Gavel Cafe at Thirsk Auction Mart Offers Hearty Meals for All
The Gavel Cafe at Thirsk Auction Mart serves delicious meals, perfect for warming up after a chilly day.
Thirsk, UK, Gavel Cafe, Hearty Meals, Thirsk Auction Mart, Food
Thirsk: Last Friday, I found myself at Thirsk Auction Mart, just off the A19. I was there for a Back British Farming meeting, part of a larger protest from the farming community against Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget from last autumn.
I was on reporting duty, and my brother Andrew, a dairy farmer, joined me with his college student, Tegan. We were among about 200 folks there, all eager to hear what was said.
It was freezing outside, and honestly, it wasn’t much warmer inside, even with the heaters. But as the meeting heated up, so did the atmosphere, thanks to some fiery debates between the audience and the politicians.
Once the meeting wrapped up around 1:15 PM, we were starving. So, we dashed into the Gavel Cafe and Bar to check out the menu.
The menu looked amazing! They had roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, steak pie, lasagne, and even proper puddings like treacle sponge and lemon meringue pie. But just as we got excited, the staff told us they usually stop serving at 1 PM and only had a few items left. No worries, though; we made it work!
I ended up with a hot beef roll, Andrew chose a chicken burger with cheese, and Tegan went for a sausage sandwich. Each meal came with a mountain of chips and a hot drink.
My beef roll was stuffed with tender meat and rich gravy. Andrew said his chicken burger was like a mini-parmo in a bun, and Tegan loved his sausage sandwich. The chips were hot and plentiful, just how we like them!
The service was friendly and efficient, even with the busy crowd from the meeting. It felt like a classic canteen vibe, which was perfect for the day.
Now, let’s talk prices. It’s wild how inflation affects everything, especially in agriculture. One farmer mentioned he got £123 a tonne for wheat back in 1983, and last year it was £177. He figured it should be around £655 today, which is a huge difference!
Back to the food: in 2010, my fellow columnist and his sons had dinner at the Gavel Cafe for £15. Adjusting for inflation, that should be about £22.67 now. But in January 2025, we paid just £17.80 for three big sandwiches, chips, and drinks. What a steal!
I’m no economist, but it seems like a great deal to me. In these tough times for farmers, places like the Gavel Cafe, with their hearty meals and warm atmosphere, are truly invaluable.
So, if you’re ever in Thirsk, make sure to stop by the Gavel Cafe at the Auction Mart. You won’t regret it!