About - The Rock freehouse Bar & Cafe specialising in cask ales and carefully chosen ciders, wines and bottled beers. Since being established in 2021 it gives it's customers the chance to pull their own pints. The venue is in a former newsagents, which has been completely transformed over 15 months by owner Richard Thomas.
The Rock has no music and no television. "We want to bring back the art of conversation!" There's also a main bar and a cafe area, as well as an outdoor seating area. As well as the beer wall they also serve a selection of wines and spirits too, and non-alcoholic options, including coffee - using beans from 200 Degrees. The café is serving a selection of meals including cooked breakfasts, fish and chips, jacket potatoes and cheese boards.
The bar's name was inspired by an old pub which the owner used to frequent, called The Forest Rock, which was better known to the regulars as 'The Rock'.
The visit -
Outside the building has several impressive murals, which draws on the local area for inspiration, including Coalville's Clock Tower, along with miners and a pit wheel.
We were welcomed as we walked in and had a little walk around the various areas inside The Rock, a multi purpose venue - firstly the bar area, then the outside area (all the tables were taken when we visited on a lovely sunny day) and then on to the café end of the building. All of the areas were lovely and had character.
There is a menu on the tables, a specials board and then the cake cabinet. This alone had me pondering for a good few minutes. Then the most difficult part of the visit came, which cake to choose! The staff waiting to take our order were friendly and attentive - offering which might be good if I liked particular things such as chocolate and so on. I took advantage of the coffee and cake for £5 offer, choosing a mars brownie and an americano. The brownie came with either cream or ice cream, I went for ice cream. The portions of coffee and cake were generous and then they added in the accompanying ice cream with the cake, I managed to fit it in, but only just!
The menu boasted many items to choose from, I would say something for everyone, from omlette and salad, sandwiches, breakfast items, to platters and boards (ploughman's, pork pie and cheese). The choice for drinks is also large including the standard coffees and cold drinks to iced coffee, iced tea and milkshakes. I was really pleased to see that they offer four alternative milks - coconut, almond, soya or oat milks.
The ham and cheese sandwich was generous in its filling and was obviously made fresh - the staff were more than happy to provide us with a bag to take away and uneaten sandwich and apparently the left over sandwich was even nicer the next day!
Will I be back? - Yes absolutely - I would go back tomorrow and the next day! It is a great place for a coffee, lunch or drink. They also have wifi so I would go and work from there and treat myself to a coffee and cake whilst I am at it! The coffee and cake for £5 was a great deal and I could visit numerous times and still have more cakes to try.
Extra touches - There is a wall where you can dispense your own beer (and other drinks) - you need to purchase a card for £10 to get started. That card then enables you to use 'The Wall', which includes two lagers - including Keller lager from Leicestershire's own Braybrooke Beer Co - as well as two beers and a stout, plus red wine, white wine, Prosecco and two ciders. I didn't use this, but I can imagine that the this would be something that might draw people in to The Rock. There was a selection of games available inside - again promoting conversations between customers.
Facilities - As The Rock was only opened in 2021, it benefits from lovely toilets and includes a changing mat for younger customers.
Important information;
The Rock Cafe, 97 Meadow Lane, Coalville LE67 4DQ.
The Rock is open from 8am (cafe) until 11pm Monday to Saturday, and Sunday from 10am (cafe) until 10pm.
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