What a find... The coffee shop cafe scene has become so saturated with the chains over recent years I'd lost all hope of having a positive experience in this sector again, but I could have been knocked over by a feather after my first ten minutes in this place.

The fare was nothing too adventurous; baguettes, focaccia paninis, salads, dessert pots, baked goods, pies etc. We had the usual 'made fresh' signs and the obligatory claim to gourmet coffee too, and a selection of syrups - all dressed up in what seemed to be a chain type frontage.

The delivery was unexpected. I had a Brie and Bacon Baguette which they toasted for me at no extra cost, the Brie was ripe and flavoursome, the bread very obviously freshly baked. I had a Banoffee Pie pot, which was simple, yet contained all the flavours one would expect in a properly made home-made attempt. The coffee was so surprisingly good (A latte beautifully presented as I presumably co-incided my visit with their "Latte Art" Barista), I ordered an Espresso to make sure I wasn't influenced by the milk..

A little conversational digging revealed some surprising facts;
1. This is not a chain at all, it's a local run business set up by a husband and wife (the latter is a chef).
2. They set it up as they were fed up, as customers, with 99% of the offerings in the high street in this market.
3. They have a full size kitchen hidden away upstairs where all their food is made from bare ingredients in the morning with no chemicals and preservatives (much like Pret). As they have real chefs, in a real kitchen, however, they make their own mayo (unlike Pret). Their choc Muffins are made with chunks of Green & Blacks, and can be summed up by my daughter (11) when she said "Now that's what I CALL a chocolate muffin". It made me laugh anyway!
4. They have some interesting stuff on the go there too, including a passable attempt at Grasmere(esque) Gingerbread.
5. Their coffee is roasted and shipped to them by Peter James, of James Gourmet Coffee. I've come across him before at food shows and the like, and the product is genuinely leagues above what all, bar very specialist outfits, can produce.

On the downside the place is small, and fills quickly meaning you might not get to sit down without a wait, but product and service wise it's a revelation. I sincerely wish them well - We could do with more of these guys on the high street for those of us who can taste the difference.

Ian.