Black Cat’s new perch

Just steps off the North Dorset Trailway between Shillingstone and Blandford, this small café promises a chance to pause, a warm welcome and good food

Anyone who has ever enjoyed a grazing board from Sarah McCombe of Black Cat Catering will know she’s not afraid of a challenge. But this year she’s taken on something completely new – transforming an old barn halfway between Shillingstone and Durweston into a small café with big ambitions.She says:
‘I’d been looking for a base for years. Somewhere that wasn’t my kitchen at home – so I could have that work and home life separation … or at least try and get it! That’s the dream, isn’t it? Being able to go home and switch off.’
It took nearly five years of checking in with the Hinton Estate, which owns the site, and a lot of patient emailing before the right space finally became available. ‘I was just determined to keep in touch,’ she says. ‘Every so often I’d send an email – “Anything yet?” – and they always said, “Bear with us” … and I’m nothing if not persistent!’

A spot to pause
When she finally got to walk around the barns at Gains Cross, Sarah knew it was the right spot. It’s right at the top of the blind summit hill halfway between Shillingstone and Blandford and just a minute’s walk off the North Dorset Trailway.
‘We fell in love with the setting straight away,’ she says. ‘It’s just got such a lovely ambience, with its rustic beams and old walls. They’ve kept so many of the original features, which was really important to us.’
The café, which seats 20 inside and up to 60 outside, is already proving popular with Trailway users. Cyclists, dog walkers and families are finding it the perfect mid-way stop or start-and-finish point. ‘It’s a beautiful place to pause,’ says Sarah. ‘You don’t have to fight the traffic in Blandford or Stur, and there’s plenty of free parking – that’s always a bonus. Plus we’re cycle, dog and horse-friendly, we have baby-changing (hyphen) facilities – and there’s free wifi.’

All good stuff
The menu is deliberately simple. ‘We’re definitely not a greasy spoon,’ she says. ‘Breakfasts are all made with some amazing local sausages and bacon from Prime Cuts in Shaftesbury, and local eggs and milk too.’
At lunchtime, there are freshly made sausage rolls, and toasties and bacon sandwiches – ‘If I took those off the menu, I’d have a mutiny,’ says Sarah. ‘It’s all about keeping it manageable, with minimal waste and quicker service,’ she says. ‘We don’t want people sitting for hours waiting for food. We want people to come in, relax, have something good to eat and drink, and be on their way.’

Almost all of the food is either homemade by Sarah or sourced from other small producers. ‘It’s really important to me to use local producers wherever we can,’ Sarah says. ‘People want to know where their food comes from – and so they should.’
The café also offers takeaways and is open to hosting small events on quieter days. ‘Nothing big – no weddings!’ she says. ‘But if someone wants to bring Granny for a birthday tea or run a workshop, that’s something we’d love to talk about.’

Worth the drive
Social media has been key in spreading the word. ‘We’re on Facebook, Instagram and even TikTok,’ she says. ‘Sometimes in the mornings I do a little live video just to give myself a mental slap – get going, Sarah! Talking rubbish to strangers online somehow helps. It reminds me why I’m doing it.’
Above all, she hopes people will feel the difference that comes from a small, independent team. ‘We’re not a chain,’ she says. ‘When you come here, you’re getting a really friendly, personal welcome. If anything goes wrong, it’ll be taken on the chin and sorted out. We’re only human.
‘We know we’re perfect for people dipping off the Trailway, but I want to be known for being worth the drive too,’ she adds. ‘Yes, there are other places people can get a coffee – but we’ve got this view, the fresh air, the walking right from the door… and we’re here because we love what we do.’

Cafe located at Gains Cross Farm, DT11 0QP
Tue–Wed: 10am–2.30pm, Thu–Sun: 9.30am–3pm, Closed Mondays
theblackcatcafe.co.uk
@TheBlackCatCafe