(24 Feb 2016, 9:03 pm)Michael wrote The Elephant tea room is supposed to be nice.

I like Costa

Costa is blah. And always packed. Starbucks dodge the coffee grounds as much as paying tax - they seem to be all about adding flavourings because their actual coffee aint got none. Esquires is always worryingly empty (unlike the Durham one) but given the time it takes them to serve anyone, there's no wonder. I walked out of there, so have no idea what the actual coffee is like. Debenhams is just crap and they don't even serve any decent or fresh cake to mask the crapness. M&S coffee is probably lovely (if the cafe has any running water, whenever someone flushes the loo) but they can teach Esquires a thing or two about dithering. There's a certain type of person, usually of a certain age, who thinks that dithering and faffing is the one true way. That is who M&S cafes are aimed at. Mr Ditherer will take his green v-neck jumpered self to a table, while Mrs ditherer prevaricates over fruit vs plain scones before selecting coffee cake, instead and having a conversation with the one hassled member of staff making drinks for both the cake and sandwich queues about cake tongs and cutlery and why do so many people always have to be in such a rush with the person serving, in the meantime, carefully arranging sugar cubes and saucers. Mr ditherer will then unfold and refold several napkins, before selecting one and proceeding to eat his plain chicken sandwich with a knife and fork.

I wish they'd open a Pret there. One that big'un and I both like. He likes the apple juice and pret bars.