Just after we arrived back in the UK, I took a call from my brother asking if we wanted to meet up for 'a great coffee and breakfast' the following Sunday morning at a fishing lake at Birkin, a small village about 6 miles away.
With it being Sunday, and still suffering a little from the long journey home, I'd have preferred to stay in bed but not being one to turn down a decent full English, up we got and traipsed off to what appeared to be nothing more than a big shed in the middle of nowhere.
Colloquially called the Fisherman's Hut, the Birkin Tea Rooms offer an
antidote to the minimalist, generic coffee shops of which there are so many these days.
A big shed. In the middle of nowhere!
It was a grey, nondescript morning but with better weather, I could see the attraction of the place with lots of greenery dotted with tables and chairs and a nice place for a family to hang out and do some fishing. I'm not a big fan of sitting outside even when its warmer so we quickly trooped inside.
I'm not sure how I'd describe the place really. It was certainly a lot bigger on the inside than it looked from the outside and was quite 'homely' I suppose, if that home belonged to a ninety-year-old! It was all rather 'twee' but nonetheless, very welcoming, warm and colourful.
It all looks a little forlorn at this time of year with a colourless sky and faded bunting.
There were already a few blokes sat having breakfast as preparation for a day sat in the cold with a fishing rod in their hands and despite my general demeanour of grumpiness, the heavenly scent of frying bacon and freshly brewed coffee began to work its magic.
Enjoying breakfast as they contemplate the absolute monotony of the day ahead sat staring at a mucky puddle with a long stick in their hands.
The menu was simple but at that time of the morning, who needs complications? Anyway, I just needed to see the words, 'Full English' and 'coffee' and that was me happy. Let's not get into an argument about drinking tea or coffee with a breakfast. The wife went for tea. I went for coffee, and while we're on the subject of coffee, there are no coffee machines here. No pretentious and frivolous lattes or salted caramel mochachoca thingys, just straight filter. Black, or with hot or cold milk. That's the kind of choice I like.
The wife thinking; 'Not baked fucking beans again. Why does no one ever have rice on the menu?'
As we waited for the food to arrive, there was plenty to take in. A counter with cakes and a counter that sold ice cream although I didn't see them selling too much on that miserable Autumn morning.
There were also balloons. Lots of them. Possibly covering the cracks where the main shed connects to the extension shed?
I was beginning to warm to the place. It was very clean and tidy and 'interesting' with it having so many little interconnected areas and bizarre decorations. I think that crocheted settee cover is worthy of #needleworkmonday and needs a close-up!
Colour by design or what was left in the sewing box?
More crocheting and a smattering of embroidery and what is going on with that birdy wallpaper? Thats got to be an odd bargain bin roll someone picked up at the DIY store!
Let's be honest. This isn't the kind of place you're going to get your laptop out and headphones on but in it's own way, it is a rather relaxing space to be in once your senses have got over the random decor.
Finally, the food showed up...
Apologies to the purists amongst us for the brown toast. I have spoken to the wife about this quite sternly and she promised not to order brown toast with breakfast again slapped me around the face and told me she'd order what she wanted and to 'get a life'!!
Lots to discuss here! It looked really well. Perhaps slightly on the small side but lots of plus points for the use of tinned tomatoes, back bacon well done and not including a hash brown. They have no place on a full English! It could have done with a little more of everything and certainly two eggs and a couple of slices of black pudding wouldn't have gone amiss, oh, and also the toast was a bit insipid in its colouring but overall, not a bad attempt and it was hot and tasty. The sausages were really nice and not the dreadful 'budget' priced ones you get at the supermarket.
That toast could have done with a couple more minutes in the toaster but it was real butter so a big tick for that!
Tea and coffee served in proper cups obviously picked up from a charity shop but very nice that the cafe likes to upcycle old junk whilst benefitting a good cause at the same time. The filter coffee was excellent and china cups do retain heat very well.
That's about it really, but if anyone was wondering about the toilets...
Yes, they were also in a shed or actually two sheds. One for the ladies and one for the gents. I'm kicking myself for not taking an inside picture as they were really clean and very much in the style of the rest of the cafe and also had very nice smelling handwash. I always say that places that use handwash rather than a bar of soap are a cut above.....unless the handwash is actually washing up liquid in which case I'd avoid them in future.
Oddly, there was a latch on the outside. I assume this was to stop the door swinging open when no one was using it, but wouldn't it be funny if some immature, grown up idiot closed the latch while his wife was inside...
Who would commit such a pathetic, childish act?
As always, thank you very much for dropping by. I hope everyone is well and having a great week. @commentrewarder is added and if you'd also like to visit, I pinned the post to @worldmappin.
Best wishes to everyone
Martin
@nathen007
