scot47

No franchises where I live - just individual cafes and coffee shops, all run in a unique way !

BristolUK

Ooh, that's a bit too close for comfort.

scrubbedexpat094

Ooh...I used to love the Mapleen Syrup Pancakes when I was a kid. My dad's name is Geoff and he's only 5' 8" so they were known as Little Geoffs to us! He would always stop off at one wherever we went.

In St Helens the best bakery for pastry goods was Pimblett's. Known locally as Pimmy's pies.

scrubbedexpat094

Starbucks doesn't do very well in NZ as coffee making is classed as both an art and science here. Loads of independent cafés that make much better coffee than Starbucks.

Shard

I've heard that. How long has the 'coffee culture' been going strong down there?

jennellapea

Definitely Greggs.

I used to work there once upon a time. I would always put a fresh batch of whatever I was fancying in the oven before my break so I didn't have to pick anything cold

Pizzawheel

So one does a pint of coffee for minimal cost, the other does pies for minimal cost.

One of those things has value.... the other is for the lazy.

jimmydean

Absolutely..... I'm very proud of my avoidance of Tim Hortons (now up to approx 13 months) in a small rural town with 9 separate Tims !!! On my 3 trips back to UK in last 8 years I would estimate that Greggs was visited within an hour of landing on each occasion. I actually serve real prison food ....freshly made subs with fresh salad and fruit juice Tim Hortons can't match that !! :-)

caretaker

I know Tim Horton's is popular but I won't go unless I have to so maybe 3 times in the last 10 years, including using the free donut chit I found. On the road my usual stops are A&W and occasionally Subway, late at night sometimes 7-11 for gas and big coffee to go. If there is only McDonald's and Burger King I'll keep going even if I'm hungry.

scrubbedexpat133

Greggs every time. The breakfast sandwich choices. Tims is overly salty processed rubbish. Greggs at least does a proper bacon and egg on a baguette.

Shard

Bacon, egg, buttered toast. No exceptions.

jandro

I thought Tim Horton's was better before it got taken over by Burger King. I preferred the menu back then. Now it 's more like any other fast food outlet. The general atmosphere in Tim's can be depressing. The ones around me seem to stand-in almost as homeless shelters.

magnumpi