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Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market

December 9, 2021

I did not know if the Christmas Market was taking place, no signs in the city centre.

A pale shadow of previous years, few visitors due to the rain, no ice skating rink which was the central attraction. Where the ice rink would have been now occupied by junk food stalls.

Half way round, my paper bag carrying goodies from General Store and Coffee Lab Academy disintegrated. I am very grateful for a stall holder who came to my rescue.

Bean-to-bar chocolate maker, Salcombe Dairy. Award winning? Worthless Great Taste Award. Most of the chocolate adulterated with additives. Was not aware of a bean-to-bar chocolate maker in Winchester, Winchester Cocoa Company, on sale in General Store. Tried to bullshit me Fairtrade anything more than a scam.

A chat with a stallholder. I said I did not wish to buy anything. He said that was OK, he had had no one to talk to for the last half an hour and was glad to have someone to talk to. He said few stalls because only at the last minute had it been decided to hold the market, stall holders could not buy stock in time. He did not think the ice rink would come back, He said although fewer visitors he was seeing sales up by 30%, his best year of trading He put it down to fewer visitors meant people had time to stop at his stall, and could actually get to his stall. He said with the ice rink people did not buy anything as wished to go skating and were not able to carry anything. He also said his sales may be up due to no Christmas market last year.

Infantile behaviour by local council, no signs permitted for the Christmas market, not their market.

Winchester Christmas Market puts to shame the Lincoln Christmas Market, tat and junk food.






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General Store

December 9, 2021

A coffee shop cum general store selling high quality provisions, overlooking Winchester Cathedral.

I had found last year, looked in and stayed at least an hour longer than I would have wished.

It was quite busy, but not too busy.

I decided to stay and to have lunch. It was excellent. A rarity to find anywhere in Winchester worth eating.

Lunch followed by an espresso which was ok and a cappuccino which was excellent. Though I would have preferred not to have been served in takeaway cups. Why takeaway I do not know as my flapjack which was excellent was served on a plate.

As I was eating lunch, I looked out and noticed it was raining. It poured for the rest of the day. I was going to get wet.

I came away with a bar of chocolate, a box of chocolates and a bag of coffee.

Paper carrier bags are excellent for the environment, bloody useless when it rains. I visited Coffee Lab Academy, then as it was dark, a trip around the Christmas Market, half way round, paper carrier bag disintegrated. Luckily a stall holder came to my rescue with a sturdy Sainsbury’s bag.

I looked in General Store, open until late, to dry off, then headed to the station to catch a train.



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Wet December afternoon in Winchester

December 9, 2021

I usually visit Winchester via Alton, bus, train, bus. I decided to catch a direct train via Basingstoke, the bus would have been very cold with window open.

Bus failed to turn up, next bus late, and that packed indicated not been any bus for a while, net result I miss direct train to Winchester, have to catch slow train with a twenty minute wait at Basingstoke to change for fast train to Winchester. Fast train only five coaches, packed. I arrived Winchester nearly an hour late.

At Basingstoke, with twenty minutes wait for a fast train, I wandered into a ghastly shopping centre, made worse by a tacky Christmas market with overpowering stench from junk food stalls. It would have been bad enough out in the open, this was in a covered space.

Sunny all morning. As train leaves Basingstoke, dark clouds ahead.

Disadvantage of train, bus arrives in centre of Winchester, Winchester Station other end of the city with a twenty minute walk into Winchester.

The road, busy polluted, lined with eateries which change from intendent eateries to corporate chains close to city centre. Empty shops as near city centre.

I am surprised how busy the High Street. I veer off down a side street to Winchester Cathedral, to visit Coffee Lab Academy and The Square, maybe coffee later.

I am headed to General Store. I found last year, was then new. A general provisions, store, but also a coffee shop that serves lunch.

My lunch excellent, my expresso that followed not so good, my cappuccino excellent.

I look out and see it is raining.

I end up spending over forty pounds, excluding lunch and coffee, a very expensive box of bean-to-bar chocolate, a bar of bean-to-bar chocolate, a bag of coffee beans.

I head to Coffee Lab Academy. More changes which I had noticed earlier, and not for the better, not very pleasant seating which turn from being open to claustrophobic and dingy. Loud music which is not pleasant. Forty-five minutes before closing and take away coffee only. This is bad,.not what expect in what was once an excellent coffee shop.

Work environmant in Coffee Lab has become toxic. Straff forced to work 45 hou shift, often putting in 50 hiurs. Sadly it has deterited over the last couope of yaers. This si what happend whn Vulture Capatalsts pur money in in the hope of craeting a chain, then want blood for their money.

I was going to leave before it got dark, and catch a train. Now it sis dark, a walk aroudn the Chrsuams market. A pale sahows of its former, self, now ice rink, few stalls, few peeopel, and disgsuting junk food dstalls wshere would have nee the ice rink.

I am soaikin wet. My goodies from Genearl Store and Coffee Lab in a paer carrier bag, the bag decides tio dsnetegate. A mn witha gun stall kinly coems to my rescus and puts evrything in a stryurdy Sansbur;s bag.

I feel guilty not buy a bottle of gin,. Stalljoder say think nothing of it.

Too early to catch a fast train oen and hour. I posp back to Genmaerl Store to try and fet dry. It si oopen until 11am.

Long wak to the sation in the rain.

Ten minute wait for a train.

I dry off during the train journey. Unable twear mask, soajking wet.

a twenty –

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Lunch and cappuccino Caracoli Alresford

September 25, 2019

After a wander around Alresford and missing the next bus to Winchester, I decided to take lunch and a coffee in Caracoli.

Caracoli was a small chain of half a dozen coffee shops. It came as little surprise when they went bust. Poor quality coffee and did not know what they were, a coffee shop or a deli. Now only two coffee shops, Alresford and Haslemere. Guildford closed, Farnham a greasy spoon cafe serving coffee.

Lunch was fine, the coffee ok, they need to source better quality coffee. But the best coffee in Alresdford, and would be better if sourced quality coffee beans.

I have suggested Coffee Gems, DT Roastery as two excellent coffee roasteries from which to source their coffee beans.

A few doors up the street a strange setup, DIY Coffee. Insult customers with Cupsmith coffee served from a coffee machine. No surprise empty.

Coffee #1, undrinkable coffee, poor service, poor quality food. A chain of masquerading as independent, owned by Caffe Nero.

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Alresford

September 25, 2019

Alresford a small Georgian market town of Georgian town houses. I wandered down as far as Old Alresford Pond.

No time to catch next bus, stayed at Caracoli for lunch and a coffee.

Caracoli was a small chain of half a dozen coffee shops. It came as little surprise when they went bust. Poor quality coffee and did not know what they were, a coffee shop or a deli. Now only two coffee shops, Alresford and Haslemere. Guildford closed, Farnham a greasy spoon cafe serving coffee.

Lunch was fine, the coffee ok, they need to source better quality coffee. But the best coffee in Alresdford, and would be better if sourced quality coffee beans.

A few doors up the street a strange setup, DIY Coffee. Insult customers with Cupsmith coffee served from a coffee machine. No surprise empty.

Coffee #1, undrinkable coffee, poor service, poor quality food. A chain of masquerading as independent, owned by Caffe Nero.

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Afternoon in Winchester

September 25, 2019

I set off earlier than usual, I would have arrived lunchtime. As I was early, I alighted at Alresford to explore Alresford and stayed and had lunch and a coffee at Carocoli.

Day started off sunny, once early morning rain had cleared. Dark clouds from Alton, then heavy torrential rain, then sunny at Alresford.

Bus set off late from Alton, driver stood outside bus having a phone conversation. He then drove far too fast through the torrential rain to make up lost time.

Rain ceased as Alresford reached.

Alresford a small Georgian market town of Georgian town houses. I wandered down as far as Old Alresford Pond.

No time to catch next bus, stayed at Caracoli for lunch and a coffee.

Caracoli was a small chain of half a dozen coffee shops. It came as little surprise when they went bust. Poor quality coffee and did not know what they were, a coffee shop or a deli. Now only two coffee shops, Alresford and Haslemere. Guildford closed, Farnham a greasy spoon cafe serving coffee.

Lunch was fine, the coffee ok, they need to source better quality coffee. But the best coffee in Alresdford, and would be better if sourced quality coffee beans.

A few doors up the street a strange setup, DIY Coffee. Insult customers with Cupsmith coffee served from a coffee machine. No surprise empty.

Coffee #1, undrinkable coffee, poor service, poor quality food. A chain of masquerading as independent, owned by Caffe Nero.

I would normally alight off the bus, walk down the hill into Winchester. I alighted off the bus but instead of walking down the hill I headed to an industrial estate at Winnall to DT Roastery. No one there I knew, a wasted journey.

Head back down into Winchester down an unpleasant busy polluted road, then back streets along the River Itchen into Winchester.

River Itchen flowing very fast.

Excellent coffee at The Square. Not so the cake.

Time for a walk in the gathering dusk, around the back streets and along the River Itchen to catch the bus to Alton.

The bee on Winchester Cathedral to herald Green Hampshire Harvest Weekend .

No food left at Alton Station Cafe, no sign of any bikers.

— to be continued —

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DT Coffee Roastery Coffee Lab espresso blend

September 7, 2019

Three bags of coffee, Brazilian, Indian and Tanzanian from DT Coffee Roastery.

What was the Coffee Lab blend like as a cappuccino?

Three choices, today the espresso blend for Coffee Lab brewed as cappuccino at Madame Waffle.

In one word, excellent.

Coffee Lab espresso blend, a blend of Brazilian pulp natural and Colombian washed, var Catuai and Caturra, taste notes dark chocolate, nutmeg, ginger and green apple, roasted by either Dhan Tamang or head of coffee Don Altizo.

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Indian Balanoor washed coffee

September 6, 2019

Three bags of coffee, Brazilian, Indian and Tanzanian from DT Coffee Roastery.

Which to try today?

A couple of days ago Tanzanian Arusha Natural brewed as cappuccino at Stokes at The Lawn. Today an Indian brewed as V60 at Madame Waffle.

This was the first time either of us had tried an Indian coffee.

It was excellent as cooled, brought out the fruitiness of the coffee.

V60 always improves as cools, until turns cold. Balanoor was excellent even when cold.

Balanoor single origin Indian washed, var Kent, altitude 1300m, taste notes red grape, pecan and raisins, roasted by either Dhan Tamang or head of coffee Don Altizo.

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Tanzanian Arusha Natural

September 5, 2019

Three bags of coffee, Brazilian, Indian and Tanzanian from DT Coffee Roastery.

I have tried before an Ethiopian from DT Coffee Roastery, brewed as a V60 at Blackbird. It was good, but a disappointment compared with a Colombian from Coffee Gems we tried the week before which was excellent.

Of the three, which to choose? The aroma was excellent. Not my choice, that of Mike head barista at Stokes at The Lawn.

No contest, he chose the Tanzanian.

I would have brewed as V60, thus surprised when he chose espresso.

Espresso for Mike, cappuccino for me.

I was pleasantly surprised, it made an excellent cappuccino, interesting flavour profile.

Arusha Natural Burka State Tanzania, var Kent, N39, Blue Mountain, alt 1350m, tasting notes stone fruit, red berries, bright citrus, roasted by either UK latte art champion Dhan Tamang or head of coffee Don Altizo.

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Coffee #1

August 14, 2019

Alresford has two coffee shops, Carocoli and Coffee #1.

Carocoli never knew what they were, a coffee shop, a deli, the coffee was not good and they went bust. Now under new owners.

Coffee #1 new, only open a few weeks in Alresford.

I decided to alight from the bus passing through to Winchester, a quick look around, try a coffee at Coffee #1, then carry on down to Winchester.

It is easy to tell when a coffee shop not good, a row of syrups and asked what size cup for a cappuccino.

A row of syrups on the back wall, I was asked what size cappuccino.

If asked what size, I always ask to see the cups. Regular and large.

There is only one size, the correct size, no other size will suffice.

Feeling hungry having not eaten since late breakfast I also asked for a bap with bacon.

A long wait to be served, though there was an apology, an even longer wait to be brought my bacon bap, longer still before my cappuccino arrived.

The bap was brought with no serviette. I had to go in search of. It was ok, not great.

The cappuccino when it finally arrived appeared to have been carpet bombed with chocolate. I sent it back. The next to arrive looked disgusting, tasted disgusting scalding hot, deep layer of froth and foam, of which I scooped out a large glop with my teaspoon.

Bags of coffee on display. I picked up an espresso blend and a Costa Rican.

Nothing to say where the espresso blend sourced, the Costa Rican commodity coffee, no mention of farm.

No roast date, only a meaningless best be date. Actually worse then useless. Old stale coffee, no aroma.

Ambience pleasant.

Service took so long I missed the next bus and had to wait a further half an hour.

Young girl making the coffee treated very badly by young man who seemed to be in charge. Shouted at her in a very unpleasant manner Come Here. Further shouting at her. Then the shouting became worse, she walked away, clearly distressed and upset, walked into a room marked Private, and did not emerge until some time later as I was leaving.

Had I not been about to leave I would have spoken to her as a very bad example of bullying in the workplace. A report was filed to Coffee #1. They lacked the courtesy to respond, which shows the importance they attach to workplace bullying.

Note: Workplace bullying is a breach of employment legislation.

Coffee +#1 is a a large chain of around 100 coffee shops owned by Caffe Nero and it shows.

Harris + Hoole is also owned by Caffe Nero, and since bought by Caffe Nero has experienced death by a thousand cuts, but they at least attempt to make decent coffee. Coffee #1 do not even go through the motions.

The only good thing I could find to say, bags of coffee grounds to take away for the garden, though from the number of bags piled on the floor the take up appeared to be low.

It was then pick up the bus, head into Winchester, to have a decent coffee at The Square.

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