The Old Bakehouse, Broadstairs

Back in March during the coldest spell on record, the girls and I spent a week at my Mum’s newly purchased caravan in Deal, on the Kent coast. We spent the two weekends with Glen, and my friend popped down for a few days but we had a few days on our own too.

I don’t drive, but I never let this hold us back in exploring and so one of the mid-week days, the girls and I (buggy and all) hopped on a Southeastern train from Walmer (the little hamlet of Deal where we were based) to Broadstairs.

I’d long wanted to visit this seaside resort, having heard great things, but I must admit in the cold and slightly drizzly weather it wasn’t quite what it might be at this time of the year, I don’t like to use the word bleak, but having walked around the entire town, on and off the beach, and the few open shops, it wasn’t as inviting as I’d expected. 

I will return over the summer as the sandy beach looked great and I'm sure we'll have a completely different kind of day in the sunshine.

Bridget enjoyed a few of the photographic opportunities – such as climbing in this boat, and posing by the sea, but there wasn’t tons here to do with children in the cold weather. They had a small amusement arcade which we popped into for half an hour. You'll see what the weather was like from these few pictures...

Bridget on the boat at Broadstairs

Trying to keep warm at Broadstairs

Bridget on the beach at Broadstairs

Searching for somewhere to eat, that would be accommodating with a 3 and a 1 year old with buggy in tow, we stumbled upon a few options – Bridget was quite taken with an ice cream parlour on the front, but freezing cold and slightly damp, I was looking for something a little warmer and whilst there were a few fish and chip shops, we’d already enjoyed some that week from Hythe Seafood Bar.

We had a peek in the Royal Albion Hotel, on the sea front, and whilst the children’s menu looked good, we walked in and aside from the fact there were about four wet dogs in there which immediately put me off, nobody approached us to offer a table in five minutes and I got fed up so we retreated back to the high street.

By sheer chance we stumbled upon The OldBakehouse – I saw the bakery first and thought worst case, I can grab us some sausage rolls, but then spotted the little tea room which is an annex of the bakery, I enquired if there was room for the buggy and couldn’t have been more welcomed.

Quaint and comfortably furnished, with meme signs (my Mum is obsessed with these so we felt right at home) and little nods to Kent, The Old Bakehouse was also a warm and welcome retreat from the cold. 

The staff were super friendly with the children too, which is always the most reassuring, especially if you’re eating out alone with them and they were in possession of a high chair too.

We quickly ordered some Welsh rarebit (cheese on toast) and juice for the girls and a cheese ploughman’s for me with a latte.

Hearty, comforting fare indeed and served with a smile, I really couldn’t fault it at all. 

My cheese ploughman’s came with a generous wedge of Cheddar and Brie, salad, coleslaw, pickle, chutney and a basket full of bread which the girls helped me with. For the £4.95 it was reasonably priced for great food – not fancy or refined, but exactly what you’d want in a tea room and I really enjoyed it.

Plougman's at The Old Bakehouse, Broadstairs

As a treat and to allay Bridget’s requests for ice cream in the aftermath of the ‘beast from the East’, I ordered us some homemade scones with clotted cream and jam as a dessert. They were exquisite. 

Scones at The Old Bakehouse, Broadstairs

Bridget loves a scone anyway from a few afternoon teas she’s been to with me, but this was Beatrice’s first ever cream tea, and she 100% approved, you can see the jam all over her in these pics.

Bridget's cream tea, The Old Bakehouse, Broadstairs

Jam face Beatrice, The Old Bakehouse, Broadstairs

I had change from £20 from our little jaunt here and warm, fuzzy memories of an hour spent happily in the warm during our cold little holiday.

The Old Bakehouse is an absolute gem of a find and I’m sure I’ll return with my Mum when we visit over the summer months. I’d thoroughly recommend.

A London lunch: Albion, Boundary Street

Last week I had a short freelance position in the Shoreditch area and so was lucky enough to lunch with one of my very good PR friends, Hannah in the area. We had made plans to meet at Dishoom but when we arrived at the same time, Albion, was teeming with people dining al fresco in the glorious sunshine, and it looked so appealing we changed direction.

Part of the Boundary hotel and restaurant building, Albion is a Prescott & Conran design, and it shows. Pitted as a café, it is certainly a slicker operation that your average greasy spoon and every plate that rushed past us looked to contain something delicious.

As it was a fleeting lunch, we omitted the main menu in favour of something lighter – but I will certainly return to try some of the dishes, such as the fish pie, grilled mackerel with horseradish cream and pheasant and ham pie – all of which sound great.

Instead Hannah opted for the roast chicken, lettuce and mayonnaise sandwich which she enjoyed immensely. It was in fact a huge sandwich and certainly worth the £6.00 price tag. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the thick, crusty bread, which was made on the premises was fantastic – Hannah couldn’t manage the whole sandwich, so I had a little bite just to be sociable.

I fancied something hot and when I saw someone else having the Welsh rarebit, I was sold. On the same thick-cut, bread as Hannah’s sandwich, my cheese on toast was absolutely gorgeous. More of a cheese sauce then the usual grated stuff, it was a mature Cheddar (I enquired) mulshed into a kind of roux and topped with Worcester sauce and a good helping of black pepper. Priced at only £4.75, I thought it was a snip.

A lovely light lunch, great, friendly service and a sociable and happy atmosphere – if you haven’t already been, check out the Albion for lunch or brunch, and whilst you’re there make sure you have a nose at the on-site bakery.