Cafe Norah: A Unique Gem in Cottingham
Cafe Norah is not your typical café. Located in the heart of Cottingham, this independent, family-run café offers a relaxed and ambient experience, attracting over 100 rave reviews since its opening.
Run by owner Cassie Hart, her daughter Maddie, and assistant manager Emily Benson, Cafe Norah hosts a popular open mic night on the last Friday of each month. These events operate on a first-come, first-served basis, allowing performers to showcase up to three songs to an appreciative local audience.
Customers have praised Cafe Norah for its unique atmosphere, high-quality food, diverse menu options, and friendly service. The café champions local artists and suppliers, integrating this support into their open mic nights for a truly unique evening.
When the cafe opened last year Owner Cassie Hart told Hull Daily Mail’s life writer Harry Ingman “It’s been a long, hard slog to get here, but we’ve revamped and redecorated, fine-tuned our menu and we’re thrilled to finally be open. It’s been a great journey and we’ve been really busy since we’ve opened which is a good sign.
“It’s been really well-received by the people of Cottingham so far and they’ve shown us incredible support. Everyone has been really nice and understanding when we’ve been busy and we’re all so pleased with how it’s going.”
Speaking about what makes them different to other cafés, Cassie said: “We have a homeware shop attached to the café offering quirky gifts that largely come from local artists. We’re also serving Jaffles, a dish inspired by mine and Maddie’s time travelling in Australia, which have been our best-sellers so far.
“We use lots of locally sourced ingredients, including bread from Luke’s Sourdough based in Brough, coffee from local roasters Blending Room, and cakes from Abigail Bakes who is based right here in Cottingham.”
Praising her small team, Cassie said: “Going into business with my daughter has been lovely – but she’s very bossy! She’s working really hard and I’m really proud of her – it’s all coming together thanks to her and the hard work of our assistant manager Emily and the chefs in the kitchen.”
Looking to the future, Cassie finished by saying: “We’re looking at doing themed gourmet nights in the future like Thai nights and steak nights. We’re also going to do a ‘sausage-fest’ in celebration of Oktoberfest in October, as well as some art evenings in the coming months.
Cafe Norah is truly a gem, championing local suppliers and bringing a taste of Australia to Cottingham.