Ferdinand Innocenti (4 September 2008)

I so wanted this place to be good as it combines three of my loves - vegetarian food, fair trade and cycling but I'm sad to say I was hugely disappointed with my veggie breakfast. The board outside quoted the vegetarian society review 'imaginative breakfasts' but I can't see what is imaginative about frozen hash browns, rubbery mushrooms and supermarket sliced wholemeal bread when there is an award winning bakery a few doors away. The coffee was good but in a small cup with no refills. There was no sauce and only a catering brand of marmalade in an individual container. Sausages and/or bacon were extra on top of £7.25. Likewise there was no choice of marge, only butter was offered. Ditto no juice to wash it all down. One good thing was the staff who were friendly but slow and forgetful but the best thing was sitting outside, and ignoring the car park directly in front, looking up to Skiddaw, Latrigg and the fells. All in all the outside seating and view rescued an otherwise vastly overpriced, £7.25 breakfast - I have had far better veggie breakfasts in mediocre guest houses. I shall try the midday and evening meals at this place and see if they are any better.