May 2012
I thought there was something different about the Attic Cafe in Berkhamsted’s Home & Colonial store when I didn’t recognise any of the serving staff. The menu was also different, down from 4 pages to just 2, on a hard-to-read laminated sheet of A5.
More disappointment was to follow when I couldn’t find my favourite, croissant filled with smoked salmon and scrambled egg. Then catastrophe! One of my party was delighted to find her favourite, Coronation Chicken, on the fillings menu only to be told it shouldn’t have been there as no one ever asked for it!
I like the Attic Cafe and its idiosyncracies, like having the serving staff sit down on the next table and eat their lunch while you’re still waiting! It’s a throwback to the 1950s when my mother used to take me to the Primrose Cafe in Chesham, buy me a cup of Nescafe and a slice of coffee cake, and spend the morning gossiping with her friends!
The Attic’s decor, its plain wooden tables, assortment of wheelback chairs, chipped floral teacups (not really!) and period music are an authentic recreation of that era. But something was afoot at the Attic and I wasn’t sure what.
It was quite by chance that a couple of days later I heard the news. It has been taken over by James Hannaway, founder and CEO of the Rex Cinema, who is a regular there. I have frequently featured James here in my blog and some years back I even ventured that he was turning into Berkhamsted’s answer to Rick Stein and would soon take over the place with restaurants, hotels and fish and chip shops! I wish him every success with the Attic. Running a cafe in a small town is a tricky business and I hope he listens to what his customers have to say. Here’s what I have to say: Restore the croissants and Coronation Chicken James!
