Review: Over Coffee, Accrington

4:34pm Monday 15th September 2008

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AS the heavens decided to deposit a month’s worth of rain on Accrington at the weekend, opening the door of Over Coffee felt like walking into the Ark.

The owners have really tried to create a little oasis of calm in the town centre with non-offensive jazz standards providing an unobtrusive soundtrack to your stay and tasteful pictures on the walls. There’s even somewhere to stand your umbrella — essential equipment at the moment.

Over Coffee (I’m really not sure about the name) offers full blown meals as well as snacks and drinks.

It proudly states that it uses local suppliers wherever possible, which must be applauded.

It being Saturday lunchtime when we called in, we both felt the need for a jacket potato (that’s what shopping does to you!) There is a range of toppings available, so for the better half it was simply cheese and for me the old staple of cheese and beans. With two regular lattes the bill came to £11.15.

Now before the complaints start coming in about an eating out review based on a humble jacket spud, can I just say that the aim of this column is to look at every kind of eating estabishment around East Lancashire, not just full-blown restaurants.

And, simple as it may sound, there is an art to getting a jacket potato just right — and they’ve certainly discovered it at Over Coffee. Fluffy, almost creamy potato, crisp yet tasty skin and a good amount of topping — now that’s a jacket potato.

The service was friendly and attentive without being obtrusive (larger establishments take note) and although it’s not really much more than a High Street cafe, you do feel as though you’re in a “proper” eating establishment.

At a time when so many town centre cafes are being replaced by the Starbucks and Cafe Neros of this world, it’s nice to see the little guys still contributing.

>> The verdict

There is an art to getting a jacket potato just right.