Holly Bean’s Gourmet Coffee is available in the Old Butchers Shop cafe, which is located on Main Street in the village of Carlton-on-Trent, near Newark, Notts.Holly Bean’s Gourmet Coffee uses Stokes of Lincoln, – coffee roasters and purveyors of fine teas.
Inside the cafe, I found this interesting photo of the Old Butcher’s shop in Carlton-on Trent, which ceased trading in the mid-1990s.On this visit, I decided to have a hot chocolate as it was a bright but chilly Autumn morning.My friend, (who lives in the village) is a regular customer to this charming and delightful coffee shop but every time I have visited her previously the cafe hasn’t been open.I counted eleven chairs and two tables in this minute whimsical cafe which must make it a candidate for the smallest coffee shop in England!
This charming cafe is eclectic in style with lots of interesting things on the walls and it was full of curios, most of which were for sale.
The window seat of the cafe looks onto the village Main Street in Carlton-on-TrentThis is where the magic happens! Drinks for the cafe are made here in Holly Bean’s Gourmet Coffee Truck.
I have been a visitor to the village of Carlton-on-Trent for many years and ever since this cafe opened its doors two and a half years ago I have wanted to see inside. I was lucky on this occasion to be able to check it out as its currently only open one morning a week on Wednesdays. My friend advised me to wait until members of the seated exercise class had been and gone because they meet there every week for coffee after their class in the Village Hall. I couldn’t understand why until we opened the door as it would have been too small for us to find a vacant seat! The owner Darryl was very welcoming and told us something about the history of the place. In addition to the cafe which he runs by popular demand for the villagers, Darryl operates Holly Bean’s Gourmet Coffee Truck which he has taken to many events and festivals.
FOOTNOTE: This Mobile Expresso Bar is currently For Sale. Anyone interested please contact Darryl Wells-Pope on 07843 172907
Castle Cottage has lots of outside seating and a very pretty garden but we chose to sit inside for our meal
Yesterday I had an interesting visit with a friend to Oakham, the County Town of Rutland. I used to live in the area over 40 years ago and my son was born in Oakham Hospital so the place held significant memories for me. It’s an attractive market town steeped in medieval history with lots of independent shops and we were spoiled for choice in the number of cafes and eateries. We had read excellent reviews of Castle Cottage Cafe so thought we would seek it out for lunch. It’s easy to find although somewhat tucked away in Church Passage, which is just off the Market Place.
The Butter Cross in the Market Place at Oakham features the town pump and some unusual stocks.Castle Cottage Cafe is located in Church Passage off the Market Place in Oakham.
The cafe interior is delightful with fairy lights, fresh flowers and lots of quirky vintage pieces.
Castle Cottage has lots of outside seating and a very attractive garden but we chose to sit inside for our meal.The cafe interior is charming, quirky and shabby chic in style.Although it was lunchtime we chose to order the traditional Afternoon Tea which was served on pretty mismatched china. We ordered a second pot of tea at no extra charge.We were served very promptly with a splendid Afternoon Tea on the traditional three-tiered stand.The bottom tier held a selection of freshly-made sandwiches with interesting tasty fillings.My favourite was the smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich. The bread was soft and very fresh.We shared a warm freshly-baked large fruit scone with fresh strawberries, strawberry jam, and clotted cream.
The selection of cakes on the middle tier were home-made and absolutely delicious.We both considered the lemon cake with lemon curd filling and buttercream topping to be light and truly scrumptious.
The cafe interior is delightful with fairy lights, bunting, fresh flowers and lots of quirky vintage pieces. The concept really worked and the food was excellent too!The entrance to the extensive garden of the cafe, which had a marquee, a summer-house and lots of nice sheltered seating areas.
The cost of our Afternoon Tea was of exceptional value for money at £12 per person and it was probably the best I have ever come across in terms of price, quality, and quantity.
Castle Cottage Cafe,
Church Passage, Off Market Place, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6DR
Tel: 01572 757952
Castle Cottage is a real find and well worth seeking out if you are looking for somewhere to eat in Oakham.
Cádiz is a port in Andalucía, Southern Spain known as ‘the silver teacup’ and it’s generally considered to be the oldest continually inhabited city in Europe. Now well into its fourth millennium, the ancient centre is surrounded almost entirely by water, which makes it stunningly picturesque and full of charm.
Restaurant Café Royalty is located on Plaza de la Candelaria, Cadiz
Steve and I first visited Cádiz one year ago and we were very keen to return to some of our favourite places and discover new ones like Restaurant Cafe Royalty above where we enjoyed fine dining style tapas from this delicious menu which was excellent value at 22 euros per person.
Plaza de la Candelaria is a very beautiful quiet square in Cadiz where Codigo de Barra, another fine dining restaurant is also located. Having enjoyed a meal here last year we were making a return visit to celebrate Steve’s birthday.
Codigo de Barra serve their unique olive ‘surprise’ for the first course Followed by a dish representing the origin of tapas – a slice of Iberian ham on top of a sherry glass of consomméThe 3rd course was their quirky take on the traditional shrimp frittersToasted brioche, cured egg yolk and marinated sardines for the 4th courseFollowed by garlic prawns with dry sherryRoast lamb with vegetables in a lavender sauce for the 6th courseFrench toast with Thyme ice cream completed another outstanding meal at Codigo de barra
Roast lamb with vegeatbles in a lavender sauce
with Thyme ice cream
We enjoyed tapas for lunch with sumptuous fresh oysters most days at our favourite bar Taberna La Bombilla near the central market in Cadiz. An ideal location for people -watching with good food, beer, and service at very reasonable prices.
Just one of the fabulous stalls which surround the fish market in the centre of Cadiz
The highlight of our trip to Cadiz this time was a visit to a Flamenco Tavern, which was a totally authentic, mesmeric and entrancing experience.
This windmill was a surprise Christmas gift from Steve and a major clue to where we were going to stay in January!
Here! Cley Windmill is a spectacular conversion into a guesthousewhich I first spotted several years ago when we were staying at a campsite in the village of Cley next the sea in Norfolk. Since then it has been on my wish list of iconic places to stay so this Christmas gift was a lovely surprise.
Cley Windmill dates from the early 18th Century and is a well-known landmark on the North Northfolk coast. It commands breathtaking views over the salt marshes to Blakeney Point and the sea, nestling comfortably by the old quay and alongside the flint-walled cottages of the village.
In 2006 it was a brilliant idea to turn this old windmill into a B and B and a very successful venture it has proved too, especially as it’s licensed for weddings. A fabulous restoration in a sublime location the windmill sits among the reedy marshes on the edge of the village of Cley and the interior is simply charming. The guest rooms are attractively furmished in a country-chic style with whitewashed walls and set beneath ancient beamed ceilings. We stayed in the Millers Room which is on the ground floor but the upper rooms of the windmill in particular have spectacular views over the coast and marshes.
Steve enjoyed a hearty meal of gammon, egg and chips at The Kings Arms in Blakeney
During our stay we enjoyed eating at two pubs in the nearby village of Blakeney in the evenings. The meals were hearty, reasonably priced comfort food but Cley Windmill does provide an evening meal for guests if required and if the superb breakfast we enjoyed there is anything to go by the food is exceptionally good!
Cley Windmill is situated right on the edge of the National Wildlife Trust reserve of Cley Marshes and perfectly placed for exploring the delights of the North Norfolk coast. This is one of the most imaginative places to spend a weekend break at any time of the year, but it is incredibly popular for its location and originality. Highly recommended, so if you want to book a room for a special occasion take my advice and book your date early!
PARKER’s Tavern restaurant is located on the ground floor of the University Arms Hotel on Regent Street in Cambridge
After more than two years of renovation work costing £80 million, Cambridge’s most historic and iconic hotel re-opened last month and I couldn’t wait to visit to sample the food in PARKER’s Tavern restaurant. I had enjoyed a splendid lunch there within days of the hotel opening and returned this week to experience Afternoon Tea with a friend.
The PARKER’s Tavern creative and stylish Afternoon Tea was served in the hotel library on a traditional three-tier standWe started with the savouries which included a selection of sandwiches, warm sausage rolls and Crayfish pastry boats
The Plum Pudding scones were served warm and accompanied by caramelised apple butter, plum jam and clotted cream
The bespoke china is full of interesting images which reflect Cambridge historyThe top tier held an unusual selection of sweet treats – Parkers Football truffles, Sir Isaac Newton’s Apple, Rice Pudding Macaroon, and Iced saffron and rose cakeWe were too full to eat all the scones and cakes so we took a ‘doggy bag’ homeI also took my slice of Duke of Cambridge tart home to enjoy later
This Afternoon Tea is innovative and offers a whimsical take on the traditional and clearly a lot of thought has gone into the invention of it. Every sweet and savoury treat created by chef Tristan Welch was inspired by the city’s literary legacy which is explained in the interesting Afternoon Tea menu booklet.
On this occasion one or two things could have been better as the sandwiches were dry and appeared not to have been freshly made, also we weren’t very impressed with the fillings of Coronation Chicken, Spiced Beef and Smoked Trout. However the sausage roll and crayfish pastry boat were very enjoyable. The still-warm scones were light and fruity and we both loved the plum jam. The sweet treats were all delightful, being unusual and creative and there was plenty to enjoy. A choice of teas are available to accompany the food and fresh pots were offered throughout the meal which is always welcome. Service was polished and professional. I think this Afternoon Tea is over-priced as it’s more expensive than any other I have come across in Cambridge but if you are looking for somewhere impressive and indulgent to take a visitor or for a special occasion then PARKER’s Tavern would fit the bill.
Finally the hotel lavatories are well worth a visit as one can hear the dulcet tones of Alan Bennett reading from the ‘Wind in the Willows’ whilst using the facilities!
The PARKER’s Tavern Afternoon Tea is available by reservation only at least 24 hours in advance and costs £33 per person plus 12.5% service charge.
Taste with Granny Apples 