York Parents were lucky enough to be invited along to the launch of the new Reading Cafe in Rowntree Park on July 13th. This is our editor’s first impression:

“When I was living in London in the mid 1990s it seemed all the rage to sit in a book shop slurping on a coffee while reading. Now that concept has been brought back to life in a brilliant fashion with the launch of the new Reading Cafe in Rowntree Park.

There are inside and outside seating areas with plenty of room for pushchairs. Baby changing facilities are also available.

Children’s books are thoughtfully displayed in easily accessible bookcases with plenty of choices of adult reading – it must be the only library facility in York to still have a copy of 50 Shades of Grey on the shelf and I presume that is only because it hasn’t opened yet.

The opening menu offers the usual fare of hot and cold drink and gorgeous looking cakes.
For a savoury option there is a nice range of sandwiches including the yummy sounding chorizo, fried onion and red pepper or the tomato, mozzarella and pesto mayonnaise.

Main meals are also on offer with the menu being developed further over the next few months.

I really like the look of this cafe and the idea behind it. I can’t wait to visit when it’s fully open to see whether it lives up to my expectations.”