Hot and unbothered at the water

In the heat, one just automatically heads to water.  This is why a nineteenth century reservoir and combined sewage treatment works (true) is now a popular day out for north Staffordshire families in the summer.
Like any large lake - artificial or not - there is a boating centre, but most people just come here simply to hang out. And, apart from having a cup of tea at the visitor centre at Tittesworth Reservoir, or stretching one's legs with casual walk around the shore, there really is nothing much else for non-boaters to do.
So, the water itself is the attraction.
Actually, it’s a pretty restful place.  One can see the attraction.

Matching the mismatching

Catching up with fads can be a puzzle.  At the trendy Spout Cafe in Leek we sat at shabby chic tables, and were served tea in mismatching crockery.  It was explained to me by my companion that this was not a careless mistake, but is the very latest way to present accessories in avant-garde eating-out venues.

I'm told it's something to do with: retro / vintage / [ place your own word here... ]. 

Teapot sheds light in Middleport

It looks at first like a magically suspended teapot, shedding rather science-fiction-style rays of luminescence.  In fact, it's an ordinary teapot - umm, acting as a lampshade.  (As it's pierced, that means it would be a poor teapot in actual practice... but I digress...)

We are in the tea-room at the Middleport Pottery Attraction in Stoke on Trent.  The site is half a loving restoration of a Victorian potbank, half a working pottery factory (using traditional skills).
The willow-pattern painting on these walls is a nice reference to one of the commonest designs you might find on nineteenth century ware.

Cafes are good for the species

We need cafes.  Is this a strange statement?  After all, it seems daft to go somewhere to pay sometimes outrageous prices for wet-but-hot flavoured water.

Yet, there is something communal about a cafe.  One gets the chance to be with one's species in a friendly way - and relax.  Giving oneself time to relax, even at home, is hard.

It's just a matter of finding cafes with reasonable prices and pleasant ambience - like the market cafe in Burton.

Just missed it at the Floral Hall

With photography, you often wonder what 'might have been'.  This could have been a great photo, but the people are out of symmetry to the window-frame; and I didn't realise at the time that a poster is coming out of the girl's head.  Ah well.

The shot was taken in the cafe at the Floral Hall, the slightly old-fashioned pavilion & dance-hall sited deep in Tunstall Park.  I like going there; it's quiet, and the atmosphere makes one feel one is being transported back to the 1950s.
But the volunteers who run the cafe are cheerfully casual and friendly.

Cafe for the community

The phrase 'community cafe' is bandied about a lot - mostly, it seems to describe places that sell exotic, organic foods - but the Dougie Mac Cafe in Meir really is what I would call a proper community cafe.
It's bright, cheap, friendly, sociable, has plenty of room, serves good basic food - and is popular.

It helps of course that the cafe is one part of the large charity-store in the town-centre, which raises hundreds of thousands of pounds for the local Douglas Macmillan Hospice. The items are so cheap that you can go there, spend very little, and yet still feel as though you've had some retail therapy!

And then, it's time for a cup of tea.

Cafe shaped like a Spitfire

The new cafe extension at the Mitchell Memorial Theatre & Arts Centre in Hanley is on a fairly spectacular design.
As the theatre, which is used for amateur performances and youth activities, was named after the locally-born aircraft designer RJ Mitchell, some bright spark suggested the new frontage should be shaped like a wing.
And, I think, it works beautifully.

RJ Mitchell is, of course, most famous for designing the Spitfire airplane which was so successful in World War Two.

The cafe itself is open all day, and the Spitfire theme continues in some of the decoration inside.

Foxlowe - a top community cafe

'Community cafes' have a record of turning out to be dingy, badly-run coffee-and-cakes places in a chilly village hall.
But, that's far from the case with the Foxlowe in Leek. The old building at the top of Market Place was saved after a long campaign, and is now a thriving arts centre.  It relies on donations and ticket sales, so its existence is never far from precarious, but it is successful...

...and classy. Though there are some very good tearooms and cafes in Leek - in fact, this is one of the best towns in Staffirdshire for such - the Foxlowe Cafe (run by volunteers, seven days a week) is up there with the best of them.

Wetton takes in the heat

We're now in a minor heatwave apparently, which is a fairly ironic thought as the rain has been with us at least every second day throughout the, er, summer.  And now we get this.

Wetton Mill, near Dovedale, is the place to be on such occasions. One can wade in the cool of the nearby river, stroll in the surrounding shady green, or just slurp on an ice-cream.

Ramblers' retreat

At last! A reasonably sunny day, or one that anyway is 'puthery' - which is the word used around here to describe this soft, humid, warm but cloudy weather.

One terrific place to walk on such a day is Dimmingsdale: along the River Churnet then up into the hills. A pleasant surprise on the walk is coming upon this building - which is in the middle of the forest, standing alone and all by itself. Called the 'Ramblers Retreat Cafe' it serves a lovely apple pie...

However, today seems like it's a one-off. Tomorrow's forecast is 'deluge of rain'. Seriously - that's what it says.

Link: Ramblers Retreat

Langos goulash is the best in town

The Langos cafe is not a place many people know about: it's right at the back of Hanley's indoor-market. But I always eat lunch here when I am in Hanley.
The Slovakian couple who run the place do British dishes of course - fish & chips etc - but they also do their own home-made East European dishes for the local Slovakian, Czech & Hungarian expats.
The goulash is outstanding - and at £3.50 a go, well-cheap! (The coffee aint much admittedly, so I move on to Starbucks, upstairs, for that).

Langos have just introduced a new dish - spicy goulash with dumplings. Magic.

Link: Langos on Facebook