Review – Cadells Café at Cockenzie House

Cadells Café at Cockenzie House, Cockenzie, East Lothian

RATING: Food (scones only) 5; Atmosphere 5; Service 5; Toilets 4.5

Cockenzie may not on everybody’s radar, but the East Lothian seaside town with two harbours near Musselburgh should be, and, if you do go, then don’t miss Cadells Café at Cockenzie House.

I’ve driven through the town many times on my way to golf courses in East Lothian or when heading down the coast for a picnic.

Many may have walked the John Muir Way, which stretches from coast to coast across Scotland, and walked on by.

However, my eyes were opened when I recently attend a meeting in Cockenzie House and I was impressed. Then I attended a photography course which centred around the House. Delegates also remarked on the quality in the cafe.

I returned, this time with my son’s dog. We parked behind the House – free – then strolled along the High Street and then down to the harbour to pick up the John Muir Way.

There was no wind – a shock for the end of October – and after two hours we made our way back to Cadells Café. It says “Dugs Welcome” on the door so in we went.

The exceptional quality of service from our Bulgarian waitress was topped off by the quality of coffee – it arrived with a superb flower design – and the freshly-made, melt-in-the-mouth fruit scones.

The comfortable and wonderfully light, first-floor café area is ideal for chilling (there is also an outside seating area). A shop (hand-knitted goods, preserves and pottery and adjacent gallery) and secret garden (where you can buy plants proceeds going to charity) at Cockenzie House is next door.

By the way, before you leave the town pop next door to James Dickson’s fish shop. The smoked haddock – no colouring – we bought took minutes to cook and was real quality. A worthwhile day.