Colne: BB's Coffee Shop

3:08pm Monday 11th February 2008

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IT may look like a discount pine furniture warehouse but BB's Coffee Shop is probably one of the busiest cafes in East Lancashire.

Situated at the heart of the Boundary Mill shopping complex it's a refuge for everyone from couples to coach parties in search of a snack - or just simply a sit down.

For somewhere so busy it was pleasing to discover that, when we visited at least, the team responsible for clearing the tables was working at full speed. So often busy establishments let themselves down by allowing the trays of dirty cups to pile up.

Menu-wise, the choices are pretty basic - there is a "grown-up" restaurant on site if you need one - with a staple diet of soup, sandwiches and jacket potatoes, plus a selection of mouth-watering cakes and pastries which have that genuinely homemade look.

After what felt like hours traipsing around the store we both felt in need of a jacket potato. The better half opted for cheddar with hers while I went for both cheese and beans, thus incurring an extra 90p cost for a second filling. With a pot of tea and a large coffee, it still only cost us £9.18, which I think is pretty good value, particularly when you think what a captive market BB's is serving.

Again, although it was Saturday afternoon, we didn't have to wait for our spuds to be cooked. They were served with a selection of salad and the fillings were certainly on the generous side.

With crisp skins and soft "centres" they were both nicely cooked and the young serving staff were genuinely pleasant and efficient.

BB's is never going to win any culinary awards, but that is not what it is there for.

As somewhere to take a break and have a snack it fulfils its obligations perfectly well.

Soon it will be replaced by an all-new complex but for the moment, although it's never going to be an intimate eaterie, the food's fine and the prices are reasonable.

Isn't that really what you are looking for?

The verdict

You'll only find snacks but for a such a busy cafe it's fine.