by Sue Lancaster
I don’t know about you, but since becoming a mum, my criteria for finding a good restaurant or café have changed somewhat. Of course, I still make sure the food and drinks menu looks up to scratch and the place looks clean and so on, but these days there are a whole host of other things I quickly scope out before going in. My wish list for a good café goes something like this:
- Is there a decent baby change available?
- Are there highchairs?
- Is there plenty of room to manoeuvre a buggy?
- Is there a comfy sofa for me to relax on?
- Is there a big slice of cake with my name on it (and ideally something healthy for the little one)?
Babycakes has all of this and more, which is not surprising given that it was opened for the sole purpose of giving local mums somewhere to meet up. The boutique café on Upper Richmond Road has been serving coffee to the weary parents of East Sheen since 2012, when the owner—a new mum herself—realised there was nowhere in the area for local mums to congregate. Of course, you don’t have to be a parent to hang out here; the café welcomes everybody whether you’ve a child in tow or not. It has a very good lunch menu of gourmet sandwiches, salads and soups, all-day brunch options, a counter full of tempting cakes and sweet treats and as many hot and cold drinks as your heart desires. The sandwich choices include a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel; chargrilled aubergines, peppers and mozzarella with pesto; or prosciutto, goat’s cheese and honey. Prices range from around £4.50 to £6 and all the sandwiches come served with a small side salad.
There has been a lot of attention given to the finer details in Babycakes: the lampshades resemble metallic cake cases, the sugar pots have colourful (edible) crystals within the white granules, and when you order a coffee or a tea, the milk is served in a dainty white cow jug. The walls are dotted with a range of fun gifts and cards, which will no doubt catch a little one’s roving eye. The tables are spaciously spread, and you’ll find a comfy sofa, ample highchairs and a baby-change station in the clean, roomy toilet.
If it’s a nice day, there are some tables and chairs out front, so you can dine alfresco. The coffee shop is on a busy main road, so it won’t be particularly peaceful, but there is plenty of people watching to be done. Situated on the South Circular between Richmond and East Sheen, Babycakes is easily accessible to those living in, or visiting, southwest London. It also holds private kids’ birthday parties and baby showers. Visit the Babycakes website for more details.
About the author:
An Essex girl, Sue came to London 12 years ago and never left. She moved to West Kensington with her now-husband, then spent a couple of years living in Stamford Brook, before finally settling down in Mortlake. Prior to becoming a mum, Sue worked in TV production. She now stays at home, looking after toddler Tabitha and writing whenever she can.
