New Costa Coffee in Hatch End

A dream come true - raspberry and almond bake, a cake with real bits of almond. Hurray!

Look at that almond on top. And the solid bits of almond in the middle. Don't look at the calorie count. (You can find the calorie count on the company website. I could not find the new branch on the Costa website.) But I phoned them for their postcode - see the end of this post.

The new Costa Coffee is settling in to Hatch End.

So handy. For a mid-morning snack. A break. A meeting. A chat. Parking somebody whilst at the dentist or doctors.

The usual good Espresso Doppio (double espresso) can panne (with a spiral of cream on top). The raspberry and almond bake was square, unlike the long bar I used to buy to take away in Brent Cross. Delicious, diet-breaking, probably from a dieters point of view, the smaller the better.

Service today was not smiling, unlike the last time I was there when they just opened, but maybe when they have been open longer and are more confident the new staff will be jollier. I was glad to be able to use a Costa card.

There are tables by the front window, some down the sides (one under a fan struck somebody as cold and draughty - must say I didn't notice that. At the back is a big mural and some square tables which I usually prefer. On the other hand you might prefer to a choose a cosy, round table for two, for a quick coffee, isolated from others.

You are secluded from the street at the back. Facing the back you get a view of the kitchen intermittently.  My first thought was that I did not want to be looking at the kitchen. But I was soon fascinated by the kitchen contents, the table top mini dishwasher which seemed to have a hose.

Whilst waiting for somebody you can read the free newspapers, the Daily Mail or The Times.

Big disabled loo handy for wheelchairs, or any other kind of disability, for the walking wounded or convalescent visiting nearby doctors such as not being able to twist.

Opening hours are amazingly early, from 6.30 to 20.00 Monday to Friday and Sat 07.00 to 20.00 and Sun 08.00 to 18.00. That will be handy in summer for those who are up with the sun.

The receipt invites you to give them feedback on your visit, by going onto their website costafeedback.co.uk or by text.

They have high chairs as you can see. I was sorry to leave, and only got disturbed by the noise of children when I looked up from engrossing articles in the newspaper. They had the Daily Mail and The Times on the day we visited.

You can buy a Costa brand tall travel flask and coffee maker.

Where is it? This one is in Hatch End. Another larger one is nearby in Pinner (opposite where Woolworth's used to be).

Go onto the website to find a branch near you. They are all over London, Singapore, the world.

Costa Coffee, 336 The Broadway, Uxbridge Road, Hatch End HA5 4HR
Tel:020 8428 8503.