In a week which has seen Lahloo Pantry close and Swinky’s Sweets announce that it is soon to close – two Bristol cafes that were committed to doing something a little bit different to the norm and which were all the better for doing so – it is dispiriting to see a new cafe open on Whiteladies Road that is so bland in its ubiquity it may as well be anonymous.
Freshly Ground is pleasant enough. There are stained glass windows, a small garden, and my espresso from Martin Carwardine was well-made and served in a small mug with a china wing for a handle.
But the panini, jacket potato and salad options on the menu, and faux-antique clocks and chandeliers making up the interior have all been done so many times before it is just boring.
Freshly Ground was once charity cafe Teawithus, with an interior designed by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen – not many cafes can say that.
Lahloo Pantry and Swinky’s Sweets also showed that originality is possible, yet with their closing is unoriginality becoming the new safe option for Bristol cafes? I sincerely hope not.
Freshly Ground, 118 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2RP
I’ll give it 6 months, dying just before Christmas.
That part of Clifton has little soul – no fruit & veg shops, bakers or unique indie traders (Wild Oats being the exception), just estate agents, micro supermarkets and student derived litter. I used to feel sorry for the now dead Red Lion Wine Bar whenever I walked past.
Josh – I don’t agree with that at all. Wild Oats is right next to an independent butchers and the excellent Kitchens is just around the corner. Plus there’s the Farmers’ market every couple of weeks – it’s lovely on a sunny Saturday morning.
Lashings has been full of young families when I’ve been there and the seemingly nameless café on Apsley Road always looks busy.
I’d disagree that this is any sort of trend, and we have yet to see whether this place will survive. I think the fact is that doing something different *is* a risk, and you have to do it well to get enough people in. Swinky’s cupcakes, in my experience, were better in appearance than in taste, and the American import sweets can’t have sold very well (import making them much more expensive than European equivalents).
Also I wouldn’t have said Lahloo was particularly different – their afternoon tea type image seems pretty Clifton-ish. Their teas *were* different to the norm, but I think they could have done with some comfier & less awkward seating and some good tasty standard teas (I really didn’t like their Early Grey!). Papaji’s on Whiteladies does a huge variety of teas and has found its niche (after struggling for a while) in tea and tea-infused cocktails, but they also do standard beer, lager, cider, and mainstream cocktails – something for everyone.
I stand corrected, the butcher is independent and I’m sure it’s great but good grief is it expensive. Likewise for Kitchens.
Lashings is just another coffee shop. I’ve had a fancy drip coffee thingy there before and a flat white, neither were worth it.
Trust me, besides the pretty buildings there really is nothing to write home about here. Ironically it’s where my business is based!
Why so negative?! It may not be to your taste style/decor wise but why not a little support and encouragement to a new venture?
The view must be very good from your high-horse but it’s so disappointing that you felt the need to write this piece.
Good luck Freshly Ground!
Completely agree with Matthew above. The design is a hundred times less bland and ‘seen before’ than Costa, Starbucks or any of the other generic big names.
(Who could give two hoots about an interior designed by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen btw?)
What a pretentious and negative article.
How about a little support for an independent shop trying to make ends meet in hard times?
When leaving Freshly Ground after a uninspiring breakfast tower (2% meat sausages, overdone egg and stale bun), half of which was left on the plate. my friends from London commented that the place would not be around the next time they return to Bristol. Unfortunately I would have to agree.
Have to agree completely with this article. Given the fierce competition centred around Cotham Hill, one would wonder why anyone would venture up Whiteladies Rd to this establishment. Aside from being completely bland and bereft of any cultural value, it has perhaps the worst name for a coffee house I’ve ever heard of. The owners seem to show a complete lack of knowledge about their target market and fail to add anything positive to existing local businesses. Who is this aimed at?
Good luck Freshly Ground!
I visited today and was very disappointed. Roast beef, mushroom and caramelised onion hot sandwich was tiny and overpriced (2 slices of plastic bread, a few small bits of beef and 6 pieces of mushroom for £5.20)(oh and a handful of crisps). The staff didn’t seem to know their way round the menu and didn’t know how to respond when I was unhappy with my food. The loo was falling apart and dirty, though to be fair there’s a great baby changing table and my friend’s panini was much better value for money. But I won’t be returning.
Freshly Ground is a friendly and welcoming family business looking to prosper from the hustle and bustle of families/student and professionals that wander along Whiteladies Road.
As a regular customer at their Downend shop, our office were extremely pleased to welcome them to Whiteladies!
Everyone in the office enjoys the simple but tasty food and the warm welcome that we always receive.
Maybe people should stop writing negative comments and start enjoying the atmosphere and food that Freshly Ground offers and try to support new local businesses within the community!
Oh dear! I have never left a review anywhere before but after my experience at Freshly Ground today I felt compelled to do so, there was nothing fresh about the sausage and egg sandwich I selected. The sausages were greasy and cheap, along with the tesco value bread, the egg was over cooked and weirdly it was served with a side order of cheese and onion crisps- just what u want for breakfast , not !
I was deeply disappointed and will not be returning
How can something so simple be so wrong! I felt like warning other customers who were perusing the menu but felt that it would be a step too far
It’s December 2013 and I have just been to the cafe in question. I am sorry to say that nothing has chaged. I had a coffee and a salsa chicken sandwich for £6.20. The coffee was good but the sandwich was terrible. I left some of it. Oh and the plate also included some cheese and onion crisps.
When you are absolutely devoid of any imagination than fear not and put some crisps on the plate.
Not going again.