Overview

An independent coffee shop with delicious food and good coffee, fully wheelchair accessible. I had an iced decaf oat milk coffee and freshly made orange juice. The all-day breakfast used high-quality ingredients and was perfectly cooked. They took care to avoid my food intolerances.

Transport & Parking

I live nearby so used my electric wheelchair to go through the pedestrian area. The shop is in the centre, on the town square, there is no parking dedicated to the shop but there is a blue badge bay around the corner, which can be used during the week. The park and ride busses stop 20 metres from the shop on weekdays. The town centre is closed to traffic on Saturdays and Sundays, so you would need to park slightly further out on those days.

Access

The shop has level access from the front door and throughout the whole shop. The staff are very friendly and helpful. There is space to move between tables but they also cleared the random chairs out the way so I could get to my chosen table. I was able to park my chair alongside the table and sit on the regular chair. There would have been space if I had wanted to stay in my chair. The chairs are higher than the benches, so if you need a higher seat (e.g. joint replacement) the chairs are better. The tables are free standing, so they can be moved out the way and also moved closer. By hanging curtains rather than putting up a wall, there is more space at the back of the shop to manoeuvre (this is where the toilets are). I could clearly see the menu above the counter and the desserts and drinks were on display in a glass cabinet I could easily see into. They were marked with allergens. The menu was printed in a clear font on brown paper. The items were spaced well, making it easy to see what was what and the prices. This made it suitable for those with a neurodiversity. I did not ask for a large print menu but the staff would happily read one aloud.

Toilets

The toilets are at the back of the shop, with a clear path to reach them. The shop has level access from the front door and throughout the whole shop. By hanging curtains rather than putting up a wall, there is more space at the back of the shop to manoeuvre (this is where the toilets are). While screening the toilets from view, this does mean I was not limited in turning or getting around. There is a gender-neutral, self-contained toilet and an accessible toilet with baby changing facilities. I would have struggled to transfer from the chair to the toilet due to space. However, I could stand and turn around to get onto the toilet. The paper is within easy reach and the sink has an easy-to-use tap. There is space under the sink to get my chair close and I could reach soap and towels. On my last visit, some barrels had been stored behind the door, meaning the door didn't open all the way out. It was only a few inches, but it added to the complication because I was reversing out of the room, due to insufficient space to turn an electric chair. I also noticed that the emergency cord had broken. The staff assured me it would be fixed quickly.

Staff

All the staff were friendly and helpful and never made me feel I was in the way (my chair does stick out!). They were unobtrusive in providing service, which made me feel normal. They were obviously ready to help at any time but weren't going to jump in without me asking. Particular props to Joel, who showed great empathy and emotional intelligence, while enabling me to do everything I could for myself. Thank you!

Photos