Clements Coffee

ONscotland

Great Coffee and Service 18th February 2009

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We discovered Clements Coffee after a lovely walk through Belfast's Botanic Gardens, on a snowy day in February. After visiting the Palm House followed by Tropical Ravine we built a little snowman, and then realised it was cold.

It was just on the offchance that we noticed that the Queens University Physical Education Centre had a coffee shop, and although not members, we were cheerfully permitted into the coffee shop.

First, it's very modern. Four flat screen televisions line one wall, showing various sports channels. As you'd probably expect in a Physical Education Centre. There are also lots of comfortable sofas and armchairs and, mid afternoon on a fairly cold day there were plenty of places to sit. The other side of the cafe is overlooking the River Lagan with floor to ceiling windows, making the whole place airy and bright cafe. You can also watch sportsmen and women grapple with a climbing wall, if thats your thing.

I really like Clements staff - it was on this trip to Belfast that I was able to see just how great the service is in Northern Ireland - and the staff here were no exception. After placing our order we went back to our seats and the staff brought it all over to us. I had a really creamy hot chocolate, topped with marshmallows and the best caramel shortbread ever. It was to die for. The irony of stuffing my face with chocolate and caramel in a University dedicated to Physical Education wasn't lost on me, but I didn't care.

The march of the big chains has started in Northern Ireland - Caffe Nero and Starbucks have already a few branches. But when you have something as good as Clements why trade down?