Proper job (Mad Hatters Tea Shop, Wymondham)

Mad Hatters Tea Shop,

Wymondham,

Opening times Mon-Thur 09:30-16:30,

Fri -Sat 09:00-16:30

Recommended 

Yesterday saw the 4th of my 5 ride winter cycle feast as I set off with today's guest Chris (Mrs Crusader) on a trip to Wymondham via Hingham. The plan was to go to the Bridewell Museum tea room which (according to my I-spy book of cafes and tea rooms) was the final remaining cafe needed to complete my Wymondham cafe and tea room set.

As an added extra to my winter cycling feast I had entered my first ever cyclo cross race on Sunday at Hempton cross near Fakenham. It was very enjoyable but a bit more scary and faster than I had imagined. I exceeded all expectations finishing a very credible 23rd out of 25 in the 50+ category. At one point I was even challenging for 22nd but he got away on the final lap. But then after a restless night  I took the difficult to decision to call time on my cyclo cross career. I wanted to finish while I was still at the top of my game. So to the shock of the cyclo cross community I announced my retirement from the sport on my Facebook page.

Today we would be sticking to roads and except for Chris whinging about how far we had to go before a coffee stop, we successfully arrived at the Bridewell museum teashop. Unfortunately I had made a classic cafe cycle review school boy error. Although I had checked the website for opening times I had failed to notice it is shut all winter. I decided we didn't have time to hang around until it reopens in March so implemented plan B. 

You may remember that when I was away on my search for Cake Crusader European cafe of the year 2014 back in August, that Chris had arranged a ride and review to the Mad Hatters Tea Room (see Rebel tour). I had not been convinced that the cafe cycle reviewing that had occurred that day had been performed with the necessary rigour and care. I had noted that each category had been awarded 7.5 suggesting a rather slap dash approach. This was now my opportunity to do a proper job.

Outside the Mad Hatters Tea shop in my still faulty gilet (arms missing)

On arrival we locked our bikes, using Alarmio, by the tea shop. There was one table in use on the pavement but it was occupied and as we were freezing we went inside. It is one of the smaller and cosier tea rooms but we found a space near the counter and opposite a wall full of tea pots.

I immediately checked out the cake selection which was very good and I felt a higher effective cake selection (ECS) score could be awarded than had be done by the rebel tour.

Excellent cake selection

I ordered bread pudding cake and Chris coffee cake to accompany her semi skinny mocha. Again I thought the cakes were excellent and deserved a higher mark than the amateurs had awarded. The only slight disappointment was my hot chocolate, which had a lot more hot than chocolate about it so I had to mark this down a bit on it's previous score.

Cakes and drinks, well presented

Chris, on the other hand insists on a hot drink being scolding hot and was very happy with the nuclear thermal temperature that her mocha had reached. Later I tried to fake sympathy when during the ride home she announced she had burnt her mouth on her drink, but I think she may have spotted my sniggers.

Overall the Mad Hatter Tea Shop lived up to it's previous review by my B' team of reviewers and maintained its place at the top end of my cafe ratings table.

Tomorrow is the final day of my week long cycling feast with a short ride out to Ranworth Broad. Barry and Helen and their Tandem are making a return for the first time since August.

Scores based on two visits (albeit one was by the reviewing reserves)

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
6.5	7.25	7.75	7.75	7.25	7.30

Route

Click link to down load 34 Mile Norwich Hingham loop gpx file for your GPS

Norfolk Cafe Cycle Tour Sportive 8 (32 miles via Spoon cake cafe, Loddon)

Sportive 8,

Spoon Cake,

Loddon,

Opening times Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00,

 Recommended

Today was the 8th Cafe Cycle Tours sportive and 3rd ride in my 2nd Annual winter wheels cycling feast. The chosen route was down to a cafe favourite, the Spoon cake cafe in Loddon. This was the fourth time I have been there equalling the all time record for most visits to a single cafe.

A bumper attendance of 8 arrived at race HQ for the pre ride faffing about but we surprisingly set off roughly on time. Dr Hans had brought his wife Frau Hans for the first time to form a Dutch team in the peleton.

Colourful bunch of riders at Race HQ

Despite the large numbers the ride out to Loddon went smoothly and we easily conquered the Col du Poringland, which was the biggest climb of the day, without incident.

We arrived at the Spoon cake cafe where I had warned today's riders of the inconsistent herb based table identification system seen in operation here on my last visit (see Remember the Herbs). The Spoon cake cafe had clearly rowed away from this concept as the herb based system had fallen into disuse with only a couple of herb named tables and the majority were now name free. It was unclear if any form of table identification system was now in operation.

We caused chaos by joining some herb name free tables together and fighting our way to the cake display cabinet at the counter at the front of the shop. There was a big difference of opinion on the effective cake selection (ECS) rating mainly caused by lack of any chocolate based cake but I felt the choice was still a good one and ignored the chocolate lovers protests in awarding a good ECS score.

A fine and varied cake selection despite the lack of chocolate ones

A wide range of guest drinks were ordered with again much wrangling on the guest hot drink quality (GHDQ) score. Everyone agreed the drinks had good flavour but some of the party felt they were not hot enough. This was probably because the staff had waited until all the drinks were ready before delivering the eight cups to the table. Although the polite thing to do this had clearly allowed the earlier made drinks too much cooling time and they were unfortunately the ones for the asbestos mouthed in the group. I had to take all this into account in awarding a good GHDQ score. 

My hot chocolate was consistently good compared with my other visits and fortunately the cake quality feed back was consistently good so we could finally move on to non rating topics. 

Cakes and drinks at various stages of reviewing

Despite the wide range of opinions on offer the spoon cafe had still performed well and maintains it's place at the top end of my cafe rating table.

On the way back I decided to go for a solo break away and had soon stretched out the riders with the Dutch team being spat out the back of the peleton. My breakaway attempt nearly failed when after several miles Andrew and Dom bridged across and tagged on behind me. This had clearly taken much out of them and I was able to sprint clear up the final mountain (Col du Kirby Beddon), to where I decided the imaginary finishing line was. I claimed a well deserved victory and spent the rest of the ride telling everyone how I had won today's stage, despite none of them knowing we were racing. Dom explained that he and Andrew had tried to catch me up in case I wanted some company but when they caught up I had just sprinted off. A poor excuse I thought.

Next week sees the final two rides in the 2nd Annual winter wheels cycling feast with over 130 miles covered to date. The next sportive will be just before Christmas with fancy dress and Christmas bike decorating very much discouraged, humbug.

Score for Spoon Cake Cafe based on last 3 visits

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
7.83	7.0	7.5	7.7	6.83	7.37

This is map of route

Click here to download Loddon - Norwich loop GPX file to load on to your GPS

Wet, wet, wet. (Twyfords tearoom, Beecles)

Beccles,

Twyfords Tearoom,

Mon-Sat 08:30-17:00,

Highly Recommended 

Yesterday saw ride two of the 2nd Annual Cafe Cycle Tour winter wheels cycling feast and I had planned a 50 mile ride to Beccles with today's Winter Wheels guest, Big George. Fortunately Big George had not seen that the weather forecast was for rain all day or he may not have been keen to come. Fortunately the rain hadn't yet started as we set off. 

The dry weather lasted less than 5 minutes when it started to drizzle. Before we had time to put on our waterproofs Big George reported that one of his brake blocks had fallen off. He said he would be fine with just a back brake but with my Health and Safety hat on I insisted we stopped at a near by bike shop to buy replacements. By the time his bike had once again got full stopping capabilities the rain was really bucketing down but, using the gift of lying, I convinced Big George that the weather would be better the further south we went, although I had no evidence for this it seemed to make him happy.

The rain continued to bucket down until we arrived at Reedham Ferry for our crossing (as always I refused to pay until the ferryman had got us safely to the other side). The ferryman said we were mad to be cycling in this weather and hadn't we seen the forecast. I quickly changed the subject.

Very wet crossing of the Yare

We continued to head south to Beccles as the rain got heavier. When we arrived we 
spent sometime in the mysterious Beccles one way system. I made sure we only ever went one way but this didn't always correspond with the one way other people had chosen. Eventually Big George used his gift of 'asking for directions' and we found our way to Twyfords Cafe.

Sheltering outside Twyfords Cafe in Beecles

I locked up the bikes and we went inside the cafe which has a lovely European feel. There was also a big sign advertising the fact it had a secret garden. I felt having a big sign telling everyone about the garden rather took away it's secret characteristics. As it was still pouring with rain we decided to forgo the not particularly secret garden outside seating area for another day. All in all Twyfords got a high atmosphere and ambiance score.

The cake selection looked spectacular although all the cakes were of a large indulgent type so hard to differentiate between. I was impressed and awarded a high effective cake selection (ECS) rating.

Part of the large and indulgent cake selection

I chose the luxury carrot cake with my hot chocolate. Big George had Cappuccino and bacon sandwich (which is clearly not a cake). He couldn't afford a cake as he had spent most of the pocket money that Mrs Big George had allowed him for today on brake blocks. I would like to be a fly on the wall when he only hands her back a few pence change from his day out.

Drinks were of a good standard and warmed us up nicely. The cake was suitably indulgent and very well presented so again good marks all round.

Cakes and drinks 

Overall Twyfords tearoom was a very good stop and I suspect on a nice day in the not particularly secret garden could score even better. It still scored well enough to make it into my current top 10 and is highly recommended.

On the way back we once again spent a large amount of time trying to exit Beccles one way labyrinth and completed two more loops before we finally managed to escape. 

The rain stopped on the way back and although we were rather cold we both agreed it was a very good 54 mile ride. I said I was planning a hot bath on my return. Big George said that it was funny as he had just been thinking about that as well. Worried that Big George had been imagining me in the bath I quickly changed the subject to more manly things and there was no more bath chat for the rest of the way home.

Tomorrow sees ride 3 of the Cafe Cycle tours winter wheels cycling feast with a sportive ride out to Loddon.

Scores

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
6.5	6.5	8.0	8.0	8.0	7.50

Route

Click link to down load 50 mile Norwich Beecles loop gpx file for your gps

Come back in 3 years. (Hamptons Home and Garden Tearooms, Reepham)

Has now moved to a new location at Bawdeswell
See Wrong day for review of new cafe

Today saw the start of the 2nd Annual Cafe Cycle Tours winter wheels cycling feast. According to my November 2013 cycling monthly report, on the first feast last year I did 4 rides in 8 days covering 133 miles. This year the plan is to do an incredible 5 rides in 7 days covering 200 ish miles and I will also take part in my first cycle cross race (although no cafe is involved in this) so the November 2014 cycling monthly report should have a very green status.

To kick off the week I drove up to Alysham to Andrew's (who is notoriously hard to please) house. As always I had no idea what he had in store route and cafe wise. Normally neither does he, with the ride 'evolving organicly' as we go. On arrival, and much to my surprise, Andrew proudly claimed that, not only had he a route planned (which he had marked in crayon on a photo copied map) but had even phoned the cafe to make sure it was open. I was very pleased with how seriously he was now taking cafe cycle reviewing.

We had a strong wind behind so made good progress North. On route we discussed the latest winter cycle clothing trends as I had splashed out on new socks, gloves, base layer and florescent gilet and I was testing them all today. Unfortunately the gilet was faulty as it had arrived with no arms but overall my new winter collection performed well as I was soon overheating on the bike and had to discard the gloves.

We arrived at today's target stop, Walsingham cafe at Great Walsingham but much to Andrew's surprise it was shut. I was confused as he had previously claimed to have phoned ahead. It transpired that he had only managed to speak to the answer phone which had given the opening times but failed to mention they were in a closed period.

There was a message in the window explaining things.

Confusing message saying the cafe will reopen on Wednesday 15th November

This was a little confusion as the notice said they would reopen on Wednesday 15th November. Today was Thursday 13th November and I worked out the next Wednesday 15th November would not be until 2017. I have since made a note in my 2017 diary to come back then.

Not surprisingly Andrew had not got a plan B so we studied his crayoned route line on his crumpled paper map. I suggested that a short detour, towards the end of the route, would take us to Reepham where there was a tearoom I had not tried. Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) went into a sulk about having his route hijacked and we didn't exchange much banter as it was heads down into the wind for the next 15 miles to Reepham.

On arrival we got to Hamptons Home and Garden which looked like a shop selling home and garden furnishings (which it is) and not a potential cafe stop. I spotted a tiny sign saying tea room at back so, although it didn't look very promising we sheepishly tip toed in. We are not really home and garden furnishings type of people but much to our delight there was a fabulous looking tea room at the back of the shop.

About to go into Hamptons, in my faulty gilet, to find an excellent tea room

It was very busy so we sat at one of the few remaining tables. There were a number of tables in the outside seating garden area which looked very nice but it was a bit too cold to be sitting out there even in my faulty gilet and I expect the staff didn't want to encourage the old folk out there in case they didn't make it back. We both agreed on a high ambiance and atmosphere rating.

I checked out the cakes so I could award the effective cake selection rating (ECS) and there was a very good range with some nice looking cakes and slices. I awarded a suitably high ECS.

Part of the cake selection at the breakfast bar style indoor seating area

I was offered a choice of hot chocolates (always a good sign) and selected dark. Andrew went for Cappuccino. For cakes I chose white chocolate and raspberry while I persuaded Andrew to try the chocolate nancy, which looked like an exotic chocolate coated cereal bar. As an aside we both also had lunch here which was very good and highly recommended.

Cakes ready for tasting, the Nancy is on the left

The drinks were both of a high quality and the cakes were excellent, with the chocolate Nancy being just the sort of cake a cyclist needs when refuelling, so again good scores all round.

After filling in the ratings on my phone spread sheet I announced that Hamptons Home and Garden Tearooms had gone straight into my top 5 rated cafes or Tearooms. Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) surprisingly agreed that this seemed right to him and to celebrate embarked on a rant about his dislike of Mary Berry. Looking around the other customers they all looked like Mary Berry fans and were clearly not in agreement with his views. So as to avoid a potential incident I quickly paid the bill and we made our way back through the furnishing area to our bikes.

We set off and continued to battle back against the wind to Alysham. We both agreed it had been an excellent route and we would probably use it again when we return to Great Walsingham in 2017.

With the first 47 miles under my belt tomorrow sees day two of the Annual Cafe Cycle Tours winter wheels cycling feast. Planned is a 50 mile ride to Beecles with Big George although the weather forecast is terrible.

Scores for Hamptons Home and Garden Tearooms.

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
7.5	8.0	8.0	8.0	7.5	7.80

Due to the change of plan I don't have a route to publish for this ride

Warm down. (Willow gallery cake and coffee corner, Poringland)

Willows Gallery,

Poringland,

Everyday 10:00-17:00

After the excitement of four times world Ironman champion Chrissie Wellington's recommended ride (see Celebrity cyclist Chrissie Wellington Recommends Church gate tea room) earlier this week it was back to a more normal ride today. However today's guest Chris (wife) is also a triathlon champion winning the 2012 North Walsham 45+ ladies age group super sprint (beating 3 other old ladies to the title). So today was a bit like a cafe cycle warm down.

I have found that in the winter you are limited to only a few hours of safe and reasonably warm ride time each day so I selected a 30 mile loop to the Willow Gallery cake and coffee corner just outside Poringland, which falls nicely in the winter cycling goldilocks zone.

You may remember from previous posts I had generously given my old bike sat nav to Chris rather than auction it on E-bay to raise money towards my latest new bike fund. This has proved a foolish decision as I have to spend much of each ride getting it set up correctly for her. Today she kept wanting to take us across fields as it was in 'as the crow flies mode'. As I can't fly like a crow (although crows can't ride a bike so I don't feel too bad) this was not very helpful and I insisted we stick to the road. Despite this we managed to successfully find our way to The Willow Gallery just outside Poringland which advertised tea, coffee and cake on a sign by the road.

In the out door seating courtyard area outside the Willow  Gallery

The Willow Gallery mainly does ceramics but also has a cake and coffee corner providing hot drinks and cakes. Outside there is a spacious outdoor courtyard seating area but it was too cold for that so we went inside. As always I went to check out the cakes so I could award the effective cake selection (ECS) rating. Unfortunately I was informed that they were currently waiting for the cakes to arrive so there were only a few left. Fortunately there was some nice looking carrot cake so I ordered that. This only left the millionaire shortbread, chocolate brownie or flapjack and for cake quality reviewing purposes it is important not to both order the same cake. Therefore Chris unknowingly took one for the team and I ordered her the shortbread. 

Remaining cakes as new ones were on the way

On the drinks front the Willow Gallery only does coffee by the carafe so Chris couldn't have her normal mocha meaning we both had hot chocolate.

Drinks and cakes, clearly showing who had the better cake deal

The hot chocolate was certainly hot and of a good quality. The carrot cake was very good and I enjoyed it very much. After finishing her shortbread Chris said it wasn't as good as the cake looked. I pointed out that as calories don't count on a Friday she could order the last piece of carrot cake and have that. Apparently it was now too late for that particular solution so we paid and set off home. Later on I worked out that I was meant to have swapped my delicious cake for her shortbread, the clues were all there and one day I will learn how to solve them.

The Willow Gallery cake and coffee corner was a nice add on to a lovely gallery but not a full blown cafe or tearoom. Worth a visit especially at this time of year for those difficult to buy Christmas presents.

During today's ride there was plenty of Egg News. Just to remind you that you now get this as Egg News Flashes on my new Twitter account. Cake Crusander@cafecycletour so please follow me there so as not to miss out. 

Scores for Willow Gallery cake and coffee corner

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
7.0	n/a	5.0	7.0	6.0	6.25

Map of route

Click link to down load 30 mile Norwich Poringland gpx file for your GPS

Celebrity cyclist Chrissie Wellington recommends Church Gate Tea Room, Castle acre and 62 mile route.

Church gate Tearoom has now closed

Today is the start of an exciting new feature called 'Celebrity cyclist x recommends...'. I have written to some of my favourite cyclists and celebrities (known for their cycling enthusiasm) asking them to recommend their favourite cafe or tea room and associated bike route for me to ride and review.

As a triathlon champion myself (2013 Fritton lake Olympic distance over 50s winner, beating 4 other old blokes to the title) I was really excited when fellow triathlon champion (4 times world Ironman winner) Chrissie Wellington let me have her recommended favourite Tea Room and associated route. This therefore seemed like an ideal first 'Celebrity cyclist recommends...' partly because I'm a big fan, also as Chrissie's route is in Norfolk and finally because Boris Johnson hasn't got back to me yet.

So yesterday myself, with today's guest Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please), met at Norwich station to catch the train to Brandon for the start of Chrissie's 62 mile cycle loop via Castle Acre and her recommendation of the Church Gate Tea Room.

The train journey was uneventful allowing Andrew to list the topics he expected to be ranting about during the day. However to prove he was taking the ride seriously he had also been swotting up on our ride sponsor and would be sharing his top ten Chrissie Wellington facts throughout the day.

We alighted the train at Brandon and with the sky becoming more threatening we set off towards the start of the route at Feltwell (where Chrissie grew up, fact number 4).

Train departing Brandon Station after we got off

Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) was surprisingly positive as he announced how much he was enjoying the first proper winter ride of the year. He liked getting into his warm weather gear, getting out his steel winter bike and the crispness in the air. Five minutes later the heavens opened with some really heavy rain and we got soaked and very cold. Andrew asked if his previous comments about winter cycling could be withdrawn.

To cheer us up Andrew shared Chrissie Wellington fact 8 (she is the same height as Tom Cruise) and fact 3 (she got an MBE in 2010 and has met the Queen, probably) before ranting about UHT milk in hotel rooms. With all the quality ranting and fact sharing the time flew by and we were soon at the Church Gate Tea room, Castle Acre. As an added bonus the rain had stopped.

Outside Church Gate Tea Room in the rather wet outdoor seating area

The Church Gate Tea Room is coincidently next to the gate of Castle Acre church (what are the chances) and provides an outside seating area facility. Unfortunately as it was still a bit damp we choose to sit indoors were there was a lovely cosy fire.

As always, it was first straight to the cake display, this time in a cake display welsh dresser area, to check out the cake selection so I could award the effective cake selection (ECS) rating. There was a good selection and as I was having difficulty making a choice I awarded a good ECS score.

Cakes on welsh dresser display unit ready for selection

In the end I went for the chocolate cake to have with my Hot Chocolate and Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) went for English Breakfast tea but then went for cheese on toast (on brown). As Cheese on toast (on brown) is clearly not cake he was not allowed to take part in any further cake based reviewing today.

Drinks including proper tea, requiring straining, from the wide range of leaf tea available
 (although it is just tea)

My hot chocolate was very good as was Andrews tea, but as previously discussed there is a guest drink rating ceiling of 7 on a cup of tea as at the end of the day it is just a cup of tea. The chocolate cake was very nice with a good balance of cake and filling and it got a high cake quality (CTQ) score.

Excellent chocolate cake with quality cake fork

Overall Chrissie's recommendation of the Church Gate Tea Room proved to be a very good one as it went high up my cafe league table. Before we left Andrew shared Chrissie Wellington fact 5, (she has been to Hawaii at least 4 times) and ranted about pies.

We set off again in cold but dry conditions. The route was very good although a few roads round Watton were slightly busier roads than I normally aim to go on. However a lot of them were very long and straight so good for us triathletes who are time trial training but not so easy to ride two abreast when trying to listen to a good rant or Chrissie Wellington fact. 

Due to the fast straight roads and with wind behind we got back to Brandon station in plenty of time for the train and Andrew was able to have a good rant about the after life while we waited for it to arrive (the train not the after life).

One of the many very straight roads on the route,
the Romans would have loved this ride.

For those hoping for some West Norfolk Egg News from yesterday's ride then you may be disappointed as I have just gone on to Twitter and most Egg News will now be as Egg News Flash Tweets. So as not to miss out and for the latest Cafe cycle news then follow Cake Crusader@cafecycletour.

Myself and Andrew both agreed that the ride was a great success so a big thank you to Chrissie (who has a degree in Geography so can name all the capital cities of Europe, fact 7) for providing the route and excellent tea room recommendation. There will be more Celebrity Cyclists x recommends coming along in the future. If you are a cycling celebrity feel free to let me have your recommendations.

Scores from Church Gate Tea Room

Hot Choc Quality	Guest Hot Drink Quality	Effective Cake Selection	Cake Quality	Ambiance and Atmosphere	Café Rating
7.5	7.0	7.5	8.0	8.0	7.60

Route

Click on link to download 62 mile Brandon Castle Acre loop gpx file for your GPS