MEGAN Darley runs Five Rise Locks Café in a very special location beside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Bingley. We spoke to her about life beside the waterway.
Q: When was Five Rise Café established?
A: The building was originally used as stables for the horses that towed the barges along the canal, before eventually becoming a café. Being able to run a café in such a historic building right next to the Five Rise Locks is something really special.
Q: Who was behind the cafe and how did it come into being?
A: I worked at the café for 15 years before becoming a co-owner with Anne and Marcus Dearden in 2022. In 2025, I took full ownership of the café. Having worked here for so long before owning it, the café has always felt like a huge part of my life, so taking ownership was a really exciting moment for me.
Over the years, we’ve also created our own little café family with the staff. We spend so much time together, and everyone plays an important part in making the café what it is.
Q: Do you have a background in catering/hospitality?
A: I’ve worked in hospitality for 15 years, with most of that experience being here at the café. I also went to university and studied business management, which has definitely helped me with the process of running and owning a business.
Q: Is the café in a good location?
A: The location is probably the best thing about the café - we are situated next to one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways, the famous Five Rise Locks. Our customers can sit and watch the boats making their way through the locks, and there’s always something happening.
Coffee and cake
The artwork by Dennis Bristow
Five Rise Locks in Bingley
There's a warm welcome to be had
Q: Describe the interior.
A: We’ve tried to give the café a fresh and welcoming feel while still keeping in touch with the building’s history as an old stable. We also have work by local artist Dennis Bristow, including a large mural of the locks on the wall. We think it helps bring a little bit of Bingley and the history of the area into the café.
Q: Do you have outside seating?
A: Yes, we have plenty of outdoor seating. It’s a lovely place to sit, enjoy some food or a drink and watch the world go by. With the locks and the canal right beside us, there’s always plenty to see.
Q: What sort of food and drink do you serve?
A: We serve classic café food - good, hearty and comforting. You can start the day with a full English breakfast and for lunch we offer things like paninis and hearty soups.
We also have plenty of sweet treats, including Marshfield Farm ice cream and cakes supplied by local bakeries. For drinks we serve Yorkshire Tea, Seasons coffee and a variety of posh pops from our independent supplier Breckland Orchard.
Q: What choices are among the most popular?
A: Our bacon sandwich is definitely one of our most popular choices - you can’t beat a good bacon sandwich, a cup of Yorkshire Tea and a slice of our beloved carrot cake to finish.
Q: Do you change your menus seasonally?
A: We like to keep our core menu full of the classic café favourites that people know and love, while also making sure there’s something suitable for the time of year. Our hearty soups and chilli con carne are particularly popular when the weather is colder, while ice creams and salads come into their own in the warmer months.
Q: Do you have a lot of regulars from the local area, and what do they say about the café?
A: We have lots of regulars, and they really help give the café a community feel. Many people have actually become friends through meeting at the café, which is something we love.
We really appreciate our regular customers, they keep the café running and they’ve become a huge part of what makes Five Rise Café what it is.
Q: And visitors from further afield - do you get visits from walkers and boaters? What do they say about the café?
A: We get visitors from all over the world, with Australia and America being among the places our visitors come from. People are often in awe of the Five Rise Locks, and it’s lovely to be able to offer them somewhere to stop, relax and enjoy the view.
We also get lots of walkers and plenty of dog walkers. We love dogs - probably more than humans! We even have a dog wall in the café featuring photos of many of our furry visitors. It’s become a really lovely feature and something that always makes people smile.
The visiting dog gallery
Delicious scones and cakes
A terrace with a view
Q: Do you sell food to take away?
A: Yes, customers can enjoy many of our food and drink options to take away, which is ideal for walkers, visitors and anyone wanting to continue enjoying the beautiful surroundings.
Q: Do you feel like part of the community in Bingley - and how important is this to you?
A: We definitely like to think of ourselves as part of the Bingley community. It’s really important to us to be involved and to make sure we’re doing our bit to support our local town.
We also have our own monthly run club which meets on the last Saturday of every month. It’s another great way of bringing people together and also helping fundraise for our chosen charity - Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: Our plans for the future are simply to keep doing what we’re doing! We love the café, our customers and the location, and we want to continue offering a welcoming place for local people and visitors to enjoy.
*Five Rise Locks Cafe, 2 Beck Lane, Bingley BD16 4DS; fiveriselockscafe.co.uk