No raves in Thraves

 

It was entirely my fault. 

Earlier this year, when I read the publicity about the open-day and launch of a new "not-for-profit coffee lounge called Thraves" in nearby Lutterell Hall, it was billed as "an amazing time planned with lots of stalls, inflatables, fun activities for the kids, food trucks and entertainment". I leapt to the conclusion that Thraves would be a child-friendly rival to the local Nero/Costa/Cotes brigade. I'd suggested to C that we pop in some time to support this enterprise but we hadn't got around to it yet. 

Then on Tuesday B called on his way to the shops with the boys and said did we want to come along. C was busy so I went. After the shopping we had to pass Lutterell Hall to get home so I suggested a coffee there.

We struggle through the door with J's buggy ...into a very quiet, small, room with comfy chairs and tables and a bar on the far wall. There's a solitary elderly gent at one table and a couple sitting across another table. This is clearly not a child-friendly area! More like a workplace!

In retrospect we should have left straight away, but I'm already halfway to the bar and ordering coffees and an apple juice for D (who turned 4 last week). I pay and hear from the barista "I'll bring them over". Little J (21 months) is fed up with being in the buggy and as soon as he's released he's stretching his legs, exploring the space. Second only to toddling about by himself he loves making a stomping sound with his feet - and the wooden floor here is simply perfect! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!

B is acutely embarrassed but I love to see the boys enjoying themselves and move to a chair nearer J's stomping to watch him; he is quite likely to stand by a door and get knocked over when it opens. It's actually quite a funny situation to see the peace and quiet of this adult space being totally trashed by two little kids ...but WHERE is this coffee!!! 

Eventually it appears and I go and sit with B. Under his breath he murmurs "There's an interview going on behind me!" By now D is joining in with his brother, laughing and shouting. Not quiet at the best of times, he's probably audible from across the car park outside. Even I am starting to feel uncomfortable, gulping down coffee as quickly as I can. B gets up and asks for his to be poured into a 'to go' coffee cup and suddenly we're out of there. 

On the way home D runs ahead, trips, and scrapes both knees.