Canal Cottage Café

About Canal Cottage Café

Canal Cottage Café is a quaint canalside café set beside the Ashby Canal near Snarestone, on the outskirts of Ashby-de-la-Zouch. The café occupies a pretty cottage-style building overlooking the canal, and its position on the towpath makes it a natural stopping point for dog walkers, narrowboaters, and cyclists exploring this peaceful stretch of waterway. The Ashby Canal is one of the most tranquil in the Midlands - it has no locks for its entire navigable length - and the café captures that sense of calm perfectly.

Dogs are welcome inside the café and on the canalside terrace. Water bowls are provided, and the atmosphere is thoroughly relaxed. Muddy boots, wet dogs, and canalside chaos are all part of the experience here, and nobody bats an eyelid. It is a destination that dog owners return to again and again, and the staff are always happy to see four-legged visitors.

What to Expect

The café is famous for its homemade scones with jam and cream, which alone are worth the journey. Beyond the scones, the menu includes homemade soups, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, and a selection of freshly made cakes. Everything is prepared on the premises, and the quality is honest and comforting. The tea is strong, the coffee is decent, and the prices are very fair.

The canalside terrace is the real attraction. Sitting outside watching narrowboats drift past is genuinely therapeutic, and the peaceful surroundings make it easy to forget that a busy town is just around the corner. The towpath walk in either direction from the café is flat, easy, and extends for miles through lovely countryside - ideal for dogs of all ages.

Location & Visiting

Canal Cottage Café is located on the Ashby Canal near Snarestone, a short drive from Ashby-de-la-Zouch town centre. There is parking nearby, though spaces can be limited on sunny weekends. Alternatively, you can walk along the towpath from several access points. The café is closed on Mondays but open Tuesday to Sunday, with slightly longer hours at weekends. It pairs perfectly with a towpath walk along this most peaceful of Midlands canals.