eggbaconchipsandbeans

want to run a national milk bar?

Here's an email I got from George:

Wanted: an Angel to take over the National Milk Bar in Llanidloes, Mid Wales

In March 2010 the small and shrinking north Wales chain of National Milk Bars announced the intention to sell this beautiful old cafe. Russell featured the one in Machynlleth which has also been closed down. I’d say that the interior is late 1960’s (or certainly looks that) with fold down seats in booths and a large map of the milk bar empire on the wall. It is always full, with a very strong and loyal following, so God knows why National Milk Bar is closing it...maybe poor management...but the local customers plus summer tourists would be enough to build a great cafe.
 
I should add that it is in absolutely the best central location in Llanidloes, the most beautiful small town in mid Wales and probably the nicest and friendliest in Britain.  So there is a chance to get in there and put in an offer and get the thing intact before the company strips it of everything that makes it fun and unique.

And he sent these pictures:

It does look rather lovely. Want to know more? Contact George: [email protected]

 

Ellie's Cafe, 316 Kilburn High Road, London, NW6 2DG

It's been a while hasn't it? So long, in fact, that I forgot to do an exterior shot. But you can get a general idea here. I was unexpectedly in Kilburn with an hour to kill and popped into Ellie's for a cuppa. But then, the smell, the atmosphere got to me and a quick bout of ordering later we had this:

Look at that. What could be better? A huge pile of crunchy chips I told myself I wouldn't finish (on a diet you know?) but which still, somehow, disappeared. One of those splendidly flat and disc-like eggs, like a short stack of CD-ROMs you might get in a corner shop, a delicious swamp of beans, encroaching like an estuary, all resting on a bed of bacon. Perfect.

A high quality condiment emplacement - doing verticals.

Very nice tea. No nonsense, just tea.

And this lovely warm purple everywhere.

It's a lovely place. Nothing fancy. Just plain, simple, straightforward. Good grub and you can sit for a while without being bothered. Very good.