Rumdoodles

It's a hard place to describe, but in a good way. Like Morpheus explaining the Matrix to Neo, you can't be told what it it, you have to see it for yourself. I'm going to have to try to explain I guess, so a nutshell the word for here is cozy. I don't know many places that when you step through the door you get hit with the good energy this place has (and that's not getting into the caffeine yet). It's inviting, it's warm and feels like you're stepping from a gnarly wet and windy Welsh hillside into a bubble of comfort. I'm a big fan of fantasy reads like Lord of the Rings and to me it was like The Inn of the Last home at Solace minus the Spiced Potatoes (the coffee however more than makes up for this) As you're stood at the counter ordering, your eyes start to wander around and take in the details. Every time they do fall onto an object, it'll lead you onto something else new and quirky- the front of the bar is made of old skis and even the tips jar has a tale behind it. The funny thing though is that it doesn't feel odd, or forced. It all feels like it belongs together and the cafe/shop should always, and has always have been her as it is. Floor boards to ceiling, it draws you in and makes you feel at home, and comfortable. Then there are the services here. The Coffee is brewed to order each and every cup. The coffee ranges from 'madman, enough oomf to let you be able to count the leaves on the trees over on the far side of the lake' strength to a rich and flavourful easy to drink cappuccino which is all served at drinking temperature. You're not scalding yourself trying to shuffle it around your blistering tongue while attempting to swallow a mouthful or having to wait 10 minutes for it to cool. It's served hot and perfectly warms you back to feeling like a human again from whatever it is you escaped from outside. Oh, it's all served in vintage chinaware full of character, not faceless corporate mugs thick enough to stop a tank round. You don't do Dairy you say? Not a problem. Non daily whiteners/milk subs are on hand along with a section of cakes to make even a diabetic like me think 'maybe', along 11 different types of Tea to choose from if you're not into coffee. I did notice a selection of cold soft drinks as well but didn't try any this time. It's going to take me a good few visits to explore the options here. Alongside the coffee there are the Outdoorsy supplies. Rumdoodles carries premium, professional grade jackets to OS maps. Firesteels to bootsocks so soft they must feel like walking on clouds (Alpaca Wool!) Next to this we have headwear, Tshirts, dull trousers for interesting people, and quite literally the best section of Kites I've seen in North Wales. It's all (or at least what I looked at) eco friendly too, bamboo fibre reusable coffee cups, eco cotton Tshirts ect. We need more places like this in the world. Finally you've got the host. The crazy Kiwi dude who plays that coffee machine behind the counter like the Phantom of the Opera plays a pipe organ. Rich is an engaging and charismatic guy who can whip up a mean brew and deliver it with a funny tale or two (it's always worth ordering a second cup of coffee here). He's also a keen outdoors enthusiast with bags of experience, and sound advice on many subjects from backpacks to socks. I'm really glad to have found this place open, and it's a welcome change to the instant Nescafe you find offered in a lot of other local alternatives. It's a place where I'll bring my wife, bring my family, and bring my friends to soak up the atmosphere of the place along with the coffee and (sly) cake. 87/10, would (and did) recommend to my mum.