This has always been our go to place when travelling around the UK. So far we have been to Bill’s at Brighton, Cheltenham, Durham, York, Leeds and now Manchester.
We went here for breakfast on Sunday morning instead of having the £20 full English at the Lowery Hotel; we just could not imagine how they could deliver such an outstanding breakfast when the hotel is lacking in its former glory, but that is another review.
We arrived at 10am and were promptly seated. The restaurant was very quiet; we must have missed the Sunday rush!
We ordered a pot of Tea for one, an Americano, two of Bill’s Breakfast £7.95 (one with a side/extra of Crispy Potato at £1.25 and one a side/extra of Black Pudding at £1.50) which we would share.
Drinks arrived soon after with our breakfasts following about 5 minutes later.
When we first started going to Bill’s I am sure you got two of each of your extras with regards the potato and black pudding (and David assures me it was the case and my memory is not failing me). I’m not sure that at £1.50, a slice even with overheads that is a fair deal for a slice fat! Especially if it is killed through overcooking!
The more I think, the more I do not see Bill’s as being good value. If you took off the black pudding we are paying £8 for two eggs, effectively one sausage, 3 pieces of streaky bacon (the cheapest cut of bacon) the smallest tomato half, and two pieces of small-ish toasted bread (the eggs are small; so use this as a guide if you require more evidence).
We regularly have breakfast at two beautiful farm shops in Yorkshire that have won awards for their quality and they charge £9.00 for their full english – with no extra’s to pay for (see picture 2).
Quality is hit and miss. Sometimes you get crispy bacon and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you get soft eggs and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you get a soft and juicy tomato and sometimes you get an unripe under-cooked version but most of the time you do get overcooked Black Pudding!
On a positive note the staff were friendly and the toilets are generally spotless.
Picture 1 Bills Breakfast and Picture 2 Farm Shop Breakfast the latter is cheaper.
My final observation we always have to wait for a table at our local establishments (they both hold about 50 covers) unlike Bill’s which in the last year I have not seen busy at breakfast…now that may be coincidence but I doubt that considering how many branches we have been to. What is consistent is Bill’s inconsistency which is quickly relegating this from being our go-to place for breakfast.
Cost £22.70 (before service) as at March 2016
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