Out & About Autumn 2018

FOOD & DRINK

Café culture

Independent cafés offer a welcome alternative to the high street chains. These popular meeting places provide individuality, as well as homemade, healthy treats. We visited establishments in Newbury, Lambourn, Hampstead Norreys and Hungerford

Honesty, Lambourn 17 High St, Lambourn, Hungerford RG17 8XL T: 01488 71011 Open: Seven days a week: 8am-4pm www.coffeeshops.honestygroup.co.uk/FB/ free wifi/vegan and vegetarian options T he Honesty Group of cafés each reflect the company ethos, but also put their own personal stamp on their premises. Honesty Lambourn is situated in the centre of the village, where the racing community can have breakfast, business meetings take place and regular groups of friends turn up and know they will get a warm welcome and quality service. Cakes, pastries and bread are homemade in the Honesty kitchens and delivered each day – chocolate brownies are a particular favourite. Every month also features a particular bread and cake. Manager April points out that the Lambourn café is the only one in the group where breakfast is cooked on the premises – “and very popular they are too”. Coffee comes from the Oxford Coffee Company, tea is Birchalls and the café also stocks Gusto organic fruit drinks. Takeaway service is available in recyclable cups, or 10 per cent off the purchase price if you bring in your own cup. If you like the jam in your cake, that too is Honesty’s own brand and jars are available to buy. A chic café with strong ethics and an oasis of calm in this bustling community.

Courtyard Café, Hampstead Norreys Manor Farm Courtyard, Church Street, Hampstead Norreys RG18 0TD T: 01635 202642 Open Monday-Friday 8am-4pm (shop open until 7pm); Saturday 8am-4pm; Sunday 9am-noon FB/Twitter @HNShop1/free wifi/vegan and vegetarian options/takeaway S ince it was runner-up in Channel 4’s Village of the Year competition, Hampstead Norreys has seen an increase in visitors to its community shop and café – but that’s not to say it wasn’t already a thriving community resource. The bright, friendly shop is well-stocked with local artisan food and drink and opens on to the café, which displays local work by local artists and has an outdoor seating area. It is run by a team of six paid employees and an army of volunteers. Chef Jamie joined this year: “Everybody is so friendly and there’s such a great atmosphere. “I make the savoury dishes on site, Vonnie is cake queen, and Barbara brings in a range of gluten-free items.” Ingredients are sourced locally, with meat from Vicars Game, veg from Fishers and Herthertons bread. Local residents also donate home-grown vegetables. Like many village cafés, the Courtyard gets a lot of cyclists and hikers flocking to its doors at weekends. During the week, it is particularly busy in term-time, both in the mornings following the school run and after school, when families drop in for a teatime treat.

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