52 Cafes in 2023

[DCLane]

OK, today's ride was a series of failed attempts:

Café choice 1 in Upperthong - turned out to be shut
Café choices 2 & 3 in Netherthong - I took the hilly route towards them and missed a turn
Café choices 4 & 5 in Honley - nowhere to leave a bike safely in view

So ... choice 6 it was.

Café 50: Café Plus, Honley

I was here last year, but only briefly. Nice ginger sponge and custard plus a mug of coffee for £5.95. It's an unpretentious but friendly café.

 

[DCLane]

Café 51: Humber Bridge Garden Centre restaurant , Barton-on-Humber

This visit was on my club's annual celebration ride - this year to the Humber Bridge and back rather than White Horse Bank due to a bridge being shut. 130 miles in total for me.

Credit to the restaurant staff; they coped with 40 riders arriving together brilliantly. No issues with tables - it was very sunny so we were happy to sit outside - and orders were really quick. Coffee, orange juice and a chicken wrap with chips and salad for £12.30. I then got an ice cream as well. A bonus was bottles of water available freely to pick up, which most places don't do.

Just one more to go to hit 2023's target ... now which one will it be?

 

[DCLane]

OK, time to finish the '52' for this year:

Café 52: The Cafe, National Cycling Centre, Manchester

Forgot a photo, so I'll get one next time, but this is the new café as part of Manchester velodrome's refurbishment. It's tucked away at one end, but open-sided and has a small choice of things available. Jacket potato, toasted teacake and a coffee for £6.50

Café 53: Platform 7 Café & Deli, Bradford

This is just by the Low Moor train station and near the end of the NCN66 greenway. It's a basic café but a very friendly host with quick service. Scrambled egg on toast, a small cake plus can for £5.50. She was behind me so it's a 'surreptitious' photo, as is the next. And yes, if you're outdoors it's a bit basic!

Café 54: Wired Whippet Coffee, Ossett.

Only just opened this week they're really friendly. Cake and coffee/drinks only but a lovely caramel square and fruit smoothie for £6.50. Oh, and they were in front of the camera so had to be sneaky! I'll get a better photo on a later visit.

They mentioned bike parking, with the racks to go in, so are clearly thinking about cyclists stopping. I'll be back ...

 

[Always Cross]

Number 6. First one since March as I borrowed money from my bills account to buy a bike and that had to be paid back. Thorn Raven (£850) not bad for a Rohloff hub with a bike around it. Anyway I’m back nice one yesterday La Bella Vita 60 Castle Street, Trowbridge coffee and cake very tasty after so long.

 

[Sallar55]

Lets start again ,but in Spain. Picked the best time to come out , a month's rain in 36hours back home. 3rd pic was a letdown English menu and no salads, 4&5 a nice lunch in Setenil de la Bodegas. Thats the 1st 5.

 

[Sallar55]

Hit 35c today lots of stops. Via Verde 3 cafes ( old stations done up as hotels and restaurants) in 33km. The Spanish know all about cafe

culture. Another 5 due to the heat 10 total.