Good read (Garden Kitchen cafe, Hoveton)

Garden Kitchen Cafe,

Hoveton,

Sun-Friday 9:30-4 (Easter- October),

Recommended

New cycle cafes have been a bit thin on the ground this summer so it was good to be able to clock up another one yesterday. For this ride my cycling guests were Mrs Crusader plus Barry and Helen and their Summer Tandem.

We were heading out North of Norwich so met up with Barry and Helen and their Summer Tandem near the new North Norwich bypass at Spixworth. 

As we set off Helen said that she had finally started to read my book (even though it's been available since Christmas) and had to admit that it was probably the best book about cycling to cafes, mainly in the Norfolk area, she had ever read.

Barry and Helen and their Summer Tandem had just got back from a cycling holiday in Holland (where coincidentally some of my book is based) so they were in fine form keeping up an excellent pace all the way to Hoveton Hall where we found today's cafe stop the Garden Kitchen Cafe.

Outside the Garden Kitchen cafe by the entrance of Hoveton Hall

The waitress greeted us with some news. Firstly a number of today's tables were reserved and, secondly, as it was only 11:30 we could look at the menu but nothing gets cooked until lunch time starts at 12. It reminded me of the rather amusing story when Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) tried to order a Hummus sandwich before 12:00 at Wiveton Hall. If you want to know what happened it's covered in detail in my book.

The cake selection glass display cabinet had a number of gaps (including brownie) keeping the effective cake selection score down. 

Half empty glass cake display cabinet

I opted for Ginger cake, while Chris and Helen went for lemon polenta cake and Barry a sausage roll (which isn't a cake and sooo last year). Between my cycling guests they covered americano, mocha and cappuccino coffee options. 

Some of the drinks and cakes on offer

The drinks all scored well and the cakes were well liked too but some of the most expensive I have had. It was a nice stop and I recommend a visit.

The courtyard area was beginning to fill up with punters from the Hoveton Hall gardens so we decided it was time to get back on the road.

Outdoor courtyard seating area before the crowds arrived

Helen was keen to get home so she could get back to my book as she said it was the sort of book that once you put it down you couldn't pick it up. Remember the Cake Crusader book is available on Amazon (paperback or Kindle)  and all good bookshops (as long as it's Jarrold of Norwich). 
Scores

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
6.9	7.1	6	7.8	7.9	7.14

route

Click here to down load 26 mile Norwich Tunstead loop GPX file for your GPS