Hazel HollowayChurch Stretton has a new kid on the block, The Bake House Cafe and it is not just open for coffee and cake; you can get a glass of fine wine or a locally brewed pint in the evening! It sits on the corner of High Street next to the Square and has a lovely blue door; if you’re a doctor who fan, it’s Tardis blue, and just like the Tardis, it is much more prominent inside. Run by Clive and Jan, a husband and wife team who previously (before it closed) ran the Lazy Trout on the A49 in Marshbrook, known to locals as the Biker’s Cafe. Clive said We brought all our regular customers with us, so we are already doing ok”. Clive looked like he would have been very comfortable riding alongside his customers. He’s a big, sturdy guy with a goatee beard and tattoos down one arm, wearing heavy silver bracelets, but his warm smile and cheerful welcome, as I approached, said he was just as comfortable behind his bar chatting to all kinds of folks.
The atmosphere was easy-going with the radio softly playing in the background. Two guys who knew Clive were leaning on the bar. It was nice to see them chatting over coffee. I’ve noticed that men in European countries often socialize in cafes, and I think it would be nice to see more of that here. All they needed was a backgammon set.
The bar area had seating at benches sweeping the windows, leaving ample, airy space in the middle. The couple is hoping to see lots of people in the summer standing with drinks, maybe spilling out onto the street to enjoy the balmy, light British summer evenings.
Next to the bar was a cozy room with a few tables and chairs looking out at the garden, which also had seating. Upstairs, there were more seating options including comfortable corners with sofas and additional tables. The lighting was stylish and modern with bare lightbulbs hanging from rope against a rustic open brick wall, creating a great blend of old and new. While most of the old flooring had been replaced with wooden floorboards, there was a preserved corridor of original tiles and some exposed original wooden beams and supports. The walls were adorned with old car registration plates from around the world.
Clive used to be a farmer beforears ago. They thought running a café would be easier, but Clive now laughs about that. His wife Jan, a self-taught baker, along with her sister, bakes fresh cakes daily, including gluten-free options. The Victoria spongeand it ended up tasting as good as it looked. The sponge was perfect – light, airy, and had my favorite buttercream, which was thick, sweet, and indulgent, along with delicious strawberry jam.oying my cake, I noticed an elderly couple in the corner. They sat quietly, not speaking, just gazing out the window. There was a peacefulness about them. I looked up a few times, but they still didn’t chat. Maybe they enjoy he and his wifeed going out for decided to open a café seven ye some tea and tr caught my eye, While I was enjeasured their silent moments. On the other hand,d been married for 60 years and simply ran out of things to talk about. perhaps they ha
Jan popped into the bar area. She was dressed in a black polo shirt and black apron with tattoos down one arm. She said something to her husband, and they both started laughing. I looked over, gave a thumbs up, and told her that the cake was delicious, making her smile. We chatted for a few minutes, during which time she told me how she liked a simple life, and that’s why she had married him. She pointed at Clive and laughed. They had a playful banter between themselves. The place had a young, modern vibe but still felt homely with a ketchup bottle on the tables for orders of full English breakfasts. They offered mini breakfasts with a little of everything or a mega breakfast with three sausages, three bacon rashers, three black puddings, and three eggs. It’s hard to walk in a straight line after that! Don’t worry, they cater to everyone, even offering a vegetarian breakfast. For lunch, they have a variety of sandwiches, burgers, pies, chips, quiches, lasagnas, as well as homemade cakes and tray bakes. I’m planning to try the veggie breakfast next time as I think Jan, the star baker, will be an excellent cook.
If you’re in a rush, you can call ahead and place an order for takeout.
