THE nation’s high streets are awash with identikit coffee chains — whoever said we were a nation of tea drinkers?

Luckily in East Lancashire, we don’t do too badly for independent coffee shops like this one.

Imposta makes witty nod of recognition to the multinationals by name, and whoever was behind that also made some great decisions in setting up the cosy cafe on Abbey Street.

Imposta’s coffee and chocolate-toned interior gives it a really modern, yet cosily homely atmosphere, and I really appreciated the Cole Porter and George Gershwin soundtrack as an equally joyful, welcome change from the jingling Christmas tunes played everywhere at this time of year.

With the lunchtime trade having tailed off, there was no wait to order at the counter and we chose £3.95 paninis, one with sausage, cheese and onion chutney and one with chorizo and mozzarella, to be washed down by a cappuccino and an Americano.

We sunk into a comfy sofa and the drinks turned up a minute or two later. The Americano was declared ‘really good’ by my dad, and my cappuccino hit the spot.

After a few minutes more, the panini were brought to the table — and I’ve never seen such generously-filled versions of these toasted baguettes. The sausage and the chorizo was plentiful, yet somehow the maker of these tasty treats had succeeded in keeping the fillings intact with scarcely a glob of cheese escaping the toasty exterior.

Compared to fillings in similar offerings from the chains, these were luxury butties, and the large coffees at £2.50 each put the price tags elsewhere to shame.

VERDICT

  • Food: 9
  • Drink: 9
  • Service: 9
  • Atmosphere: 8
  • Value: 9