I have decided to write a blog, ultimately about everything and anything about being a Liverpool student. Being a student in 2011is as challenging as it is inspiring, so here is window into the struggles and excitements of the life of a romantic Liverpool undergraduate. Proust, poverty and plenty more!
I will begin with a cafe that I am writing this from, it is as tea cafe called Leaf in Liverpool and promotes a wide assortment of flavoured tea from rose petal to blood orange. There is something about this cafe which has drawn to back three times in one week, not a pleasant experience for the student bank balance, might I add, despite the low prices. It perhaps is the bear brick wall. What is it about bear brick which we automatically associate with cool, quirky, alternative environments, like a bohemian singer’s Soho apartment, or a struggling models New York bedsit?
Or perhaps it is the long wooden tables with benches resembling a boarding schools dining room. I personally love this idea of communal dinning; sitting next to a stranger can be a refreshing and intriguing experience. I also noticed this set up in a chain of cafes in London called Le Pain Quotidien where I once went for breakfast. It was a very trendy environment and gave me a sort of London, New Yorkesque feeling. I felt rather sophisticated and similar to those prospective, fashionable, early twenties adults which swarm London, all working in glamorous jobs or as glamorous interns, something which without sounding shallow, I hope to shortly be. A quote taken from Le Pain’s website when describing their “communal table” is “even in the big city, we are a community.” http://www.lepainquotidien.co.uk/
The next thing which I love about this place is the decoration. The wall in the corner has an array of antique looking plates hanging on it with a mixture of patterns and shapes. The effect is interesting and different. It seems at first like an odd idea, but on further inspection is promotes a sort of antiquey and vintage feel, offset by a selection of 1850s style furniture. Furthermore the hanging baskets and the old fashioned lamp shades, along with the cabinets of delicate, venerable cups and saucers and the deep turquoise velvet curtains all add to this cafes charisma and character. Not to mention the delicious homemade food - a sandwich will set you back between £2.95 and £3.50, a cup of flavoured tea – depending on size- around £2.20 and a steaming bowl of porridge and jam £2. I strongly recommend a visit!
Leaf is on Bold Street in Liverpool’s city centre.
Leaf also serve an evening menu and hold regular exhibitions and open mic nights, for more information visit.
great elle - keep persevering and keep it brief!!
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