The Black Penny

Editor's Review

Zoe and George Notley, both ex-Lantana, have really delivered with their first café, The Black Penny. Walking in, you get the feeling quality is taken seriously and every aspect of the experience has been thought through. Let’s start with the coffee which is from The Roastery Department. On the counter, stunningly attractive displays of food from the downstairs kitchen beckon. Teas are from Lalani and Co, baked goods from Dee Light.

This building previously housed Salt WC2 which closed in 2013. Extensive renovation work has uncovered historic features such as diamond vault doors and a centuries old stoveplace. The building has been lovingly designed to highlight these original features alongside the wood panelling and exposed brick, giving an air of authenticity to The Black Penny.

George has eleven years’ experience as a chef in both London and Australia and his lunches and brunches show great attention to detail; combining flavours imaginatively and producing food that looks great too. You can enjoy food or coffee in the comfortable back room, where a large communal table encourages customer interaction and magazine racks surround a table adorned with vases of flowers and jugs of water topped with orange slices. A false ceiling here was knocked through to reveal a skylight high above.

Downstairs there is a seminar pit and The Black Penny aim to host events in an attempt to bring back the kind of heated debates and creative interaction associated with the 17th Century penny universities of London’s first wave of coffee. Ted Baker, who played an investment role here, have facilitated a café that is a great realisation of Zoe and George’s vision for a comfortable, stimulating environment that serves great coffee and food and encourages customer interaction.

Review by Phil Wain.

Cafe Features

Wifi

Table Seating

Brunch/Lunch

Toilets

Licensed

Outdoor Seats

Buy Beans

Loose Leaf Tea

Coffee + Drinks

Cold Brew

Non Dairy

Iced Coffee

Decaf

Filter Coffee