Aversham-on-the-hill --end of the Metropolitan Line

Heading to the opposite corner of London on the suggestion of a website spotlighting "Best Villages in the South of England" (review by Ferne Arfin), we travel Northwest toward Old Aversham via Overground and two Underground trains, fifteen minutes shy of a two hour journey.  We find ourselves at the end of the Metropolitan Line, the world's oldest subway (so the review claims). Disembarking onto the platform still umbrellaed by Victorian arches and canopies, or so it appears to my foreign eye, we enjoy a stroll through Old Aversham (several pubs -- including two from the movie "Four Weddings and a Funeral", but no cafe). Then head up the hill to Aversham-on-the-hill, the "modern town" started with the arrival of the Underground station.

Sadly, the local cafe closed "a while back," so we settle for the Master Chef open at 7:30 am. Could be a franchise, but not sure.  The cheerful waitress, donning a polka-dot Master Chef apron takes our 2x2 order, returning quickly with two large mugs of piping hot tea.  Clean throughout, wobble-free tables, no TV and soft music create a pleasant space in which to enjoy our warm retreat from the bitter cold.
And just enough tinsel and glitter to make it Christmas.

The extra-large framed photos of New York make us wonder why some restaurants try to be somewhere they are not -- Pictures of the ancient Market Town of Old Aversham, only a mile away, would provide interesting and informative visual sustenance.  Ah, but likely these NYC photos arrive pre-framed from a mass supplier of art-for-your-business.  And photos of Old Aversham would need to be taken, printed and framed.  And, truth be told, the New York cityscape is beautiful.

But let us not forget the eggs...poached on brown bread today.  Happy Husband smiles with delight as he pokes the first yolk and his bread soaks in the run-off.  The other three seem more soft-boiled.  But all are hot and delicious.  And the still-piping-hot tea covers any egg-disappointment.

The blustery Winnie-the-Pooh day blows dry leaves inside each time the door opens, and the staff quickly appears broom-in-hand to sweep them away with a smile.

As we depart, the woman enjoying her eggs, bacon and chips, sitting in the front window, reminds me of my beloved aunt Helen who enjoyed a weekly meal out at her favourite Burger Joint in Albuquerque, always claiming the same seat.  I wonder if perhaps this aged English Auntie finds herself in this window each Thursday enjoying the fare of Master Chef in Aversham-on-the-Hill.

Old Aversham, by the way, is indeed a gem -- chartered in 1200 by (Bad) King John for an annual Market Fair, still held each September, with a grand thoroughfare through its middle to accommodate the market (which today is accommodating extra parking down its middle).  Fun to picture Hugh Grant and Andy MacDowell  in the Crown Hotel (true confessions...we went inside to feel the vibes!)

Rochester - Legends Cafe

After a 45 minute drive southeast, through a cold grey Kent morning, we arrive at the Legends Cafe, one of our favourites, for an early morning brekky in Rochester.  At 7:00 am the cafe exudes warmth, the heat quickly fogging up our spectacles. 


Soon Happy Husband gleefully holds his cup of piping hot tea!  Yes, they happily provide a substantial pitcher of hot milk upon request.  

"Historic Rochester" brochures boldly proclaim "where legends were created," thus the cafe name.  Not sure Dickens or Wellington actually ate here, but Dickens surely walked the street!  And William the Conqueror probably passed nearby assessing the spot for the Rochester Castle, the keep of which holds the grand honour of being the tallest keep in England at 113 feet high. (Don't trust my history lessons to be exact; it's the two eggs on toast I'm after.  But I do love Rochester.)




So, going with the theme, Legends Cafe's decor focuses on Hollywood Legends.  We figure eight framed photos constitute a theme. 

Back to the eggs and toast...Happy Husband's smile attests that we're pleased with our meal.  The toast is thick and perfectly toasted.  They don't poach eggs, but the fried eggs run when pierced, just as they should.  The £2 price is a pleasant 50p less than most cafes we've found.  

The counter staff provides friendly and pleasant assistance.  We overhear a stead flow of women's chat covering topics from tropical fish to family stuff, but not so loud as to be bothersome. 

The real treat at this place is no noise!  No music.  No loud cappuccino machines. No TV.  Just a peaceful warm space in which to enjoy the newspapers provided and the Women's Weekly we brought along. Okay, we did hear a bit of noise...the air hand-dryer in the loo and the milk steamer she used for our hot milk. But that's it.  And the loos --- on site and very clean!

Overall, the cafe presents a clean and pleasant atmosphere, plenty of seats for all, and a menu board with lots of choices.  Enough working men chow down a hot meal or come in to grab takeaway to provide our desired connected-to-the-community feeling. 

There's free parking out back, but we like to park at the Castle Parking area, then walk around the Cathedral (built in 1060), ambling along a tree-lined pathway through a park, then up the street to Legends. 

We complete a circle back to the car, walking down the historic high street that always delights with its Dickens-links, tea shops, book stores, charity shops (op shops for those of you in Oz; thrift stores for the North Americans) and today -- a cat in the window above the butcher's!  Look closely and you'll spot the cat stretching it's full height up the left side of the window above Capon's Butcher shop.

So, there you have it...another tasty Thursday morning breakfast in Britain.  We'll be back to where legends are created! See you next week....

Carwash Diner near Battle, East Sussex

Yes, this place is for real!  An American Diner on the side of the country road somewhere between London to Battle (where William conquered in 1066) and open early. Just noticed in the photos that it has two names..."Car Park Diner" and "Car Wash Diner."  Well, there's both a car wash next door and a car park out front.  Check out those cracks!   Room enough for lots of cars -- no parking problem here.

Turns out we have travelled all the way to East Surrey, which explains why it is open -- our arrival time is just after 9:00 am.  So not an earlier option for you early birds.

Wondering what my musician son would think of all the electric guitars spattered with paint and now unplayable, but they make for some unusual décor   The big news on the notice board by the front door is the line up of bands coming to play live in the weeks ahead.  Ah, so that explains the extra-large carpark.

The floor...spotless! The place shines.  The morning sun's rays burst through the wall of windows.

That's a real jukebox at the end of the room.  Didn't check the play-list.  But having met the owner it's sure to be old school rock-n-roll.  But where is everyone?  Could be a sign.  Forgot to take a photo of the food -- probably not runny enough for me -- the eggs that is.  And do avoid the "fried bread."  A synonym might be "rock candy."  

We do enjoy our destination -- Battle High Street and Battle Abbey -- in the rain.  Great notions shops tucked away on a side street.

http://www.carwashdiner.co.uk/ 
Horseshoe Garage, London Road, Hurst Green, East Sussex TN19 7QY
tel 01580 860370