Were have you been? Winter 2021/22 update

Winter 2021/22 update

You may have noticed that I haven't posted anything for over 4 months. Don't worry (or worry) because I'm hoping normal service will be resumed in the next few weeks.

Unfortunately since November riding has been limited as my bad knee got worse and being fed up about it seemed to retrigger the long Covid symptoms, I had back in 2020, for a couple of months too. Well at the start of March I got my knee op done and the long covid went away again a little while ago so, once my knee heels (hopefully by start of May), it will be all systems go as I have much cafe reviewing and riding to catch up on.

State of my knee straight after the op

In the meantime I did manage a few cafe rides over the winter, out to some of my favourite venues. It was all part of my cafe audit of the 250 cafes currently on my locations map. My aim is to bring the reviews and ratings up to date and also remove any cafes that have sadly decided to shut down. So here are the visits I did do which will hopefully inspire you out on a cafe cycle ride now the weather is improving.

1. The Painted Barn at Barnham Broom (see Cold! for original review, route and current rating)

Cafe is situated just out side Barnham Broom and has a courtyard area, patio outdoor seating area (which is a proper sun trap) and inside seating with a wood burner.

There is a good range of teas and coffees which all rate very highly although the hot chocolate is a bit ordinary.

There is a nice selection of cakes but the savouries here (sausage rolls, cheese scones and pork pies) are exceptional.

Definitely worth a visit.

2. Teles Patisserie near Surlingham (see Am I still Creaking for original review, route and current rating)

Teles is down a track off the road to a farm yard near Surlingham. It can also be walked to along the river.

Tele is a Portuguese patisserie chef so the cakes are excellent and very fancy. The quality is very high and everything has a Portuguese feel.  

You can sit inside at the eclectically themed indoor seating area.

Or there is plenty of room in the farmyard courtyard outdoor seating area.

So plenty of room for cyclists and slightly different from your normal tearoom or cafe. Its almost certainly the best Portuguese patisserie in the Surlingham area. A real must visit.

3. No. 33, Norwich (see Catch up. For original review, route and current rating)

This is probably the most popular cafe in Norwich and often has a queue to get in at busy times.

This is partly because of an outstanding selection of large sponge cakes which are excellent.

The drinks are pretty good to.

Not the greatest venue for cyclists as nowhere to leave bikes or outside space but as one of the best cafes in the region it has to be on my list.

4. Heydon Tea rooms, Heydon (see a bit windy for original review, route and current rating)

This probably is the most tea roomy tea room that I have ever been too.

Not only is it set in a tiny village by the green but it has one of the finest cake selections about.

There is inside space but also outdoor seating areas both front and back. Plenty of room opposite on the village green for bikes.

The cakes and drinks are of the highest order and I'm yet to be disappointed. 

So if you like your stops to be cake based and old school then this is the place for you.

5. Urban Jungle near Beccles (see Missing the Jungle for original review, route and current rating)

If cafe stops at Garden centres are your thing then this could be a good choice. Unfortunately for  Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) they aren't so he wasn't impressed when I took him here.

However it has a good selection of cakes and drinks so works for me on that front.

Mrs Crusader, who does like a garden centre, was also with us and liked being able to enjoy her refreshments in a plant based setting.

In a warmer weather you can also enjoy your cake outside.

So depending on your opinion on garden centres then this is one of the better offerings. As well as the branch at Beccles there is also one at Costessey too.

6. Brickyard Cafe, Hedenham (Double puncture, for original review, route and current rating)

The Brickyard cafe can be found on the Norwich Bungay road and is a favourite stop.

There is normally good selection of excellent cakes and they do good lunches too.

There are two indoor seating areas plus a nice courtyard outdoor seating area for warmer days.

With good quality drinks too its well worth a trip

7. Cherry leaf, Norwich (Milestone for original review, route and current rating)

Cherry leaf cafe is in the St Giles area of Norwich and is a lovely cafe. Although not necessary great for cyclists as not a lot of bike parking space.

However its all about the cake which are all baked on site and some of the best around.

There is a busy indoor seating are plus some seating in the courtyard out back

Its my go to venue if I'm need of a cake fix in Norwich

8. The Owl, Holt (Terror in the sky for original review, route and current rating)

The Owl is a cafe and bakery in Holt and one of many in the town which, mainly consist of tea rooms and cafes. Holt is a favourite destination for the posh north Norfolk brigade, normal tourists and cyclists. I think the Owl is one of the best ones there.

There is a continental style small outdoor seating area at the front plus a delightful wall garden based outdoor seating area out the back. It also has some seating inside too.

Being a bakery it has a wide range of cakes which feature a large selection of tray bakes. The quality is pretty good and the drinks are nice too. When I go to Holt, which is often, it is one of my regular stopping places.

So that was my winters work. But next week I'll be continuing my auditing with the first edition of "cafes on crutches" as I have been busy hobbling to more of my favourites. However its making me look forward even more to my return to the bike at the start of May. 

October Cafes visited for Cake Crusader Audit

Café Audit October 2021

I have been doing this blog for nearly 10 years and have done over 400 reviews with over 250 cafes currently reviewed on my locations map (well done me). However despite trying to keep things up to date lots of cafes come and go. Therefore I’m undertaking a full audit to remove closed cafes from the map and update the scores of as many venues as possible as I go on my regular café cycle trips. Each month I’ll give a quick update on the cafes I have revisited. So here is October’s list, which are some of my all time favourites.

1. Peppers in East Harling (see Love it or hate it for original review, route and current rating)

Excellent cafe located in what appears to be someone’s large back garden. 

As you can see it has some of the finest cakes around.

There is lots of outdoor space plus a few tables inside

Well worth a visit.

2. Old Hall Farm near Woodton (see Layering for original review, route and current rating)

Café at farm shop off the Norwich Bungay. Has a good selection of cakes and plenty of indoor and out door space.

There is a full menu or you can get things like sausages rolls from Farm shop.

There is also a mini animal farm by the car park including an Emu and who doesn’t love an Emu in a car park.

Always a reliable stop for a cafe bike ride and I go there a lot (especially on a Monday)

3. Stiffkey Stores, Stiffkey on North Norfolk coast road (see Wheres the Sea? for original review, route and current rating)

Café is at stores and over the years has got busier with a wider selection of excellent cakes.

Cakes and pastries are very good backed up by decent hot drinks all served in paper cups and paper (literally) papers.

All seating is in outside courtyard area but there are some sheds as well that you can sit in on colder or wetter days. 

Its more of a coffee and cake stop rather than a lunch venue but if that's what you are after then I recommend you check it out.

4. Ravenous café near Raveningham (see Annoying Squeak for original review, route and current rating)

Nice rustic café the East side of Loddon near Raveningham. 

Excellent sausage rolls and cakes although not a huge selection.  Drinks are good too.

Plenty of outdoor seating plus some inside. We had a very enjoyable stop there on this occasion.

5. Chestnuts Coffee Fundenhall (see Back to Business for original review, route and current rating)

Always a favourite destination and you are guaranteed a warm welcome. Lovely setting with plenty of room for bikes.

As well as great drinks, especially the hot chocolate that comes in 3 strengths, there is now one of the best traybake selections anywhere making choosing a difficult task.

At weekends the pizza oven is fired up if you want something savoury to accompany your cake.

A must visit café for all local cyclists.

6. Terrace Cafe, Loddon (see Damn Knees for original review, route and current rating)

Lovely views of the church from the round the back outdoor seating area where I encourage all cyclists to go although there is a smaller terrace area overlooking central Loddon at the front.

The cakes and scones are very good 

The hot chocolate is excellent although I'm told by my cycling guests that the coffee is fairly standard fair. 

Defiantly worth checking out.

7. Tea Post, North Elmham (see Lull before the Storm for original review, route and current rating)

Small cafe and post office in North Elmham. Very friendly. No outdoor seating space so hard to keep eye on your bikes.

Cakes are excellent, hot chocolate good and good range of teas that come in a fancy pot. 

Have always had enjoyable time on several visits here so a definitely worth a trip.

8. Earsham Street Cafe (see Second Opinion for original review, route and current rating)

Has been my Cake Crusader number 1 rated cafe since records begun. Situated on Earsham Street in Bungay you can wheel your bikes through the cafe to some bike racks out the back.

The cakes and scones are some of the best I have ever had and I've never been disappointed

There is plenty indoor seating or a lovely courtyard area at the back.

The coffee and hot chocolate are some of the best too.

Its a must visit for all cafe cyclists.

9. Pennoyer Center (see A Long Way Round for original review, route and current rating)
Its a community cafe with all the cakes baked by people in the village and they are always fantastic.

Today was no exception with the fruit cake to die for.

Records show that it is my most visited cafe as it never disappoints.

So that's Octobers audit complete only another 241cafes to go. Let’s see how I get on in November.