Following this post the good people at Belle & Herbs have responded. For the most part it speaks for itself but you’ll find a couple of brief comments from me at the end.

Dear Ourman,

The ilovebelleandherbs gals were in at the weekend and mentioned you had been in touch, and mentioned your blog to me. so i thought i’d sniff ya out.

Thanks for taking the time to blog about us, it is always useful and stimulating to receive feedback such as this. In that I felt we had been making strides to address some of the issues you raise i thought i would write ya.

I was also resident in Heaton during the ‘no decent cafe’ days. The cafe was a response to this. It was difficult to see at the beginning that we would ever have to attempt to serve the amount of customers that we do, and thus we were fairly badly-set up to cope. We are trying to address these issues.

We are currently 7 months into a 12 month development period. We initially revamped the front of house. We made major alterations to the layout gaining more floor space, whilst not putting in any more chairs, and changed most all of our furniture stock. We feel there are very few ‘bad’ seats now. We no longer allow people to wait for tables inside the cafe - as is mentioned - so that other customers aren’t crowded.

We recently moved into our beautiful new purpose built kitchen in our basement, which was the result of a 5 month building project. We will next build loads of toilets, and by using the old kitchen space and building an extension more than double the floor space in the cafe. We will be opening the space at the side of the cafe as a pavement cafe.

When we are through this development period we will be lengthening our opening hours to open earlier and close later. We will also be furthering our agenda of being a ’social business’. We already support and train a number of people with disabilities, and will be dramatically increasing this.

We really believe the improvements wont change our essential raison d’etre, or feel. We mainly hope to improve service and the speed and quality and range of our products. We do not intend to open any more cafes. This one is the first and last.. trust me.

I believe that -notwithstanding the odd mistake- we do a pretty good job. we close 4 days a year! We work hard to source excellent ethical local ingredients, and to serve you them as quickly and attractively as we can. We believe we make a large contribution to the cultural and community fabric of Heaton. We have on numerous occasions hosted charitable and regular cultural events where our services are provided free. We will be seeking to undertake a more comprehensive programme of events when we have secured the necessary permissions.

On the whole I take the comments in a positive light, as we feel most of the same frustrations you discuss. My fragile cooks ego takes slight exception to the image you have chosen to represent ‘not exactly attractive’. This is a dish called ‘eggs BEAN-addict’, the baked beans are meant to replace the hollandaise sauce of eggs benedict. It was included as a joke on the menu, but is actually on our top 5 most sold items!

I would agree that the coffee at the sky apple is really good, as is their food, ambience and staff, I would also heartily recommend that you try it. I believe that we also serve really good coffee. We stock fairtrade only, locally roasted by the venerable Ringtons. Having sold and trialed many different coffee on the market I feel this is the best we have had.

Bearing in mind some of the comments from Ourman, I am not sure that you have visited recently? If you have the chance I would recommend that you come on a week day. Whilst we can get a little busy on weekdays during the school /college holidays, It is generally no problem immediately getting a table, and there is usually plenty of time to sit and chat or read the paper. If you would like to ring before you set off we will happily advise you of the the busy-ness of the cafe, Oh and we would also happily have breakfasts ready for takeaway at 9am.

In closing I feel I must just mention your assertion that the old WHQ was better than the hacienda! I think you must have gone post 1990 when they started asking for student i.d’s as a requirement to get in ;p

love

sam
x

p.s the ilovebelleandherbs gals have been busy getting married and globetrotting. But are still regulars when occasionally home.

* Sam - thanks for your comments.

Have I been recently? Well once this summer since my return from overseas. Many a time while I was away I had dreamt of a B&H breakfast and then I returned only to find that the experience wasn’t so much fun.

However, I’m more than impressed at all your plans. I particularly am looking forward to B&H as a night time venue. Sounds fabulous - as does the outside eating area. Can’t wait for the extra space.

Thanks so much for responding in such a constructive way - you have obviously put everything into this venture and I am not sure I would have taken criticism so well.

One further suggestion - get a blog. Your own Flickr account would be cool too. Your Myspace effort is all very well but it’s all a bit 13 year old boy, no? (Sorry). I’d love to follow your efforts as an ethical business. You have a good story to tell. Hey I’d even knock you up a couple of press releases (that’s what I do) in return for a table and a suasage and black pudding butty. Yes I am that cheap.

Oh and I wish I could visit weekdays but have a job to go to. But I do have Monday off so who knows.

Finally as regards the Hacienda. You’re 3/4 correct. I loved that place so it was high praise for WHQ rather than a slating for the Hacienda. But as regards the timing (and yes I was a student), it was 89-91 and I seem to recall 89 was more fun than 91.

But I should also admit that my favourit night was Thursday’s Temperance night (ahem… otherwise known as student night). I was always more New Order than 808 State so it all got a bit glow sticks and Vicks for me at weekends.

Picture Details:
Belle & Herbs breakfast originally uploaded by rachelandrew