I couldn’t just write about one local cafe. I love coffee, and cake, and my friends. So, coffee and cake with a friend or a group of friends is my favourite way to spend an hour, a couple of hours, even a whole morning or afternoon. My first recommendation is the “ABC” just round the back of the nearest Asda and staffed, voluntarily, by a local church. Good strong coffee, homemade cake, and a warm relaxed welcome. On a budget. I recently bought two coffees and a butterfly cake, I think it was under three pounds, or thereabouts.

My second recommendation is Hazel’s slightly further away and  more upmarket. Fabulous coffee, and amazing cake. I can never choose which cake to have. The place is always packed. I can recommend the sandwiches, and the beefburgers too. The warmth of the welcome matches the quality of the food. The only downside is, because the place is compact, I could potentially drive my Electric Wheelchair there, but there wouldn’t be space to sit in side without blocking at least two other tables. Of course, the natural solution would be to sit outside. Given the weather though, I won’t be volunteering!

My next recommendation is just as local, in the other direction. The Granary is always packed, even though there are now many more tables than in the previous ‘Little Granary’, and there are queues out the door again even though the larger building has only been open a few months. I can recommend quite a few dishes on the menu because I’ve probably eaten it before.  There is local produce on the menu… so local that it’s travelled from one part of the farm to the other, so there are no ‘food miles’.The farm’s eggs are a best-seller. I’m told people go there just for those! There is also a shop attached to the cafe where you can buy meat from the farm, and local cheese, and lovely gifts. The best part is, after costs, the money goes to support the social enterprise based on the farm.

The final cafe I recommend is ‘Perk cup’ further afield in the centre of Leeds. I only discovered it a week or two ago. Is near Waterstones bookshop, I think. Fabulous cake, tea and coffee, great customer service, a warm welcome, and great value for money. Even my wheelchair didn’t bother them either, and there was plenty space for me. Here they think about all the little touches as you see from the pictures. Even on the way to the loo (bathroom, restroom!!) there are little blackboards on the wall for people to add their names, so the cafe can keep in touch on Facebook, and other so people can write comments about the cafe. I don’t think the carer with me took a photo of the blackboards. but they’re really cool.   I can’t wait to visit again soon. ‘Perk cup’ is my new favourite! Go and check it out for yourself, you won’t be disappointed!