the locker cafe cambridge – New in Cambridge

What’s on in August

Here’s the What’s On listing for August! It’s full of all sorts of events that come to my attention and I’ll update it through the month so do check back when you can.

King's College Cambridge — King’s College with its 200 year old horse chestnut tree

1 – 25th Cambridge Shakespeare Festival. Open air Shakespeare plays in College gardens. Macbeth/The Comedy of Errors/Pericles/Twelfth Night. http://www.cambridgeshakespeare.com

1 – 31st Summer at the Museums. Fun family days out for all ages. Making and creating, hands-on history and interactive science. Low cost or free. http://www.museums.cam.ac.uk

2 – 5th Cambridge Folk Festival. Cherry Hinton Hall. http://www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk/folk-festival

3 – 5th 7pm Movies @ Madingley. Breakfast at Tiffany’s/Spectre/La La Land. Madingley Hall Gardens, CB23. Open air cinema with barbecue and bar. http://www.ice.cam.ac.uk/SummerFestival

5th 1 – 4 pm Riverside Tea Garden at The Old Pumping Station. http://www.museumoftechnology.com

5th 2 – 5pm Open Gardens. Christ’s College Fellows’ Garden, St Andrew’s Street. Teas, homemade cake and plants for sale. In aid of British Red Cross.

6th 11am – 3pm Tall Towers! Great St Mary’s Church. A tall tower trail and tower building activities for families. Drop in.

7 – 10th Cookery courses (half day) including Perfect Pasta for Kids, Italian for Teens, Luxury Picnic Food for Teens, Summer Desserts for Children, Parent and Child French Baking. Cambridge Cookery School, Homerton Gardens, Purbeck Road, CB2. http://www.cambridgecookery.com

11 – 28th Phenomena. Art exhibition by Sama Soltani. The Locker Cafe, King Street.

12th 2 – 5pm Open Gardens. Clare College Fellows’ Garden, Queens Road. Teas, homemade cake and plants for sale. In aid of British Red Cross.

13th 11am – 3pm Flying High! Great St Mary’s Church. Discovering flying creatures and craft activities for families. Drop in.

17th 6.30 – 10pm Summer Night Market and outdoor cinema (Paddington 2 and The Greatest Showman). Market Square. http://www.cambridgebid.co.uk/events

19th 3 – 5pm Jazz on Jesus Green. ACE Jazz Trio and Sax. Free entry. http://www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk/city-events/events/jazz-and-brass-parks

20th 11am – 3pm Cambridge Market Square Stories! Great St Mary’s Church. Complete the market square stories trail and craft activities for families. Drop in.

23rd 7pm Chinese Music Concert – Flowing Water. Emmanuel United Reformed Church, CB2. http://www.eventbrite.co.uk

24 – 26th Cambridge Cocktail Weekend 2018. Corn Exchange. http://www.cambridgecocktailweekend.co.uk

24 – 27th 6pm Movies on the Meadows. Open air cinema on Grantchester Meadows. http://www.camfilmfest.com/grantchester

25th 10.45am Cambridgeshire Cycling Challenge. Celebrate 25 years of Anglia Ruskin University by cycling from Peterborough to Cambridge whilst raising money for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices. Entry deadline 17th August. http://www.pieevents.co.uk/events/ccc

30 – 31st Oktoberfest Beer Festival. Jesus Green. http://www.cambridge-oktoberfest.co.uk

Linden tree Cambridge — Lime scented blossom on the linden trees along the tow path

Three favourite places to eat in Cambridge

Cambridge News recently asked me to contribute to a piece in which I, along with a couple of other bloggers, shared a few of my favourite places to eat in the city. It was difficult to choose as there are so many I love and I had a tight word limit but here’s what I wrote!

The Locker Cafe King Street Cambridge — Image credit: John Hodges

The Locker Café in King Street is close to my heart (and not only because of their amazing Chocolate Guinness cake, which is my current obsession!). It opened just as I started writing my blog at the end of last summer and was the subject of my first post. Co-owned by father and son John and Adam Hodges, the café is light and spacious with a balcony for sunny days. Ceramics made by John are in daily use while art on the walls is curated by Adam’s mother and there’s live music on Sunday afternoons. The Locker is a favourite spot for brunch with my husband and I often interview for the blog here, over tea and cake.

www.thelockercafe.co.uk

The Copper Kettle Kings Parade Cambridge

The Copper Kettle on King’s Parade is one of Cambridge’s oldest restaurants and it has one of the best views too, overlooking the historic buildings of King’s College and its world famous chapel. It’s open all day, serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and cakes but in the evening the menu switches to Mediterranean cuisine with fish and vegetarian options alongside grilled meat dishes and salads. I like to meet friends here in the early evening to catch up on news over a glass or two of chilled white wine and a selection of delicious meze that we share as we chat.

www.thecopperkettle.weebly.com

Restaurant Twenty-Two Cambridge

Restaurant Twenty-Two on Chesterton Road has recently reopened with chef Sam Carter and partner Alexandra Olivier offering creative modern British food with a twist, using seasonal ingredients from local suppliers. Their 7 Course Tasting Menu quite simply blew us away. Sam creates delectable flavours and presents every dish so beautifully but it’s also the textures in each plate of his food which constantly surprise and excite. Returning last weekend with family, we enjoyed the set lunch menu which is exceptional value at £20 for three courses. Once again, Sam had our taste buds dancing until the very last bite.

www.restaurant22.co.uk

For the full version of this article, published in Cambridge News on 28 April 2018, and to see where my fellow bloggers like to eat, just click on the link below.

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/cambridge-food-bloggers-restaurant-reviews-14573223

The Locker Cafe

I love King Street. Where else in Cambridge can you have a wet shave, buy a ukulele and replenish your art supplies, all without walking more than a few paces? And now a new cafe, The Locker, has just opened.

Locker Cafe frontage

Co-owned by Cambridge residents John and Adam Hodges, it is a real family affair. Dad, John, had a long held ambition to open a cafe in the city and when son, Adam, returned from a spell living abroad, they decided to go for it. Having acquired their premises in June, they worked hard on a total refurb and opened at the end of August.

They’ve done a great job. The cafe is light, airy and spacious with seating on the ground and first floors and a small balcony for sunny days. Art on the walls, curated by Adam’s mother, is for sale and sculpture is also exhibited. The team has future plans for live music and private hire of the cafe for events.

Locker Cafe balcony

I visited mid-morning and enjoyed a pot of green tea with an excellent white chocolate and raspberry blondie. Service was cheerful and charming. A small breakfast menu includes organic muesli, yoghurt, berries and sourdough toast. Cakes and other baked goods are served through the day while lunchtime offerings include sausage rolls, sandwiches, panini and bruschette. The menu includes vegan and gluten free options.

The tea selection is by T2, an Australian brand which Adam came to know during his time abroad. The hot chocolate is also an Australian brand but the coffee comes from nearer home as it’s supplied by local coffee legends Hot Numbers, who have created Davy’s blend especially for the cafe.

And finally, I have to mention the four legged member of the family, Adam’s much loved border collie dog, Davy Jones, who inspired not only the name of this new venture but also that signature coffee blend.

Opening hours are Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm, Saturday 9.30am – 5.30pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm.

Instagram @thelockercafe, Facebook The Locker Cafe

54 King Street, Cambridge CB1 1LN