The Floral Hall café , bookshop, sits next to the Floral Hall on the sea
front at Hornsea. Even on a Thursday
afternoon in February it is inviting. Inside there are red hearts, ready for
Valentine’s Day. Outside the waves tumble energetically on to the firm sand.
The café offers a sanctuary for those who have braved a walk in the cold.
Several have. And goodness, it’s cold enough out there.
I arrive just in time for lunch. I order a cheese and onion quiche with chips
and salad. The pastry is light, the filling beautifully cheesy with the texture
just right and the chips are cooked to be crisp on the outside and fluffy
inside. All for under £6.00. Later I
indulge in a piece of excellent chocolate cake and a large cup of builder’s tea
– for just £2.50. No wonder the trade is
brisk.
Today I’m here partly to conform that this is indeed a
Creative Café and partly as Writer in residence, with a view to creating a
collection of stories by and / or about the people who live locally.
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| Art work in the cafe |
There is plenty of evidence that this café belongs in the
project: there is a second-hand bookshop in the café. A lunch club hold their
first meeting. Later a bridge club meets and its members play for most of the
afternoon. Halfway through the afternoon the line-dancing starts in the hall
next door. On the wall beside me artwork by a local creative practitioner is
displayed. As I leave, I notice a poster about a Comedy Night to be hosted
there soon. Of course, I’m here today as a writer. Yes, it certainly is a Creative Café.
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| The bookshop and red hearts in the cafe |
I sit and write, have postcards about my work to give out and
books to sell. I offer people chats about their own work. I collect nine stories. Not enough for an anthology yet but too
many not to come back another time. So,
I shall be back and I look forward to it.
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| Writing in the cafe |
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