In early July, the UK experienced a Heatwave From Hell. I’m sure everybody remembers how we were advised to stay out of the sun and watch for signs of heatstroke, but I was one of those poor souls who had to run errands on the Monday. To compensate, I popped into Herbie’s Coffee House for a drink and a sit in the shade.
The location—Evesham market square—seems rather fitting for Herbie’s, unfortunately. Evesham, a riverside town with rather more historical relevance than one might expect, is surprisingly little-known, except to those who live nearby. Likewise, Herbie’s isn’t so much a ‘hidden gem’ as it is criminally overlooked.
Its competition comes from local independent coffee shops, as well as bigger franchises like Costa, Coffee#1 and Lounges. Still, locals reminisce fondly about the last time they visited Herbie’s and declare how pleased they are it’s still running.
Traverse the steps outside (assisted by the handrail if needed), and you’ll find yourself in a wonderfully comfortable space. Perhaps due to its physical location, the interior of Herbie’s is permanently shaded, even with the windows pushed to one side to keep it from turning into a greenhouse in the summer. The counter is immediately in front of you and beyond that is a smallish coffee house which charms both locals and tourists alike. It’s cosy inside, and the location means they receive a golden sort of sunlight in the afternoon all year round, which will make your visit feel nostalgic whenever you think back on it.
Place your order, take your seat, and you’ll begin to notice the décor. I have always appreciated the paintings dotted about the walls; especially the black-and-white of a rowboat on its side. The wallpaper, chairs and lighting are all similar, but slightly different. It almost looks like Baby Rex’s first Sims build, albeit with a hell of a lot more charm. Even today, I doubt I could build my sims a home half as charming as Herbie’s Coffee House.
If I may make a personal recommendation, the seats in the back are my favourite. You may not get a view across the square to the Valkyrie Bar, but you also won’t stick to your seat during our annual three days of warm weather. If you do want to people watch, though, take a seat by the windows and you’ll be treated to the weird and wonderful people of Evesham. Your view may be as mundane as some kids arguing over their favourite Pokémon, as wholesome as two kids playing fetch with a stranger’s dog, or as entertaining as an old woman giggling to herself as she chases pigeons with her motor scooter.
Sit in the back and there’s still an opportunity to people watch, although it’s a little more restrained. While waiting for my order—tea for one, which costs £2.20, comes in a clear pot so you can measure the strength, and contains 3.5 cups worth of tea—I witnessed an older gentleman reading what appeared to be fanfiction on his phone. I don’t know exactly what he was reading, but it looked like he was enjoying it.
(I should add here that the atmosphere is much better for reading than for working, although you can get work done at Herbie’s.)
Perhaps the reason there aren’t too many people in Herbie’s at any given time is the space itself. The issue is the placement of the furniture, which means you’ll want to pick your spot carefully if you don’t go on your own. An intimate coffee date or semi-awkward first meeting would be just right at Herbie’s—something I can personally confirm—but if you’re looking for a place to meet a group of friends, you may want to sit in the back or make the most of the outdoor seating.
Now, I know you’re wondering about the staff. Are they friendly? Are they good at their job? If you’re a rather awkward introvert like me, are they going to forcibly engage you in conversation?
Simply put, the answers (in order) are yes, yes, and no. In fact I would argue that the staff are more fun to people watch than the people you might see outside.
I’ll start by admitting I was more than a little jealous when I realised one of them was wearing flip-flops, since I had was unable to wear sandals during the hottest day on record. Understandably, the two staff members weren’t too thrilled with the hot weather.
“It’s 32° according to my phone,” one of them says, trying to decide how she feels about her kid’s school refusing to close. The one in the flip-flops glances over his shoulder at her.
“Is that all?”
I resist the urge to say that my phone claims it’s 31° out. My phone is usually an hour or so behind the actual weather.
All this to say, while the staff are friendly and chatty, the staff at Herbie’s aren’t overly eager to talk to you if you’re not up for a chat. For me, at least, it’s just the right balance between friendliness and letting customers get on with their own thing. If you wait for a regular to come in, you’ll notice that not only do the staff know their regulars by name; they also know their usual orders by heart and have things started almost before the order is placed.
Should you be willing to traverse the stairs into the basement—a bit steeper than the steps up from the market square, but also assisted by a railing—you’ll find the music is much easier to hear bathrooms. They’re comprised of two separate rooms, each equipped with a lock, and are separated into Male and Female. Those of us who are neither need to phase into the wall and hope for the best… or choose which we’d rather use (and on that note, the men’s room is quite a bit smaller than the women’s, in case you want to base your decision on how much space you need).
Is there ever a right way to conclude the description of a coffee house like Herbie’s? Maybe by saying I’ve heard people claim it has the “best coffee in Worcestershire!”
Maybe by pointing out the chill atmosphere and pleasant music, or reiterating how—even though some tend to forget it exists—Herbie’s is now a long-standing coffee house beloved by the hot drink enjoyers of Evesham.
What I’d really like to sign off with, though, is a recommendation to check it out if you’re in the area. Herbie’s Coffee House has a certain charm that can’t quite be conveyed in a single blog post… pop in for a visit and you’ll see exactly what I mean!