If there was a competition to find the best name for a café in Bristol, it would be a close-run thing between Grounded, Royce Rolls and Madhatter’s Tea Party. I would give it to Madhatter’s Tea Party on the nose ahead of Royce Rolls, if only for the fact that its name conjures up all sorts of literary images, while Grounded’s clever bit of wordplay brings back memories of being sent to my room as a nipper.

Madhatter’s is situated at one end of a small row of shops on Kellaway Avenue among the smart semi-detached suburbia in the no-man’s land between Redland and Henleaze. Its neighbours are an eclectic mix of a hairdresser, diving shop and Chinese takeaway

Although I had passed Madhatter’s in the car, on the bus, on a bike and by foot on numerous occasions, I had never before stepped inside. In the summer, the roped off area out front can often fill up, and when I was walking to it from Bishop Road, I also spied a small children’s play area out the back.

Mismatched tables and chairs cover the deceptively large seating area, and an antique dresser opposite the bustling bar houses the condiments. Above the dresser is a pen and ink drawing of Lewis Carrol’s Madhatter himself, most recently seen played by Johnny Depp on the big screen in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.

As befits this part of Bristol, young children are well-catered for. Not many cafés have a special little people menu for visitors aged 12 and under. Madhatters’ choice for youngsters includes a cheese and tomato pita pizza with crisps and fruit (£3.25) and beans on toast (£2.50).

For the grown-ups, there is a large choice of coffees, and tea from Bristol’s own herbal tea company Pukka. The food choice is also substantial with all-day breakfasts, paninis, jackets, baguettes, sandwiches and toasties. Their fantastic Mediterranean platter (£6.50) is made up of stuffed vine leaves, houmous, olives, roasted vegetables, feta, salad and foccacia bread.

This giving up chocolate for Lent lark is a real bind in places like Madhatter’s, especially with a sign for a warm chocolate brownie with Marshfield Farm clotted cream and ice cream (£3.20) resting on a small blackboard on the bar.

There is something very fun and friendly about Madhatter’s Tea Party, and it’s not just because of its name.

Price of large latte: £2.05

Madhatter’s Tea Party, 24 Kellaway Avenue, Redland. 0117 924 4400.

www.madhatterstp.co.uk

Bristol cafes. Cafes in Bristol. Cafes in Henleaze Bristol.