I texted my mum earlier today, wondering whether anything that was in Bristol when she was a student here 30 years ago is still around now.
It was pure coincidence that I then headed to Woodes on the bottom of Park Street for lunch, but eagle-eyed passers-by will already know that the café opened in 1966 as it is proudly displayed on their A-board on the pavement outside.
I don’t know how much it has changed over the five decades it has been open, but I like to think that those celebrating England’s World Cup win in 1966 would still recognise Woodes in 2010, even if everything around it has changed.
It has no comfy sofas unlike some other cafés. Rather, the wooden seats upstairs encourage you to sit up straight, perhaps admiring the French impressionist paintings on the walls.
Food is of the refreshingly homemade kind, and they serve a variety of sandwiches in good old-fashioned square slices.
If you venture upstairs, make sure you pick the stairs closest to the entrance, otherwise (and I know this from past experience) you accidentally find yourself in the toilets or kitchen.
Price of a large latte: £1.60
Woodes, 18 Park Street. 0117 926 4041.
Bristol cafes. Cafes in Bristol. Park Street Bristol cafes.
Spent most of my sixth form in Woodes. Hadn’t gone back in since 1989 until last month. Pretty much exactly the same. Cue Proustian ‘madeleine’ moment.
I can’t remember going in here when I was a student 30 + years ago. But Bristol Guild, halfway up Park Street was there. Next time I’m in Bristol I will do some nostalgic research!
I too have been a regular at Woodes since I did my A levels xxxx years ago!
The staff are wonderful; polite, gracious and smiling, and the food is fine.
I regularly go in there now for take-away lunch. I was today, though, sorry to learn very discreetly of a recent training edict-that the staff should not wait to finish serving one customer in the queue before turning to another. I had noticed this trend over recent months and found it very annoying.
Very sadly, I can no longer support a company that so foolishly and rudely holds its customers in such contempt.
Woodes aren’t that amazing. They do have a rather disdainful attitude at the counter I find. A pal was once laughed at for requesting a sausage sandwich.
And their soups…. blimey, what a cheat – they’re just massive tins of Heinz warmed up.
Hardly a boutique experience – mind you, what in Bristol is? (That’s truly Bristol’s own I mean)?