University Challenge! Asking the questions...

I've been down to wonderful Reading to catch with my connections down there, and determined to turn everything this year into a cafe opportunity, I decided to let Reading and Newcastle Universities go head to head in a catering challenge with no starters for ten!

First up Dolche Vita expresso bar at Reading.  The campus was quiet as the students haven't all arrived back yet but Dolche Vita (it is spelt like that) was all gleaming surfaces and chrome when we arrived.  I'd expected sofas galore for weary students to lounge on, but the seating was tables and chairs or bar stools.  There were plenty of tables and chairs outside too.  I have to say that the customer service was v v good.  The nice lady who served us asked if we were eligible for student discounts, wanted skimmed or semi skimmed milk in our lattes, gave us a loyalty card and even - get this - pointed out the discounted biscuits at the till.  So we sat outside and enjoyed lattes and cheap but incredibly nice shortbreads in an atmosphere of calm before the storm.  All the cakes are bought in (wrapped) and presumably there are sandwiches etc though I didn't really take note.   All in all good value for what we had.

Another day, another city, and the Courtyard restaurant cafe bar at Newcastle University.  This is a much larger affair than Dolche Vita and serves main meals as well as snacks.  It's all light beech woodwork and looks quite newly refurbished.  The serving area is a bit production line and I had to serve myself with a latte from the machine.  On the upside, it is very cheap and very near the city centre which means you can just pop in (can't do that at Reading as the campus is out of town).

So, who's going through to the next round?  Well, in keeping with the spirit of Grace, let's accentuate the positive.  If you're in Reading and at the university, the Dolche Vita is for you.  If you're in Newcastle upon Tyne - city centre, Great North museum, Exhibition park, RVI - then the Courtyard is handy enough and cheap and cheerful enough to make it worth a visit.