Housed in a little corner of the Edward Boyle library, The Edit Room resembles more of a trendy hipster café that you’d go to for a catch up with your mates rather than a campus library café. It’s this brand of unique décor, chilled atmosphere, and great food and drink that make it stand out from your average Laidlaw Caffè Nero.
The Edit Room seems like the perfect hub for when you’re stuck in a place between academia and creativity, wanting to be productive but not too focused or in the zone. Its industrial-style décor with exposed pipes and Edison bulbs hanging from the ceiling is sure to get your creative juices flowing, whilst also having the chilled, laid-back vibe of a downtown café. The seating even reflects this: with a more social area by the counter, complete with comfy sofas, round tables and even board games for those who want a place to chat and catch up. There’s also a long wooden bench illuminated by the Edison bulbs for when you want to study (or, let’s face it, pretend to study) either alone or with a group of friends; while the individual booths and stools on the other side are ideal for those more serious about getting work done.
It’s easy to forget you’re in a library here, as the bustling atmosphere makes for an eclectic, energetic vibe that tends to fuel you up (literally and metaphorically), ready to tackle whatever task lies ahead of you. Speaking of fuel, the chai lattes here are to die for, wonderfully smooth and foamy with just the right amount of spice to give it a kick. They also have a wide variety of sandwiches, even with several vegetarian and vegan options, both of which were a bit more interesting than the usual ploughman’s – think falafel crumble with coriander and tomato salsa, or cheddar and mango chutney. For lunch I grabbed a mozzarella, pesto and plum tomato ciabatta, which was almost as good as a Bakery 164, but could have done with being toasted. While the chai latte wasn’t too expensive (£1.95 for a small one, although they are a bit too small in my opinion), the food will set you back a little more, coming in at around £3-4 for a sandwich. They do have meal deals which are a bit better value for money, but in any case, a student budget wouldn’t necessarily be able to accommodate regular trips here. For a once in a while pick-me-up, however, The Edit Room will be my new go-to!