Cafes and restaurants on RAL site
Users who have meals funded will have credit applied to their user card for use at on-site catering facilities during the experiment. The total funded amount is based on a daily rate, so please be mindful of this when choosing food options. Users are encouraged to eat balanced, healthly meals during their experimental period. There is a wide-range of meals and snack choices on-site.
If you have any special dietary requirements or need information about food allergens, please email our catering provider Baxter Storey.
Please note that all food places on RAL site are cashless only (user card or bank card).
Find more RAL catering information on the RAL catering website
R22 restaurant
The R22 restaurant is open from 7:30am to 8:15pm from Monday to Friday, with the exception of closing at 4pm on Fridays when the ISIS and Diamond beams are down. At weekends, the opening times are from 11:30am to 8:15pm.
The restaurant is open all day for drinks and snacks, and serves a selection of hot meals during these times:
- breakfast from 7:30am to 9:00am
- lunch from 12:00pm to 2:00pm
- dinner from 6:30pm to 8:00pm, with the exception of ISIS and Diamond beam downtime
There are self-service fresh-ground coffee machines with decaf and soya milk options open 24hrs.
R1 Coffee Lounge
The R1 Coffee Lounge’s opening times are:
- 8:30am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday
The café is located next to the RAL library and has plenty of seating. It serves:
- hot and cold drinks, light meals, snacks and sandwiches available during opening hours
- self-service fresh-ground coffee machines open 24hrs (decaf options, dairy milk only)
Other food and drink at RAL
Please note that you cannot use your user card at these establishments.
Pipp & Co Doughnuts
There is a Pipp & Co Doughnuts stand in the R22 Restaurant fortnightly on Wednesdays 8:30am until sold out.
RAL RecSoc
The RAL Recreational Society has a volunteer-run lounge usually open Tuesday to Friday 12:15pm to 1:15pm.
The lounge is just beyond the fence near the RAL Visitor Centre and offers soft and alcoholic drinks and snacks. Lunch is not available at the lounge but you are welcome to bring your own.
The lounge also has pool and darts.
Cafes and restaurants on wider Harwell Campus
Harwell campus has a variety of different places to eat, all a short walking distance from RAL site. Please note that you cannot use your user card at these establishments.
DiSH
DiSH is open for lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday, with the exception of early closing at 3pm on Tuesday.
DiSH is a semi-outdoor food court with a rotating mix of cuisines available. Enjoy the great atmosphere outdoors under fairy lights and heat lamps, or in the heated teepee.
Learn more about DiSH and discover more places to eat on the Harwell website
Special dietary and other requirements
Email the CLF User Office to discuss any dietary requirement queries before your visit
