Coffee at 43 features in the North Lincolnshire “‘Tea Pot Trail'”:http://www.tourismleafletsonline.com/days_out_at_North_Lincolnshires_Teapot_Trail-m4797.html advertising “an assortment of scrummy homemade dishes ” including homemade cakes. I decided to take myself off to investigate.
I headed to the service counter to check out the selection of cakes. Today the choice was lemon cake, carrot cake or chocolate cake as well as a selection of scones. I decided on the white chocolate and orange cheesecake. The cafe was fairly busy so there was a long wait before this to be brought to me. I also noticed that staff were slow to clear tables and these weren’t wiped down afterwards.
The cheesecake was a generous size portion served on a square white plate. There was a thick digestive base topped with a rich cheesecake mixture with segments of tinned mandarine oranges and small pieces of white chocolate. Fortunately it wasn’t over sweet, although I was beginning to find it rich by the time I’d finished. At £2. 50 I felt it was good value although I don’t think I’d bother with it again and would probably choose a scone next time.
The cafe serves a range of breakfasts and hot lunches. This includes steak pie and chips, cottage pie, chilli and alsagne – all traditional stand bys. It also serves sandwiches, paninis and jacket potatoes as well as light snacks and ice creams. All are reasonably priced. There is the usual choice of coffees as well as a good range of herbal teas.
The plate of scrambled egg with two slices of brown toast being served to the table next to me looked appetising and good value. The panini however was small and came with a small serving of coleslaw and salad leaves. This didn’t seem to be such good value.
It is a small cafe on the busy part of Ashby High Street with a couple of tables spilling out onto the pavement. There is constant traffic noise and people passing by, so it isn’t the quietest place, or particularly restful. The radio was playing Viking FM, not my favourite station, with fairly strident pop music.
The inside is light and airy with large windows overlooking the High Street and side road. It is nicely furnished with comfortable basketwork chairs and also big comfy chairs around low tables. Tables are close together so there is little space for shopping bags or privacy. There level access into the cafe with a space by the door for a shopping trolley or pushchair, or wheelchair, but there is little space between the tables for a wheelchair to negotiate.
There is some parking on Broadway but this is usually full. There are several other car parks within a few minutes walk.
This is the only cafe in Ashby so is providing an important service to shoppers. It seemed to be popular with the older generation popping in for a cake and chat. They also provide a carry out service.
