Utopia Gifts and Coffee — Restaurant in England

We decided to go and visit Utopia on a day off for both of us. We arrived around 3pm on a Friday and the place was nearly empty but still had customers coming and going. The owner served us and had a good knowledge of everything for sale. He was also very friendly.

Food and Drink: A good selection of sandwiches and baguettes with different fillings were available along with jacket potatoes, soup of the day and snacks such as chocolates, crisps and natural munch bars. Interestingly many of the chocolates were kept in a mini fridge next to the counter which meant that they would be nice and cold and had little chance of melting. There were also ice creams present in their own chest freezer. Hot drinks available are what you would expect in a cafe with the usual teas and coffees. I did notice that there were other teas available and I think I saw versions of tea such as camomile too.

Gift Shop aspect: The cafe has about 5 tables with 2 chairs each inside, which while not very much allows for Utopia to also sell a variety of goods including clothing accessories (scarves, bags, jewellery etc) as well as soft toys and puzzles for children and little bags of gift boxes for baby showers. There was also a section for bath time treats such as bath bombs as well as picture frames and greeting cards. Considering the size of the cafe, it was all placed appropriately and presented neatly. There were also some tables available outside.

Prices: Gift prices all seemed to be reasonable but I was not familiar with the cost of each item normally. However if it helps, if I was looking for a gift I would very likely have bought one or three whilst there. I would also go there on purpose to look for a gift on its own. Drinks and food prices were on par or even cheaper than a great deal of mainstream coffee shops/ cafes.

Speed of service: As I mentioned, we arrived at a quiet time of day so were served very quickly. Additionally, whilst we both asked for cooked sandwiches or paninis, they arrived in good time. However, once the school run had begun and nursery was emptying, quite a few more people were coming into and out of the cafe suggesting that it was a well known spot. The service also seemed to continue to be swift despite the numbers coming in and out.

Overall conclusion: We decided to go to this cafe as we like trying out different ones for different experiences. We would very much like to go back and would recommend it to others as well. We couldn't see any particular negatives on our visit but it is worth noting that it could be busier and service slower on a normally busier day like a Saturday. Overall, highly...

This coffee and gift store has the best coffee I have tasted ever. The blend is very unique and exquisite. The ambiance of the eatery is friendly and warm. It caters well for all ages with comfortable setting. A good place to hold a meeting as well as entertain the children. The food was beautifully presented with attention to detail and delicious and the customer service was excellent from the young staff. The gifts sold here are quality, classy and unique. There is something for all ages. The cards selection was better than WHsmiths or House of Cards. I spent a good while having a good giggle at the funny cards. Presentation of the gift and cards within the coffee shop was well thought out and easy to browse and find things. The collection of cuddly toys was better than what they have in Hamleys. I had a coffee and a hot Tuna and cheese panini with salad for under £10. Very filling. I’ll try the smoothies next time. Lots of free parking behind the...

Always heard good things about utopia, have been in the past under precious management so wanted to try it again. On the plus side, it’s a great place for unusual gifts. I hear it has amazing coffee and cake. I can’t vouch for that as just had a tea. On the not so good side, the premises looks tired. Floor is covered in places with gaffer tape, this is coming unstuck and traps dirt. The tables were dirty. What looks like cake crumbs on most tables. The banquet seat had split icing on it and hadn’t been cleaned. This was at 10am and the shop had only just opened. Looks like a serious deep clean is required. Would revisit again if cleaner hence...