THIS WEEK: Master Gunner's House, at Scarborough Castle
WITH the holiday stretching before us and a houseful of children to entertain, we decided to try somewhere we could enjoy a coffee and keep the kids amused at the same time. So, with a troop of enthusiastic pirate-soldiers in tow, we ventured forth to Scarborough Castle.
Located on the bottom floor of the Gunner's House, reaching the tearooms involves negotiating a steep hill that's not for the faint-hearted, but well worth the effort.
The caf is divided into two different rooms: one with the counter and an impressive array of speciality jams preserves and wines, the other a dining area. The menu itself is fairly limited, consisting mainly of pre-packed sandwiches, fresh homemade soup and a small selection of cakes. There is, though, a good range of hot and cold beverages to choose from and those in the holiday spirit can sample some of the alcoholic drinks for sale.
We both chose the soup which was delicious: hot and wholesome just the thing to warm us up on a damp, drizzly day. The cappuccino and the mocha were both tasty and served with a complimentary biscuit that the children fought over, so we did the only fair thing and ate them ourselves!
Decorated with historical views of Scarborough Castle, the eating area is filled with wooden tables and chairs and a large wooden bench with stools down one side. This creates a cosy atmosphere; however, it is fairly small, and when full does seem a little cramped.
If you do find the dining area a bit busy, the fantastic thing about Scarborough Castle is the outdoor seating area where you can enjoy panoramic views of the headland and soak up the historic atmosphere. We went on a cloudy day and the swirling gothic mist that engulfed the ruins created a set straight from a Hammer horror movie. The kids loved it!
When we'd finished our food, we made the most of the castle's unique location, exploring every nook and cranny, before battling our troop of pirate-soldiers on the battlements.
We agreed that Scarborough Castle is well worth the admission charge (for non-English Heritage members). Where else can you go for a coffee, battle ferocious pirates and even learn something, all in one visit?
Overall rating ****
Value for money ****
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Weather for Scarborough
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
