Breakfast at Gather Café Batheaston, Bath

It was a slow leisurely walk along the Riverside path, flanked by the River Avon and the Bathampton Meadows from the Batheaston Tollbridge to Gather Cafe for breakfast. Thankfully, while it was meant to be a hot day, it was still fairly early and the sun was still low on the horizon.

Gather Cafe on London Road East in Batheaston has been a fixture in the village for a few years now, where it was previously located on the High Street before moving to it’s current location at what was formerly The George pub.

The Space

The entrance to the cafe is situated to the right of the business through a covered area with some ‘outdoor’ seating. There are a couple of steps before entry to the cafe proper.

Once inside, the seagrass-style flooring, mis-matched tables and chairs and a plethora of wall decorations lends itself naturally to the rustic vibe. The initial ‘reception’ area is fairly small with just a few tables hugging the walls of the space.

As it was quiet when we arrived for breakfast so we had the pick of the place. Initially we tried to settle ourselves in the first dining area, but it feel a bit over looked and somewhat less private, so we headed round the corner and were pleasantly surprised.

Just around the corner, is a larger space awaits. Here, worn rugs soften the concrete flooring, wicker-style furniture and the plants, and plants and plants, definitely make it feel like an indoor garden. Menu cards are left on every table along with a ‘pot’ of cutlery, sugar packs, seasoning and the obligatory table number for self-ordering at the bar.

Food and Drinks

Counter service at the bar was quick, friendly and pleasant. We ordered a cappuccino, a pot of English breakfast tea, two lots of scrambled eggs on toast, one topped with salmon and another bacon.

The drinks arrived quickly and presentation was beautiful. It was disappointing though how small the actual drink was when considering its cost. The tea which came in a teapot was a slightly better size compared to coffee.

The perfectly scrambled eggs were served on a perfectly toasted sourdough slice, with the other topped with slices of bacon and salmon respectively. While the portions were a good size, it was a disappointing that apart from some finely chopped chives for toppings, there was no other accompaniment on the plate.

The dish could not be faulted taste-wise. The eggs were nicely soft and creamy while the bacon was cooked to a crisp that complemented well. The sourdough toast while only a thin slice was a good base for the eggs.

Conclusion

Gather Café is a welcoming space, and nicely decorated with its plants and rustic feel. The food and drink were of a high quality and were definitely tasty. I only wish there was a bit more of it for the price charged.

It would have been nice to perhaps have had some vine tomatoes on the side or a slightly more generous slice of bread. Despite the disappointment, Gather does offer a real ‘off the high street’ option to the local community.