The Thousands

‘Here be-ath the cake!’ Nat Paull proclaims proudly. She’s telling us about the crossed-eggbeaters sign she wants to have painted all medieval style out the front of her brand new café Beatrix.

She’s not joking, either. The cake menu is extensive to say the least, including eye catchers like the ‘Cocoamo’ (a moustache-shaped chocolate biscuit with espresso butter cream filling), and sour cream glazed brioche doughnuts (with potato in the mix!). On the savoury side, there’s the ‘Shakshuka’ breakfast roll, featuring pepper, tomatoes, fetta and egg, daily sandwich specials and regular seasonal dishes. I for one can’t wait for her upcoming ‘fig weekend’.

The café is staffed by some familiar faces, including Jungle Juice coffee maestro Adam Sherry and Evelyn ‘Pikelet’ Morris, who will be managing the place as well as providing the soundtrack, which will be downloadable from the Beatrix blog. There are all sorts of clever environmentally-friendly ideas in play, too – cute plywood take-away coffee trays, used coffee grounds and egg shells for compost, recipe tips up on the blackboard, discounts for bike riders and a free slice of cake if you donate your old egg beater. Methinks ‘tis most splendid.