About Us

Established in 2005, The Old Rock Shop Bistro can be found on Hamilton Road, in the heart of Cromer town centre…just look for the blue ‘Hovis’ trade bike outside & you’ve found us!

Known locally simply as ‘The Bistro’, we named the business to reflect the heritage of the building. If you know Cromer well, you may remember it as J&M's Rock Shop, a favourite of locals & holiday makers alike, that traded on the site for over 20 years prior to becoming a café.

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Breakfast & Brunch Menu

Lunchtime Menu

Cakes & More

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Catering

Contact us today for all your catering requirements across
North Norfolk and Broadland including
Aylsham, Cromer, Sheringham, North Walsham, Holt

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Signature
Norfolk Sausage Rolls

Using Norfolk pork sausage meat from our local butcher, lightly seasoned and hand-rolled in flaky puff pastry. If you’ve been lucky enough to catch these fresh from the oven then you’ll know why they’re our best selling product!

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Cromer Crab

No visit to Cromer would be complete without some delicious, world famous Cromer Crab.

We get our crabs direct from JJ & CAS Davies & Jonas Seafoods, nationally renowned fishmongers who have fished off the coast of Cromer for generations. Landed daily in their own boats, the crabs we serve simply could not be fresher or with less food miles! However of course that also means that if the weather’s been bad, there’s no crab to be had – sorry!

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The dec’s are coming down, the mincemeat is all gone and we’ve all eaten enough turkey to last until next December…but we still have something to celebrate here on Hamilton Road… 🎄🎅🦃

Immediately after New Year (or should we say Hogmanay) we dispatched a elite team to the Highlands on a top-secret mission: hunting the elusive Haggis! We can’t divulge which of our team are licensed Haggis Hunters but we hear it’s a tough & gruelling task - few weeks of training, on nothing but porridge oats whilst braving the Scottish wilderness. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

We’re happy to report their return was a roaring success, though they did lose one Haggis net along the way! Apparently, Hadley is now trying to successfully breed his own domestic colony…so if you spot him exercising them near the lighthouse at Happy Valley, you know why. 🤣

Their hard work means we’ll be well stocked with our Annual January Special of Haggis & Norfolk Pork Sausage Rolls right the way through to Burns Night!

Packed with spicy Scottish flavour & hand rolled in flaky puff pastry they’re perfect for celebrating Burns Night on the go or just brightening up a chilly January day.

For a full Scottish feast, we’re hosting our usual Burns Suppers on Friday 24th & Saturday 25th January – think Haggis Fritters, Cullen Skink, Steak Pies and of course, lashings of ‘neeps & tatties all served with background music and poetry (but without the full ceremony). 🥃

So, whether you come by the high road or the low road, head to The Old Rock Shop Bistro this January for a taste of Scotland without leaving Cromer. Just don’t forget your troosers!😉

#HaggisSausageRoll #BurnsNight #RabbieBurns #BurnsSuppers #BurnsNight2025 #dontforgetyourtroosers

The last day for Christmas Baking Orders is this Saturday, 21st December!

After that we’ll still have lots of our festive favourites available to buy from us and @weststreetdelicromer or @itteringhamshop if you’re in their direction…

🎄Christmas Sausage Rolls

🎅 Signature Norfolk Sausge Rolls

🎄Brie & Cranberry Quiche

🎅Sweet Potato & Chickpea Vegan Rolls 🌱

🎄Orange & Mincemeat Flapjack

🎅 Rich Chocolate Brownie Bites

and many more!

Need a quick fix meal so you can fit more wrapping in? We’ll have slices of lasagne both fresh and frozen, frozen cottage pies, fish pies & chilli con carne.

You’ll find us up until 4pm on Christmas Eve, then back 8 - 6 on Saturday 28th.

🎇 NYD - Open from 8am - bookings now being taken

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Burns Night Suppers - 24th & 25th January 2025

#cromer #cromerchristmas #homemade #newyear2025 #cromernewyearfireworks

Remembrance 2024

As with every year, our team will be joining the nation in observing two minutes silence at 11:00 on Remembrance Sunday & Armistice Day (Monday).

Around 10:50 we will switch from our usual background music to BBC radio & we will stop serving just before 11:00 to allow customers and staff to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of others.

On Sunday, Cromer’s Service of Remembrance takes place in the afternoon. The parade musters approx. 13:30 at the Meadow Car Park before a short march through the town leading to the Church for the service beginning at 14:00 followed by laying of wreaths at Cromer War Memorial.
A further short service takes place from 10:50 on Monday morning with 2 minutes silence held at 11am.

We will remember them.

🌟 Winter Opening Hours🌟

⏰ Now that the clocks have changed and the days are getting shorter, remember that our winter hours remain exactly the same as summer: 8am - 6pm, 7 days a week! ☕️✨

☔️⛈️ As the wet and windy afternoons bluster in, and it starts getting dusky around 5pm, our warm & cosy café will be here with a wonderful, friendly team ready to welcome you! ❤️

The kettle’s always on in this house, so join us for your favourite autumnal drink and some friendly vibes! ☕️ 🍂

We can’t wait to see you!

#WinterHours #WarmWelcome #CafeLife #Cromer #lovecromer #Cromer365

👀 We caught you eyeing up our buns…👀

Freshly baked by our own team every Friday, Saturday & Sunday morning, our irresistible Cinnamon Buns are a feast for the senses!

Soft plump dough, rolled by hand with rich cinnamon infused butter, baked until golden & smothered with just the right amount of sweet, sticky bun glaze. It’s a sweet treat that’s maybe too good to share 🤔

Busy weekend with no time to eat in? Grab your buns on the run from @weststreetdeli!

Savoury more your thing? The Weekend Breakfast Stack offers a mouth watering combo of smoked back bacon, poached free range eggs, Norfolk Sausage, smashed avo & a crisp hash brown…all stacked on a slice of @craftbakerynorfolk award winning sourdough toast and finished with hollandaise & fresh chives…

Whether your opt for sweet or savoury, our team is ready & waiting to welcome you this weekend!

#weekendtreats #halfterm #cromer #weekendbreakfast #cinnamonbuncrush #ilikebigbuns #breakfastgoals

We’ve updated the artwork on display at The Bistro with work from two well known local artists which really help to brighten the place up now that we’re tiptoeing towards the clocks changing and darker evenings along with it!

@ania.moore.92 is a familiar face around the town and very talented with a camera. She has kindly provided us with four large shots taken on Cromer beach, printed and framed by Artyfax at the other end of town.
Already well know to many or our customers at The Bistro, having worked there for 13 years up to 2021, @rachel_grout has provided two framed prints of her new pen drawing Cromer maps, as well as three prints from a previous seasons work. We have Rachel’s postcards available to buy at £1.50 each and you can find more of her work available to purchase @thistleandtide , next to Jarrolds & this years limited edition run of Cromer themed Christmas cards will be available very soon!

Ania & Rachel’s work joins pieces already on display by @westwickforester , @tpg28 , @jacksondrawingswallart, @artyfaxcom, @rosiebradley.art and other provided by @gardenhousecromer including @samuelthomasart & Sheila Harvey!

#cromer #localart #localtalent #creativecromer

13 years… 👨‍🍳

Happy Bistro-versary @davidjnockels 🥳

The Rolls Royce of Sausage Roll-Rollers & backbone of Bistro.

#cromer #team #chefsofinstagram

Last Saturday we had the great privilege of providing the wedding breakfast for @eeemilyrosee & @josephmilligan95 alongside several other wonderful local businesses doing what they do best! ✨

Emily & Joe opted for a classic finger buffet, complemented with a selection of cheeses & charcuterie, served across two large grazing tables.

For dessert we served our own Homemade Rich Chocolate Brownie Bites, Zesty Lemon Drizzle, Millionaire’s Shortbread & Meringue Kisses, alongside a stunning centrepiece cake and other wonderful sweet treats crafted by @winibeesbakery.

Guests were warmly welcomed at the door by @ssayer1125 & @thedancingscone with a smile & a glass of fizz 🥂

We’re thrilled to hear everyone had an amazing time, and we wish the new Mr. & Mrs. Milligan a lifetime filled with love and happiness! 👰‍♀️🤵‍♂️💕

#septemberwedding #happycouple #grazingtable #homemade #tilldeath #congratulations

Good Morning! ☀️

All stocked up & ready for busy Bistro weekend…

All homemade on-site either right here or @weststreetdelicromer by one of the best teams in the business…

@hadleywarner
@davidjnockels
@abbiebarrett_x
@lily_053x
@thedancingscone
@hols.99
(& Kathryn who isn’t on insta…)

#cromer #homemade #patacakepatacake #doneright

📣📣 Father’s Day is this Sunday, 16th June 📣📣

And of course, you haven’t forgotten…have you? No, surely not…you set yourself a reminder last week (the one that went off when you were busy and cancelled because you’d remember. But now it’s Friday…FRIDAY!?!?)

Don’t panic, we all lead busy lives & Bistro based salvation is only a few taps or a phone call away…

🥓 Weekend Breakfast Bookings

🍽️ Lunch

🎁 Vouchers to suit everyone, including monetary amounts, Signature Sausage Rolls, Afternoon Teas & Rich Chocolate Brownies

You’ll find us open from 8am until 6pm every morning as usual, @weststreetdelicromer open 8:30 - 4:00 on Saturday and 10:00 - 4:30 on Sunday with salads, sandwiches & treats to fuel your beach walks 🚶‍♂️ 🐕

❤️ And love to all those for whom FD is a difficult time or can’t celebrate in the way they’d choose. We’re open & waiting for you, just as welcome as always ❤️

#cromer #fathersday #howisitjunealready #britishsummertime

🎉 Happy Bistro-versary to this one! 🎉

Celebrating five years of laughter and hiccups (and yes, we mean literal hiccups…once she starts she can’t stop, we should call her Pringle)…...

Sandra, the unofficial 'Mum' of the team. Whether you’re a customer or part of the team, she’ll always makes sure to check in & make sure you’re ok, no matter what she's dealing with herself.

Last year, Sam got a telling off for using her work photo, so of course here it is again... along with a photo of her contemplating a part-time rap career during work drinks @thecliftonville . And let's not forget her official role of 'testing' the first mince pie of the year at @weststreetdelicromer in October! 😉

Thank you for being you & an integral part of our Bistro team! #BistroAnniversary #TeamAppreciation #DishyElliot

📣 Exciting News Ahead of This Weekend's Crab & Lobster Festival in Cromer! 🦀🦞

This morning we received a very special delivery for this year's art trail! 🎉

As many of you know, our Seahorse did brilliantly at last year’s Crab & Lobster Festival Art Trail, fetching the highest bid of the day at the grand auction on the Pier forecourt. John Davies of Davies Fishmongers, auctioneer for the day tried his best to empty Sam’s wallet, but it was Ian & Claire, a lovely couple who got engaged at The Bistro later in 2023, who made the winning bid. We can’t wait to be making their wedding cake this December! 🍰💍

Last year’s ‘TeaHorse’ was beautifully crafted by Kathryn, Holly & Andy Hanson. Building on last year’s success, they’ve outdone themselves for 2024! This year’s art trail features a lamp styled like a mooring post, but Team Hanson has transformed it into a new member of our kitchen team… complete with a light-up chef’s hat! 👩‍🍳💡

We really don’t know how they manage it, amidst their busy schedules. Kathryn balances her baking shifts here at The Bistro and West Street Deli alongside a busy life outside of work (see our previous post about her current swimming challenge!), Holly juggles schoolwork and football practice, and Andy is in the thick of a bustling season at @wyndhamholidaypark. Thank you, Team Hanson, for all your hard work and eye for detail! 🌟

Come see their wonderful creation at The Old Rock Shop Bistro (listed as ‘Sam’s Bistro’ in the trail guide – sorry for any confusion) on 10 Hamilton Road before it goes up for auction on Sunday, 25th August.

Think you can guess how much it will raise? Drop your guess below! The closest prediction wins an Afternoon Tea for Two at The Old Rock Shop Bistro. If there are multiple correct guesses, we’ll draw a winner at random. One entry per person, but feel free to share and tag friends and family – the more guesses, the merrier! 🫖🍰

Make sure you follow us & get those guesses in on the original post (FB or Insta but not the shares), and let's celebrate the fantastic talent in our community!

#CrabAndLobsterFestival #NorthNorfolk #CommunityArt #SupportLocalArtists #GuessAndWin #AfternoonTeaForTwo

We’re open a bit later than usual as we welcome Folk on the Pier back to Cromer for another year…

You’ll find us open until 7pm this Friday, Saturday & Sunday - usual menu, usual procedure, open to all but booking advised as always! 🦀

Quick Saturday morning shoutout for our GM @hadleywarner’s 15 year Bistro-versary!

And what a year it’s been…

👨‍🍳 Took over as GM @rockshopbistro

🤵‍♂️ ❤️ 👰‍♀️ Married @katiewarner__

🥗 Overseeing & being a soundboard for ideas @weststreetdelicromer

and another busy year ahead tending to the pitter-patter of furry feet as you welcome Cheddar to the family! 🐶

Thank you for dedication & level headedness (and thanks to Katie for putting up with it all….).

#cromer #leadingbyexample #teamwork #thankyou

🦀 Never mind the Easter Eggs…we know what we’ve been waiting for! 🦀

🦀 Don’t melt if they get slightly too warm

🦀 Put up more of a challenge to hunt

🦀 Fights back if someone tries to nick yours when you’re not looking…

🦀 Fresh Cromer Crab from @jonasseafood & Davies Fishmongers now being served…

#CrabbyEaster #Cromer #cromercrab @cromer.crab @weststreetdelicromer @thisiscromer #seafood #norfolkseafood

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Burns at The Bistro 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

🍽️ Three Course Dinner 🍽️

📅 Friday 26th January 📅

🕰️ 6:30 arrival for dinner at 7pm 🕰️

🖊️ Advance Booking & Pre Order Required 🖊️

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿This is our first year trialling all bookings for a single sitting - however please note that whilst we provide traditional Scottish background music & poetry with tartan & plaid dress highly encouraged it is not the full ceremonial evening with the piping of the haggis, readings etc.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

#Cromer #BurnsNight #rabbieburns #haggis #neepsandtatties #youtakethehighroadandilltakethelowroad

Our Annual Christmas Quiz returns next Friday….

Two tables of four remaining…

#christmasquiz #cromerquizzing #christmasfood #foodwithfriends #letsgetquizzical

Which list are you on? Naughty or Nice….?

👰‍♀️ 🤵‍♂️ WEDDING WEEKEND 🤵‍♂️👰‍♀️

Please don’t forget that both @rockshopbistro & @weststreetdelicromer will be CLOSED this coming Saturday & Sunday to allow us to celebrate the wedding of @hadleywarner & @katiepovey_ !

The Bistro will be back open as usual at 8am on Monday 20th - WSD hours will be a little more of a hodgepodge for the remainder of the month as @davidjnockels & @sam.grout will be providing cover at The Bistro.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused & hope you’ll join us in wishing the happy couple all the best for the years to come!

#Cromer #wedding #ido #Norfolkweddings #hospitalityweddings #herecomesthebride

So, here we go…

We’ve had so many messages and emails asking for our Christmas Afternoon Tea menu, with several bookings already in the diary!

Most of the menu was decided back in August (yes, August!) but we couldn’t agree with the final item.

The kitchen team have some very strong views on what constitutes afternoon tea…especially the Christmas Edition. From the size of the cakes to the sandwich fillings, certain things just have to be done a particular way. One of these particularlarisms is the dessert; every Festive Tea menu must be finished with sumptuous and indulgent dessert, in-keeping with Christmas of course.

Finally, after a series of tantrums and borderline fist-fights we’ve settled on a Bailey’s Chocolate-Malteser Cheesecake to crown our Christmas Afternoon Tea for 2023 and we hope you all enjoy it just as much as we’ve enjoyed planning it!

What’s your favourite part of afternoon tea? The sandwiches? Scones? Or the cake? Surely it’s the cake…..right??

Bookings taken from 1st December to Sunday 7th January.

☕️ Calling all tea lovers…

There’s something new brewing round at ‘The Bistro’ as we introduce our new range of loose-leaf teas from @norfolktea_co & @crushfoods

We’ve got the classics, with Breakfast Brew & Earl Grey for the traditionalists amongst you or zesty Lemon & Ginger, Very Berry & warming Spiced Chai for the more adventurous.

🧑‍🎄 And just in case that wasn’t enough, the timing couldn’t be better as the team are hunting out their Santa hats & polishing their baubles ready for our Christmas Afternoon Tea menu, dropping later this week!

☕️ Sip, sip, hooray! 🥳

#cromer #christmasafternoontea #homemade #looseleafteas #festiviTEAS #comingsoon

Looking for a fun twist on apple bobbing this Autumn? Follow @davidjnockels for more top tips!

“My kids had so much fun the tears were running from their eyes”

Meet the Team

Oops, it's been a busy few weeks now that the summer holidays have arrived! So much so we missed last weeks MTT....

We're back this week with Kathryn. Kathryn joined the team back in December 2021 and quickly established herself as a key part of the baking team. She's undoubtedly one of our most creative team members and certainly likes to keep herself busy with multiple interests outside of work.

Kathryn will be out volunteering with Cromer Coastguard during carnival week so be sure to give her a wave if you see her in her bright blue uniform!

You can read our full Q & A with Kathryn over on our Facebook page.

#bakersofinstagram #teamworkmakesdreamwork #cromer

A little later than usual for this weeks Meet the Team Tuesday, as we've been very busy with catering & the beginning of the summer hols!

It's Saffron's turn this week, she enjoyed her first time round at The Bistro so much that she's come back to do it all again! We'll hand over to her to tell you a bit more about herself...

"I've worked at The Bistro for 2 years this time around…I also worked here from 2013-2017 when I was still at school!

Like a lot of the others have said, the team is like a family, though maybe a dysfunctional one. The regular customers are so lovely, I enjoy seeing them all!

The best part of living in Cromer has to be having the beach on your doorstep. Cliché I know, but seeing how many people come here on holiday serves as a good reminder that not everyone has that where they live.

I can be a bit fussy with food & drink. At work I enjoy lattés, especially when Pumpkin Spice season comes round. Eating out my go to is usually a good vegan burger or pizza…I’m a little obsessed with bubble tea at the moment as well!

My life more or less revolves around my music taste, mainly heavy metal. I love going to gigs, festivals and alternative nightclubs. I also love horror movies and playing with my cats.

My pets? *Takes deep breath*
4 cats - Max, Nala, Mochi & Optimus
1 tortoise - Flash
1 dog - Sabbath

Outside of work I make Vlogs on YouTube of all the things my boyfriend and I get up to! I also like going to the gym.

If I could have coffee with anyone it would have to be Kurt Cobain from Nirvana, his music and art has always been such an inspiration to me."

The weather may not have been suggesting summer…be we can see something that does ��👀

Thanks to the boys & girls from Cromer Carnival who were out in force last night! We can’t believe you got round as much of the town as you did!

#bunting #nearlyaugust #cromercarnival

It’s Abbie’s turn for Meet the Team Tuesday, after we bumped her over a week to allow for Dave’s birthday!

Whilst Abbie is a new face to The Bistro, she’s already proven a familiar face to several of our Cromer customers as she has come to us from Dudley’s Bakery where she had worked with Gary & Sharon for several years.

How long have you worked at The Bistro?
5 weeks

How have you found Bistro-life so far?
The whole team has been so welcoming and friendly but also the lovely regular customers, including several who I already know from working at Dudley’s.

What's your favourite thing about Cromer?
As a child I always enjoyed living close to the seaside and would always enjoying coming down the Norwich Road hill, having a game of who could see the sea first! Little did we know that a few years later, as a family we would all be working in the same town together now so my favourite thing about Cromer is the community feel.

Food & Drink?
I enjoy indulging with Afternoon Teas, my favourite cake at The Bistro at the minute is the Carrot and Walnut 😍

A bit about yourself...🤷‍♀️
I love watching any motor racing such a Formula 1 but I particularly like watching Banger Racing live 🚗💥🚗

Pets?🐾🐾
2 dogs called Benson and Roxie
1 cat called Izzy
2 guinea pigs called Onslow and Sheridan (named after the characters from 90s sitcom Keeping Up Appearances 🤣)

Outside of work hobbies or pastimes? 🎸
I've been playing guitar for 12 years & have completed 3 grades in classical guitar, but also love the challenge of recording music on the electric guitar. One of my favourite songs to play is Guns n Roses 'Sweet Child o Mine' or 'Walking in the Air' the song from The Snowman…very different to G & R but it’s the first song I learned.

If you could have coffee with anyone - whether alive or dead, famous or not, who would it be and why?
Steve Irwin - I'm not sure what I would ask him but would be fascinated to listen to his stories.

Random Facts?
My parents own 'Coastal Pets' near the Meadow Car Park in Cromer, so once a year I change uniform for a week to give them a well-earned holiday!

Meet the Team Tuesday – Birthday Edition! 🥳👨‍🍳

While we originally planned to introduce one of our newest team members, fate had other plans as Dave's birthday just happened to fall on a Tuesday this year!

Dave has been a solid part of the Bistro team for so long that he’s practically part of the furniture. Starting with us September 2011 after a long stint working at several National Trust properties, mainly Felbrigg & Blickling Hall. For most of those years, Dave has been the power-house behind our homemade baking, though you’ll rarely see him with the recipe book out as he knows the perfect quantities of flour, eggs & butter by heart!

"The Bistro owes so much to Dave. He's reliable, hardworking, and never drops the pace. I consider him one of my closest friends & the business owes him a great debt, though he's also often the reason I enjoy more than my fair share of rum!" – S☕

What's your favourite thing to eat and/or drink - either at work or out, if at work then any 'secret menu' items etc??
I love a Sunday roast – whether homemade or out at good pub or restaurant. If I’m at work my go-to is a Classic Cheese & Onion Toastie. That said, I often raise eyebrows with some of my other menu combos, I’m a natural born chef so I don’t like to see wastage…and who says Prawns Marie-Rose doesn’t go with sausages…

Outside of work hobbies or pastimes?
Running, walking the clifftop paths and maintaining my fish tanks….and a degree of food & drink indulgence, all in the name of ‘market research’ of course!

Music Taste?
80’s & 90’s Rock…just not the way Sam sings along to it! It’s got worse since we moved into @weststreetdelicromer as well!

If you could have coffee with anyone, who would it be and why? What would you ask them?
I would have coffee with one of my all-time heroes, Rick Stein. He seems like a genuinely nice guy and I’ve always loved his approach to cooking. I’d ask him what his favourite food is….and then see if I could persuade him to cook it for us to eat!

Anything else....?
Pringles! I love most crisps but Pringles are my OG without a doubt! A tub of Pringles and a large whiskey and I’m happy…the hardest bit is deciding which flavour.

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About Us

We’re a friendly, independently owned café-bistro serving delicious, homemade food in the heart of Cromer, Norfolk.