Cheryl's Cafe, Wolverhampton
Net curtains hanging in the window, a weathered sign hanging from a bracket above the door. An advertising board on the pavement, beckoning people to enter. This is how cafes used to be.
Net curtains hanging in the window, a weathered sign hanging from a bracket above the door. An advertising board on the pavement, beckoning people to enter. This is how cafes used to be.
In an age when trendy coffee shops seem to be springing up in every town, it is good to find there are still some traditional cafés around.
And that's exactly what you get if you stop off at Cheryl's Cafe in Bilston Road, Wolverhampton.
From the outside, it is like a throwback to another age. A recessed doorway is flanked by two old-fashioned shop windows with decorative leading, the wall below finished with matt black paint, contrasting with a whitewashed finish to the top half of the building.
Inside, the small floor space is well used with light pine-coloured chairs and tables giving the cafe an airy feel.
The cafŽ has white-washed walls dotted with interesting features such as a teapot and ornate lantern.
Posters advertising upcoming local events and a notice board adorn the cafe's walls, adding to the feeling that Cheryl's is proud to be part of the community. Serving staff Sharon and Charlotte greet customers with a smile and it is clear the cafe is popular among its regulars.
The cafe is busy during weekday lunchtimes as workers pop in to grab a bite to eat and chat.
The atmosphere at Cheryl's is decidedly laid back, and it's clear customers visit as much for conversations and a lunch-break catch-up as they do for the food.
The cafe's menu is packed with hunger-busting meals and those looking for a mouth-watering lunch are spoiled for choice.
Hot food includes substantial meals such as cottage pie, lamb pie and faggots and peas, all of which are served with vegetables or chips.
Hot sandwiches include bacon and sausage, bacon and egg and bacon and mushrooms. There is also a list of added extras which includes black pudding.
For customers who are in a hurry, the cafe offers tasty meals in boxes which can be taken out. Options include chicken curry and chilli and chips.
But the jewel in Cheryl's crown is its extensive breakfast menu. There are four different breakfasts to choose from ranging in price from £2.20 to £4, including a diet option consisting of cereal, semi-skimmed milk and toast with a low-fat spread. Not having a particularly large appetite myself, I opted for a cheese salad baguette.
The service at the café was swift and my baguette came it was packed with fresh onion, tomatoes and lettuce, which Sharon told me had been homegrown.
The bread was crusty and the grated cheese had a lovely strong, mature flavour. I washed it down with a can of Coca Cola.
The bill came to just £2 which is great value for money considering a day-old packaged sandwich from a supermarket would cost considerably more.
Cheryl's Café offers friendly, relaxed service and fresh, filling food, an experience far more appealing than you get from a shop-bought lunch.
Bilston Road, Wolverhampton,
Tel: 01902 835335
