Lunch

Lunch is short and seasonal: a soup, a hot special, the rarebit and a handful of sandwiches done well, rather than a long menu done quickly.

The soup changes every day and is on the board by eleven. It comes with a thick slice of seeded bread or sourdough and salted butter, and on Saturdays it is cawl, with a wedge of Caerphilly on the side.

Our rarebit uses a strong cheddar, a splash of local ale and English mustard, grilled on sourdough until it blisters. The toasties are ham and cheddar, cheddar and red onion chutney, or the "Cross Street": brie, bacon and cranberry. Jackets come with beans and cheese, tuna mayonnaise or the soup of the day ladled over, which is better than it sounds.

The kitchen closes an hour before the café, so lunch runs until 3pm on weekdays, 3:30 on Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays. Cakes and drinks carry on until close.

What you get

• A new soup every day, vegan at least twice a week
• A hot special from the board
• Sandwiches on our own bread, toasted or not
• Small plates for smaller appetites, at two thirds of the price
• Gluten-free bread on request

What it costs

Soup and bread £6.50, rarebit £8.75, the special from £8.75. The whole menu is on the menu page, with today’s specials board.

Allergies: please tell us about any allergy or intolerance before you order. Our kitchen handles all 14 major allergens, so we cannot promise any dish is free of traces. Ask for the allergen sheet; it lists every dish.