Berkhamsted, Chesham, Gt Missenden - breakfast café recommendations

[robjh]

A group of us are doing a ride through in the Chilterns this weekend and will pass through Berko, Chesham and Gt Missenden in that order just when we'll be feeling like some breakfast mid-morning. Can anyone with local knowledge recommend cafés that would welcome half a dozen cyclists and do a cooked breakfast for not too many ££ ?

I've found a few possibilities, eg.
Berkhamsted - Bel Caffe, or Fred and Ginger, both in High Street
Gt Missenden - The Stamp, or Matilda's, both High Street

Chesham looks a bit more problematic as the High Street may be no-cycling - can anyone confirm? - though I see places such as Smiley Cafe there.

We would no doubt find something but any advice would be welcome.

 

[Cathryn]

I went to Matilda's in Gt M a month or so ago on my cafe quest. I didn't think it was great as a 'cake and coffee cafe' (see my post below) but I think it would be an excellent breakfast stop!!

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/52-cafes-in-52-weeks-challenge.282367/post-6685779

 

[VJOCK]

Berko i dont know so well.

Lots of options along chesham highstreet and yes it pedestrian only so you will need to walk your bike a tiny bit.
Some good examples
https://www.brazilskitchen.eu/
https://www.poppinsrestaurants.co.uk/


Come up the hill to amersham where there is also a few options
Baracuda or masterchef ( second one being cheaper)
Google streetview is your friend -sycamore road is main highstreet

Some places have outside seating to keep an eye on your bike.


Just outside chesham ( slight detour from berko to chesham) is cycle specific cafe but not full English breakfast
https://www.chilternvelo.co.uk/cafe/

Matildas in GM is popular with cyclists

In the chilterns
Watchout for local road closures along the hs2 route

 

[Juan Kog]

My review is based on pre plague visits. Poppins in Chesham is my recommendation. It’s more Caff than artisan espresso lounge , I have used it on group rides so 6 cyclist will not phase them . The food was not expensive and the service was quick. If I wasn’t busy today I would go and do an up to date test .

 

[T4tomo]

Depending on your approach to Berko, if you can take in Ashridge House, the have a super new-ish cafe, which does cooked breakfasts, nice courtyard to sit in (or inside) and the route from there to Berko is lovely, down through the woods. this would be the classy option.

In Berko is always quite busy, and cant think of may places that you can easily stash 6 bikes in good view of tables best skirted for traffic reasons (nice sharp climb out too which ever way you go...) Hill Far Barn would fit the bill though if your route brings you in that way, and you could miss the worst of Berko traffic by cutting straight across at that end of town.

Chesham - Roots does the best coffee but no frying pan stuff, so for a full English it has to be Poppins, its a classic no frills greasy spoon.

 

[R_nger]

Also be aware, if your ride is on Sunday …the 400ish riders on the Hemel Hillbuster will be passing through Chesham and Great Missenden. I also agree with the comments above about Berko - the High Street has narrow pavements in places and gets busy (traffic crawls too). What kind of route are you taking ?

 

[robjh]

Also be aware, if your ride is on Sunday …the 400ish riders on the Hemel Hillbuster will be passing through Chesham and Great Missenden. I also agree with the comments above about Berko - the High Street has narrow pavements in places and gets busy (traffic crawls too). What kind of route are you taking ?

We're going on Saturday so won't clash with the Hemel event. I've more or less settled on Gt Missenden now, at 35 miles in (from Hitchin). We're doing about 100 miles, as far as Stokenchurch and back.
Thanks to all who've replied. I'm just off to bed now to get some sleep before the early start.

 

[robjh]

We went to Matilda's in Great Missenden in the end and were very happy with it.

On the way back we stopped at Musette in Aldbury but altogether Matilda's was more my thing.

Thanks again all for the suggestions.

 

[T4tomo]

Musette, Rapha London cafe prices in rural herts!! I think its owned by the people / person behind Ashmei clothing brand, which is similarly priced to Rapha to be fair, so at least they are consistent.

Went past Matilda's on Sunday on the Hillbuster, it looked decent from a ride past.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I don't think he's active on the forum these days but @CharlieB is our Berko correspondent.

I'm assuming you've used the go-to resource for Cyclechat cafe hunters, The Cyclechat Cafe Map (as linked in this thread)
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ll=51.77809739722079,-0.5683313968632553&z=11&mid=13UAd2dgMj9v5kqDWgLzfUjRurn0NYEgR

It only has Matilda's on it. The review says "Nothing wrong with it...but uninspiring!"

 

[robjh]

I don't think he's active on the forum these days but @CharlieB is our Berko correspondent.

I'm assuming you've used the go-to resource for Cyclechat cafe hunters, The Cyclechat Cafe Map (as linked in this thread)
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ll=51.77809739722079,-0.5683313968632553&z=11&mid=13UAd2dgMj9v5kqDWgLzfUjRurn0NYEgR

It only has Matilda's on it. The review says "Nothing wrong with it...but uninspiring!"

I completely missed that resource. There's a good many cafés that I know missing so may have to see how I add them.

 

[Brooks]

Try the Wetherspoons in Berkhampstead, cheap and cheerful and free fill ups on the coffee 😀