Before
we went on holiday, Gemma recommended we go to Carriages for breakfast and
cocktails. As the name suggests, the hotel and restaurant/bar is situated next
to the train station in Wellington – and as we were getting the train from
there to Birmingham International, it was an excellent idea.
We
sat in the bar area, which accommodates around 50 people. There were only two
other couples sitting near us – and I assume they were having breakfast, after
staying the night – so the atmosphere was really relaxed. We had a leisurely
breakfast, which is exactly what we wanted and the staff were never in any
hurry to get rid us. Instead, they were so welcome and accommodating,
especially when it came to our food and drink requests. Carriages also has a
restaurant area out the back, but this would have been far too formal for us.
We were also able to leave our small suitcases at the table and they didn’t get
in the way at all.
Breakfast
was a Full English and included in the price were all hot drinks and juices. I
began with an orange juice, while Gemma had apple and we waited for our
breakfasts to be served. We were asked how we would like our eggs, whether we
wanted brown or white toast, preserves or just butters and also if there’s
anything we disliked. For ease, we both went for ‘the works’. Once the food
arrived, we both opted for a hot drink: tea for Gemma and I had a cappuccino,
which was lovely – the coffee is freshly ground and much better than all the
chain places.
As
you can see, the portion sizes are large and everything was cooked to
perfection. I don’t like mushrooms, but tried them – because they were cooked
in butter, they had a much nicer taste. I also tried the black pudding, having
tried morcilla in Spain, but really
wasn’t converted! My eggs, which were poached, were runny in the middle and weren’t
cold when the plate was served – so bonus points to Carriages for getting them
spot on. We both struggled to clear our plates, but it totally set us up for
the day and we didn’t actually eat again until we were at the hotel that night.
Gemma
had mentioned previously how good the cocktails were and while we were hoping
to have one with breakfast, we had to wait until midday for the bartender to
arrive. It was well worth the wait as James prepared the best Espresso Martini I’d ever had. One that
rivalled Rum & Sugar and surpassed many from cocktail bars in Essex and London.
After the cappuccino, it was much needed bearing in mind we had a long and
tiring day ahead of us. Gemma went for a Pina
Colada, getting into the holiday spirit right away! I will definitely have
to return one evening for Happy Hour and work my way through the extensive
menu. At £7 a cocktail, the prices were so reasonable, compared to the south.
The
service throughout was good, our waitress was never intrusive and allowed us to
enjoy our food and drinks, and chat away excitedly. The breakfast and cocktails
came in at around £30 which I found so cheap. While getting to Carriages is a
struggle, down an alleyway and it doesn’t look like much from the exterior;
once inside, it’s beautiful and modern and quite frankly, a little gem.
Love,
Lucy xx
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Love, Lucy xx