News
All the latest news from The Little Book Cafe

2nd July 2019
Eggs New York - our July brunch special

Our brunch special for July is Eggs New York - It's a New York twist on a classic eggs benedict: Two poached eggs on a toasted bagel with wholegrain mustard hollandaise, pastrami & sliced gherkins.

Take a look at our full menu >

Since... 2019
​Proud to sponsor Halstead in Bloom

We are proud to sponsor the Halstead in Bloom flower bed in the fountain at the top of the High Street. Thank you to all of the Halstead in Bloom volunteers who all work so hard to make sure our lovely town always looks blooming beautiful.

Take a look at the Halstead in Bloom website >

15th June 2019
Nominated for a Global Hospitality Award

We are very excited to have been nominated for an award.  LUXlife Magazine's 2019 Global Hospitality Awards are designed to reward and recognise the firms and the individuals behind them that have worked tirelessly over the past 12 months to achieve industry leading success, client satisfaction and market growth.  Wish us luck with the next stage of the awards.

Find out more about the Global Hospitality Awards >

4th June 2019
Mini Millionnaires Pancakes - our special for June

We offer one of our specials for a whole month, and for June our special dish is Mini Millionnaires Pancakes - that's eight mini pancakes with salted caramel and dark chocolate dipping sauces and crushed shortbread biscuits.  Pop along and enjoy throughout June.

Take a look at our menu >

28th May 2019
Munchie Crunchie Freakshake on for half term

We have a freakshake on for half term.  But they're not just for kids.  This time it's a Munchie Crunchie Freakshake - vanilla milkshake, chocolate sauce, toffee crisp finger, cream, munchie bites and crunchie rocks!

24th May 2019
We've been recognised for a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for the fourth year running

We're delighted to receive our Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for 2019, based on "consistently great reviews" on Trip Advisor.

Thank you to our customers who have written such lovely and thoughtful reviews.  And to our fabulous team here who do an amazing job of keeping our customers happy.

Take a look at our reviews on Trip Advisor >

1st May 2019
Mexican Eggs Benny - our brunch special for May

A brunch with a Mexican twist, this one will be available throughout May.

Mexican Eggs Benny - Poached eggs on a toasted muffin with chorizo, avocado, chilli seed mix & lime hollandaise.

Take a look at our full menu >

15th April 2019
Easter Opening Hours

Our opening hours for easter will be:
​
Tuesday 16th April: 9am-3pm
Wednesday 17th April: 9am-3pm
Thursday 18th April: 9am-3pm
Good Friday 19th April: 9am-3pm
Saturday 20th April: 9am-3pm
Easter Sunday 21st April: Closed
Easter Monday 22nd April: Closed
Tuesday 23rd April: 9am-3pm

8th April 2019
​Eggtastic freakshake on for School Holidays

Our eggtastic freakshake will be available for the next few weeks during the school holidays.  It's a delicious mix of vanilla milkshake, toffee crisp bar, toffee fudge sauce, whipped cream & chocolate creme eggs.   

1st April 2019
​Our April brunch special: Black pudding, apple & egg

Our brunch special for this month is an LBC favourite of black pudding, apple & eggs.  Wedges of black pudding from our local butcher, Hard's, with griddle apple, homemade apple butter and fried eggs on a toasted English muffin.  It will be available throughout April so make sure you come and try it.

View our full menu

29th March 2019
A little mention from a local celebrity

It is always nice to get a little mention in the local newspaper.  Thank you Sam Swainsbury for the lovely quote, and congratulations on your starring role in Fisherman's Friends.  

Read reviews for Fisherman's Friends film on IMDB

5th March 2019
The Little Book Cafe featured on Exquisite Concierge as one of the best coffee shops in Essex

We are very happy to be included in the article on Exquisite Concierge's website on the best coffee shops in Essex.

"Exquisite Concierge is the home of luxury living.  It is your go-to online guide that picks the very best your region has to offer."

Read the best coffee shops in Essex article here

1st March 2019
Our March brunch special: French Toast

Our brunch special for March is French Toast - two slices of brioche bread dipped in a rich cream, cinnamon & egg batter, fried in butter and topped with candied pecan nuts & pure Canadian maple syrup.   

If you've not tried it yet now is your chance, it comes highly recommended by Claire, it's one of her favourites. 

Take a look at our full menu

 Mother's Day Afternoon Tea - 31st March
​​12.00 midday or 2.00pm

A selection of finger sandwiches & mini bagels, homemade cheese scone with chutney, plain scone with Tiptree jam & clotted cream, an assortment of homemade sweet treats plus any hot drink from our menu.

19.95 per person. Add some sparkle - first glass of Prosecco 2.50

Update 15/03/2019: Our Mother's Day Afternoon Tea is now fully booked.

28th February 2019
Top score for Food Hygiene Rating

It's always reassuring to get a five rating for our Food Hygiene.  Following our inspection in February we are very pleased to have been given the top rating of 'very good'.  

Search for Food Hygiene Ratings on the Food Standards Agency website

22nd February 2019
Top place to go for breakfast in Essex according to Trip Advisor

Essex Live have listed the top 10 places to go in Essex for breakfast according to Trip Advisor reviews...and The Little Book Cafe is number 1!

"The Little Book Cafe is a great find, tucked away in a quaint looking cottage in Halstead.  Ranked number one on the review website, this Hedingham Road cafe serves traditional English breakfasts and egg Royale."

Take a look at the full list of best places to go for Breakfast in Essex

20th February 2019
Top 10 Places to Eat Breakfast - Essex Life

We're very pleased to be included in Essex Life magazine's Top 10 places to eat breakfast in Essex.  you can see the article in the lastest edition of the magazine.

"Food is very important at The Little Book Cafe and they strive to provide the greatest quality ingredients guaranteeing you one of the best breakfasts in the area."

18th February 2019
Freakshake for February half term

Our Fudgy Wudgy Freakshake is back for half term.  It's an overflowing glass of gooey sweetness.  Caramel milkshake, toffee fudge sauce, fudge pieces, pretzels, cream, toffee crisp bar, wafer and chocolate sprinkles - it's the perfect half term treat.

1st February 2019
Elvis Waffles available for all of February

Back by popular demand, our brunch special for February is Elvis Waffles.  A heady mix of sweet waffles, peanut butter, slice banana, crispy streaky bacon and maple syrup.  If it's good enough for Elvis it's good enough for us.

Take a look at our full menu

28th January 2019
Happy 4th Birthday to us

The Little Book Cafe is 4 years old, and what a fabulous 4 years it has been.  Thank you to all our lovely customers for your continued support and loyalty.  And thank you to our wonderful team here at the LBC for all your hard work.

14th January 2019
Read about us in Essex Life Magazine

There's a lovely article about The Little Book Cafe in January's edition of Essex Life magazine.  

"The food is freshly prepared and homemade.  We just make dishes which taste delicious.  We also offer a separate vegan menu and most of our dishes can also be adapted to be gluten free, so we can cater for all tastes."  

7th January 2019
On the radio...

We were featured on BBC Essex radio this evening.  Thank you to Jodie Halford for including us in the 'Your Essex' show which was all about Halstead.  Also featured were Halstead Community Fridge, Halstead in Bloom and Halstead Road Runners.

You can listen again on the BBC Sounds app,  just search 'youressex'.

2nd January 2019
We’re recruiting!

Kitchen/Café Assistant 
20-30 hours a week including some Saturdays

UPDATE 12th January:  Please note this position has now been filled

If you are friendly, hardworking and love good food we would like to hear from you.  
Previous café/restaurant experience preferred.

Drop your CV in to us or email your CV to [email protected]

Christmas Opening Hours 2018

Monday 17th December – Closed
Tuesday 18th December – 09:00-15:00
Wednesday 19th December – 09:00-15:00
Thursday 20th December – 09:00-15:00
Friday 21st December – 09:00-15:00
Saturday 22nd December – 09:00-15:00
 Sunday 23rd December – OPEN 09:00-15:00 
Monday 24th December – Closed

The Little Book Cafe will be closed between Christmas and New Year
We will open again on Thursday 3rd January 2019

1st November 2018
Good Food Award Winner

We are over the moon to have been awarded this prestigious accolade.   Thank you so much to all of our customers who voted for us.  And well done Team LBC!

"Based upon customer feedback, nominations and votes these premises have demonstrated exceptional levels of food quality, service and value when compared to our industry benchmarks in their category."  Executive Editor, Good Food Award

Take a look at the Good Food Award winners

Closed for one week for kitchen refit

The Little Book Cafe will be closed for one week from Tuesday 30th October as we are having part of our kitchen refitted. 

We will be open again from Tuesday 6th November.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.

9th October 2018
We've updated our menu

We've made some changes to our menu.  We've combined our brunch and lunch menus so now have just one menu which is available all day.  Your old favourites are still on there including Welsh Rarebit, Homemade Beans with Sausages, Smashed Avocado, Pancakes and many more.
Take a look at our full menu 

15th September 2018
Finalists in the Essex Life Food and Drink Awards

We're feeling excited and proud to be be finalists in the Essex Life Food and Drink Awards in the Best Coffee Shop category.  Check us out in this month's edition of the Essex Life magazine.  The awards take place on Thursday 27th September - wish us luck!

14th September 2018
Top 50 restaurants in Essex

Essex Live have published an article of the Top 50 restaurants in Essex according to Trip Advisor.  And we're number 7 on the list which we're rather chuffed about. 
Take a look at the article on the Essex Live website to find out who the other 49 are.

7th Sepember 2018
Halstead Gazette Cafe of the Year Competition

We've made it through to the final stage of the Halstead Gazette's Cafe of the Year competition.  Thank you to everyone who nominated us so far and helped us get down to the final two.  The form for the final voting stage is in this week's newspaper and will also be in next week's too.  The voting deadline is Friday 21st September.  All votes would be much appreciated!  

4th August 2018
We've been nominated for the Good Food Awards

How lovely to receive a letter saying we have been nominated for the Good Food Award!  The awards are based on delicious dishes and consistently good customer feedback, so if you think we'd be a worthy winner it would be most appreciate if you could pop to the website and vote for us.  Voting ends on 14th August.
Go to www.goodfoodaward.com  

24th July 2018
​Freakshakes are back for the summer holidays

We're offering freakshakes again during the school summer holidays.  First up, it's our classic - the Fudgy Wudgy Freakshake: Caramel milkshake, toffee crisp bar, toffee fudge sauce, whipped cream, fudge pieces, pretzels, wafer & chocolate sprinkles!

Keep an eye out on our Facebook page or Instagram page for the different flavours coming up over the summer.

22nd July 2018
​Stewards Enquiry at Greenstead Green Village Fete

One of the Little Book Cafe team, Jane, is never one to shy away from the action.  So it was great to see her take part in the Hobby Horse Derby at the Greenstead Green Village Fete.  And although Jane didn't get the win she deserved, it was lovely to see so may people turn out to support the local event.  Well done to the organisers for a putting on such a great event.

15th July 2018
World Cup of Brunch

Thank you to everyone who voted in our World Cup of Brunch.  We were delighted with the response with over 1,300 votes cast over the 15 'matches'. 
Take a look at the results on our World Cup of Brunch page 
World War I memorabilia
World War I memorabilia

29th June 2018
​Lest We Forget

We're very happy to receive a silver award in the Halstead Chambers of Commerce Floral Display Award.  This year the theme was World War I.  Thank you to Spike for lending us some of his treasured WWI posters which looked great in our courtyard along with our red, white and blue flowers.  Well done to all the local businesses who took part and created some fantastic themed window displays.

18th June 2018
The Early Bird Catches the Breakfast

We're now open from 9am!  So there's even more time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast at The Little Book Cafe.  Our new opening hours are:
Monday - Closed
​Tuesday - 9am-3pm
Wednesday - 9am-3pm
Thursday - 9am-3pm
Friday - 9am-3pm
Saturday - 9am-3pm
​Sunday - Closed

10th June 2018
Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence

We're delighted to have achieved our Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for the third year running.  Customer feedback has always been important to us and we're proud to be rated highly on Trip Advisor.
Take a look at our reviews on the Trip Advisor website.