The Departure Lounge Cafe

Address: Basingstoke Rd, Alton GU34 4BH, United Kingdom.
Phone:142080111.
Website: thedepartureloungecafe.co.uk
Specialties: Coffee, Breakfast restaurant, Wedding venue.
Other points of interest: Outdoor seating, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in, Delivery, Great coffee, Great dessert, Great tea selection, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining, Good for working on laptop, Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet, Alcohol, Beer, Coffee, Healthy options, Quick bite, Spirits, Wine, Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Dessert, Seating, Table service, Bar on site, Toilet, Casual, Cosy, Trendy, Groups, Tourists, Accepts reservations, Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments, Credit cards, Good for kids, High chairs, Kids' menu, Free of charge street parking, Free parking lot, Paid parking lot, Parking, Dogs allowed, Dogs allowed inside, Dogs allowed outside.
Opinions: This company has 602 reviews on Google My Business.
Average opinion: 4.4/5.

Location of The Departure Lounge Cafe

The Departure Lounge Cafe Basingstoke Rd, Alton GU34 4BH, United Kingdom

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Open Hours of The Departure Lounge Cafe

Open today until 15:00.

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 09:00–15:00
Thursday: 09:00–15:00
Friday: 09:00–15:00
Saturday: 09:00–15:00
Sunday: 09:00–15:00

Welcome to The Departure Lounge Cafe: A Hidden Gem on Basingstoke Road

Nestled along the bustling Basingstoke Road in Alton, Hampshire, The Departure Lounge Cafe is a charming little gem that has been serving the local community and passersby since its inception. With its unique blend of vintage charm and modern comforts, this cafe has become a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. Let's delve into the details of this beloved establishment and explore what makes it a must-visit destination.

Main Services

Cafe: The Departure Lounge Cafe offers a wide range of hot and cold beverages, from specialty coffees to a selection of teas, perfect for a quick pit stop or a leisurely afternoon.
Breakfast Restaurant: Start your day right with the cafe's delicious breakfast menu, featuring traditional full English breakfasts, lighter options like pastries and granola, and even vegan choices.
Wedding Venue: The Departure Lounge Cafe has a beautifully appointed function room that can accommodate up to 40 guests, making it an ideal setting for intimate weddings, engagement parties, or baby showers.

Location and Access

The cafe is situated at the following address: Address: Basingstoke Rd, Alton GU34 4BH, United Kingdom. It is conviently located just off the A339, making it easily accessible by car. There is a wheelchair-accessible car park available on-site, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the cafe's offerings. If you prefer to use public transportation, the Alton bus station is a short 10-minute walk away, with regular services connecting the town to surrounding areas.

Featured Characteristics

One of the standout features of The Departure Lounge Cafe is its striking vintage decor, which transports visitors back to the golden age of air travel. The interior boasts art deco details, plush seating, and an array of vintage luggage and travel ephemera that adorn the walls. The cafe also has a beautiful outdoor seating area, perfect for enjoying the sunshine while sipping on a refreshing drink. Another notable aspect of the cafe is its commitment to quality and sustainability. The Departure Lounge Cafe prides itself on using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients in its dishes and offering a variety of vegan and gluten-free options. They also strive to minimize their environmental impact by using eco-friendly packaging and reducing food waste.

Practical Information

The cafe is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM and on Sundays from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. They accept cash, card, and mobile payments, making transactions convenient for customers. For those who prefer to enjoy their meals at home, The Departure Lounge Cafe offers takeaway and delivery options, ensuring that you can still savor their delicious food even if you can't make it to the cafe.

Positive Aspects from Reviews

With an impressive average rating of 4.4/5 from 602 reviews on Google My Business, it's clear that The Departure Lounge Cafe has made a lasting impression on its customers. Some of the most praised aspects of the cafe include:

Excellent coffee: Many reviewers rave about the quality of the coffee, with some even describing it as the best they've had in the area.
Delicious desserts: The cafe's selection of homemade cakes, tarts, and other sweet treats has been a hit with customers, with many mentioning that they're too good to resist.
Wide tea selection: Tea lovers will appreciate the extensive selection of loose-leaf teas on offer, with several reviewers complimenting the cafe on its tea choices.
Great for working on a laptop: The Departure Lounge Cafe has plenty of power outlets and free Wi-Fi, making it an ideal spot for those looking to get some work done while enjoying a coffee.
Wheelchair accessibility: The cafe's wheelchair-accessible entrance, seating, and car park have been praised for making the establishment welcoming to all customers.

The Departure Lounge Cafe is more than just a place to grab a coffee or a bite to eat – it's a community hub that offers a unique and memorable experience for its visitors. With its vintage charm, commitment to quality, and dedication to customer satisfaction, it's no wonder that this cafe has become a beloved fixture on Basingstoke Road. Whether you're a local resident, a tourist exploring the area, or simply passing through, The Departure Lounge Cafe is well worth a visit.

Frequently asked questions about The Departure Lounge Cafe

What are the opening hours of the cafe?

Monday to Saturday: 08:30–17:00; Sunday: 09:00–16:30.

Is the cafe wheelchair accessible?

Yes; there is a wheelchair-accessible car park on-site.

Does the cafe offer vegan and gluten-free options?

Yes; they offer a variety of vegan and gluten-free options.

Can I book the function room for events?

Yes; the function room can accommodate up to 40 guests and is ideal for intimate weddings; engagement parties; or baby showers.

Does the cafe offer takeaway and delivery services?

Yes; they offer takeaway and delivery options.

Reviews of The Departure Lounge Cafe

Regan D.

5/5

The Departure Lounge hosted our wedding in September 2025 - the wedding day was perfect. Simon and the team were more than happy to help with anything we needed. The planning of the wedding was almost totally stress free thanks to them. We had the most amazing day, the hog roast and evening buffet put on by the venue were perfect. We had so many compliments from our guests on the venue, and the pricing was so reasonable!! We were able to have the marquee/field space 3 days early to set up which took all the stress away, then the team even packed everything down for us after the wedding and tidied up! Thank you Simon and your wonderful team! Regan and Ed xxx

Georgia H.

5/5

We held our wedding and reception here on the weekend, it was a fantastic day. Beautiful outside area to have an outdoorsy wedding, lovely marquee for the reception and the use of the cafe for the bar. Was exactly what we wanted from our day. Simon was incredibly helpful and went above and beyond with anything we asked! Highly recommend…

Lizzie G.

5/5

From the moment that we chose this venue, Simon and his team helped us create the perfect outdoor wedding. The venue itself is absolutely stunning and this was helped by lovely weather on the day. Our guests were able to chose how they spent their time, either on the dance floor, by the bar, sat outside on the hay bales with fire pits or even playing rounders! The staff were so helpful throughout the day and the food was incredible! Being able to have the ceremony there was the icing on the cake for us. Everyone was able to be so relaxed led by Simon and his teams flexibility throughout the day. We could not have asked for a better day!

Hayley M.

5/5

We held our wedding here in June 2024 and highly recommend it. Simon and his staff were amazing, helpful and very organised. We had the BBQ and the food was great with lots of options. The whole venue is very well priced and well worth it. You get total freedom with what you want to do and Simon is very quick to respond with any queries you have. All of our guests have been saying how great the venue and staff were on the day. I couldn't recommend this place high enough.

Graham C.

5/5

We chose the Departure Lounge for our wedding for a number of reasons. Location, facilities, reviews, food and (for us) most importantly an option of indoor or outdoor ceremony. After an entire summer of record breaking sunny weather, the forecast was 50/50 for rain for our ceremony. At around 2pm the day before the ceremony, we changed plans to have the whole wedding indoors. Simon (owner) could not possibly have been more accommodating to the short notice, and all the other requests that we've had. At no point did they try to steer us away from any idea or decision, but did everything they could to accommodate. For a small team at the cafe, it felt like there was an army working behind the scenes. We had nearly 100 guests, and the venue was turned over from ceremony, to dining, to disco in the blink of an eye. The only complaint possible, is that one of the guests failed to consume the bar's stocks of a specific spirit. Food: 5* Drink: 5* Venue/facilities: 5* Flexibility: 5* Professionalism: 5* Overall: 1500* out of a possible 5. Perfect day, didn't even notice the rain thanks to the Departure Lounge Team.

Lisa P.

5/5

We held our wedding reception here, on can not recommend it enough, Simon and the team were amazing with a professional can do attitude delivering the wedding of our dreams. The value for money is in the setting, the layout, flexibility and the extra touches already in place to make the wedding go well. We loved all the fairy lights, barrels, easels and decor all available for us to use included in the hiring fee. The quality of all the food, service and team were first class. The reception was even packed up for us to collect which made it so much easier to do the following day!! Thank you to everyone at departure lounge for achieving our dream wedding!

Rachel M.

5/5

We had our wedding at The Departure Lounge Cafe and it was the best decision we made! Simon was so accommodating to all our wishes and needs for the day, we were able to create the day we had hoped for! Being able to have the venue three days prior then if day was really ideal, we were able to decorate and take our time setting up our wedding the way we wanted, Simon and his team did do a lot to help too! Our guests have not stopped talking about how amazing our day was from the food to the location to the atmosphere. We also got the cutest handmade gift, which was placed at our table setting. Thank you Simon and your team for helping create the best day ever!

Philip W.

4/5

Not been here before so popped in for a quick bite whilst on a bike ride. Nice little place for just that. I sat outside for a bit of light and fresh air as it’s very dark inside. The wooden tables provided are in quite poor condition and in need of cleaning & refurbishment. Service, at least at the till needs to be addressed in my opinion. Extremely slow and not helped by the same person making hot drinks as they go. Food wise, the breakfast I had was pleasant enough. Good quality ingredients and well presented. I did find it a little on the expensive side though. I also think it’s slightly mean to charge £2.50 on top for a cup of tea. Opted for Coke instead which was the same price. On balance a pleasant place to visit if you don’t mind being charged a premium.

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