We trudged through the village of Prestbury where I once bought a packet of posh bacon off Corrie’s Jim McDonald. No sign of celebs (not even Robbie Savage) here though today in the cafe that we have chosen – Henry’s. This is my third time here and I recall it was fine before (sat out in the courtyard with a fry-up) but today it is raining and February so it’s indoors on the only free table which is meant for six people.
Henry’s USP is that the boss is a 23 year-old with the learning disability Fragile X Syndrome and is sometimes present to hug the customers. I think some of the staff may also have disabilities, which would be great but I don’t like to ask. I am yet to see the eponymous Henry but have met their cute furry dachshund that seems to spend the whole time looking for sausage and finding ways of getting them in his mouth. Like most gay men I suppose.
We ordered a Full English each and a latte. When my drink came it had splashes on the outside of the cup, bits of black inside the cup and looked like it hasn’t been washed since the last ice age. I complained, worried that someone with a learning disability had done it. But no, the problem was the waitress simply could not be arsed and responded blithely with: ‘Well it’s just a splash’. Er no, nimwit, what about the dirt inside too? She replaced it with good grace and I hoped she would not add some gobbage to our drinks.
Scribed on the wall was the first line from Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr: ‘God give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change’. Except they could easily change my cup and replace my bacon that was a bit burned. Oh and the sausage supplier (Jim McDonald had sold up though) as it was a bit meh. And the waitress didn’t ask what sort of bread we wanted, so I presumed they were mind readers or related to Derren Brown.
This cafe supports the charity for Fragile X which is great but it is basically a greasy spoon in an affluent village. If you visit the tiny loo, you pass through a smog of cooking fumes and you start to wonder why this place has so much appeal. Maybe there isn’t much competition? The dull furniture is wooden and country kitchen while the tables are covered in vinyl. Chequered floor tiles to tread on but at least there are a few pictures of local buildings on the wall with a few ducks a la Hilda Ogden’s living room. There is also a bit of music at a reasonable level and the wifi works fine though you get the impression it’s not used by many of the gossipy customers in flowery Joules jumpers.
Two strangers arrived and sat the end of our table. They were the classic couple that live around here. He, ugly and loaded. She, high maintenance and vapid but attractive if you like banging plastic dolls. She had clearly just had her lips done and looked like the monster in the first level of Manic Miner. They stared at their phones when she wasn’t barking at him, presumably asking for a new handbag or another wheelbarrow of fifty-pound notes.
I don’t want to seem uncharitable by slating a worthy cafe doing good things but it needs to improve the service – people are paying for food here. This is Prestbury and it should deliver at a certain level. This isn’t bloody Morrison’s cafe!
The dachshund appeared barking as the synthetic moneygrabber woman started on her cash cow bloke again. We got up to leave, we’d had enough of noisy greedy dogs for one day.
Verdict: 3/5
Good: Vibe, cause, dog
Bad: Serveuse de merde
How dare you say anything about the disabled! I am not disabled but if I were…
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You will be if you make any more comments lol
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A charmer!
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Witty
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I think you are up your own backside!
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You’d like to be up my backside methinks….
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It’s a good place and what they stand for is fantastic. All fine in my book, actaully.
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Actually?
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Like this cafe – went here on your say-so and it was fine but yes a bit smelly and doggy at times lol
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I think I saw the comedian Gary Delaney in here once
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Well I love it – are you being a bit harsh on the customers?
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I saw Paddy McGuiness’s wife outside here once
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Love the look and ethos of this place – will once the Corona has gone bye byes. xx
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Love this place but is a good job as the Mrs drags me in here most weekend.
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The best cafe in the area for me then again where else canya go?
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Tossers all in here – give me Greggs any day lol x
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The dogs are cute but that is it! No, it’s not a bad place really.
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Like the idea of this place especially if celebs go there xx
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Tried twice – closed twice . What’s going on?
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Oh Henry!
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Full of preening pretentious pricks
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A decent cafe but nowt to write home about
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Good old Henry’s. You can’t beat it unless you go to somewhere else lol
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Has this place stayed open?
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There are better places for me
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Hit and miss this place – depends when you go and what you have.
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like the sentiment and all that but the service can be iffy
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A fine place – liked the review
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Not bad
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Me and the hubby go in on a Tuesday – can be stuck up but like the coffee actually? Meet the girls sometimes but it’s a bit old school. Still what can you do sometimes, y’now x
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Henry where for art thou? Lol
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An OK cafe in a overpriced village
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Overrated! Better places around
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Smells a bit greasy, the dogs are cute and usually staff OK. A few bored mummies in there of course and that’s to be expected. Overall the food is fine in my experience and I’ve seen Henry once albeit fleetingly 🙂
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A good cafe and my family and I love it – especially Sibu my youngest!
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Food OK, customers up themselves I’m afriad. Inside ok. – that my revioew!
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Where is Henry – I never see him!!!
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I like to visit my cousins in Devon and play strip poker with them but anyway the tea here is nice
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Been here 5 times to see the aponymous Henry – oh where art thou?
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As a Gunners fan I was sorry that Tierry was not around 😦 lol
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Lovely little place in a lovely little village with lovely staff xx love you all xxx :))))) xx
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Love Henry, the village and this place though I live in Dubai now so missing it a bit 😦
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Robbie Savage has been in here according to my driver
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A bit Covid inside and the back door makes a horrible sound when it closes – like a cat being tortured so not really relaxing – it’s gone a bit spit and sawdust and doesn’t really fit into Prestbury any more sadly.
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I come here for a shave around the corner but this place is a bit grim now but nice paintings for sale
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Naff tablecloths and stinks of greese not exactly pressbury is it
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Belter of a cafe – like the ones in Bolton but not as good. Come On!
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How is Christine? I still have a pair of her knickers.
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Everyone has her knickers lol
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Rubbish
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Somone said they have a van now ? Deliver?
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Muchas gracias. ?Como puedo iniciar sesion?
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