Having lived near Ashby for more than 20 years and spending the last nine months running this news page, I like to think I am quite up to date with which restaurants and cafes are local favourites.

So, when two men got in touch about an article saying they had tried every fry-up in Ashby and picked their favourite, I have to say I was intrigued.

The Gym Boys, two Ashby residents that undertook the mammoth task of trying and rating every fry-up at independent cafes in Ashby, spent a year trying a Full English, breakfast tea and orange juice from each establishment and rated each one on flavour, value for money, quality and overall experience.

The results, though not surprising, were very intriguing.

The Courtyard Café came out as overall winner, with Redz Café coming in 'Highly Commended' and Rose Cottage Tea Rooms being awarded 'Best Value.'

The Courtyard has come highly praised by local reviewers (Photo: Grace Kennington)

Having previously reported that The Courtyard had won best-rated place to eat in 2025 by TripAdvisor and having previously popped in for a coffee and piece of cake a few times, I decided it was time to see what all the hype was about and pay them a visit for breakfast.

As a self-professed breakfast fan (it's just the best meal), me and my partner regularly go for brunch in Ashby but we weren't aware The Courtyard even offered breakfast.

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On 3 February, me and a friend visited The Courtyard on a very grey and damp morning and were immediately greeted by a very warm and friendly welcome by Emma.

One of the first things that jumped out to me on my visit was the friendly and attentive customer service. There were multiple members of staff ducking and weaving behind the counter making coffee, cutting up cake and carrying food from the kitchen.

Despite it being busy, the staff were always happy to help, taking orders quickly and checking in that everything was okay during the meal, without feeling overbearing.

I ordered a vegetarian full English. As a vegetarian for over five years now, I like to think I am a bit of an expert when it comes to a veggie sausage and I have to say, these were some of the best I've ever had.

Served with toast, a perfectly runny fried egg, mushrooms, tomato and hash browns, the breakfast perfectly balanced indulgent comfort food without being an overwhelming serving size.

Of course, I got an orange juice and coffee with it, both being served very quickly and were great quality (no watery orange juice and burnt coffee in sight).

My friend, who got a bacon and hashbrown sandwich and coffee, also thoroughly enjoyed her meal. Unlike my vegetarian meal, she can vouch that the meat was great quality and bacon cooked to perfection - not too fatty, not too soggy.

Final thoughts: The Courtyard Café is the perfect balance of relaxing and lively, with a feeling of being busy without being head-ache inducing. The space has a real community feel, with regulars coming in with small children and grandparents alike to enjoy a beautifully prepared lunch or big slice of cake.

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The service was nothing short of exceptional! Staff were all friendly, attentive and very welcoming, making sure we had the best possible visit.

The food and drink, as expected, is all great quality and served with a lot of care and love. The breakfast was delicious and filling without being greasy or stodgy and was clearly prepared to a very high standard.

Thank you to The Gym Boys for setting us on to this absolutely gem of a breakfast spot and to the brilliant team at The Courtyard for an all round lovely experience.

Now, where should we try next?