Head to cafe where you are certain to have a magic time
CAN you think of an instance where the words Sutton-in-ashfield and magical have been used in the same sentence? Without being offensive? Me neither.
The market town, around 12 miles north of Nottingham, is particularly gloomy on the day I visit as the rain is hammering down.
The busiest spot in town is one of the cafes in the indoor market at Idlewells Shopping Centre but, outside, Low Street is a bleak reflection of how high streets have been decimated by shop closures.
After a mooch around a couple of charity shops, we head to a cafe called Wizards Den.
From the street, you can’t see inside as the windows are covered in a Harry Potter-themed wrap of Hogwarts and Diagon Alley, creating a sense of intrigue as to what is behind the door.
Stepping inside is like going through a portal to a fantasy world.
The ceiling has a night sky with twinkling green lights and floating candles, with more candles on the tables and lanterns. Our moods instantly lift as we’re whisked away from the cold gloomy weather.
The owner has really gone to town on the Harry Potter-inspired decor – and it’s incredibly atmospheric and inviting. Wizard robes hang on the backs of chairs, which are upholstered in fabrics representing the four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin.
A giant reptilian basilisk dominates one of the walls, while a white owl perches on top of a column of books next to a glowing orange log burner. A Whomping Willow and house elf Dobby stand in opposite corners. At this point it’s probably important to point out that the cafe has a disclaimer on its Facebook page saying it’s inspired by fantasy, folklore, wizards, witches and mystical fun. It is not endorsed by, affiliated with or associated with Warner Bros. or J.K. Rowling or otherwise connected with Harry Potter or J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World.
Although it’s dark and mysterious, your eyes soon adapt to the low-level lighting. With around 18 seats, the cafe is small and cosy and you do feel you’ve been magicked away to another land.
The menu continues the theme with Wizard’s Lair Lunch, Serpent Spuds (jacket potatoes), Sorcerer’s stone-baked pizza and Wand-erful snacks and baguettes.
Breakfast and afternoon tea are also served.
As well as hot drinks, fizzy drinks and milkshakes there’s a selection of mocktails with names such as Blue Goblin, Frozen Yeti, Polyjuice Potion and the Phoenix, however, because it’s a cold day we stick to Americanos to warm us up.
As we muggles wait for our food, a stream of customers come in – all wanting takeaway cake which is half-price due to it being the cafe’s six-month anniversary.
Food comes out of the Witch’s Kitchen - I can’t hear any staff chanting “eye of newt and toe of frog” as they toil over a bubbling cauldron so it’s safe to presume they use more conventional methods of cooking my husband’s allday breakfast and my jacket potato with chilli.
The potato is drowned in chilli no complaints there. The spiciness gives my taste buds a warm glow. A salad comes in a separate bowl, as does a helping of coleslaw. Costing £5.60, there’s nothing treacherous about the price of this Serpent Spud.
The all-day breakfast (£9.95) comes with two poached eggs, two sausages, bacon, mushrooms, baked beans and chips. My husband polishes it off with particular praise for the “proper” homemade chips, although the eggs could have done with a little longer.
I spy that one of the new additions to the menu was chocolate cake and pink custard - a school dinner favourite. If only I wasn’t so full I would have made that disappear without a magic wand.
The service at Wizards Den is super friendly, with staff ending their sentences with “duck” and “love”. I’m of an age where I don’t find these terms of endearment offensive or condescending.
We feel comfortable and we’re in no particular hurry to leave so I order a second coffee, while the other customers have some football banter with a member of staff. We’re drawn into the conversation - one thing about Sutton is that I’ve always found the locals friendly.
The bill comes to a very reasonable £21.55. You don’t have to be a Harry Potter fan to enjoy this quirky cafe but if you are you will love it. No need to run through the wall at platform 9¾ at King’s Cross, just simply head to 1 Market View and open the door to escape into this wizardly world.