Difficult decesion (Ploughshare, Beeston)

Ploughshare Community pub and cafe,

Beeston,

Tuesday-Saturday 10-5, Sunday 12-4

Recommended

I know the current Coronavirus situation is no laughing matter and that we have been given guidelines to follow by the government re social distancing etc. After careful consideration I have decided to continue with my cafe cycle riding for the time being. I know we are still being encouraged to exercise in order to stay fit (especially cycling and running) and believe cycling is fairly safe as you are rarely within a couple of meters of any cycling guest when out on the road. 

I'm a little more nervous about visiting cafes so my rule of thumb will be to opt for takeaway when possible but in the more deserted locations, when there are only a couple of us, I might still go in (following all handwashing advice first of course).

I have always been keen to support the local cafe community so putting a few quid in their coffers at this time is important to me. I understand that not everyone will agree with me but it was within this context that yesterday, myself and Big George headed off on a 50 mile ride to Beeston, West of Dereham to one of the most remote locations I have been to.

A few months ago I had been invited to visit the community cafe and pub (the Ploughshare) in the village and this was my third attempt to do just that. The first one had ended in failure in early January, as they were still on their Christmas hols, and the second ride had been abandoned due to heavy rain so yesterday was third time lucky.

The way out was into the wind and it may just be coincidence but the roads seemed more desereted  than normal with the majority of vehicles we came across being delivery vans. It was a bit of a slog but we made it to the cafe/pub and went inside (and after a handwash) found the cafe area. 

Outside the empty ploughshare pub/cafe

Not surprisingly we were the only customers in either section. In the circumstances I felt it only fair to give a default 7 for ambiance and atmosphere rating. 

Big George enjoying his cafe in the cafe area

There was a nice range of cakes in the cake selection although only single slices of each was on display.

Cake selection limited to a slice of each

We ordered our standard hot chocolate and coffee and as I felt that there may not be many other opportunities for a while I also went for egg on toast in my search for egg on toast of the year.

Not surprisingly with no other customers the food and drinks soon arrived. The drinks were a little disappointing as it was Cadburys hot chocolate and fairly standard coffee. 

The hot drinks

The egg on toast was a good effort with the eggs nicely poached on some standard sliced brown bread.

Possibly my last EoT for a while

On the cake front I opted to take some brownie back to crusader towers and when I got to try them later they turned out to be some of the best brownie I have had with a great chocolate taste and a great brownie texture. So top marks on the cake front.

Takeaway brownie for sharing with Mrs Crusader back at Crusader Towers

It was a bit hard to rate the Ploughshare without knowing what things would have been like in more normal conditions but I certainly liked the set up and with such good cake I would recommend a visit.

As we left we were had genuine thanks from the staff for making the effort to visit and I felt rather sad about the struggle such places would be having over the coming months as we all find ourselves in this impossible situation.

As my diary is now rather empty I have arranged another 3 rides for next week but obviously any cafe visits will depend on further instructions and guidance from the government.

Ratings 

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
5	6	6.9	8.8	7	6.74

Route

Click here to download 51 mile Norwich Beeston loop GPX file to your gps

As predicted. (Un Cafe, Beeston)

Un Cafe,

Beeston,

Recommended

Opening times Mon-Sat 9:30-4:00 

After having to postpone last weeks cafe cycle ride due to unprecedented precipitation then I was relieved to see the sun had made it out today for the first time since 'the heatwave' we enjoyed a couple of weeks ago.

This weekend will be the 3rd Annual Cake Crusader Spring Sportive (CCSS) where we will be having two 60 mile rides, overnighting at Thetford. As today's cycling guests, Mrs Crusader plus Barry and Helen and their tandem would be coming I decided to keep this ride on the short side to aide the long tapering programme they seem to have been on in the building up to the event.

On my last ride Big George got a puncture and in the blog post I wrote the following "As always I checked my records which show that my last cafe cycle puncture on a ride was a year ago (30th April 2017) whereas my cycling guests have now had seven in that time. I think we all know what will happen on my next ride."

What a stupid, stupid thing to have written as clearly the cycling gods were not going to let such a prediction pass and I got a puncture within the first 5 miles of today's ride. Things were made doubly frustrating as the tyres were very new and therefore took sometime to get on and off.

Mending my first puncture for over a year as Helen supervisies with 'useful suggestions'

Once fixed we rode through Broadland before reaching the new Norwich North Distributor road. Thanks to a badly designed cycle crossing point it took sometime to get across but once we had we found Un Cafe (a cafe) at the Beeston farm shop.

Un Cafe in a very modern style building

The staff asked if we wanted them to set up the outdoor seating. I wasn't sure if it was because they didn't like the look of us or if they were just being nice. I assumed the later and we went marched inside.

The potential outdoor seating area, available on request

The cake selection had a good number of sponge cakes but sadly no brownie to try for Brownie of the year 2018 (#BOTY). I had a blackberry sponge and Mrs Crusader coffee cake. As always Barry refused to take part in any cake reviewing nonsense and Helen was clearly confused and ordered a sausage roll, which was so 2017 (#SROTY).

Today's cake selection

Our refreshments soon arrived. I found the hot chocolate a bit on the weak side but the mocha and cappuccino ordered by my cycling guests both got a big thumbs up as they were very happy with their strength and taste.

Excellent coffee

The cakes were nice solid examples and got a decent cake taste quality (CTQ) score.

Cake, but I think you knew that

Un cafe (a cafe) was a nice stop, although not as french as the name suggested, and I recommend a visit.

The short ride back home had no further incident and hopefully it will be at least another year before my next puncture but I won't be making any predictions.

Scores

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
6	8	6.7	7.1	6.54	6.87

Route

Click here to download 31 Mile Norwich Beeston loop GPX file for your GPS