to Northern Cobbler, Leicester

The newest business to open it's doors on the cosmopolitan Queens Road, Leicester is the quirky cafe-come-footwear store Northern Cobbler. Filled with merchandise and well made leather shoes, the business also retails homemade cakes and coffee and stays open later than all other cafes on the street. Perfect to catch up with friends on a late afternoon!

The space is light and airy and it seems the owners and brand have a penchant for wood! This creates a clean and minimal space that is not cluttered with tables and chairs. Instead the space is left open and, whilst there isn't an abundance of seating, we managed to get a large table with no problem at all and for hotter days there is the option to have your coffee and cake outside in the sun.

I, personally, quite like the large table as it allows conversation between groups to flow however there are individual tables for those preferring a more private outing.

The cafe is filled with a mismatch of furniture that showcases the items for sale in a really quirky way that, whilst not being to my own taste, is unique and interesting as when looking around the shop there is always something new to be spotted.

Enough about the surroundings and onto the most important part for me... the edibles! The counter top is laden with delicious homemade cakes freshly made that day- and once they're gone they're gone.

Carrot cake, peanut butter slices and red velvet cake line the wood making it really hard to resist a nibble with a drink. 

I spotted the savoury donut and was intrigued by the combination of tomato and spices that were said to be inside...

It was an odd but satisfying combination of flavours as the product looks identical to a donut and the mind almost expects a sweet and sugary taste. For a nibble, the savoury donut was perfectly nice however I won't be rushing back to get my fix of them. The cakes, on the other hand, I have been told are fantastic. All this food needed washing down and as I seemed to go to Northern Cobbler on the hottest day of the year so far it was only fitting that I skipped the coffee and try out the iced drinks.

My homemade still lemonade was to die for. I'm not usually a fan of overly sour or strong flavours but there was the perfect balance of lemon and I didn't pull a face when drinking it so I knew it wasn't too sour!

It was so refreshing- perfect for the summery days we have been having!

The shop is a complete anomaly and so different from anywhere I have ever been to before. Is it a shop? Is it a cafe? To tell you the truth it's both however if any of the well made, fine leather shoes take your fancy you'll be looking at a minimum of £200 so this is no greasy spoon! From parents on a school run to students and professionals sat with laptops, Northern Cobbler seems to appeal to all. It's a bit of a secret at the moment but as the word gets out and the concept is understood I have a feeling that this independent store will rival its near neighbour of Costa.

Have you every been to a cafe like this?

Happy Sunday everyone!

G x