Claire’s Café Culture
- Claire Champion
- Jul 24
- 4 min read
Boswells Café, Basingstoke
Boswells Café is a new addition to Basingstoke’s Festival Place and opened in October 2024. It’s a popular choice so it’s good news for us coffee and café culture lovers. James and I have visited there a few times and have enjoyed on every occasion. There is a range of cooked food and cold snacks plus plenty of coffee choices, teas, shakes and soft drinks. I would say overall the prices are reasonable, around about the medium mark for those looking to spend not too much.
As it was a Saturday, we went to the café and had brunch. I had a small latte, and James had a small cappuccino. For food I chose the Veggie Breakfast Bap which comes with two veggie sausages and mushrooms. James ordered the American breakfast, which consisted of fried egg, two hash browns, two rashers of bacon, and toast. The coffees were well made, and the food was delicious. I think the fact that we went when it was quiet helped the easy flow of the meal. The staff were courteous, efficient, and timely with the serving of the order.
I like the décor in Boswells as it’s bright with plants and books adorning the sideboards and shelving. There are modern paintings on the walls and posters advertising the menu. This all makes for a calming but vibrant atmosphere. As well as the design, the seating and tables are varied and comfortable. Whoever designed the layout got it spot on.
When you factor all these aspects in, I think you come up with a welcoming café with a varied menu and reasonable pricing. Boswells Café gets a gold star from me – a fantastic all-rounder café that will appeal to everyone.
The Alton Hideout Cafe
What is needed when it’s a rainy, grey June day and you have time to kill before the bus home arrives? A coffee perhaps? Oh, and a sit down after a walk in the drizzle. That’s required too. Well, we found those things when we were in Alton the other day.
On this occasion we had visited the town as I was having an x-ray done at the community hospital (a whole health journey story which I’ll relate at another time!). As the appointment was over in super quick time we decided to walk back into town and head for the next available connecting bus back to Basingstoke. Only to our disappointment there wasn’t a bus for about fifty minutes. So, to fill the gap we went to the nearest independent coffee shop: The Alton Hideout Café on Turk Street.
I wasn’t sure what to expect but as we went in the atmosphere seemed serene and inviting. The barista greeted us, and she asked for our order. I went for my usual latte with oat milk and James chose a cappuccino with a billionaire’s shortcake. As we enjoyed our coffees and James tucked into his cake, we noted the funky and unique design of the place. As RAF Odiham is local to Alton there is an air force theme dotted through the café, interspersed with artwork and paintings created by local artists.
For a rain-soaked June day, hanging out at The Hideout Café was the right plan. We weren’t there for longer than half an hour, so we didn’t get to sample the lunchtime menu, but we earmarked the place for another trip to Alton in the future.
In summary, I would recommend The Hideout for a fantastic cup of coffee (or tea if you prefer) at a reasonable price. If you’re bored of the ubiquitous chain coffee shops, this lovely little café will be the perfect antidote. If you happen to be in Alton sometime soon, give it a try.
The Street Bakeshop, Old Basing
I’d heard and read excellent reviews of The Street Bakeshop, so when I was in Old Basing one Friday, I decided to test it out for myself. As a connection to my previous comment about being on a health journey, I had to go to Old Basing for medical treatment at the surgery there. As it happens The Street Bakeshop is a short walk from the clinic so when I arrived via bus to the village, I made a beeline for the café for lunch.
On arrival at the bakeshop, I joined the back of the growing queue. I must admit I didn’t quite gauge how popular the café would be – but of course it was the start of the lunchtime rush, and it was nearly the weekend. Everyone was on their quest for coffee, cakes, and toasties! While I was standing there, I realised this wasn’t any ordinary bakery. There seemed to be an elevated air about it and when I saw the freshly baked sourdough loaves on the shelves next to me, I was full of anticipation.
It was my turn to order, and I asked the friendly barista for a goat’s cheese and roasted vegetable sourdough toastie with a latte. She then expertly made my latte, and I took a seat at a table with a couple who were waiting for their order. As it was so busy there were no tables free to sit solo, but it was fine for me as I had plenty of space on my side of the table. It wasn’t too long and my toastie was ready. Both the latte and the toasted sandwich were delicious, and I couldn’t fault the amount of food or the presentation.
I noticed the output of the staff was incredible and they were working hard to get everyone’s orders out on time. They kept the smiles and good humour going, even when it got extremely busy. This courteous and efficient service gets my vote, and I would recommend The Street Bakeshop as another place to stop by for coffee, snacks, and a side order of smiles.
If you’re in the Basingstoke or Alton areas, why not try my top café picks. Here are the links to find out more about my recommendations:
I hope you’ve enjoyed my café culture round-up, and it would be fun to get your favourite café suggestions in the comments section below. Until next time, enjoy your local coffee shop or café, and happy reading.
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