Host of delights behind Pantry door
EVERYTHING you would imagine to find in your grandmother’s pantry is served at a newly-refurbished coffee shop overlooking the Bancroft Gardens, in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The Pantry, on the site of Cox’s Yard, had a soft opening to the public on Saturday and officially opened on Monday morning, 20th June.
Serving hand-roasted coffee, from Witney, Jeeves and Jericho tea, home-baked bread, handmade artisan sandwiches, pastries and cakes, The Pantry also sells 12 flavours of gelato, by il gelato di Ariela.
The Pantry’s own curds, jams and marmalades can also be purchased by the jar and food can be taken away.
At the former Milking Parlour, more recently known as Cox’s Yard coffee shop, the counters have been relocated, to afford customers a view of the Bancroft Gardens and Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Mel Smith, the coffee shop manager, said: “The whole idea is to feel like you are in your own home. You can touch things and feel things. Everything is fresh, there are even fresh flowers on the table. It would be exactly how you would have your own pantry or own country kitchen.”
The ceilings are lined with coffee sacks and apple crates, and even the hanging baskets in the outside seating area are made from coffee sacks. With a little book of recipes on each table, customers can enjoy eating a cake or go home and make one using The Pantry’s recipes, including a sweet shortcrust pastry, sponge cake and cookies.
Mel explained: “A selection of these recipes will be on offer to buy freshly made in The Pantry that day, but not necessarily at the same time.” And what’s Mel’s personal favourite? “The courgette and lime cake. It’s a twist on the carrot cake. I recommend having a pot of Earl Grey with the cake.”
Baked on site by Flora, a Romanian lady, she worked in Athens for six or seven years in a coffee shop. She starts baking at around 3am, in time for the coffee shop’s opening at 8am.
Mel, who has transferred to The Pantry, from another Charles Wells group establishment, D’parys in Bedford, added: “I think The Pantry will really take off and I think we have got a brilliant team, that we will need to keep adding to, because I think it’ll be getting so busy.”
A team of six staff are employed and Mel is seeking to employ a further four weekend staff, hopefully in time for the River Festival on Saturday, 2nd and Sunday, 3rd July.
The Pantry is the first phase of Apostrophe Pubs’ redevelopment of the site, since taking over in September. It is hoped that this will be the first of many Pantrys.
