Bents Garden Centre

I can't cope with gardens. As far as I am concerned they are a waste of a good parking spot. Why fill your garden with plants and flowers that then attract bees and wasps which means you're unable to actually sit in your garden?

Bloody stupid, if you ask me.

It follows, then, that I am not a big fan of garden centres. Bents Garden Centre in Glazebury has a redeeming feature though - its cafe/restaurant. Or, as you are constantly reminded by the adverts and literature, it's 'award winning' cafe/restaurant.

The food is really rather good. Premium quality - at a premium price. It's cheaper to go just about anywhere else to eat than Bents'. This is why it is 'special treat' only.

So, having paid close on £14 for a pork pie salad (and very nice it was, too) I finished off my meal with a slice of coffee and walnut cake. I knew they do this - they've always had it before...  but there were none on display.

Having resigned myself to no dessert I decided there was no harm in asking and, lo and behold, they had a 'couple of slices around the back'. Sorted.

The cake has a double filling - but very thin icing (although the fondant whirl is topped with a chocolate covered coffee bean which is a nice touch). The sponge is delicious and dark but the whole thing together was rather too sweet for my taste. and the price... oh, my word, the price!

Price: £4.20
Walnut Garnish: Yes
Walnut in sponge: No
Sponge: 9/10
Icing: 6/10
Filling 6/10

Tennants Auction Rooms Cafe

It is not often that I get to enjoy two of my favourite pastimes at the same time... but last Wednesday I did just that.

My friend (I'm not sure he'd agree that we are mates) Paul Brett has teamed up with auction house Tennants (in Leyburn, Yorkshire) to exhibit part of his immense guitar collection. In the evening there was to be a charity concert to raise funds for Future Talent.

I decided that a day out was in order. Ans what a grand day out it was. The concert, featuring such guitar luminaries as Ben Smith, Gordon Giltrap, John Etheridge and Raymond Burley (and, of course, Paul Brett himself) was superb...

As was the on-site cafe where I managed to snaffle the final remaining piece of coffee cake.

Now, I ought to make it clear here (as I haven't before) that coffee cake is different to coffee and walnut cake. Both have their place. Walnuts are not a pre-requisite for a coffee cake. They're nice, certainly, and they add something to the overall experience - but they're not actually necessary (unless you're buying 'coffee and walnut cake' in which case their absence would be a reason for a mark down!)

The coffee cake at Tennants (no idea who actually made or supplied it) was just brilliant. In fact it goes to the top of my favourite 'coffee cake not made by my mum' list.

It had everything - a lovely moist sponge, plenty of filling (though a bit more would've been good) and a slightly crusty icing on the top (and plenty of it). A great way to start my afternoon and evening of guitar related fun. Indeed the only way the day could have been improved was if I'd spent the morning watching Liverpool FC beat some other team (ANY team, would do) and if Ralph Mctell had been on the bill for the concert :)

Price: £1.50
Walnut Garnish: No
Walnut in sponge: No
Sponge: 9/10
Icing: 9/10
Filling 8/10

I don't suppose Tennants can guarantee that coffee cake will be available every time... but it ought to be. Paul's exhibition is on display until June 20th when some of his instruments are due to be auctioned...