Lynwood & Co. (Lechlade)

Lynwood & Co is the ultimate breakfast or brunch destination if you are into hearty and wholesome food in generous portions and an atmosphere that is gloriously convivial. I love immersing into the hubbub of chattering families and to feel part of an organic tableau of true life – everybody is welcome, from small babies and wandering toddlers to large, mellow labradors and cute little sausage dogs. Which brings me in a short leap – the sausage, not the dogs – to the food fare.

If you are into stuff on toast – and I most definitely am – Lynwood is almost unbeatable. The sourdough is legend: tangy light and crusty in all the right ways. Have it with scrambled eggs, with smashed avocado, feta and mint, or even as a humble bacon sandwich and you won’t be able to leave a bit on your plate. Just too tasty. But beware, you won’t wanna eat again for a while – the portions are generous and the food sooo filling!

Smashed Avocado with Feta and Mint

Bacon Sandwich to die for

Orange Polenta Slice

I love the rustic and cosy décor, the unvarnished wood, the red teapots, the simplicity and the festive atmosphere. Lovely to sit facing the glass front and observe shoppers, people walking their dogs and in the summer, the tourists wandering down to the riverside marina.

If you have a sweet tooth, the cakes are very nice indeed. We tried an orange & polenta slice that was moist and zingy and a carrot and coconut cake dusted with pistachio that is a delicious and more healthy-feeling take on the coffee house classic.

Oh, and before you settle up, don’t forget to purchase a tyre-sized sourdough loaf on your way out, to make delicious toast and sandwiches for the rest of the week.

A tip: try to get there by 10:30am on a weekend to secure a table – the place does get rather buzzy!

Jolly Nice

It does just what it says on the tin, delighting the senses with the tastiest food – whether you are a carnivore or a ‘veggie’, served in the latest in rural chic: a yurt heated by a centre-piece wood burner. Don your tweed jacket and scan the papers alongside the country elite whilst feasting on the triumphal veggie burgers – yes, veggie burgers – and the tasty bacon baps. If you’re just looking for something sweet (not to mention unusual) to accompany your flat white the cakes and biscuits are all worth a try; my favourite is the chocolate, apricot and fennel cookie, but the fabulous indulgence of the giant Oreo, or the fragrant pear chocolate and cardamom cake may be more up your street.

Even better when the sun comes out and you can sit out on the benches in the back field sampling some of the imaginative ice-cream flavours, Jolly Nice is somewhere that is increasingly sought out. And once you’re done restoring satisfaction levels, you can shop for fresh veggies from the colourful display outside, top quality meats from the butcher’s stand as well as delicacies from the shop. All the while your kids and dogs (if you are a true local) run around ‘free-range’ in the back field. Jolly Nice may have originally started as an Airstream caravan parked in a disused filling station, but it has always sold quality snacks and it’s never looked back. Now it is the toast of the locals and not-so-locals and this local success story now also includes a gift shop.

The Cirencester Blog

Welcome to Cirencetera, The Cirencester Blog.

If you care about drinking good coffee in interesting surroundings, you are passionate about quality food and enjoy exploring the idyllic Cotswold countryside, this blog might well be for you.

Being residents here, we regularly embark on weekend expeditions to explore our beautiful countryside and seek out little gems – coffee shops with character in dreamy historical settings; eateries serving fresh, local delicacies; tiny churches that dot the area providing calm and charm. We’ve visited many already and we’ll share them with you.

So, if you find yourself  in need of an artisan coffee, or fancy a slab of delicious home-made cake after a long (or short, short works well) walk through enchanting hillside villages, we may have something to offer. If you’re constantly asking yourself where can I taste the best vegetarian cuisine while watching the world go by in a little market town full of bustle, or where is the best place to enjoy a hearty, wholesome brunch in front of an open fire, scanning the Sunday papers you may find some agreeable answers to these questions and more.

We’d like to share our experience of what life in the Cotswolds is really like, through little snippets of everyday life – overheard conversations and witnessed cameos of family life  and anecdotes that go beyond the glossy exterior.

We welcome all your feedback so we can improve our content and we look forward to sharing our love of beautiful places, food and coffee with like-minded people. So here goes.