Jolly Nice

21 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

March, 2018

Product name

Jolly Nice

Product country

Frampton Mansell

Product city

Frampton Mansell

Travelled with

Reasons for trip

A great variety of roadside cafes grace the A roads of Britain – and Gloucestershire has its own little gem in the form of Jolly Nice, on the A419 between Stroud and Cirencester.

The original site was a garage, and at first glance you might not find the wood clad exterior terribly enticing. Pull in and park up, however, and you’ll have discovered something rather special. The current operation has been going since 2013, when it started selling icecreams from a silver Airstream trailer, and business is booming today, with all manner of local produce and plants on sale via the farm shop, local butcher’s, coffee shop and kitchen.

On a previous visit I couldn’t resist the KFP – that’s ‘Kentucky Fried Pheasant’ – which was pretty good. This time Terry and I both tucked into the JNB, or the ‘Jolly Nice Burger’, and that really lived up to its name. The emphasis is on quality local ingredients, so the meat is from traditional pasture-fed beef breeds (there are veggie options too), and the burger is served in a brioche bun with homemade mayo, red onion marmalade, Somerset cheddar, applewood smoked free range streaky bacon, tomato, lettuce and ketchup.

Staff were friendly and helpful – there’s no service as such, as you place your order and pay, then are given a pager which lets you know when your food is ready, but the counter staff we met couldn’t have been more welcoming. And, as befits a caring establishment, the food is served in recyclable containers, there are bins for cardboard, plastic and glass recycling, and well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Besides great food, the site features two yurts, each with a wood-burning stove, which keep customers snug on windier days – the cafe is out in open countryside and it can get a trifle chilly. If you do prefer to be outside, there’s a paddock with picnic benches, screened off from the busy road and offering views across neighbouring farmland, and you can always race back to the yurts to warm up.

Our burgers cost £7.95 each and we finished off with icecream from the farm shop – I tried the Local Gooseberry and Organic Elderflower while Terry went for Raisin and Pedro Ximenez Sherry, but I’ll be heading for the Basil & Strawberry Ripple next time.
Overall, our visit was, as you would expect, Jolly Nice indeed! It’s a touch on the pricey side but the quality and variety is top notch, the staff couldn’t be more obliging, and the operation is definitely a cut above the rest. Well worth a detour if you’re anywhere near Ciren or Stroud.

Jane Leigh

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.