Now books, that’s another story. I’m always to be found with a book in my hand, whether fiction, poetry, gardening or art, I’m never far from one. In fact I’ve been known to spend a few hours in book shops and thus if in Birmingham Waterstone’s is the main and largest book shop in town to visit.
The new impressive Waterstone’s Birmingham on High Street on the Bull Ring intersection is huge.
Covering five floors, it covers every type of book and has a lovely floor for its Children’s section which also has its own cafe and cup cake making sessions (plus children’s play area).
Created as a ‘flagship bookshop for the Midlands’. The fiction section has its own floor (basement) and there are oak bookcases fitted throughout. Topped with this there’s also a varied events programme (see in store or on the website) and the shop itself feels more engaging, more user friendly with a new shop front and enhanced book range (though the poetry section is still a bit small for me). It’s a joy to walk around and another step on the revolutionisation of Birmingham as a cultural city merging with an impressive and vibrant city centre.
Now it appears that me and Mrs Mills’ cakes have a thing going on, but just keep it a secret, but then I’m bound by been a blogger and all food consumed is ‘for the blog’ and the blog alone. Ruth my wife disputes this, and feels that I just consume food, well because I like it. It’s probably one of the reasons why I began my blog. As, what’s the point in being a food blogger if you don’t like food, and cake is food…right.
The cafe is run independently and this shows in its free and easy layout and atmosphere with comfortable seating throughout. It’s a peaceful spot, but there is a surprise that you can sit on any floor with your drink and food if you wish (as long as you don’t mind carrying it up flights of stairs).
The aim is as much as possible to use local producers for cakes and bakes such as Mrs Mills.
Cheesecake and Flat White.
Yummy 😊
Mrs Mills’ Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake:
Creamy chocolatey layers of delight. Cheese cake base well made, a good bake. Rich Vanilla pod infused with a thick swirl of dark chocolate running through each slice, chocolate chip pieces. Melt in the mouth deliciousness. Indeed the best cheese cake in Birmingham no doubt.
Eaten with a lovely flat white. In fact everything one should be. Velvet micro foam and a powerful double shot of coffee.
Flat white
Mrs Mills’ Chocolate Brownie (with Pips Hot chilli sauce).
The second cake I’ve eaten at Waterstone’s cafe is the Chocolate Brownie made with Pips Hot Chilli Sauce and sea salt. A luxurious brownie, with a definite chilli hit, which though quite powerful compliments the gooey chocolate well and makes for an indulgent treat at any time of the day. A very beautiful brownie that deserves repeated trials. A treat.
Eaten with a disappointing cappuccino which wasn’t intensive enough in coffee for me and felt quite flat next to the brownie. Shame.
Waterstone’s cafe also serve sandwiches and biscuits. Bread is provided by local artisan baker Peel and Stone from the Jewellery Quarter. Other local producers are Anderson and Hill and Too busy to bake.
It’s a delight in every way and a place to wile away the time, but beware if you fancy working there, their wifi is erratic and tempermental, in fact much like writers.
A match made in bookish heaven.
Cakes and sandwiches at Waterstone’s.
Christmas time
Cafe seating.
The view from the cafe of Birmingham’s German Market in the distance.
Children’s floor with plenty of activities.
Books and coffee, whatever next?
Cafe seating amongst the books.
Waterstone’s Birmingham, High Street, 24-26 High Street, B4 7SL.
0121-633-4353.
Disclosure: I paid in full for my coffees and cakes. My opinions are honest as always.
Mrs Mills Cakes makes celebration cakes, on the go granola bars, indulgent deserts and cheesecakes, biscuits for mail order and at food festivals, fairs and Brum Yum Yum Streetfood events.
All cakes baked using free range eggs.
At Brum Yum Yum Kings Heath on the 12th Decenber.
https://m.facebook.com/MrsMillsMakesCakes/
http://mrsmillsmakescakes.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/mrsmillscakes
Christmas orders:
http://mrsmillsmakescakes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/pdf-flyer.pdf
Thanks for reading.
Andy 😊
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