In a nutshell:
-welcoming and unpretentious. You’ll want to make this your local
-the place to come for cake
-an all rounder: brunch, lunch, coffee, wine, ales
-outstanding for coffee shop experience
Right in the centre of town, by the Old Market Hall and lining Shrewsbury Square, you will find Ginger and Co.
Probably one of the most un-pretentious expert independent coffee shops I’ve been to in a while. I don’t like to wave the feminist flag, but it was quite something to see all the baristas were women both times I visited. Perhaps this has something to do with the unpretentious vibe, but I wouldn’t dare make such a statement.
It’s a mix of A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and your friend’s kitchen in the country.
I’ve been here twice now and it rather feels like I’ve rolled into my friend’s kitchen for lunch. Everything is chaotically perfect – the mirror display is delightfully wonky and a pile of washing up by the sink behind the till makes me feel at ease, as if I could while away a few hours here and not tread on anyone’s toes. Here is where imperfection is embraced – fairy lights scatter the ceiling and if you’re lucky enough to visit on a cold day, the front windows steam up making you feel like you’ve entered a vortex where time has stopped, and coffee, conversation, and company are the only things that matter anymore. It’s a mix of A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and your friend’s kitchen in the country.
Back to the staff. They are LOVELY. When I stared at the board for ages she just said ‘I’ll give you some time’ and walked away, leaving me to ponder some more. There is no rush, no pressure.
The Coffee:
I had a latte both times and they were excellent. They use Method which is a roastery in Herefordshire. When ordering coffee, you can choose your preferred method. Choose from pour over, to batch brew filter, to French press, or the espresso machine (most common).
The star of the show here are the cakes which they make at the back of the cafe. I had the banana and caramel which was *earth shattering*. This – amongst two others – is one of their originals and they’ve never had the heart to change it. I can see why. My friend had the banana bread which they toasted and added honey to. They also have an extensive food menu including brunch, sandwiches and healthy dishes such as soup and a ‘nourishing bowl’. There is a huge effort to use local produce wherever possible (see bottom picture). Note that they stop serving food at 3:30pm.
Come here by yourself, with a friend, with family, whatever. The vibe is so laid back and one that I haven’t seen in a while – a bit like Boston Tea Party. If you come here by yourself, you don’t really feel like you’re on your own, as the staff are so amenable.
So, if you find yourself in Shrewsbury, I commend you to grab an old battered book (or a friend), head to Ginger and Co., find a corner and while away the hours sipping coffee, eating all the crumbs and being tended to by their excellent staff. I can’t think of a better coffee shop experience I’ve had in a long time.
Things to know:
-food stops serving at 3:30pm
-dog friendly
-WiFi available
-music: cool, lively, part of the experience. Think Lake Street Drive.
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