We return to Bedale – the location of the recent excursion for a £60 a head Sunday lunch at Hansom – the new restaurant at the North End of town near St Gregory’s Church You may recall we thought it brilliant but pricey for a Sunday roast in these parts. But while we were there we spotted just a few doors down the street an unpretentious-looking café – The North End. Spotted is not quite the right word because we were aware of it, having dropped in for a coffee a while back.
We liked the simple and straightforward vibe to the place – unpretentious as I’ve said – and thought it worthy of a more consequential visit. And it was. Open since 2017 under the hands-on ownership of Emma and Stephen Jones, The North End Café is nowt flash – and I use that phrase in the best sense.
It is simple fare, well-prepared and served with a warm welcome and a friendly smile. It is big on using local suppliers and lists them prominently on the wall – Lonton Coffee of Barnard Castle, Taylors of Harrogate tea, Dales Dairies milk, Yorkshire Dales Meat, Shepherd’s Purse Cheese, Arthur Haigh’s black pudding, The Bedale Greengrocer and so on. Without doubt they could source stuff from cheaper suppliers so well done them for keeping it local.
There’s no evidence that using premium produce is particularly reflected in the prices so well done them again. I presume the building was once a shop, the café space is light and airy thanks to large window at the front which affords.