Emma You can’t have missed the buzz online surrounding the arrival of Canadian fast-food restaurant chain Tim Hortons to the UK. And there’s even more of a noise here as they picked Glasgow as its first UK site.
Famous for their coffee and donuts, the cafe and bake shop is located on the corner of Argyle St and the bottom of Union St in the unit which once was Chopstix, Italmania and (a long time ago) Dunkin’ Donuts. It opens officially this Friday, 2nd June at 9am with more stores opening nationwide over the next 12 months.
So what is it all about? We went along to their preview night to find out more.
The entrance is certainly bold but you can’t see in the doors, so here’s what’s inside…
The breakfast menu ranges from bagels and muffins to porridge and yogurt. For lunchtime and beyond there are wedges and dips, kettle chips, paninis, soups and chilli.
Not forgetting the famous Timbits (29 – 39p each or £2.99 for 10 / £4.49 for 20), as well as full-sized doughnuts and other sticky treats.
The service is slick and friendly, guiding us through the menu we discovered that their coffee is made with 100% Arabica beans so shouldn’t be bitter – it wasn’t. Both blends were easy to drink without any sugar or milk. We didn’t try their signature double double – which is double cream and double sugar – maybe next time!
Other drinks include Iced Capp – an iced cappuccino which went down very well in this weather (and which you can have with Oreo bits), then there’s also frozen lemonade, crushed raspberry and tea.
We tried a selection of items such as chilli, served with a choice of panini bread, which was thick and mildly spicy; steak and cheese panini – this was OK but I think Subway wins on this like v like, potato wedges with ranch dip – quick and tasty with a good dressing, tea – orange pekoe variety which wasn’t too strong so easy to drink without milk. Iced Capp was my favourite – Like a frappe, I think this will be a winner this summer. For dessert we had a blueberry muffin and Apple Fritter, which was like the child of a glazed doughnut meets apple pie cinnamon roll – I’ll be back for another one. Total cost for this lot should’ve been a mere £17.04.
No Timbits for us tonight, but we took some for the road so we’ll be having them with a cuppa tomorrow!
Will it work in Glasgow? I think it will. There’s no shortage of coffee shops in the city from everyday cafes to niche roasters, there’s space for them all. Tim Hortons fills the quick coffee and doughnut / food on the go criteria without the need to remember whether a tall, grande or venti is the biggest!
Where:
180 Argyle Street, Glasgow
When:
Opens 9am Friday 2nd June
Normal opening hours 6am to midnight
Ahh so exciting! I love a tacky chain store, especially when it comes with doughnuts! I’m up in Aberdeen, but I’ll definitely be giving this place a visit next time I’m in G Town.
Sometimes you just need sugar