Kingston tends to the middle-of-the-road regarding its shops and also its places to eat, but the latter at least is changing and there are now some decent independent cafes. The latest addition is Beanberry - in a street parallel to the main shopping street, near such landmarks as Sports Direct and PC World (and the independent art supplies shop Pullingers, so it's not all downmarket).
Beanberry is arguably the closest Kingston now has to a full-on hipster cafe. Food and drink served on wooden slabs instead of plates? Check. A long menu of different varieties of coffee? Check. There are long tables in the back (I say long but this is quite a small space, so 'long' is relative), upholstered traditional cafe-style seating or you can be adventurous and watch the world go by in the window (I can only do so much of this before some aggressive twerp outside decides to take exception to my existence, so I tend to sit in the back. But then that's Kingston for you). But sitting inside surrounded by high-level cafe-ness, I loved it.
I have been working my way up the coffees menu and have what is known as a Zero Japan - 3oo ml of coffee in a glass jug. Kenya Karindudu and Brazilian Nossa Senhora da Fatima, for two tasty examples. They also do pastries and for a savoury change, ricotta and spinach rolls. You can also buy bags of freshly roasted coffee beans and I want some '8 a.m. blues', I really do.
One of the TripAdvisor reviews suggests doing drinks that small children would like so that parents can bring their buggies in. In the spirit of Harry Enfield I would say: Oy! Beanberry! NO! Please do not do this. I have nothing against people with small children but even here in Nappy Valley can we not have a place that is just for grownups? Besides, there isn't room, physically nor psychologically.
I had: Zero Japan of varietal coffee £3.00 or £3.20 (varies)
Apricot croissant £2.50
Spinach and ricotta pastry £3.20
Did I Instagram my coffee? Of course I did.
And would I come back? Yes, indeed.
Beanberry Coffee Co.
30b Fife Road, Kingston KT1 1SZ
www.beanberrycoffee.com
(this article first appeared at www.chrisamies.com)
