The Bristol area will soon lose one of the last links to its proud manufacturing history when production at the Cadbury’s factory in Keynsham moves to Poland. This is after some broken promises by Kraft, who virtually guaranteed that the former Fry’s site would stay if they took the company over.
I couldn’t see any signs for Dairylea, Philadelphia or any other Kraft products in Café Amoré - the popular Broadmead haunt famous for its floor-to-ceiling old metal signs and other memoribilia - but there were many reminders of Bristol’s manufacturing past including the famous Fry’s ‘five boys advert’ (desperation, pacification, expectation, acclamation, realisation) and also a large advert for Will’s Gold Flake cigarettes.
Every time I visit Amoré, one of the Bristol cafes with the best decor, I spy another interesting sign. From my vantage point downstairs this afternoon I spotted old metal signs for Kent County Council and the Bristol Times & Mirror, alongside figurines, old clocks and thermometres.
Amoré is a real treasure trove, a delightful place to while away the hours. Despite its location slightly off the beaten track on Nelson Street, it always surprises me what a busy place it is. And regardless of how many people are inside on its spilt levels, you are always served promptly and efficiently by a small army of friendly and smiling staff.
The choice of food on offer is just as impressive as the signs on the walls. If you can’t find a sandwich or panini that you want, it can be made for you in a flash, and for those with a sweet tooth the choice of flapjacks, shortbread, cakes, cheesecakes and brownies is a delight. Not knowing what to have, I combined the lot, ordering a deliciously decadent fudge brownie cheesecake (£2.05).
Unsurprisingly, space was tight, and as a young family squeezed into the table next to me, a wheel of their pushchair ran over my foot. I hardly noticed – I had just spotted a battered old metal notice telling me to keep off the grass.
Price of an extra large latte: £2.35
Café Amoré, 14 Nelson Street.
Bristol cafes. Cafes in Bristol. Cafes in Broadmead.
I love, love, love this cafe! And its chocolate cheesecake is actually to die for! Perfect for sharing though, as it’s massive! Even their paninis are really filling, or I just have eyes bigger than my belly! No matter, it’s a cracking place and the staff are amazing!
Given the constant advertising by Amore since it first opened for ‘Experienced Cappuccino Makers’ I have long suspected their Old Joe is brewed from ground-down baristas – Soylent Brown, if you will.
Nice café, mind, even if it was built on the bones of the corpse of Cousin Jack’s!