Pizza oven envy. (Wiveton Hall Cafe, Wiveton)

Wiveton Hall Café,

Wiveton,

Everyday 09:30-16:30 (March to November),

Highly Recommended

This week I had planned for 3 consecutive days of Cafe Cycle reviewing, each with a different set of guests, as part of the 1st Annual Norfolk Cafe Cycle Tour June Cafe Cycle Reviewing (ANCCTJCCR) festival. Unfortunately due to rain yesterdays ride with Barry and Helen and their tandem was cancelled meaning this years ANCCTJCCR festival would only be a two day event. However with better weather today, I drove out to Aylsham to meet Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) for a ride out to Wiveton Hall cafe.

I had previously been there before with each of my regular guests but not since starting the blog, so it was time for a proper review. As it was a regular ride even Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) with his poor track record of route planning guided us smoothly to Wiveton Hall Cafe. 

Outside Wiveton Hall Cafe

Using Alarmio I locked our bikes and we headed straight to the counter to check out the cakes and award the effective cake selection (ECS) score. However before I could complete this task a lady rushed in frantically asking who's bike was beeping. I went to investigate foolishly leaving Andrew alone at the counter. Unfortunately Alarmio had been disturbed by a strong wind and had gone off. Disappointingly I hadn't heard its loud car type alarm but the people in the undercover outside seating area had and it now became a major talking point for the Wiveton Hall cafe clientèle. I reset it before sheepishly going back inside.

On returning to the cakes I was distressed to find that Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) had ordered a cappuccino plus a beetroot hummus and carrot sandwich but no cake. As a beetroot hummus and carrot sandwich isn't a cake he could play no further part in the cake rating part of our visit. Stepping up to the plate I was now forced to order two cakes to rate myself. The cake selection was excellent and a high ECS was awarded. I went for the chocolate flapjack and a scone with jam.

Cake selection is excellent leading to a high ECS rating

As well as the undercover outdoor seating area there is an outdoor seating area overlooking the marsh with the sea in the distance. As it was a bit cold we decided to forgo the view and sit inside.

Outdoor seating area. With furniture appearing to be decorated
with random left over paint

The Drinks and cakes quickly arrived but there had been controversy over Andrew's sandwich. Despite it clearly stating that lunch was available from 12:00, Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) had broken all the rules and attempted to order his sandwich at 11:53. Quite rightly he was refused as clearly an early sandwich would cause chaos in the Wiveton Hall Cafe kitchen. Andrew protested and after some negotiation, lasting just over 7 minutes, it was agreed he could have his beetroot hummus and carrot sandwich after all.

Drinks and cakes midway through being reviewed

On my previous visits to Wiveton Hall Cafe both the drinks and cakes had scored highly and today was no exception. The flapjack was particularly good plus there was a lot of it which always goes down well with me. Andrew even liked his cappuccino. In fact I was still eating my flapjack when Andrews beetroot hummus and carrot early sandwich arrived. Not a colour combination I would go for but he thought it tasted jolly nice.

Andrew's (who is notoriously hard to please) colourful
beetroot hummus and carrot sandwich

On the way out I noticed the Wiveton Hall Cafe had built a pizza oven. Last summer I suddenly got the urge to build a pizza oven in our garden, so I did. I was therefore interested in see how they had gone about their oven design and construction. What a good idea, I thought, to knock a hole in the wall and build the pizza oven up against the house. I wish I had done that. I decided with a little work and a sledge hammer I could recreate the same approach at home.

Wiveton Hall Cafe Pizza oven brilliantly built against the side of the cafe.

Wiveton Hall Cafe has scored well in every category on each of the three visits I've made there and has gone straight into my top 3 rated cafes. I highly recommend a visit.

The return ride went smoothly as I was distracted trying to decide which wall would be best to knock a hole in to put my pizza oven against.

My pizza oven before I move it against the house

Ratings based on 3 visits to Wiveton Hall Cafe

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
8	8	8.5	7.8	7.7	8.00

Map of route

route

Click here to download 37 mile Alysham Wiveton loop gpx file for your GPS

The fry up inspector has been here too. Click here for his review