Rural café ready to welcome visitors

Enjoying a slice of home-made cake with a fresh pot of tea or coffee in a homely café with friendly service has long been a favourite treat for many British folk, but how many establishments can offer a chance to pet the world’s cutest sheep too?

If this sounds like it’s just your cup of tea, head out to the picturesque village of Ulrome, not far from the East Yorkshire coastline, and drop into the newly opened Rustic Riddle café, based at Manor House Farm off Skipsea Lane.

Owner Karen Riddle has created a delightful summer refreshment stop for weary travellers, cyclists and families wishing to entertain their youngsters, in the form of a weatherproof marquee in the grounds of her old farmhouse. The menu consists of a variety of teas, cafetieres and soft drinks, home-made cakes and light bites such as quiche, paninis and sausage rolls, which can be enjoyed inside the beautifully dressed marquee or outside on bean bags or grassland surrounding a large lake.

Visitors to the café are welcome to take a walk around the paddocks and also meet Karen’s menagerie of farm animals, including pygmy goats and rare breed Swiss Valais sheep – alleged to be the cutest sheep in the world thanks to their black faces, shaggy coats and friendly temperament.

Karen, who is married with one daughter, said: “The summer café is the next step in our plan to revitalise the Manor House Farm smallholding and what it can offer our community and visitors to the area. As a family we’ve put a lot of work into creating two holiday lets as well as our online gift and homeware business.

“It’s been a labour of love but we are hoping the café will also be a big success as it’s such a lovely spot to take a break. We are completely family and dog-friendly, I think children in particular will really enjoy meeting all our four-legged residents!”

She added: “I have lots of ideas for more exciting developments on the site, including arts and crafts activities such as painting workshops, and we might well venture into offering glamping accommodation as well.”

The Rustic Riddle café will be open until the end of August, between 10am and 4pm every day of the week except Monday. For further information, call 01262 469300 or email info@rusticriddle.co.uk