Out For Breakfast At The Bottle Kiln In West Hallam Near Ilkeston
Published On Sunday 27 Apr 2025 by Sticky Beak
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I do love me a cheeky Bank Holiday weekend brekkie, not gonna lie! The Man and I often say how blessed we are to live in an area that has so many brilliant venues to eat and drink at (BB and TBW are very jealous as they have comparatively few in Lincolnshire), and love going to new places. As I lazed in bed, His Nibs was beavering away at his beloved ‘puter in a bid to find somewhere for breakfast; it didn’t take him long to come across The Bottle Kiln at West Hallam, so that’s where we headed for.
As far as kerb appeal goes, you aren’t going to find many places with more pizazz than The Bottle Kiln! Originally, there were two bottle kilns but one got demolished mid last century and the surviving one’s outer now has listed status to preserve it. Within the kiln there is now a couple of boutique shops selling all manner of delightful treasures, from homewares and furniture, to jewellery and artwork. However, my rumbling tummy reminded me why we were here and we made our way through to the café/bistro area.
A lovely young lady greeted us and we went to find a table and look at the menu; when you’re ready, you go up to the counter, and tell the team your table number and your order. Simple. The relaxed, friendly vibe is instantly felt and there is accessibility for those in wheelchairs or mobility aids – always handy to know, and the space between tables means that it would be easy to navigate your way around.
First up we needed to sort out drinks, and we both got caught by the Pink Raspberry Hot Chocolate (£4.60), although I was tempted to have a Moroccan Mint Tea (£3.25) from Heavenly loose-leaf Teas. These drinks were the most gorgeous, delicate rose-pink hue and tasted every bit as delish as they looked; indulgently creamy white chocolate swirled with fruity Raspberry to create a real treat: perfect for a Bank Holiday.
It wasn’t long before our breakfasts were being brought over as well: I had ordered Eggs Benny with Smashed Avocado and Smoked Salmon (£14), and His Nibs went for the BK Full English (£12.95). There’s a choice of white bloomer or granary bread to accompany your hot breakfasts, so The Man chose granary for the extra flavour it has. At The Bottle Kiln, the [freshly cooked] breakfasts are served until 11.30am so there’s no need to rush around on any day, weekend or not.
The first thing my beady noted on His Nibs’ plate was that the Baked Beans were housed in a separate little pot on the plate – this makes my heart happy! Foods touching each other generally don’t give me the ick, but I have never been able to stomach it when egg yolk and bean juice mingle; nope, not in my world. Wrong on all levels, I’m sorry. Both the Beans and the egg were delicious in their own right though, I’m pleased to say, and The Man piled the Baked Beans onto his buttered granary bread at the end to make a ‘second’ brekkie: winner, winner chicken [breakfast] dinner. You can’t beat a thick banger for breakfast, and the pair of Pork and Herb beauties were utterly sublime, and even better when dunked in the creamy, rich egg yolk. Chef had crisped the fat at the edge of the [three] Bacon slices brilliantly, and the rashers themselves were thick and flavoursome. A Hash Brown had been cooked to golden perfection and was crisp on the outer with soft shreds of Potato inside. The whole field Mushroom was soon winging its way over to me - no complaints here – whilst The Man scoffed the herb-roasted, halved Tomato, revelling in its sweet juiciness.
The foundation of my Eggs Benedict was a halved muffin that had been gently toasted and then piled, and I do mean [heftily]piled, with a deep bed of pastel toned, smashed Avocado. Each half had a poached egg on it that was then crowned with slices of Smoked Salmon, creamy Hollandaise sauce and a sprig of fresh Parsley. My palate sighed with joy as the richness of the egg’s yolk reached it, and my eyes had rejoiced in the deep colour of the yolk, too -this was a tasty egg by anyone’s standards. Chef at The Bottle Kiln in West Hallam is clearly a feeder; not one single element of my choice was wanting and it wasn’t long before my tummy was full. There’s a reason why I usually choose to have Eggs Benedict for breakfast: silky, satiating and indulgent, it also is a pretty ‘complete’ meal. Nutritionally, it covers lots of bases; protein from the eggs and Salmon, carbohydrate from the muffin, and healthy fats and oils from the Hollandaise and Salmon. It is one of the few breakfasts that manage to stop me snacking, and keeps me full until (and sometimes beyond) lunchtime.
After we’d cleared our plates, we headed out into the ‘Tranquil Garden’ which is to the rear of the kiln itself. Imagine a hidden paradise that transports you a world away from hustle and bustle, where you can immerse yourself in nature; statues of buddhas peek from foliage and Bamboo provides a verdant, natural wall around the periphery. A small water fountain spouts water into a pond, its sound soothing and relaxing. Among this lush [miniature] landscape are benches to sit on, so why not take a moment or two to reset yourself whilst you’re here?
Feeling chilled and replete, we headed back out to the ample car park where the jalopy had been left, and headed home. The Bottle Kiln is a popular place, and there were certainly less spaces than when we’d arrived! Hot Wings happily given to this West Hallam gem.
The Bottle Kiln doesn’t take reservations (other than for Afternoon Tea, which requires at least 24hours notice, so ring 0115 9329442), but there is a website for you to visit www.bottlekiln.co.uk so that you can discover more about the venue’s history and the menus and serving times. Sunday and Monday, The Bottle Kiln is open 10am-4pm, and Tuesday- Saturday from 9am-5pm.
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