A review of Strangers with Coffee

Strangers with Coffee, 31 St Cuthberts Street, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2AW 

It's not often that I'm quick enough off the mark to review a place that's recently opened, so I love when it happens by accident. On our recent country jaunt staying at The Swan, Wedmore, we ventured out into the rainy west country to the 'smallest city in England' - Wells. There's a massive Cathedral (hence city status) and buzzing food/antiques market on Wednesdays and Saturdays so we had a bit of a nose round and then sought out somewhere for lunch.

A little off the beaten track, Strangers with Coffee is opposite St Cuthbert's Church which is really near to the main visitors car park. There's a big A-board pointing you in the right direction. Opening at the end of June, they were welcomed on to the local cafe scene by none other than the Mayor herself.

The first thing we noticed was that they serve Allpress espresso, from the New Zealand roastery which has more recently set up shop in London's East End. Having visited and reviewed Allpress before, I was pretty excited to see the brand outside of London and we headed inside to try it out.

Although pretty compact on the inside, there's seating outside under a small shelter with bright scatter cushions and not too many smokers. We made the most of a brief interlude of sunshine by sitting outside and, unlike in some places, were not forgotten. The friendly proprietor saw to our every need and I will from now on always demand my apple juice in a wine glass - how very civilised!

The menu was brief but balanced with a range of sarnies, salads and breakfast options. My other half went for the cheese salad sandwich, and I opted for the croque monsieur. Both were tasty, generously proportioned and came served with crisps and salad - a nice touch.

It's great to see ambitious start ups making the most of the blossoming UK cafe culture and using trendy coffee brands like Allpress to really carve out a niche for themselves in their local coffee scene. I'm sure that by serving such a great espresso brand, Strangers with Coffee has already trumped many surrounding businesses.

The quality and taste of the coffee really came through in the cappuccino enjoyed by my other half, but I must say the pour was a little 'wet' for my liking. I like my cappuccino to have a good head of foam on it to really differentiate it from a latte, and on inspection there was only a few mm skimming the surface.

All credit to Allpress for taking the leap to supply other independent coffee houses, but I guess every extension of your brand leads to a little less quality control. Strangers with coffee - hone your pouring skills and you'll do Allpress proud. For now, I'll stick with the apple juice.

Check out Strangers with coffee on Facebook.

A review of The Swan

Picture from www.theswanwedmore.com

The Swan, Cheddar Road, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4EQ

What with it being the Olympics and all (hopefully that small fact hasn't escaped anyone's attention...) and living in East London, we thought it might be wise to 'jump ship' for a few days. Head out to the country and away from all the chaos.

Discovering The Swan on i-escape.com ("a hand-picked portfolio of beautiful boutique hotels, B&Bs and houses for rent, in some of the world's most stunning locations..."), we were easily persuaded by the pub's luxuriously giant beds and baths, posh smellies and decadent River Cottage inspired grub. Our room was supposed to be the most modest of the six on offer, but there was plenty of space for us to spend a very comfortable three nights swathed in luxury, playing at being grown ups.

Picture from www.theswanwedmore.com

As well as having dinner at the incredible in-house restaurant which serves all seasonal, local ingredients the breakfast part of the 'B'n'B' was a real highlight of our trip. Regularly lumbered with the 'continental' option or a greasy fry up, we were spoilt for choice with their selection of yoghurt, granola, muesli, buttery scrambled egg and home cooked bread or full English. We tried something different almost everyday and, being tardy risers, were pretty much tided over until dinner for the most part.

Even the coffee was expertly poured and in the appropriate vessel (glass for a latte, cup for a cap) - pretty impressive for a pub more used to pouring pints.

They have a really laid back ethos at the Swan - "you can eat where and when you like". There's no set meal times and you can have the restaurant menu in the pub, or the bar snack menu in the restaurant - they really don't stand on ceremony. Cakes are available at breakfast if you're that way inclined, and there's always a newspaper or magazine lying around to flick through.

It was this relaxed approach to eating and drinking which really made the difference to our stay. Seriously refreshing in a world of intimidating holiday itineraries and 8am check out times. I would definitely recommend. 

The Swan has a website, Twitter and Facebook page. 

A review of Cafe Boscanova

650 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Dorset, BH1 4BP


Whenever I visit a new place I always try to look up a good cafe so that I'm not stuck tried and hungry looking for somewhere to eat. A recent trip to Bournemouth was no exception and I looked up a few places before going, hoping to show my host somewhere new and gently cajole her into supporting her local independent cafe scene.

After a fantastic night out (dinner at Aruba and then drinks, live music and dancing at Sixty Million Postcards if you wanted to know) we went for the obligatory morning fry up at home in our pyjamas before heading to the sea front for some bracing fresh hair to blow away our hang overs. Feeling more ourselves and with our appetites restored, we headed over to Boscombe just a short drive away from central Bournemouth. My previous research had led me to believe we would find some hearty, healthy fare at Cafe Boscanova, and we weren't disappointed.

With a homely, slightly chaotic feel, this cafe is buzzing with locals and they're as passionate about their coffee as they are the wholesome food they serve. With the scrawls on the back of their espresso machine giving away their passion for precision brewing, you know you're in good hands when ordering your favourite caffeine fix here.

For the more virtuous amongst us, they do a whole host of fruit juices and smoothies which was what we opted for on this occasion to purge our livers and restore the vital nutrients lost during the previous evenings' binge. I went for the 'Sweet Surrender' which packed a punch with carrot and apple juice blended with a hit of fresh ginger. POW!

They do the whole gambit of cafe offerings, from granola, to fry ups, soups to burritos and if you have a veggie or vegan pal they won't be disappointed as there's plenty of options for them as well. With optional extras to 'pimp' your pancakes or build up your brekkie, you won't be leaving hungry. We went for the halloumi wrap and meze plate which were packed with veggies and did a great job in rejuvenating our flagging bodies.

If you ever go to Bournemouth, it's well worth taking a turn away from the centre of town to seek out this little gem. With friendly staff, a great sound track (although the barista did skip past Fleet Foxes, so you can't always account for taste) and tasty grub you can't go far wrong.

Cafe Boscanova is on Twitter, Facebook and have a website. 

When in Devon...

The Town Mill Bakery, 2 Coombe Street, Lyme Regis, DT7 3PY

River Cottage Deli & Canteen, Trinity Square, Axminster , EX13 5AN

I spent this weekend on the Devon/Dorset border on a road trip to pick up some parts for the 1969 Volkswagen Beetle my boyfriend is restoring. We found a whole load of original parts being sold on eBay by a guy who lives there and thought we may as well make a weekend of it and go and pick them up ourselves. So, one B&B booking  (we stayed at Summer Lodge near Dalwood – the bed was heaven and the cooked breakfast amazing) and five hours in a hire car later, we arrived in Devon a bit too early to check in and headed over to Lyme Regis to get our fill of sea air.

Once we’d parked the car and headed down a very steep hill towards the town centre, we happened across an artisan bakery/cafe called The Town Mill Bakery. Naturally curious, I popped my head through the door to have a good nose. I'm ashamed to say that I did not stop for anything to eat or drink, but you can see from their photo library that everything looks scrumptious in the extreme. It’s also all either organic or locally sourced so is easy on the conscience too.

More than the food and drink, I was enchanted by their approach to customer service which involves a ‘help yourself and pay at the end’ ethos. I thought the sense of mutual trust and freedom afforded to customers made the place feel very laid back and it seemed like somewhere I could easily feel at home and while away a few hours. Encouraged to help yourself to a mug and wooden board (otherwise referred to as a plate) then dig into the treats on offer, you can eat your fill and then pay for what you’ve had on the way out.

Taking a slightly different approach, but with that similar West Country relaxed charm, the River Cottage canteen in Axminster gave us a memorable evening meal. I know it’s not strictly a cafe so is rather off topic for this blog, however as a dining experience, my visit was so enjoyable that I had to share it.

The cavernous barn-like space, chunky wooden furniture and menus chalked up on boards give Axminster’s River Cottage canteen a more relaxed feel than many restaurants. However, it was not without a sense of occasion and many of the people there were celebrating birthdays or other events. As an affordable alternative to Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall’s original River Cottage it can’t be knocked. We had three courses each and one alcoholic drink for under £60 which isn’t bad considering the celebrity-chef affiliation.

Whether you’re feeling adventurous and go for something similar to the crispy pig’s head salad and ox’s liver with lentils and bacon, or stick to the safe bet of the soup and slow roasted shoulder of pork, you won’t be disappointed with the food. The puddings were also spot on with a dribble-inducing chocolate tart and deep cheesecake with fresh local strawberries making our selection.

The Town Mill Bakery are on Facebook and Twitter, they also have a website and blog.

River Cottage has a website, and can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

A review of Jonny’s Cafe, Hayle

50-51 Penpol Terrace, Hayle, Cornwal, TR27 4BQ

Apparently, us Britons are creatures of habit when it comes to choosing holiday destinations, with as many as a third of holidaymakers returning to the same spot each year. The survey also found that 10 per cent of the 2,156 adults polled had been to the same destination more than 20 times.

It’s clear that I fall into this third of Britons as, more often than not, I return to Hayle in Cornwall in August or September to chill out in a beach hut amongst the sand dunes, partake in a little light paddling and sample the delights of the local bakery scene. And, having been to Cornwall an apparently relatively small amount of times, it seems like I’m likely to keep on going back until I too can tick of my twentieth visit. Not that I’m competitive. 

So, why Hayle? Well, it’s around the bay from St Ives but miles more tranquil, it’s cheaper and has a much, much, much bigger beach. 3 miles of it. Oh, and, there’s the small matter of the amazing Philp’s bakery and conveniently located Jonny’s Cafe. 

Now, Philp’s bakery more than satisfies my compulsory quota of Cornish pasties, cream teas and saffron buns whilst in the Cornish county. However, sometimes one wants something a little different and, in Hayle, that’s where Jonny’s comes in. 

Slightly rough around the edges, Jonny’s has captured the delicate art of balancing exposed brick work and crumbling plaster with decadent furnishings to create the ideal ‘shabby-chic’ ambience. A cosy area at the front of the cafe creates a bit of extra softness against the otherwise quite industrial interior. A sofa, two comfy chairs and a small wood burner make the perfect spot to while away an hour or two with a good book. 

The cafe doubles as a shop selling various vegan foods, clothes and toiletries, with the vegan theme echoed in the menu which offers a selection of quiches, sandwiches, jackets, bean burgers and soups. My salad was adorned with tiny flowers and blackberries, the sort of unique touch which seals a place in the psyche and ensures you want to return.

Vegan brownies and banana and peach cake are displayed on the counter, tempting those with more will power than I I’m sure. 

You can check out Jonny’s Cafe blog, or follow them on Twitter.