Originally named 'Owain Glyndwr’s Parliament house’, the TH Roberts coffee shop is set within a former ironmongery, complete with original decor dating back from 1886. The Welsh gold rush of the 19th Century was located in the Dolgellau area and TH Roberts Ironmongers was an important source of panning equipment.
In fact, the gold and copper mines in the hills around the town employed over 500 miners towards the end of the century. It's not that obvious from the outside that the building is now a quirky café, complete with old wood paneling and original shop fittings from its previous use.
It has old brown mismatched furniture, which makes the whole place feel that it is from a different era. As a result, the cafe is very photogenic due to its unusual artefacts in every nook and cranny.
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You are free to take photos but are encouraged to make a small donation to Air Ambulance as well. The dog friendly café has a large recycled seating area upstairs, so is much bigger than it looks.
The staff serve you from behind the former serving counter. They have blackboard menus behind them with tons of delicious looking cakes in front of them.
![The counters have blackboard menus behind them with tons of delicious looking cakes in front of them](https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/article28008718.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_GNQN6759jpeg.jpg)
Instead of the goldrush you will get a sugar rush tucking into some of these beauties. The choice is overwhelming with various flapjacks, brownies and scones vying for room on your plate next to rocky roads and tiffin’s.
If you don’t fancy something sweet then you can take your pick from breakfasts, omelettes, baguettes, rarebits and soups. The bilingual menu has something for everyone and is fairly priced for even those who didn’t find any gold in those hills.
![It has old brown mismatched furniture, which makes the whole place feel that it is from a different era](https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/article28008664.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_IMG_5776jpeg.jpg)
I personally couldn’t resist an orange and pistachio cake. It was really moist with an attractive green frosting on top due to the nuts - and apparently, it was gluten free but I never noticed any difference nor did my tastebuds.
My good wife went for a biscoff cheesecake, which was a truly decadent slice of cake. It was rich, creamy and full of caramel flavour. I know that as I had a few spoons of sugar, strictly in the name of research.
![TH Roberts Ironmongers was an important source of panning equipment during the gold rush](https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/article28008677.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_IMG_5772jpeg.jpg)
Meg the owner prepares a lot of the dishes herself and this is reflected on review sites with many customers reporting that this is their favourite café in the whole of Wales. As you drink your coffee, its almost impossible not to gawp at your surroundings as the café is so interesting.
You also find yourself staring at cakes as cake envy kicks in and you wonder if you should have picked one of the many other choices. Whether you are a gold digger, cake hunter or just like looking at old artefacts, there is something for you in this old iron mongers’ shop, which time forgot.
![The biscoff cheesecake was a truly decadent slice of cake](https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/article28008645.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_ROOZ1252jpeg.jpg)
You can than wander around the historic slate and wool town of Dolgellau as it has over 200 listed buildings, which is more than any other town in Wales.
TH Roberts
The Facts
Pistachio orange cake (gluten free) £4.25
Biscoff cheesecake £4.25
Mocha £3.75
Cappuccino £3.30
Total £15.55
Opening Times:
9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday
Closed Sunday
Atmosphere - Quirky and very interesting
Car Parking - One hour free in the square but watch out for that traffic warden.
Disabled Access - Access possible
Service - Meg overlooks the operation with a no nonsense approach
Overall - After the goldrush, you will find a café full of sugar rush
T H Roberts, Parliament House, Bridge St, Dolgellau LL40 1BD 01341 423573