Update: Unfortunately Honesty has closed down. Recommend you pop over the hill to Ashbury!
OCC club and weekday rides often head out to The Ridgeway and the village of Lambourn, famous for being the home of some of the country’s top racing horse stables, is usually the point where we turn northwards, back towards Oxford. It’s a pretty little village, nestled in a bowl in the hills and if you have time to stop for some refreshment, then the café, Honesty Lambourn, is a perfect place to refuel!
Honesty Lambourn is situated on the High Street, just up from the crossroads by the village church. It was recently acquired and refurbished by the Honesty chain of cafés and offers a fantastic selection of organic, handmade pastries and cakes, as well as fresh coffee. If you need a little more sustenance, then the breakfast menu is served until 11am and there are plenty of hot meals on offer at lunchtime, including meat pies, pasties, sausage rolls, soups and sandwiches made to order.
It’s predecessor, The Café Lambourn, established itself as a popular stopping off point for cyclists – a ‘We Welcome Cyclists’ poster adorned the front window – and the new owners have continued the tradition of accommodating cyclists. The café even hosted a family bike ride recently, so expect a friendly welcome from the staff and the odd bemused look from the smattering of villagers and jockeys!
The Honesty chain is confined to Berkshire and Hampshire and one of their core aims is to provide people living in rural communities with a place to relax and meet. They also have impeccable credentials: their own Honesty Blend coffee uses Rainforest Alliance beans, all the teas on offer are ethnically produced and, wherever possible, all their produce is made using traditional methods and no additives, chemical flavour enhancers or preservatives are used.
A great spot for refreshment if you find yourself 30 miles from home and in need of a coffee or something a little more substantial . . . and if you have some room in your rear pocket, you might like to head home with one of their artisan breads too!
Honesty Lambourn
17 High Street
Lambourn
Berkshire
RG17 8XL
Tel: 01488 71011
Website: honestygroup.co.uk
Opening Hours: 8am to 4pm Monday to Sunday
Breakfast served from 8am to 11am
