The Bottle Kiln, West Hallam

Look no further for predigious coffee pedegree. The Bottle Kiln café was joint recipient of the 2007 BSA Best Beverage Experience Award, a surefire sign of a terrific mug of coffee (the wonderful Leoni in Malton won the year before).

The café's Maxine Beadsmore is a seasoned and successful competitor at the UK Barista Championships, with a colleague, Emma Chapman, joining her at the event in 2008. Emma is the reigning UK SCAE "Coffee In Good Spirits" champion, with yet another member of Bottle Kiln's skilled staff, Shane Newton, pipped into second. Emma represented the UK on European soil earlier in the year.

So I was naturally looking forward to the visit. What a shame I arrived too late.... it was 4:35pm and the coffee maching had been turned off. I had to settle for a caffetiere (mistakenly called a filter coffee), which was very nice, but not a representation of the skills on offer. Hopefully I will have an opportunity one day to pop back and try something more worthy; I'm sure it will be delicious! 

The building is beautiful; carefully restored and pristinely kept. There are a handful of colourful shops under the same roof, and a gallery. There are plenty of tables for sipping coffee inside. It reminded my companion a little of a motorway service station... I think because the tables are quite tightly packed together. Perhaps she was being harsh; is snug a better word? Certainly the ornaments, lighting, artwork, colour and so forth make for pleasant surroundings. 

 

The best part is the tranquil garden (a "tea garden", so called, but just as good for coffee). It's a peaceful place and without doubt the nicest spot for a drink, assuming the sun is out. The most memorable setting in any coffee shop I've seen.

I was unlucky on the day but still thoroughly enjoyed the experience. A super place.

The Bottle Kiln,
West Hallam,
Derbyshire,
DE7 6HP

Open 10 - 5, Tue - Sun.

Website: http://www.bottlekiln.co.uk/ 

BSA Best Beverage Experience Award 2007: http://www.beverageserviceassociation.com/awards.asp. 

Read a little about Maxine and Emma here:

http://mentness.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/uk-barista-championship-bristol-heat/