Tin Roof Cafe in Maldon draws queues for bakery and down-to-earth fare

A review in The Guardian describes the Tin Roof Cafe in Maldon, Essex, as a busy all-day bakery-café serving brunch, lunches and sweet goods from an in-house bakery, with customers often queuing for tables. The piece says the capacious, family-run spot is dog-welcoming and pocket-friendly, with red brick walls, greenery, alfresco spaces and allotments growing veg and herbs.

Menu items mentioned include bubble and squeak with hand-cut ham, Korean-style chicken burgers, a vegan burger called “Peter Egan”, fish finger baps, Burnham Bangers sarnies and a five-cheese sourdough toastie. A seafood sharing platter and a build-your-own Malaysian chicken salad were highlighted, and the bakery offerings singled out include Basque cheesecake, bakewell tart and a very rich millionaire’s shortbread.

The review quotes staff or regulars saying “It’s one in, one out” and describes a seated holding pen for waiting customers, noting the nearby Claremont garden centre and the cafe’s broad appeal to pensioners, families and other visitors. The review situates Tin Roof in a wider trend, saying such down-to-earth daytime spots have queues and TikTok hype in 2026 and remain desirable for multigenerational, reasonably priced dining.

Key Topics

Culture, Tin Roof Cafe, Maldon, Basque Cheesecake, Peter Egan, Claremont Garden Centre