Love Grows Tearoom, Hebden Bridge

Chuck a brick in Hebden Bridge and you’ll hit a caff. Regrettably most of them are forgettable. There are a couple of notable exceptions but there’s a new kid on the block.

Moira and Mike Stedman have done that second career thing and having had enough of working for someone else all their lives they’ve taken up residence in a lovely old building just off the square.

Up a short set of stone stairs, Love Grows. Great name. It’s light, spacious, a bit Scandi and full of fab food; herbs, spices and legumes, biscuits, homemade jam and curds, tableware and a light smattering of gifts. And no Cath Kidston. Phew.

Open sandwiches come on a choice of breads, including sourdough, olive and tomato; my roast pepper humous with feta was super-tasty and plenty of it. Mike makes the cakes and scones and very good they look too.

There are four areas to sit, one of them on a little balcony perched over the square, perfect for hippie spotting. And the best thing? You know what’s coming. Great espresso. Yep, Moira’s put her time in at the barista school and it’s paid off. My ‘double shot with frothed milk on the side’ didn’t raise an eyebrow but an enquiry about what size of cup I wanted. Hooray!

The vibe is cool, contemporary and stripped back; if this sounds slightly unfriendly, it’s not. Just the opposite. They’re warm, chatty and clearly chuffed with their middle-youth career change.