Behind the Woodes Cafe's intriguing facade is a run-of-the-mill cafe.

The Venue
The unusual layout is intriguing and makes you think there's some hidden delights to be discovered inside Woodes Cafe. But once inside you realise it's cramped and lacklustre. With the main staircase located at the front, the coffee bar and groundfloor seating are pushed back and are hidden inside an artificially lit cove.

In many ways the upstairs feels more constrained than the groundfloor. The low ceiling and big boxy dark wood booths leave little space for people to manoeuvre and make it look quite dark.

The sombre dark wood and position of the staircase makes the cafe look elegant from the outside, but the same elements coupled with low lighting make the space feel heavy and uncomfortable.

The People
It’s still a popular place to retreat to from the shopping crowds of Park Street – especially for the senior demographic. Couples pop in for a chat over a cappuccino but no-one hangs around long and this isn't somewhere you'd come for a long, leisurely lunch. Woodes Cafe is more of a pitstop and is popular with the nearby businesses for take-outs.

The Food
The menu is a generic cafe offering of sandwiches and baked goods but meals aren't huge here. They also do a good takeaway trade, especially on their cheap and cheerful £1 homemade sandwiches.

The Drink
Coffees and teas come in small and large sizes and prices don't exceed £2. Bottles of soda, juices, and the like are also on the menu.

The Last Word
The affordable prices of Woodes Cafe are a good find, especially for Park Street. But the space can be a turn-off.

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