The Hive, Stow on the Wold

The need for coffee on a sore head was the driver of our trip to The Hive in Stow on the Wold last Sunday. The sore head a result of the wedding of my dear friend to his fiancee before he ups sticks and moves to live with her in Singapore.  If there was an award for ‘most hapless groomsman’, I would be happy to self-nominate – my biggest contribution towards the smooth running of the day was probably the ushering of a chair (or co-ushering, I should say). Fortunately, or unfortunately – I’m not sure, the sore head was more a product of a late night with little sleep in a very warm hotel room rather than a product of too much alcohol.

We headed into Stow on the Wold, just a short drive from the wedding venue and looked around for a Sunday morning coffee. Stow is a pretty market town in the Cotswolds and, although there is as yet no plaque, the location of the Fat Face where I bought my coat 5 years ago. There are quite a few tea rooms and cafes around the central market square itself. With half a mind to find somewhere that did milk alternatives, we walked past a couple of options that looked very busy until we found ourselves outside The Hive. A quick scan at their menu poster confirmed Almond milk and so we ventured in hope of a table.

On entry the place looked busy but cosy; surprisingly full for a coffee shop at a time clearly too early for Lunch on a Sunday. We waited to be seated and were kindly welcomed and told a family were just leaving and we would be sat soon. Excellent subliminal self-promotion or genuine misunderstanding led the waitress to think that Piglet (in particular) was there the other day and had come again until our perplexed faces made her realise her mistake. It did leave us with the impression that this is clearly the kind of place that ‘people come back to’ though – a ringing endorsement if ever there was one.

Once sat, it became clear that everyone else was there for breakfast. No doubt because it was good, it certainly looked good, but having just consumed a full English breakfast at the hotel it was caffeine more than sausages I craved. On the way to our table, we walked past the main counter of the cafe and noticed that they had a selection of cakes that stated some allergens and made a note of two vegan ones. In ordering our coffees (the now obligatory flat white, decaf latte and babyccino – all in almond milk) we stated our allergies and asked whether there was any chance the vegan cakes were suitable. Our waitress was very happy to check and shortly came back to confirm that one was and one wasn’t. A few minutes later, all three of us are tucking into our drinks and fighting over the last crumbs of a very delicious chocolate and peanut cake. So good that we ordered another slice of cake to take away with us.

I suspect we stumbled on to a good egg without knowing so beforehand. The place was modern but welcoming, the staff friendly and the food (cake) tasty. Being told “welcome to The Hive” by three separate members of staff as we walked through could have come across as Americanised over the top customer service but it actually just came across as pride in their business. It’s very much the kind of place I wish we had on our doorstop. Maybe next time I go to buy a coat I’ll go back!