welcome and share a laugh with us. Keep up the good work!! By the way the food was good!!"

Anon from Cardiff

"Building is Great!! The old Cafe offered a wonderful friendly service with an original choice of menu, The new one was dissapointing!!" Unfortunately at Gavellers we try to, but we cant please everyone!!

" Most Welcoming, efficient and very accomodating. Martyn's a fantastic ambassador!! "

" This was our First Visit, But we will be back!! Thank You "

Sue & Jill

" Our Sincere thanks for your excellent catering on Saturday for the Funeral. The weather conditions were a challenge to us all, but your consideration and patience to us all will not be forgotton."

Jessica Turford

My first visit on recommendation of my friend Linda Hall who along with me, adores the place!! How wonderful to walk into such a happy, fun and helpful environment. Staff are superb as is the food. Well worth the miles to get here ( I live in Solihull). I will be back . . . . . !!

Mrs Teri Risbey

" I came to the Cafe on 22.01.09 and was more than impressed with everything. I haven't been for a while and didn't realise the wonderful changes had been made. I had a vegetarian Lasagne - it was the best I have had, the quality was great and the price was very good indeed. I do not know how long you have been open but I have obviously been the loser missing out. Thank you for everything."

" I am recovering from major shoulder surgery and was brought to the cafe. From the moment I walked in the door it was a real pleasure - friendly, warm atmosphere and great food. As soon as i am able to drive I shall be back. The best service I have had in a long time, Thank You."

"Despite being a grey day your staff were clearly happy here and made the end of our visit complete. We will be back!"

" The food is excellent!! But its the staff that make it such a special place."

" We have always recieved a very warm welcome when we pop in, the cakes are absolutely gorgeous."

Maureen & Eric Medlow

" We visit regularly and have always found the food, service and friendliness is first class. We would like to add we do not know the staff personally but we are happy to share our observations."

J Pugh

Great food, great service, stunning location.