3/5 Jody L. 2 years ago on Google
I
enjoy
coming
to
this
café
since
its
refurbishment,
however,
there
are
a
few
niggling,
ongoing
issues.
The
first
is
that
there
seems
to
be
a
problem
with
the
lighting
along
the
front
of
the
café
closest
to
the
street-facing
windows;
they
turn
off
at
random
intervals
and,
weeks
since
reopening,
haven't
been
fixed.
Seems
that
the
issue
extends
to
the
plug
sockets
on
that
side
of
the
space,
too.
The
next
is
that,
despite
it
being
smack
in
the
middle
of
winter,
the
café
is
often
very
cold.
I
suspect
that
the
space
is
difficult
to
heat
given
that
almost
half
of
the
wall
space
is
windowed
floor-to-ceiling
and
there
isn't
a
door
into
W12
to
keep
in
heat.
Still,
I'm
writing
this
review
wrapped
up
in
a
jumper
and
jacket
about
to
leave
because
I'm
too
cold
despite
the
hot
tea.
The
last
is
the
weird
dodging
of
deals
by
some
staff
when
customers
have
dietary
requirements.
Today,
I
ordered
a
roll
and
hot
drink
which
is
supposed
to
total
around
£5
(I'm
not
close
enough
to
the
A-frame
to
give
an
accurate
amount,
but
it
was
definitely
£5-something).
Adding
oat
milk
to
my
order
brought
my
total
up
to
just
over
£7.
I
can't
really
help
being
lactose
intolerant,
y'know?
Anyway,
gripes
aside,
the
café
is
far
better
run
and
well-designed
than
it
has
been
in
years
since
Esquires
initially
sold
the
place
to
an
independent
owner,
who
sold
it
to
another
independent
owner
(who
have
since
relocated
down
the
road),
who
sold
it
back
to
Esquires.
As
the
infamous
Mr.
Scott
once
said,
"how
the
turn
tables".
The
new
staff
are
impossibly
friendly
and
upbeat,
always
happy
to
serve
with
a
smile
and
will
go
the
extra
mile
to
ensure
that
you
have
everything
you
need.
There
are
bottles
of
(full)
hand
sanitiser
on
each
table,
staff
are
kindly
adhering
to
mask
regulations,
and
the
quality
of
the
food
and
drink
has
improved
enormously.
I'm
glad
to
see
Esquires
back,
especially
since
it's
so
close
to
home,
but
until
there's
some
heating
(or
the
weather
warms
up)
I
will
probably
be
sticking
to
the
independent
place
a
little
further
along
who
previously
ran
the
joint.
I
like
it
here,
and
I
certainly
love
the
staff,
but
currently
I'm
freezing
my
arse
off
in
the
dark
with
a
big
mug
of
tea
that
I
could've
gotten
cheaper
elsewhere.