Alty

I've been thinking recently, trying to reconcile my dislike of coffee chains with the joy I occasionally feel when I find one. And I've realised that the occasions when I'm happy to see a Costa are those times when I'm somewhere new or unfamiliar and I know I want a coffee and I don't want to be disappointed. But once I know of a decent independent place to go, then I'll always favour that, like Brew Brothers in Kendal, for example.

But nothing's ever black and white, is it? Today I had coffee with my lovely friend Kerry at Rhode Island coffee in Altrincham, which is part of a small chain. Does that count as independent? I'm going to say yes!