Waterproofs on or off? (The Old Dairy, Stanfield)

The Old Dairy,

Stanfield,

Tue-Sat 09:00-4:00,

Highly Recommended

After an interesting 18 months, what with one thing and another, then I'm determined to up my cycle cafe reviewing game as there has been much change to the local cafe scene and I have got a bit behind. 

Therefore, today I met up with Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) at Hard to Please House (HTPH) in Aylsham for a trip to the Old Dairy at Stanfield. It has previously been reviewed as the Barn and Hamptons at the Barn, both of which used to sell home furnishing tat as well as being a cafe so I was keen to see how it performed in its latest pure cafe guise.

The forecast was not good with strong winds and rain forecast as the weather had turned distinctly autumnal. Fortunately, we both had our shake dry Gore waterproof tops. It is the best waterproof I have ever had. Andrew had recommended it and as he is notoriously hard to please then I knew I was on to a winner. I have used it all through the damp spring and summer weather and remained dry.

The weather was dry when we set off but after a few miles it started to rain so I stopped by a field of sunflowers to put my waterproof on. I asked Andrew why he wasn't putting his on. He revealed that he had never used it as he didn't want to spoil it by getting it wet! As the rain got heavier, I eventually persuaded him to put it on and he reluctantly broke it in. 

About to put my waterproof on in a field of sunflowers

A little damp we arrived at the Old Dairy and parked our bikes undercover in the outdoor front patio seating area (There is a larger out the back outdoor seating area but not surprisingly it was not in use today).

Outside todays target cafe 

We obviously sat inside to keep dry. I checked out the cake selection which wasn't large but varied so fairly effective and attracted a reasonable effective cake selection (ECS) score.

Todays smallish but effective cake selection

I'm always nervous at the next part of my cycle cafe review process. The system demands I have a hot chocolate while my cycling guest/s review the coffees and teas under the guest hot drink category. However, over the years, I have realised that a cheap hot chocolate powdered drink is quite unpleasant so I now ask what type it is before ordering. If it is the rubbish sort, I just give it a standard 5 out of 10 and have a nice pot of tea instead.

However, there was no such problem here as there was an actual Hot Chocolate menu with a selection of strengths and varieties. Fantastic!

Hot chocolate menu

I opted for a Vanuatu chocolate from Malekula island as I was attracted by its cherry, lemon and white grape tones.

On the cake front it was brownie and, as Andrew wasn't caking with his pot of tea, I took some home so Mrs Crusader could help with the cake ratings.

When the hot chocolate arrived it certainly lived up to expectations and was one of the best, I have had in ages so top marks although I couldn't detect the cherry, lemon and white grape tones. It was more chocolate flavour.  As confirmed by Mrs Crusader then the brownie was pretty good too.

Top hot chocolate

Any cafe which has, and then delivers on its hot chocolate menu automatically deserves a visit and with the nice cakes and pleasant setting as well then, I highly recommend you go.

On the way back the weather couldn't make its mind up, so it was waterproofs on, just as it was stopping raining and waterproofs off just before it started again. Although Andrew didn't bother putting his on in case it got wet again.

It was water proofs off, or possibly on again

Next week I return to Terrace Cafe (see last review Damn Knees) as I forgot to have a hot chocolate when I reviewed it so need to complete the process. So pop back to see the hot chocolate update 

Scores

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
8.95	7	6	7.6	7.4	7.39

Route

Click here to download 48 Mile Aylsham Stanfield loop gpx file to your gps

Scorchio! (The Barn, Stanfield)

The Barn Cafe,

Stanfield,

Opening times 10-4 everyday 

Recommended 

As today was forecast to be the hottest of the year I couldn’t miss the opportunity for a cafe cycle ride. But where to go? Now we were in the school holidays the seaside was out of the question, towns would be too hot and I have virtually run out of new cafes to visit in the countryside. Fortunately I remembered that the Barn cafe at Stanfield had changed hands last Autumn so decided to go there.

It was closer to get to from Aylsham than Norwich so met up at Hard to Please House with today’s cycling guest Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please).

I had asked Andrew to prepare a route so knew we would do more than the 40 mile round trip that google maps predicted and would probably get lost servers times. I can report I was right on both counts.

On one of our many map checking breaks I waited at the aptly named Nowhere Lane. I was impressed by the shiny new signs and remembered that last time we were lost here the old sign had been nicked. I wonder how long the new batch will last.

Lovely new signage

It was very hot and for once we were pleased to be cycling into the wind in order to get a bit of cooling breeze. After a few more wrong turns we found ourselves at the Barn cafe Stanfield. This is my third visit here (although first under new management so old scores have been wiped from the records) and so far I have never found the actual village.

Outside The Barn Cafe

It was good to see that everyone, except us, had taken heed of the warnings in the media to stay indoors on such a hot day as we were the only customers. With so many tables to choose from it took some time to decide on which one but we obviously opted to stay indoors. While checking out the reasonably good cake selection I thought I spotted the dreaded catering tin of Cadbury’s drinking chocolate. You may recall my new policy is not to bother if it’s Cadbury’s and give a 5 out of 10 hot chocolate rating before opting for tea. I was just implementing this approach when I spotted a sign for speciality hot chocolate so swapped to that leaving Andrew to have my pot of tea and the staff bemused why anyone would want a hot chocolate on the hottest day of the year.

Cake selection in the shade

Andrew had the unusual avocado and pecan cake which he was informed tasted like carrot cake while I had a more traditional coffee and walnut.

Todays refreshments

I was glad I had changed to the hot chocolate as it was very good and Andrew thought his tea was excellent (for a cup of tea). Our cakes were good and Andrew’s did indeed taste just like carrot cake. I thought it would be easier just to make a carrot based version in future but didn’t pass on my feedback.

The ‘new’ Barn was still a good cafe but now without the home and garden section of the previous version and I recommend a visit.

Did I mention it was hot as it was and it got a lot hotter on way back especially as Andrew had made our 40 mile ride into a 47 mile one with none of the extra 7 miles being in the shade.

View showing just how hot it was today

 Scores

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
7.9	7.0	6.1	7.3	7.1	7.08

Route

Click here to download 48 Mile Aylsham Stanfield loop gpx file to your gps