Situated in an unsuspecting warehouse in Windsor is an ‘events space’ that could be one of the town’s best-hidden gems. Vegan cafe The Loading Bay can be found at Kardleton House in Windsor.
The café is rated five out of five stars on Tripadvisor and it’s easy to see why. Located in a relatively small industrial unit, the space offers a variety of unique events for customers.
I decided to check out the space myself and arrived during an event called ‘ The Breakfast Club ‘ where diners could munch on some cooked breakfast options while listening to a DJ playing old-school vinyl, mixing soul music with other relaxing beats.
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The venue may be a more attractive option for the younger generation. Not only does it serve trendy plant-based food but the seating options are also quite minimal and located very close to the floor – so not great if you struggle with mobility.
For those that don’t mind sitting on boxes, the patchwork style outdoor seating adds to the casual and cool atmosphere of the place. With a DJ booth placed on a stage in the unit space, the venue gives off the feel of an outdoor summer bar you might see in a European city that’s a lot cooler than Windsor.
I walked to the café from the train station which only took around 10 minutes or so. To get to the space you have to stroll through a muddle of concrete and parked cars, but it was easy enough to locate the eatery given that I could hear the music from yards away.
The ‘Breakfast Club’ menu for the day included a coconut chia pudding for £6, a vegan style smoked salmon bagel for £6, a tempeh bacon sandwich for £7, savoury pancakes for £7, shakshuka for £7, and an American burger for £7. I opted for a flat white and a brownie as I wasn’t needing a large meal. All together this cost me £5.
The brownie was salted caramel flavour and tasted incredibly sweet but also really fudgy and very decadent – exactly what you want from a brownie. The coffee I ordered was very good quality but took a while to be made as the staff had really been rushed off their feet.
The kitchen had been inundated with orders when I arrived and the till area, kitchen, and bar area all occupy the same tiny space which means that you need to be patient if you order food. That being said, the food that was being served up looked delicious and it was nice to be able to watch the staff carefully prepare the dishes using high-quality ingredients.
Overall, I would definitely recommend the space. Not a lot of places in Windsor offer the same kind of mish-mash of music, food and more. Other events that take place in the space include art exhibitions, vinyl sales and live DJ sets.
Given that the seating is predominantly outside it’s also a great place to eat during the summer. The café acts as a trendy oasis among the red brick houses and metal industrial buildings that surround the area.
- Find it: Kardleton House, Vansittart Estate, Windsor, SL4 1SE.
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