Pots of Pleasure

Never mind pots of pleasure, what about whole shops of the stuff? This small but brilliant emporium of delights is certainly one of them. I totally fell in love with this place! Come here if you’re looking for a perfect gift for that special lady or if you fancy a little pick me up treat for yourself. Choose from a huge range of scrummy scented candles, the sweetest animal figurines, a masterful musical note collection, pretty little purses and warm, woolly winter scarves. If you can’t find what you’re looking for just ask one of the staff for a helping hand as they’ll be more than happy to oblige, once you’ve found your ideal gift then one of the lovely members of staff will be happy to make the gift that little bit more special with their complimentary wrapping service. Pots of Pleasure is a family run business firmly established in Ballyclare and the surrounding areas as a top of the class gift shop. Brilliant! Don’t hesitate to visit!

I do quite like surprises, and Pots of Pleasure was an inadvertent one. I wish, for reasons I will later explain, I had been a tad more prepared on this occasion though…
Lunch time + hungry Lynne + ravenous sister = huge requirement for food. On our dash around Ballyclare, which moments later resulted in our feasting at Deb’s Diner (there’s a review for that…), we hastened past Pots of Pleasure, I made a mental note to later check out the gift shop, unintentionally omitting the fact that it was actually a coffee shop too. Darn it.
When we did eventually check this wonderful little gift shop, I was completely awestruck that there was indeed a little tea room snuggled away at the back, but also incredibly disheartened that I had missed a tremendous opportunity to join the numerous customers who were sipping, eating and chatting away. As soon as you step through the door, the buzz is overwhelming, and you notice that the place is astonishingly busy.
Not wanting to part with the pleasure just quite yet, I decided to have a nosey around the gift section. The most exquisite scarves from Spain at thirty-​something quid lay neatly folded on the table, beside a whole lot more luxurious outdoor accessories. My eye was also caught by the shelves of musician gifts — little ornaments and figurines with musical notes, and lots of other associated gifts. A whole repository of colourful Bridgewater candles, cabinets filled with beautiful jewellery and ‘Enhance’ accessories, shelves stacked with Emma Bridgewater home ware, cute arrangements of Crabtree and Evelyn toiletries… such wonderful choice.
I would love to pop back one day and check out the actual pots of pleasure (in coffee terms), but I have to say, that gift shop was something else…

Popped in here once for coffee and a bun and was pleasently surprised. The staff were very friendly and the décor was cozy.
Prices slightly higher than I expected but not overly so. Good selection on the menu and was pretty busy with mums and kids.
It’s handy, right on the square opposite the main car park.

At last a «coffee shop» in Ballyclare. I knew there had to be one in this town somewhere and now I’ve found it. Classy, cosey, friendly, and extremely busy, I don’t know what took me so long to find it. Well I do actually its because this gem is hidden at the back of a lovely little gift shop called «pots of Pleasure» but the coffee shop is I believe actually called «Pots of Coffee». I was told by another customer who turned out to be a regular that the gift shop had been there for quite a few years before the owners opened the bustling coffee shop. As I entered the gift shop the smell of rich ground espresso coffee met me and I was drawn like a moth to a flame to the delights of the coffee shop. I arrived at 11.30am or so but the place was already choc a block with all sorts of people… business types, young mums with families, older retired people as well as students and young couples. Unlike other eateries I have visited in Ballyclare this place was buzzing and everyone seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere. The staff seemed to be going flat out and yet as I watched them they always seemed to have time for a cheery word with the many customers, many ofwhom it was clear they new very well and who had obviously made this place there own. The lady I shared a table with told me that she came there every day .“a visit to Pots of Coffee was now a vital part of her day. On the day of my visit I had to wait about 10 minutes on my food which was not bad given how busy they were but it was well worth the wait. I was treated to a beautiful hot wrap and the most magnificent double shot layered ‘Latte’ of Segefredo coffee. I knew Ballyclare could do it after all. Prices were very reasonable and the whole experience was highly enjoyable. Daily newspapers, TV and even WiFi were availble although to be honest I just sat back and enjoyed the atmosphere of this little Oasis. Well done Pots of Coffee… Highly recommended.

A thriving Container Gardening and Giftware Specialists with their Pots of Coffee café, this is one of the most popular places to eat in Ballyclare filled with a mix of school kids, business types and elderly ladies out shopping. Even the recently expanded café can’t always accommodate all the customers so be prepared to wait if you don’t beat the 1pm rush.
Pots serves a range of hot drinks, smoothies, paninis, bagels, soups and sandwiches and service is brisk and friendly. Food is cheap and portions are good.
And best of all they even have free wifi for customers — and that is a first in Ballyclare.