On my last visit to Louth a year ago I noticed Auction House, it had not long closed. A pity, it would be an ideal coffee shop, was my thought at the time.
Today, one year on market day I noticed it was open. New owners. A coffee shop of sorts, also serves food.
I asked of their coffee.
Alvingham Coffee Roasters, who I had never heard of. A local roastery.
I said I would pop back after a wander around.
I popped back, did not fancy sitting upstairs, an enclosed space, downstairs, no one seemed in any hurry to leave.
Eventually what I had ordered arrived. Did I wish to eat outside? I did not know they had outside seating.
Outside seating was located across the street in the market square. But only on market days.
Gammon and chips and garden peas and a duck egg. I did not wish for the egg. Gammon was reasonable and a good-sized portion, maybe could have been cooked a tad more. Chips excellent. Garden peas? Grown in their garden? Not fresh podded peas that was for sure.
I then ordered a cappuccino. I had noticed earlier one carpet bombed with chocolate. I said no chocolate.
Served in a cup size too large, poor quality coffee.
Depressing they are sourcing poor quality coffee, as with the right equipment, competent baristas and sourcing high quality coffee, could be an excellent little coffee shop in a prime location overlooking the square. Commendable to source local, but not if poor quality coffee. I would suggest they check out Seven Districts, Outpost Coffee, Cartwheel Coffee, The Blending Room and Dark Woods.
On the window coffee cocktails, or maybe it is either or. No way could make coffee cocktails with the poor quality coffee they are sourcing. For cocktails would need top quality single origin coffee.
They need outside seating. Today was market day.
Why is the street not pedestrianised?
They need to apply for outside seating. Once legalisation passed, currently on its Third Reading, apply to local district council, for Louth East Lindsey, the council has to respond within 15 days. If the council fails to respond, have requested seating by default.
As with other coffee shops and tea shops on limited hours. People will not feel safe until they can be served outside, and even that may not be sufficient to entice people out.
