A Plug for ‘The Plug’

I LOVE the old village centre of Dinas Powys, there is a post office, cosy welcoming pubs and The Plug.

I was meeting my friend Laura in there. It was dull outside, but stepping into the cosy cafe, you’re greeted with a beaming smile from the friendly chap behind the counter and the snug, warm waft of coffee. That is what this place is about, coffee. It doesn’t try to please every tastebud; it doesn’t offer every type of beverage from organic juices with fruit pressed by fairy feet in amongst the foothills of a mountain or an extensive list of fine leaf teas. It is serious about its passion, that passion being, to reiterate and stress and highlight, it is all about coffee, underlined and in bold.

Indeed the blackboard menu behind the counter is divided into three and says simply, ‘Coffee/ Not Coffee/ Toast’. So, just to state if a coffee loving friend suggests meeting but you have an aversion to the stuff, don’t let it put you off. I urge you to go, as there are other drinks, but the focus is on the roasted, ground down bean.

I ordered my cappuccino and under ‘toast’ was listed a selection of crumpets and brioche and fine sounding bread but, and this is a moment to really pay attention, besides all things tasty and toasty, they also serve some scrummy bakes. It was nearly 2pm, cake O’clock in my daily timeline so I opted for a thick, gooey-looking, rich, dense, dark chocolaty brownie. I was told to find a seat and it’d be brought over.

I scanned around and unlike many cafes with little tables for two dotted around, this is fairly communal in its approach to seating, a long bench and a few large tables. Three blokes were sat at one end of one with seats free at the other and instantly there were warm smiles and a, ‘Yeah, sit here’.

Nothing as prosaic as a cloth graces the table, proper old vinyl records in flimsy paper sleeves patchwork the surface. In the centre of the table were candles and a big bowl of lemons and copies of ‘Monocle’ magazine were strewn about. How appropriate that a global magazine should be so readily available in this cafe that seemed to delight in embracing everyone and giving them comforting coffee cuddles.

I must make mention of the loos too. I’m not trying to be indelicate but if you visit you must visit, so to speak. Neal’s Yard soap and hand cream and when it’s this chilly, hand cream in public conveniences is always welcome and perched in the corner, a guitar. I’m not sure you’re supposed to attempt to play it whilst you’re in there, but I liked the feeling that you’re being invited into somewhere over which such care and attention had been paid and that they are sharing their passion. To have a passion in life is awesome; to share that passion is something very special indeed.