To a migratory visitor Larkhall appears to be a non-entity; one those central belt towns that seems to have had its original purpose removed and no-one is quite sure what to do with what is left. Yes, I did pass a boarded-up bar, sad looking houses and a new horrendous ‘architect-designed’ (as if other houses were designed by an infinite room-full of an infinite number of monkeys with infinite pens, paper and CAD software) housing scheme – homes dropped in from England by an anonymous contractor. No, I didn’t hold out much hope for a decent café. Wrong.
Union Street is teetering between chainstores about to flee, charity shops and pound shops on one hand. On the other there is an active looking community centre and innovative local businesses such as the recently opened Laverockha. Which is close to the free car park and there are plenty of spaces nearby. The outside of Laverockha is painted English mustard yellow. Looks good. Inside it’s busy with OAPs and mums with babies and toddlers. Service is immediate. There are loads of staff and they are working away. This is a friendly, busy place but with a relaxed feel. You can be served fast and get back on the road or linger.
The Laverockhians have done their best with a space that was likely a hairdressers previously. Deep and rectangular with a run of padded benches and tables down one wall, tastefully lit with retro-element shaded lamps and a copper mirror. Comfy chairs, a few high tables, impressively clean loos. The obligatory dark green matt café paint is here but here’s a nice feel inside. Then you look at the high ceiling. What do the pensioners enjoying a pretty innovative menu of café dishes with a twist like Eggs Benny (work it out) with chilli oil think when they look up? Industrial lighting runs, a huge aircon unit, exposed concrete slabs, spotlights, cables… It looks like the interior of the spaceship Nostromo where the crew are hunting the Alien…
Fortunately it turns out better for me. The coffee is reasonable, a standard sort of slightly over-roasted Colombian brew in a pleasing yellow cup and saucer that matches the exterior paint. The food is the strong point of Laverockha; lots of interesting dishes or upgraded versions of café food with other pleasing upgraded names like a Break-ito and Posh Bosh rolls – a cooked breakfast in a tortilla and black pudding in a brioche roll respectively. And what can they really do about the ceiling anyway?
I would suggest you detour to Larkhall and eat at Laverockha.
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