Friday 22 August 2014

Review: Catesby's

Catesby's Cambridge It's been a while since I reviewed a venue worthy of a full-throttled mention on my doorstep and this is a little gem that I would quite happily keep to myself if I wasn't all for sharing these things! Catesby's is a new shop nestled on the cobbles of Green Street, in the very heart of Cambridge City centre, offering beautiful and unique goods for your home and garden. This shop is set within a stunning Georgian townhouse, complete with stripped back wooden floorboards and staircases with ornate banisters and elegant wall decor throughout. It's very clean and minimalist in style and it immediately makes you want to fill your arms full of hand-painted doorknobs, ornate ceramic teacups and luxury picnic blankets for countryside jaunts. It has only just dawned on me that I have been to the original shop in Norfolk within the last year or so (I knew I recalled the name from somewhere and it's only just come back to me as I write this post!) where I enjoyed a stunning cream tea after a beach walk with the pup in Wells-Next-To-The-Sea. Catesby's Cambridge Catesby's was born back in 2011 within a Georgian home on the Norfolk coast belonging to Jonathon & Neil, complete with panelled rooms and a relaxing tea garden for customers to enjoy a cup of tea within as they browse. The goods on sale here are made of natural materials and neutral colours, mixed with an elegance that makes everything feel very special - it's the perfect place to search for an unusual gift. As you walk through the door, both in Norfolk and in the Cambridge house, you feel right at home as soon as you step foot inside. We were greeted by a young lady with a warm smile, but she allowed us to browse, no pressure or breathing down our neck which was a relief for me - I'm not a fan of being followed around these type of shops, so it was nice to be allowed to browse peacefully. Catesby's Cambridge There were cake stands with antlers as the dome handle, cushions with bold prints, cosy looking blankets & throws, candles and holders, enamel mugs & crockery, unusual cutlery, unusual trays and cloches, the list goes on... This is a shop that really does feel like a house, it allows you to wander upstairs and touch, even use the items on sale through their first floor kitchen. This is a hidden gem of a coffee shop in Cambridge, with white furniture, giant cutlery on the walls and beautiful china to eat & drink from, you can stop and enjoy a cuppa and a bite to eat, so that's just what we did. Catesby's Cambridge Tea Shop I was on a very rare shopping excursion with one of my very best friends and we nattered over the menu for so long that the waitress serving us had to come back several times for our order, she was so patient - a huge thank you to her! The menu was simple, with a selection of sandwiches and salads, teas and coffees, as well as a choice of delicious looking cakes on stands perched proudly in one corner of the kitchen. Catesby's Cambridge Tea Shop K ordered a cup of English Breakfast tea and I was happy to see a selection of locally sourced "Hot Numbers" coffee blends on offer, one of which Neil (who I met on leaving later on) mentioned was designed especially for Catesby's - just fantastic and worth the visit for alone. It was a very smooth blend and I enjoyed this as we gossiped, avoiding cake on this occasion, but there's time to pop back another day! We had arrived at this coffee stop around 4pm on a Saturday afternoon and it was still very busy, even though there are only around 6 tables, it was buzzing without being overcrowded. What we did find hilarious was that whilst checking something online through our phones, we picked up a neighbouring wifi connection that advised us just how terrible the nearby restaurants' signal was.... hilarious! Catesby's Cambridge Tea Shop If you are looking for somewhere a little more hidden away & unusual in Cambridge, perhaps this is the perfect meeting place for you plus one or two friends (any more than this may not guarantee you a table in this instance) with quality produce, Catesby's is the perfect solution. They have an online shop, as well as their two humble abodes, so do take a look and enjoy a cuppa if you are headed there over the weekend...   Catesby's Cambridge Tea Shop Miss Sue Flay Logo    

www.catesbys.co.uk

  Catesby's Cambridge Tea Shop  

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