I remember grabbing a late one evening and reading a book at around 8:30 pm (the cafe was nearly empty, with about 3 other people in the whole cafe). An older man came in and was vacuuming, I'm assuming he was the owner. The then rudely implied that I had overstayed my welcome and should leave. I could understand if he wanted me to leave because it was busy, but it certainly wasn't. Complete jerk. Definitely going to Starbucks or anything else from now on. Staff are terrible and rude. AVOID.

Everything seems to have gone downhill, somewhat, in what used to be a lovely kings parade cafe.
They had a refurb and expanded last year with a very tall young man at the helm and for a spell it had a lovely local feel with the trimmings of a chain store. sadly he appears to have left and taken the 'vibe' with him.

Staff now seem uninterested, uninformed and downright rude to each other and customers. As others mentioned, the cleanliness is appalling. This comes with the added insult that managers (I assume all those without uniforms to be management though I could be wrong) prioritise smoking and sitting on the phone outside to cleaning tables or helping serve customers so their staff can clean.

As a former regular I think they dropped they ball and have possibly ruined what was once my cafe of choice. A great shame considering things were looking so promising with their last manager and team.

Hopefully it can be saved.

King's Parade, What a dreadful cafe, the tables were dirty, the cutlery was dirty and the menus were covered in food and mess, even though it wasn't busy so they could have tidied up. The server was unfriendly and the whole experience unpleasant. What a shame that many tourists will have their trip to the city marred by this sort of experience.

I sat in this cafe a few times but just experienced (for the first and last time) what I now understand is the owner's standard policy of kicking the customers out. He tried to take our coffee cups three times and when I insisted that I still had some coffee left, he helpfully pointed out that it had gone cold and proceeded to just take it, anyway. He also requested that we leave. When I confronted him he explained that he needed space for new customers, although there were none there and plenty of free tables around. I told him that this kind of behaviour was unheard of, but now I see that it is not. Seriously considering filing an official complaint at the City Council or wherever someone would listen. In any case, AVOID this place.

I sat in this cafe a few times but just experienced (for the first and last time) what I now understand is the owner's standard policy of kicking the customers out. He tried to take our coffee cups three times and when I insisted that I still had some coffee left, he helpfully pointed out that it had gone cold and proceeded to just take it, anyway. He also requested that we leave. When I confronted him he explained that he needed space for new customers, although there were none there and plenty of free tables around. I told him that this kind of behaviour was unheard of, but now I see that it is not. Seriously considering filing an official complaint at the City Council or wherever someone would listen. In any case, AVOID this place.

I went to this cafe today with a friend of mine. After having coffee and cake our coffee cups were taken away. We were still sitting down (it was a really hot day). A person (who turned out to be the owner) came to ask if we were waiting for something. My friend answered no. He asked another time if we were waiting for something. I had to interrupt him and say that we had coffee already. This person was not very nice and after a short argument I had to tell him was being really rude. He said he was the owner and I was being rude. I replied that I am the customer and I will never come back.

By reading the reviews I can see this person does not deserve a single pound from anybody. Please boycott this place!

Mr T

I'd like to say that I agree with the other comments.
I have visited the shop on kings parade twice. After the first time I decided to give them a second chance. It seems that half of the staff are friendly but the other half are rude and unwelcoming. I too have had my experience of the owner...if your not sure who I mean look out for the short bulldog man who stomps about eyeballing you and your coffee, waiting for the moment to snatch it out from underneath you. When I pay for food to eat in I don't expect to be hustled out the instant it's finished. Oh yeh and don't bother asking for some hot water for your tea because 'we don't do hot water'....even when I offered to pay half the price of the tea....hospitality and politeness costs nothing. Good luck when everyone realises your little cafes not so cute. Been rude to your customers and your staff won't make you a bigger man....

As a Cambridge resident, I have been going into both Benet cafes for years. This is largely a result of its convenient location rather than excellent value or quality (the reasonable food is rather pricey) but recently I have also been thrown out by the incredibly rude owner after barely putting my cup down. I can understand that it might be annoying to have students sit all day over one cup of coffee and as such I can imagine reason for politely turfing the odd student out when there are other customers vying for seats, but I am far from my student days and there were plenty of tables available when I was asked to leave for non-existent waiting customers. The sad thing is, if he had only asked, I would have ordered another coffee and lunch which is what I was discussing with my colleague when ejected! I've also witnessed this man being rude to his staff and have felt on the verge of boycotting the place before but this was the final straw. I will never go in either Benets again and only wish I could recoup some of the money I loyally spent in here over the years. Leave Benets for the tourist... I wonder if he'll survive the winter once he's ejected all his regulars.

Completely agree with the previous reviewers, I and my friends (students at Cambridge) have had similar experiences. This cafe survives because it attracts tourists on King's Parade, it would last five minutes if it had to rely on returning customers because they are so incredibly rude. I honestly have never experienced anything like it. I am also sorry if this cafe influences the impression that tourist have of English hospitality and customer service. Overpriced and mediocre food, served up with open contempt for customers.

Save yourself the trouble of being kicked out of this café by the scurrilous owner. Go elsewhere. The bad news for Benet’s is that there’s lots of competition in Cambridge so you lose custom if you lack professionalism and treat your customers like squatters! After going to this café on and off for about 5 years, I went for the first time to have lunch upstairs in the expanded Benet’s on King’s Parade – appropriate as it was the day of the Royal Wedding. A regrettable decision. After purchasing two sandwiches and two coffees, my friend and I were sitting on the couches when the owner brusquely came and cleared away the cups, one of which was not finished. He said, in his way, “Are you done? Are you leaving soon?” As if his message wasn’t clear enough, he grunted “If you would.” Now this is my first experience of being asked to leave a cafe so I have nothing to compare it to. Maybe that says something. Few cafe owners would behave so appallingly. The experience was completely inexplicable because the upstairs room where we had lunch was almost empty, it was just us and two other occupied tables. This was neither a busy time, nor had we occupied the table for hours.

So, to the owner of Benet’s, please do not take advantage of customers, be honest and hang signs that explain your business model: “Once you’ve taken your last bite or sip, or even before you’re done, get the hell out of here so I can have empty tables. If you would.” My fellow café-goers, do yourselves a favour and go where your custom is wanted and you’re treated with professionalism.

Avoid!! Unless of course you enjoy being ask to leave by the owner as soon as you have emptied your cup and barely finished your final gulp. Quite literally asked to leave. Still find it unbelievable.

What a cute little cafe, I came here for the first time and I couldn't believe how busy it was. I had a cookie and a coffee for a very reasonable price which I will no doubt have again next time.