Coffee Stops
In this section I will be putting some information relating to some of the places I stop for coffee and cake on my travels on the bike.
Disclaimer - anything on here is just my thoughts or experience on a particular visit and any visit you may make to any of the establishments may lead to a completely different experience.
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What is there to say about Costa at the Gorge, facilities wise it is great sporting free wifi, good toilets and a great decking area outside with nice views of the gorge.
With regards to the food and drink, the drinks are standard Costa fair, a little over priced and a bit strong for my liking but consistent. Cake can be a bit hit an miss depending on how busy it has been but on the whole the food is good and there is a good selection.
The staff have always been friendly whenever I have been there and it also has the advantage of being open all through the year and having quite long opening hours.
Sweets Tea Rooms - Blakeway (Somerset Levels)
Visited - Quite a few times
Very cycle friendly place to stop with traditional food and drinks and none of the frills to be found in a lot of places. the facilities are basic but the staff are very friendly.
It is also worth noting that they sell energy gels and the like which can be useful.
Fenny Castle Tea Room - Fenny Castle Nr Wells
Visited March 2013
Called in here for a warm on the way back from Wells and was pleasantly surprised. Quite a posh place but very welcoming to cyclists (they even do bike hire from here). Very nice home made cake on the day I visited and the coffee was nice if not exceptional. Would certainly visit again and it is the type of place you could go for lunch even if you aren't out on the bike.
One thing to note is that at least this year they were closed through the winter so probably best not planning on a stop here during the winter months.
Rich's Cider Farm Tea Room/Cider Press Restaurant
More of a restaurant than a tea room they do serve tea/coffee and cake and have a nice outside seating area which is good when the weather is nice. The cake and coffee is very good but you have to be concious of when you visit as it gets very busy at mealtimes and the weekends, this combined with the table service means that a visit at these times can result in a very long rate.
Coffee #1 - Wells
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A town centre cafe in Wells which suffers a little for the cyclist due to it's location as it means leaving the bike on the high street if you want to go inside for a warm. besides that it is a very nice place which served good coffee and tasty cake (even if my carrot cake had seeds on the top in some new fangled fashion). Worth a visit if you are in Wells but for the cyclist not one to go out of your way for (in my opinion).
Heaphy's Cafe - Glastonbury
Visited - Feb/March 2013
Also worth noting is that they open reasonably early.
Impero Lounge - Portishead
Visited- April 2013
First visit to this posh coffee shop and bar was fantastic. Newly opened (or at least so recently that google street view hasn't caught up - it still shows it as a Somerfields) it is pleasant, and airy with a nice outside seating area. The staff were friendly and helpful and the coffee and cake were very nice. the food that was being delivered to other customers looked fantastic enough to make me want o make a visit for breakfast at some point.