Barton Court

31/08/2024

29/08/2024

Classic Car Meet Up today!

Join us from 10am until lunchtime. Barton Court's Events at Barton Court, Colwall, WR13 6HN.

28/08/2024

There is one very good thing about the passing of summer: chocolate. Chocolate melts in the heat and develops a dusty bloom when its kept cool in the fridge so, although it still tastes good, some of the allure is lost.
As the seasons change, we can reacquaint ourselves with the joy that is chocolate. Now is the time to savour a slab of unashamedly rich and unctuous chocolate cake like this one.
The day is cool. The cake is ready. Pop down for a slice and a cuppa. The Loose Box Cafe is open from 9:30 until 3pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

27/08/2024

Good morning! How beautiful is this dawn?

Busy week this week with the second Barton Bark Brigade meet up tomorrow from 10:30 am. Come and socialise with your dogs, have a coffee and a cake and take advantage of being able to walk around the grounds.

On Thursday, it's Classic Cars on possibly the only dry and sunny Thursday this entire year.

I'm in a mediterranean mood today so have made polenta for lunch which will be served with roasted vegetables.

See. you later. The Loose Box Cafe is open from 9:30 until 3pm from Tuesday until Saturday.

23/08/2024

There are very few places left, so don't waste any time. Sign up to start your weekends in good shape.

A new addition to my class timetable 🤩💕

23/08/2024

As the season changes, so there are changes planned here at Barton Court. New staff to replace Ava; new menu; new activities [check out the early Friday morning Pilates class] and new events.
Plus.................
Well, you'll have to keep checking to find out what else will be changing. Why not sign up to our newsletter so that you don't miss all our news? www.bartoncourtonline.co.uk

22/08/2024

The weather app says 'light rain, windy, cloudy.' Another perfect summer's day. Cheer yourself up with a decent coffee and a mouthful of sunshine. These little cakes are big enough to give you the feeling of a treat but not so big that they bloat your stomach. Flavoured with rum and vanilla [so very comforting], we serve them warm.
The Loose Box Cafe, Barton Court, Colwall, WR13 6HN open from 9:30 for coffee, cakes, breakfast, light lunches and.............cake.

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20/08/2024

Our beloved Ava is leaving us at the end of this week to go to university. She has been here as a Saturday girl and, subsequently, my right hand since she was 16. She will be sorely missed but this is the right road for her to take.

No one can 'replace' her, as such, but we do need one - or two - part time staff to help fill the gap she is leaving in the cafe.

We are after someone who likes to be in the kitchen. And someone to serve and wait on tables.

Both must be prepared to work weekends. No one younger than 16 is eligible for these jobs: you need to concentrate on your school work. Otherwise age/sex/etc is no barrier.

You will work alongside the rest of our lovely part time team: Alison, Tilly, Tiff and Reuben and Sharon when their time allows.

Please message me and come in for an interview.

17/08/2024

You have so enjoyed the taste of Portugal in our custard tarts, which - by the way - are made there - that we thought we would try something new and exciting from France in the cafe from today.
Canele. [There should be an accent on the last 'e' but I don't know how to type it]
Think vanilla, rum, custard and sponge. Served warm. Yum.
Perfect with a cup of delicious coffee. Pop in and try one. The Loose Box Cafe at Barton Court, open from 9:30 until 3pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

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16/08/2024

Tina has been raising some wonderful plants that are now ready to leave home! All very reasonably priced

16/08/2024

The Loose Box this morning

15/08/2024

There are a LOT of friendly dog owners out there! Our new meet up will be fun.
I have created a Facebook group called the Barton Bark Brigade - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1475385840009945 - so that you can check in for information and news, make sure that we aren't, for some reason, closed and connect with friends.
I hope you like the new logo. Please follow the group page and I will let you know when the first meeting will be. Hopefully, the week after next because I would like to start with a bang.....or a woof.
I'm thinking that, in wet weather, we can move into the Dutch Barn but we'll see how we go.

14/08/2024

Jake has asked me to remind you that we are dog friendly in the cafe and, if you stay with us, in our holiday lets.
We used to have a meet up on a Wednesday for dogs [and owners] to meet and socialise on the Dovecote Lawn. It seems to have petered out but would there be any interest in reinstating it?
Also, what is your opinion on dog treats? We would like to give our canine friends a little something when they come. Do dog owners like that idea? If so, what sort of treats go down best?
Love from Jake.###x

10/08/2024

All set up ready for our Pilates retreat lunch. If you want to have a small lunch or early dinner party, please get in touch to discuss.

10/08/2024

It may be cloudy outside but this vibrant pink lifts the soul and banishes the gloom. The sponge is soaked in lemon syrup and the frosting on the top is made from raspberries and pistachios. 'De-li-shus', as one cute little 3 year old [with a very sophisticated palate] said yesterday.
The Loose Box Cafe is open from 9:30 until 3pm, Tuesday to Saturday for great coffee, snacks, lunches and, of course, brilliant cakes.

08/08/2024

Did you realise that we also organise retreats here at Barton Court? Coming up in the next week are two Pilates retreats masterminded by Kirsty Dunstall, a wonderful Pilates teacher who has a huge and devoted following here.
She will take you through a couple of intensive classes to work on specific areas of need. Before, during and after the workouts, we will provide plenty of refreshments to energise and nourish both body and mind, finishing, after a walk around the gardens and a peep into the house, with a 2 course lunch.
You might be lucky enough to get a place if you act quickly. But Kirsty's new term starts in September so why not pop into the cafe and pick up a leaflet? You would be joining more than a class. The welcoming atmosphere here forges bonds of friendship, too.

07/08/2024

Grey morning with light rain and winds to come. Cheer yourself up with an unashamedly indulgent pastry. This cruffin is stuffed with dulce de leche, a sweetened milk, boiled for ages to make it into a caramel. It is quite something. Do not torture yourself and think about the calories. There are times when only a treat will do.
The Loose Box Cafe, Barton Court, WR13 6HN open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 until 3pm for cakes, great coffee and light lunches.

PS I am making more fishcakes today.
PPS Our figs are ripening so prepare for halloumi and fig toasties

06/08/2024

Too soon to think about Christmas? Not really, if you have a family gathering or an office party to organise.
Why not save yourself some sweat and talk to us about holding your event here. Big or small, rustic or formal, we have the right space for your 'do' and menus to suit all tastes and budgets.
But act quickly to book [DM me or drop me an email, [email protected]] because some dates have already been snaffled.

03/08/2024

The love child of Terry's chocolate orange and a crunchie bar is back by public demand!
Gooey, crunchy, orange-y and just, plain delicious, it has not been on our menu for ages. We like to try new things and sometimes we forget that the oldies are goldies.
This baby is gluten free, too.
The Loose Box Cafe at barton Court is open from 9:30 until 3pm, Tuesday to Saturday, for breakfast, brunch, light lunches, great coffee and wonderful cakes.

02/08/2024

Do you love garlic? I do. It adds an extra dimension to food if used carefully. Yesterday, I made white gazpacho but didn't put it on the menu in the cafe because it wasn't ready until after the lunch service.
'Ajo blanco' [its Spanish name] is a refreshing, flavourful soup, served ice cold, made with cucumber, grapes, almonds, stale bread and................garlic. Perfect for these hot, humid, oppressive days. It tasted so good, I had a bowl last night for my supper.
My long suffering husband has just told me I should not serve this to the general public without a warning! It makes you very stinky.
So, BE WARNED. This soup is delicious but be careful who you eat it with. I would not recommend it for a first date. We can give you a portion to take home and eat by yourself, if you prefer.
The Loose Box Cafe, Barton Court, Colwall, WR13 6HN

01/08/2024

It's International Joy Day today, I have just discovered. And, despite so much misery in the news, we do have a lot to be joyful about. For a start, it hasn't rained for.............almost 4 hours.
People often ask if we do afternoon teas. Because we close at 3pm, it is too early for a proper high tea BUT we now have some amazing scones, flavoured with Earl Grey and fruit to eat with jam and cream which you can wash down with James' refreshing iced mint tea. That's certainly a reason to be cheerful!
The Loose Box Cafe is open from 9:30 until 3pm, Tuesday until Saturday. Pop down for a cake and a chat.

31/07/2024

Another fine, hot day on the horizon. How about an iced peppermint tea with a slice of cake while you enjoy the view from the Loose Box?
We are featuring lemon and polenta and pistachio cake today.
On the lunch menu, we have mushrooms on toast, tomato bruschetta and a main course salad of bacon, egg, blue cheese, tomatoes, leaves and avocado or a smoked duck and asian slaw salad
The Loose Box Cafe at Barton Court is open from 9:30 until 3pm.

30/07/2024

Simple food on the menu this week while it is so hot. Mushrooms on toast. Local mushrooms sauted with shallots, thyme and a little white wine. Finished with either double cream or vegan cream and served on sourdough toast. Just the job on a hot summer's day.
Or, you could have my absolute favourite summer lunch: lettuce, peas, leeks and bacon braised with wine and cream. Yum.
The Loose Box Cafe is open from 9:30 until 3pm from Tuesday until Saturday.

25/07/2024

Our monthly classic car meet up is friendly and inclusive. The enthusiasts who come - and who make the atmosphere such fun - are not here to show off, they come because they want to share their love of mechanical engineering.
Today is cloudy but not raining [fingers crossed] with a comfortable temperature so it should be pleasant to wander outside. Starts at 10am, today, 25th July, and continues until lunchtime. £5 entry fee [which includes a tea or coffee] for the participants.

24/07/2024

You may be surprised to know that transformation is what we do. Conservation in all things is our philosophy. These unloved, shabby buildings have now been transformed into an events barn and host all manner of fun occasions, including weddings.
The renovation of Barton Court was all conceived and executed by us - James and Linda.
We took a clutch of dilapidated buildings and breathed new life and purpose into them.
The Dutch Barn was a bit of a Frankenstein, patched together from bits and bobs - practical but not attractive. The doors had been taken from the old Malvern fire station and just plonked on an abandoned agricultural building that had been found in a field. This was then used by the previous owners as a workshop for their farm vehicles.
We rewired, put in underfloor heating, sprayed the inside white and the outside fire engine red as a nod to its previous life. And, voila! This is now a space that people love to be in. History retained but relevant and useful.

24/07/2024

Calling all gardeners! The wonderful Tina, who looks after the exterior of Barton Court, has been nurturing these beauties which are now on sale outside the Loose Box. All these plants are sturdy and, because raised here, are ideal for local gardens.
Pop down, have a bit of lunch and a rummage.
The Loose Box is open from 9:30 until 3pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
PS Please note that we are closed this Saturday, 27th, for a private function