Each Saturday, this little early-morning community comes together to chat, read or merely sit among the frothy peaks of chocolate-topped cappuccinos and hot toasted teacakes.
It's just turned eight, minutes after opening, and two women take their regular places on the sofas like seals on rocks, one facing the other, already rounding on mugs and slices.
They look up as a third customer enters.
'Hello William,' says one.
'How's Jenny?' asks the other.
'As well as she can be.' William replies.
Francesca behind the counter makes conversation with him as she prepares his drink.
'I bet you could write a book,' she says.
Carrying his mug to an empty table, he seems to signal his short stay by removing only one black leather glove to negotiate his drink. As he sips slowly, his vision is temporarily clouded by steam on his glasses. His outfit - beige windcheater and trousers - perfectly matches the smooth panelled walls.
'No Particular Place To Go' - Chuck Berry
Various Art Deco style prints line two walls, depicting exotic characters in other, perhaps more romantic cafés. It could be Italy, without the accents and low temperature. Here everyone's still wearing their coats and fleeces.
'In't it cold?'
Enter a fourth customer - a young Asian woman in check overcoat and matching green trousers.
There's a 'Whoosh!' from the coffee machine. Smooth-voiced veteran DJ Brian Matthews introduces the next song.
'If You Wait for Love' - Dave Berry
One of the women delicately lifts her final corner of toast and gulps it down. The other's not far behind. Beige man finishes his coffee, pulls on his other glove and returns his cup to the counter. Bidding goodbye to all, he leaves in the direction of the bus station.
Meanwhile, having bought her drink, Asian young lady gathers her bright carrier bags and goes to sit alone in the farthest corner at the back.
'Build Me Up, Buttercup' - The Foundations
It's 8.27 and there's a sudden rush of activity. A third staff member arrives. Young and pretty, maybe of Italian extraction, a last hug for the boyfriend who reluctantly departs and she's in, full of the night before, the night ahead, hurriedly fastening her apron.
'Sha La La' - Manfred Mann
Enter three more. A man and two women. First real queue of the day as they fall in behind the two originals, up to replenish supplies. Greetings all round for familiar faces.
'Mornin' love.'
'Mornin' Betty.'
'…try get rid of her but she keeps turnin' up …'
'Three coffees, two toasts and whatever she wants.'
Two of the new three go to sit at their regular table, leaving the eldest, probably the mother of one. They don't speak. Her blue rinse matches his fleece. She puts on her glasses and inspects a receipt she's extracted from her handbag. He scans his Daily Mirror.
'Can't You See (You're Losing Me)?' - Mary Wells
Back at the counter the banter continues
'Well, it'd be a dull world if everyone were alike …'
'Coffee machine's gone quiet.'
'Probably having a rest.'
'Well, it's on the go all day. We give it some right stick.'
Blue rinse fleece man returns from the table to assist.
'Have you got everything? Right, let's go.'
'Who Can I Turn To?' - Dusty Springfield
Out in the precinct, the first shoppers are milling around with the last of the cleaners, though the shops themselves are yet to open. Snatches of conversations spill into the café.
'Are you coming into town tomorrow?'
'Yes. Well, I've to go into Curry's. Not right into town.'
And so another session continues for the early morning café crowd. Soon they'll be gone into the ripening day. To be replaced perhaps by … the mid-morning café crowd.
Bama Lama Bama Loo - Little Richard.
John Ashton
Monday, 30 March 2009
They look up as a third customer enters.
'Hello William,' says one.
'How's Jenny?' asks the other.
'As well as she can be.' William replies.
Francesca behind the counter makes conversation with him as she prepares his drink.
'I bet you could write a book,' she says.
Carrying his mug to an empty table, he seems to signal his short stay by removing only one black leather glove to negotiate his drink. As he sips slowly, his vision is temporarily clouded by steam on his glasses. His outfit - beige windcheater and trousers - perfectly matches the smooth panelled walls.
'No Particular Place To Go' - Chuck Berry
Various Art Deco style prints line two walls, depicting exotic characters in other, perhaps more romantic cafés. It could be Italy, without the accents and low temperature. Here everyone's still wearing their coats and fleeces.
'In't it cold?'
Enter a fourth customer - a young Asian woman in check overcoat and matching green trousers.
There's a 'Whoosh!' from the coffee machine. Smooth-voiced veteran DJ Brian Matthews introduces the next song.
'If You Wait for Love' - Dave Berry
One of the women delicately lifts her final corner of toast and gulps it down. The other's not far behind. Beige man finishes his coffee, pulls on his other glove and returns his cup to the counter. Bidding goodbye to all, he leaves in the direction of the bus station.
Meanwhile, having bought her drink, Asian young lady gathers her bright carrier bags and goes to sit alone in the farthest corner at the back.
'Build Me Up, Buttercup' - The Foundations
It's 8.27 and there's a sudden rush of activity. A third staff member arrives. Young and pretty, maybe of Italian extraction, a last hug for the boyfriend who reluctantly departs and she's in, full of the night before, the night ahead, hurriedly fastening her apron.
'Sha La La' - Manfred Mann
Enter three more. A man and two women. First real queue of the day as they fall in behind the two originals, up to replenish supplies. Greetings all round for familiar faces.
'Mornin' love.'
'Mornin' Betty.'
'…try get rid of her but she keeps turnin' up …'
'Three coffees, two toasts and whatever she wants.'
Two of the new three go to sit at their regular table, leaving the eldest, probably the mother of one. They don't speak. Her blue rinse matches his fleece. She puts on her glasses and inspects a receipt she's extracted from her handbag. He scans his Daily Mirror.
'Can't You See (You're Losing Me)?' - Mary Wells
Back at the counter the banter continues
'Well, it'd be a dull world if everyone were alike …'
'Coffee machine's gone quiet.'
'Probably having a rest.'
'Well, it's on the go all day. We give it some right stick.'
Blue rinse fleece man returns from the table to assist.
'Have you got everything? Right, let's go.'
'Who Can I Turn To?' - Dusty Springfield
Out in the precinct, the first shoppers are milling around with the last of the cleaners, though the shops themselves are yet to open. Snatches of conversations spill into the café.
'Are you coming into town tomorrow?'
'Yes. Well, I've to go into Curry's. Not right into town.'
And so another session continues for the early morning café crowd. Soon they'll be gone into the ripening day. To be replaced perhaps by … the mid-morning café crowd.
Bama Lama Bama Loo - Little Richard.
John Ashton
Monday, 30 March 2009