Strong's Coffee House: The elegant and pristine new Chelmsford cafe that serves a sumptuous set of pancakes

Over the past couple of years I've been to many wonderful little cafes, restaurants, pubs and eateries across Essex. The EssexEats series has really allowed us to explore all corners of our hospitality scene in the county, but each week, we keep finding more little gems.

By now, as a Chelmsford resident, I thought I had covered pretty much all the independent places selling food and drink in the city. But it turns out, a brand new open opened not even a week ago, and I happened to chance upon it as I walked through the city centre on my way to another appointment.

Strong's Coffee House has opened in Springfield Road, sandwiched between Cycle King and Mace Playce, replacing the little Sweet Pea Cafe which has been operating there for the past six years. The cafe was well known for its quaint decorations, afternoon tea sets and flowery china teacups.

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The Sweet Pea Cafe announced at the end of April it would shut for good, with new owners taking the venue in a different direction. Now, following renovations, Strong's Coffee House is open to the public. They describe themselves as a place with "cozy ambience" as well as being friendly to dogs alongside humans.

Walking into the coffee house, the setting looks immaculate. It's a departure from the style of Sweet Pea, with dark green coloured furnishings combined with the rich brown colours of the floors and other wooden furnishings. Soft and gentle music is playing as I walk in, with the lighting sharp but not overbearing.

At the counter, the staples of any good coffee shop - homemade cakes - sit proudly in their glass containers, with loyalty cards on offer from the very first purchase. The menu is littered with choices, from full English breakfasts small and large, eggs cooked every possible way you can imagine, and a variety of toast, sandwiches, bagels and pancakes.

My favourite coffee is a flat white, and I make it my aim to try one in every new coffee shop I enter. Strong's is no exception, and I can confirm it was strong by name, strong by nature. The drink came between the shorter, sharper tasting Starbucks flat white to the larger, softer tasting one from Costa. But naturally, a freshly brewed coffee from an independent venue served in an elegant mug will always be preferable.

I opted for some pancakes for my lunch, choosing the Greek option of yoghurt and fruit over the equally appealing American style with bacon and maple syrup. The pancakes were clearly freshly made when they arrived, as they were still warm under a mountain of yoghurt, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. It was a full-on stack of them, a pleasing site for someone who had paid less than a tenner.

The pancakes were soft and fluffy and the perfect accompaniment to the fruit and yoghurt, which was thick and creamy. I had at least three pancakes on my plate and the fruit was fresh and presented well. There's not much more to add other than it was a solid dish to eat over lunch with a strong coffee - which is precisely what Strong's wants to offer.

I came to the cafe on quite a rainy day amidst the more sunny weather we've been having recently, so it's a shame I couldn't sit in the large garden area Strong's has inherited from the Sweet Pea Cafe. But this elegant and pristine little venue will no doubt improve even further with regular sunny and warmer weather as we enter the summer season.

This article is part of EssexLive's series Essex Eats where a member of our team reviews an independent food business in the county. We don't tell the business we're coming and we don't tell them who we are while we're there. Every meal for EssexEats is paid for by us and not gifted. Check back every Thursday and Saturday for our top pick that week of a great food spot in Essex.

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