It was strange how an apparently prime retail unit in the base of the Broadgate Tower on Bishopsgate stayed unwanted for so long. Presumably the rent must have been high and these are troubled times but it turns out that the architects had (probably) miscalculated and once the building went up they discovered only enough space remained for a very long (24m), high (8.5m) and particularly thin (2.6m) unit which would not be the most practical.However, the Coffeesmiths Collective, who also run Farringdon's Department of Coffee and Social Affairs and the Speakeasy in Soho, were not afraid of a challenge and earlier this month they opened the grandly titled Liberty of Norton Folgate in a striking white minimalist space with full height windows down the side. It's a little disorientating to step inside and realise the dimensions but once acclimatised it becomes a welcome and bright change from the more common retro styled box.
Coffee and teas dominate the clipboard menu that hangs under the table and a small selection of sandwiches, tarts and salads are available from which the rare roast beef sandwich was great value for only £5. A generous portion of meat, fresh salad and just a touch of horseradish. Service was also very good and they use well made teapots that manage the rare feat of keeping a brew warm for more than two minutes even when half empty.Liberty of Norton Folgate, 201 Bishopsgate, EC2M
27 March 2012
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