The Best Breakfast in Lichfield? An Honest Review of Thyme Kitchen
If you're looking for the best breakfast in Lichfield, then Thyme Kitchen is where you need to be. Not many places have retained what seems to be a lost art: putting together a thoughtful menu with local produce and beautiful presentation.
I’ll admit it: I have recently developed a deeply unhealthy addiction to garden centres. Between rescuing neglected B&M plants and attempting to curate the perfect hanging baskets, my weekend radar is now permanently tuned to finding new horticultural haunts.
That is exactly how we stumbled upon Curborough Countryside Centre a couple of months ago. My first thought upon walking in was simply: How on earth have we lived in the area this long and never been here?
Before I even talk about the food, the location deserves a nod. Curborough is steeped in agricultural history. The name itself comes from the Old English cweorn burna (meaning "mill stream"), and the land has been inhabited since the Roman era. Today, the craft centre sits on the footprint of the old Curborough Hall Farm. The businesses, including a brilliant vintage store, a pottery painting studio, a butcher selling locally sourced meat, and a whiskey distillery – where we happily sampled whiskey and left with wedges of blue and chilli cheese – are housed in beautifully converted 18th and 19th-century agricultural buildings, including an old traditional "drift barn."
Tucked into this rustic, historical setting is Thyme Kitchen. One look at their thoughtfully crafted, locally sourced menu, and I knew I had to come back.
A Solo Sunday
The opportunity arose on a particularly breezy Sunday. With the kids stopping over at their grandparents for the weekend, I suddenly found myself with that rare, golden commodity: a completely kids-free morning. I needed a pick-me-up, a genuine treat. It happened to be Mother’s Day in Mauritius (where I'm from), and since different countries celebrate on different days, I decided I was absolutely claiming this one for myself.
I grabbed the dog and set out on foot. A word of warning to the wise: do not underestimate a three-minute drive. On foot, that equates to a 45-minute uphill trek. But the sun was out, the wind was bracing, and the walk was lovely. We arrived ten minutes before opening, and a small queue was already forming.
I settled at a table in the outdoor area and was immediately greeted by Sasha, quite possibly the friendliest waitress I have ever encountered. The menu was an absolute torment of brilliant choices – loaded hash browns with chorizo and avocado, cheese toasties, and a breakfast naan – but my heart was set: the smoked salmon and poached eggs focaccia.
I love an Eggs Royale. I love the marriage of beautifully smooth, sweet smoked salmon against the slight saltiness of a perfectly poached egg, all blanketed in rich hollandaise. But putting it on focaccia I felt was a stroke of genius. I'm never a big fan of the toasted muffin anyway, I find it quite underwhelming. When my order arrived, it was impeccable. The plate was garnished with rocket and edible flowers, and, as if they had peered directly into my soul, they had scattered chilli flakes across the hollandaise. Cutting into it, the eggs spilled perfectly. With my dog at my feet and one of my favourite books, Women Who Run With the Wolves, open on the table, it was the most wholesome breakfast I could have asked for.
Still feeling slightly peckish, I decided to finish with a double espresso and a small sweet treat. I asked Sasha what cakes they had, and my curiosity was piqued by a lemon drizzle and blueberry cake. I am not a cake person. Truly, I’m not. I asked for it in a takeaway box, fully intending to have a single bite and take the rest home.
I ate the entire thing right there in the garden. It was, without a doubt, the most incredible lemon and blueberry cake I have ever tasted (though, admittedly, my benchmark for cake is low). It was so good that my dog actively started barking at me for a bite (we made the mistake of given her cake for her birthday and she's had a liking for cake since).
A Weekend Return
That first meal was so good that I really wanted my husband to experience the magic of this place. We managed to get back there on a Sunday morning a couple of weeks after, entirely by virtue of needing to scratch his itch for early-morning car boot sales.
This time, I ordered the breakfast naan. I was initially worried the flatbread might be too crunchy, but it was incredibly soft. The balance of flavours was masterful: the salty kick of locally sourced bacon, the sweet heat of chilli jam, and the cool creaminess of tzatziki in every bite.
My husband went for the Big Breakfast, and I need to take a moment to talk about his baked beans. He isn't even a baked beans person, but these were unreal. They tasted homemade, possessing a rich wholeheartedness and what I swear was a faint, smoky hint of chorizo. Honestly, they were the best baked beans I have ever tasted. His hash browns were equally stunning – clearly pan-made, earthy, golden and crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. Interestingly, his traditional breakfast was served with a poached egg, which isn't standard, but it was executed to perfection and topped off with those glorious chilli flakes.
If you are planning to go, book ahead or go early. It was so busy on this second visit that we actually had to order at the bar rather than getting table service. By 11:00 AM, the kitchen was so overwhelmed with orders that they had to turn people away or offer cake-only options. Sasha was still buzzing around looking after everyone, and the service remained just as delightful despite the chaos.
We walked off our breakfast browsing the estate's shops, and I’m already plotting my next lunchtime escape.
Happy Bellies Verdict
Would I recommend it? A resounding yes.
Rating: 5/5 (A flawless weekend brunch)
Budget: ££ (You can check out the menu below, as at May 2026).
Thyme Kitchen ticks absolutely every box. They have built a genuinely thoughtful menu that elevates classic breakfast dishes without overcomplicating them, backed up by incredible, locally sourced produce. When you pair that with a beautifully historic setting and unmatched, warm hospitality, it is hard to beat. It is officially my favourite place for brunch in Lichfield.
Know Before You Go:
- Booking: Arrive exactly at opening or book ahead (but note they do not accept large group bookings on the weekend). Weekend spots vanish quickly, and you may need to order at the bar during the rush.
- Vibe: Rustic, historic, and very welcoming.
- Dog Friendly? Yes, there is excellent outdoor seating available.
About me...I'm Lorna Rose and, by day, I work in the tech industry, but in my heart of hearts, I've always been fascinated by the story that food tells. The magic of a well-cooked meal, the way a simple dish can bring people together, spark conversation, and create lasting memories. On Happy Bellies, I set out to explore and find hidden gems, so that I can indulge in telling stories around food that will make you want to go out and create your own foodie adventures.
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