Two new cafes have appeared on the Q1 route, one at Dunton Rd and one 2 miles further east at Folkestone Gardens (see map).
Festa sul prato (translated “Feast in the Meadow” so think ‘Picnic in the Park!’) is a new, single storey, stand-alone building in Folkestone Gardens. You could miss it as the back is to the Quietway and is not signed. It is easily seen if approaching from Woodpecker Rd. Has been open since August 2016 and is rather smart. Currently as well as the food and drinks, some excellent art is being exhibited (Landscape-inspired abstract paintings by Louise Holgate, www.louise-holgate.co.uk).
Dropping in on a Tuesday afternoon had an excellent coffee. The choice of location was not determined by the closeness to the cycle route, but this was seen as a plus and there were 3 Sheffield stands by the entrance. Does a varied (Italian) menu, in fact feels more like a restaurant than a café. Lots of information on the Festa web site at www.festasulprato.com
Crol and Co will eventually be an antiques shop with an attached café. For now (only opened in October 2016) it is a café.
Crol and Co will eventually be an antiques shop with an attached café. For now (only opened in October 2016) it is a café.
Location is a previously empty shop unit on the corner of Lynton Rd and Dunton Rd, so very visible from Q1. Bicycle rack outside with 2 bikes, and the owner is a cyclist. She commented on my Skyride Leader jacket and said she has ridden with her children on Skyrides. Again rather good coffee and lots of cakes and pastries on offer. On a cold Tuesday afternoon there were several small groups drinking coffee and looking very comfortable. Find out more on Twitter (#crolandcocoffee) or Instagram (Crolandcovintage).
What was interesting was that both businesses had noted the presence of the cycle route and saw it as a positive factor. The way cycle routes can increase local trade has been documented widely. There are some good examples from New York in Streetfight by Janette Sadik-Khan (Viking, 2016). Maybe, on a small scale, we are seeing the same thing here in South London. But whether this marks a new trend or not, we can still enjoy two valuable additions to the amenities of Quietway 1.
What was interesting was that both businesses had noted the presence of the cycle route and saw it as a positive factor. The way cycle routes can increase local trade has been documented widely. There are some good examples from New York in Streetfight by Janette Sadik-Khan (Viking, 2016). Maybe, on a small scale, we are seeing the same thing here in South London. But whether this marks a new trend or not, we can still enjoy two valuable additions to the amenities of Quietway 1.