Anita Le Roy, who founded Monmouth Coffee in Covent Garden and is married to Randolph Hodgson of Neal's Yard Dairy fame, has just opened a new Monmouth Coffee outpost by the thriving Borough Market within the sound of the bells of Southwark Cathedral.
This is a corner site of the old offices for the market and has been lovingly restored with open brickwork and cast iron pillars central features although pride of place goes, naturally, to the selection and grinding of the beans on offer.
The menu includes London's best baguettes from Paul, Covent Garden; butter from Jamie Montgomery of Cheddar fame in Somerset; jams from Mr and Mrs Haw in Kent and quince jelly from a delightful opera singer customer as well as Marmite for the less adventurous.
There is also a variety of pastries from Sally Clark: croissants, pain au chocolat, brioche, pecan pastries, cinnamon twists, cheese and ham croissants.
The coffees include estate and single origin filters as well as espresso-based drinks made with the house blend.
All the coffees sold and roasted in Covent Garden are sold here too and they plan to start roasting at Park Street in a few months' time when planning permission for a 1950s Whitmee roaster finally gets through the bureaucracy of Southwark council.
Monmouth Coffee Company, 2 Park Street, London SE1 9AB (tel 0207 645 3585)
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 0800-1700
