Coffee at the Great Kitchen Restaurant at Kedleston Hall

We called in at the Great Kitchen restaurant at Kedleston Hall, which is a National Trust property. It wasn't too busy, but we had to wait a while as they weren't serving lunch until 12 noon. It was definitely too cold and wet to be sat outside.

While we waited, we had a gingerbread latte and a black americano. We'd just had a walk around the grounds, and it was a bit chilly. A warm drink was very welcome. Apparently, they have some new reusable cups. If you buy a cup, you will get a free drink with it. You also get 25p off a hot drink if you use your reusable cup. Something to think about for next time.

All proceeds of the restaurant go back into the upkeep of the Hall, which is also good.

It wasn't too long before our baked potato with cheese, salad and a 3 bean chilli and cheese scone arrived. It was very nice, but I could have eaten twice as much as I am still a pig .....

There was a children's pick 'n mix corner. Five items for £5.25. All nutrious items such as chocolate and crisps, ha ha.

There were lots of old kitchen utensils on the shelves made out of pewter. In the 17th and 18th centuries, pewter was made from an alloy of tin with a small amount of lead in it. As we now know, certain metals such as lead can be harmful to the body. At the end of the 18th century, it was changed to Britannia metal, which consists of an alloy of tin, antimony, and copper, so it was deemed safe. Source I'd never heard of antimony before, so after a quick google found out you can get animony poisoning from drinking out of cheap enamelware cups. I never realised going for a coffee could be so complicated!