Removed from Cosy Coffee Shops

Country Café, Hebden Bridge

Date of visit: 8 July 2006

The Country Café is upstairs from the small Country Stores in the middle of Hebden Bridge. Big signs make it easy to spot from the outside.

There's just one small room, which was empty when I visited on a Saturday afternoon, apart from me of course.

To be honest, it's more of a tea-room than a coffee shop. Actually, it's more like a conservatory (there are a lot of plants).

Still, it's a nice spot for getting in from the rain and good for sipping a coffee if not busy with lunchtime eaters. The service is friendly and simple food is available.

Country Cafe, above Country Stores
Hebden Bridge

Readers' comments: none

Hemingways, Skipton

Date of visit: 10 July 2006 

Hemingways stretches the definition of a coffee house, but despite being tea-room-like it's just about worthy of a mention.

Skipton is a market town on the southern tip of the Yorkshire Dales. Market forces here, and in many other parts of Yorkshire, seem to necessitate an abundance of traditional tea rooms at the expense of my kind of coffee house. Unfortunately, Hemingways isn't really an exception, but it's still a fairly good place for a mug of coffee.

 There was live music, in the form of an octogenarian pianist (give or take a decade). Two ladies behind me hummed along to 'On The Street Where You Live' and others. I think "quaint" is the word I'm looking for; you get the idea.

Is there a better spot for a cosy coffee in Skipton? Please let me know.

Hemingways, in the Craven Court shopping arcade.
10 - 11a Craven Court,
Skipton,
North Yorkshire.
Tel. 01756 798035.

Readers' comments: none

Bakery Café, Reeth

Date of visit: 11 July 2006

This tiny café is part of Reeth's equally tiny bakery. It's more or less someone's living room.

Except there are no sofas, just plain tables and chairs. The café takes care to use local ingredients and offers organic soya milk; this is perhaps the only reason why it deserves a mention in this blog. Shame about the limited coffee selection, but then it is all round a very simple place.

The attached bakery has plenty of choice. If you're in the area, check out Reeth's picturesque central square.

Just off the main square in Reeth, North Yorkshire Dales

 
Readers' comments: none

Balloon Tree Farm Shop and Café, Stamford Bridge

Date of visit: 30 September 2006

This is nice little café, deserving a mention thanks to the award-winning farm shop under the same roof.

The fresh fruit and veg is mostly grown in the surrounding fields (and accordingly labelled "grown 200 yards away" and so on). There's also plenty of local meat, jams, wine and pickles, and some delicious homemade cakes.

The café is deservedly popular, though I admit it is much more of a typical "cafe" as opposed to the sort of coffee shops that I usually enjoy. But the coffee is good, and there are (of course) plenty of lunchtime options to draw in the crowds, so if you just want some coffee I'd recommend early morning or late afternoon.

Balloon Tree Farm Shop and Café
Stamford Bridge Road (A166)
Nr Gate Helmsley
York YO41 1NB

http://www.theballoontree.co.uk/

Farmshop open: 9-6 Mon - Sat; 10-5 Sun;

Café open: 9.30-4.30 Mon - Sat; 10.30-4.30 Sun.

Readers' comments: none

Jack's Café, York

Date of visit: 19 February 2007

It's a cold and wet February lunchtime outside. Inside, it's cheery and orange. Don't go in without your sunglasses.

Jacks deals mostly in coffee and cakes, with some lunchtime snacks on the side. It's one of a handful of coffee houses in the centre of York.

The colourful interior is unusual for the city, but not unwelcome. It would feel meditarranean, if it weren't for the odd British porcelain figurine on the window sills.

There is one room with a dozen or so tables and a few comfy chairs (orange, naturally) in the corners. Daily papers are available.

Click here to read a review on the York Press website

3 Castlegate (near Coppergate Shopping Centre),
York.

 
Readers' comments:

• martin said: I went in and this highly atractive waitress served me with a smile and inviting look behind her jet black hair and green mysterious eyes.I also enjoyed my beverages and their wide varity of cakes and sandwiches.Overall a nine out of ten. [Note from Cosy Cafes editor: definitely visiting again after seeing this comment...] October 24, 2007 11:36 PM
• david torrox said: great business, though very understaffed food was cold and took some time to arrive, June 21, 2008 2:55 PM
• Netty said: This is a fantastic little coffee shop in York Centre, serving a variety of teas, coffees etc., selling soft drinks, cakes, hot soups, jacket potatoes, sandwiches etc., the bright cheerful colours are lovely, prices very reasonable and having stayed in the upstairs accommodation can certainly recommend it. The staff, including the dark haired girl are friendly, cheerful and service was quick., a good regular trade proves it.!!! December 14, 2008 1:45 PM

The Loft, Knaresborough

Date of visit: 23 February 2007

*sigh* .....to all intents and purposes it's just another tea room. Nevertheless, it's a friendly place and worth a mention, even in this blog for coffee houses.

Ok, so I'm stretching my already loose coffee-house criteria, but if you are visiting lovely Knaresborough and you want a coffee, this is one of the best options. It's found in Green Dragon Yard, a compact cubbyhole not far from the main square. Perhaps you could drop by after visiting the adjacent complimentary therapy studio and art gallery.

The interior is hardly that of a typical coffee-house, but it's still a perfectly ok place for a good mug of cappuccino. And, let's face it, there are few better options in Knareborough. As a bonus, all coffee is Fairtrade.

Green Dragon Yard,
Knaresborough,
West Yorkshire,
HG5 8AU.

 
Readers' comments: none

The Habit, York

Date of visit: 21 April 2007

The Habit is one of a few places to get a coffee on Goodramgate and is set in a building that used to be owned by the clergy (hence the name).

Despite the front window being etched invitingly with various types of coffee, it's more of a pub/restaurant than a coffee house. However, it's in such a nice spot and is so quiet in the mornings that it's worth an entry in this blog.

It does good coffee, although there's nothing in terms of muffins, cakes etc. For the best setting on a sunny day, head to the upstairs terrace with a view of the Minster. If the weather's not so good, there's plenty of room elsewhere.

It's licenced and has plenty of live music. For a coffee, it's best to go in the morning.

The Habit
40 Goodramgate
York
North Yorkshire
YO1 7LF
http://www.habit-york.co.uk/

 
Readers' comments: none

Leonardo's, Hull

Date of visit: 27 January 2007

Leonardo's is an open-plan café in Hull's excellent Trinity Market.

A second branch is on the top floor of the Princes Quay shopping centre; it found its way to the market in 2006. Its best feature is its proximity to the market, which comes highly recommended for good value veg, fish, meat and Italian bread, amongst other things.

It's far from an ideal cosy coffee shop. The coffee and service aren't terrific, and it's not in the cosiest of locations. But it's an alright sort of place for a sit down before getting all that sea bass into a fridge.

For an alternative (a better one), try the Crafts Café just round the corner on Trinity Square.

Trinity Market Place Old Town Hull

 
Readers' comments:

• Gary Walters said: The waitress forgot to inform the kitchen of our order and we waited fifty minutes and still never received our food. We had to get a refund as my daughter was due at work. The manager was very rude and wouldn,t refund our drinks money. Although the food is usually very good we will not return after such rudeness!!!! February 24, 2007 6:13 PM
  
•  Kate said: We had a similar experience at the Princes Quay branch. I can only assume she forgot to put our order in as tables around us received their order and 50 minutes later we were still waiting. When it finally arrived after some prompting from us, there was no appology or discount. Not sure about the coffee but Zillis in Trinity Square is a good place for lunch. April 5, 2009 6:27 PM
  

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