• Consultancy
  • Contact Us
  • Nav Social Menu

    • E-mail
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Consultancy
  • Contact Us

Canny Food

Canny Food > Light Bites > Carnaby’s, Northumberland

Carnaby’s, Northumberland

Light Bites

20 Sep

After a relaxing morning being pampered at Doxford Hall’s Spa I was in need of a healthy but filling lunch. Not being to familiar with this corner of Northumberland and having my dietary requirements meant I was caught on the back foot. I’d recalled seeing a new cafe by the side of the A1 not far away called Carnaby’s, and when a quick glance at their Facebook page presented to me a photo of a vegan cake, I was mighty impressed.

Dairy and Egg Free Chocolate Cake
Photo Credit: Carnaby’s Facebook

It’s hard not to be tempted with the lure of cake, never mind vegan versions, but I tried to rein in my own expectations. I remembered how disappointed I’d been visiting The Origami Cafe in Alnwick and finding out that Judy’s dairy and egg free treats were only available on certain days of the week. 

Once we arrived I immediately headed for the cake selection to see what was on offer. Alas, not a single one was SFV. There was mention of gluten free, but nothing for those who have issues with dairy and/or egg. 

Not one to give up easily, I thought I would check out the menu on the wall to see what savoury dishes I could sample instead. There was mention of vegan staple Avocado on Toast but not much else for me. Still, there was the salad bar to try out.

Photo Credit: Carnaby’s Facebook

We stood in the queue to order and peered at the selection of plates and bowls set out. Unfortunately there wasn’t a single option that didn’t have meat or dairy. My friend asked if I wanted to try elsewhere but by this stage I wasn’t in the mood to drive and face the same conundrum. I ordered the Avocado (£5), which I requested was served on toasted white bread instead of the rye & carraway listed on the menu. 

It was pleasant enough, although when I got home I had a crumpet to stave off the tummy rumbles. My friend ordered one of their Apricot and Pork Sausage Rolls, which she had with a selection of the fresh salads. 

She had a Storm Tea along with her lunch and it was good to see Carnaby’s supporting other local businesses by stocking the Newcastle-based brand. Laura didn’t purchase anything sweet in solidarity.

The weather was less than clement so kiddiesquinks weren’t allowed to venture out and try the play area to the rear of the cafe. As you enter Carnaby’s there’s a store selling clothing, homeware and gifts. I was very tempted by the Victoria Shoes that were on sale until I realised they were made of leather. Probably for the best as I really don’t need another pair of shoes! The stock is very much in keeping with the style of the store, and you can even buy the soap they have in their facilities.

It is a shame there were a few niggles regarding the menu choices for me. Vegan food is for everyone and adding cheese or mayo to their salads ahead of time limits who can have them. Even one choice would have gone a long way to bolstering what’s available for those with dietary requirements. What is possibly the case at Carnaby’s is some days are better than others for their vegan selection – especially judging by their Facebook page – and I happened to stop by at the wrong time. I hope this feedback will be taken on board as there’s potential for more business for this charming cafe if they cater more consistently for the plant based market.

Thanks for reading,

Pip x

Looking for somewhere to stay in Northumberland? Check out our review of Brownieside B&B The Coach House here.

Tweet
Share
0 Shares

2 Comments

Subscribe to get the latest

free goodies straight to your inbox

Previous Post: « A Vegan Guide to Dublin
Next Post: Aurora Kitchen, Newcastle »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah says

    September 20, 2017 at 6:40 am

    My biggest bugbear is salads with dairy or egg in – absolutely no need. Especially when everybody knows all vegans eat is salad ?

    Reply
    • Emma Phillips says

      September 20, 2017 at 7:03 am

      True! Unusually I fancied a salad ? It seems everyone thinks we eat avocado too, and they are something I’m not overawed with.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Foodies100 Index of UK Food Blogs
Foodies100

Follow on

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Search

Recent Posts

  • Meat:Stack Arrives in the Bigg Market
  • Glazed, Heaton
  • Barrio Comida, Durham
  • Laura’s Fish Bar – Whitley Bay
  • Flint Pizza, Newcastle

Categories

  • Afternoon Tea
  • Breakfasts
  • Dining Out
  • Dinky Dining
  • Family Day Trip Idea
  • Light Bites
  • Posh Scran
  • Sunday Lunches
  • Uncategorized
  • Vegan Recipes

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Stay up to date

Subscribe to get all the latest

[adsense_hint]

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: There is no connected account for the user 4291907 Feed will not update.

Error: admin-ajax.php test was not successful. Some features may not be available.

Please visit this page to troubleshoot.

Copyright © 2022 · Refined theme by Restored 316