They're Not Millie's Cookies, They're Mine! (Millie's Cookies)

Member Name: cazkins

Product:	Millie's Cookies
Date:	05/02/09 (259 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good range of drinks & sweet treats, freshly baked delicious cookies!, some fab offers

Disadvantages: Not the same 'coffee shop' experience as other branches & not as many locations

I wish there was a Millie's Cookies closer to where I live as my nearest one is Cheltenham. As this is the one I've been to the most, it'll be the one I'm basing this review on. From the times I've been there I haven't been disappointed, especially as their delicious hot chocolate has always put a smile on my face!

The first Millie's Cookies was in a Selfridges store in London and the company has since grown and expanded with over 100 stores in the UK and internationally. It seems like a well-known cafe/cookie store, however is not as popular as other choices like Nero or Starbucks. That said, it doesn't seem to be quite as expensive either! Their aim is to 'bring the sweet taste of American-style cookies and muffins' and they do this through the 'pure indulgence' of 'freshly baked' products.

The general layout and appearance of Millie's cookies is welcoming and modern. It has a different feel to it when compared with somewhere like Cafe Nero, partially because Millie's seem to be located within somewhere (such as London train station or within a shopping mall) rather than an independent coffee shop. This means they're usually made more for convenience and are smaller, but their colourful and contemporary designs and layout make them quite appealing. For instance, the one in Cheltenham has funky coloured seats and tables and bar stools with high-top side tables.

Like most cafes, they offer a range of hot and cold beverages, including tea, coffee, hot chocolate and smoothies. These seem to be reasonably priced though it depends what cafe chain you compare them to. Whenever I've sat in I've always had my drink in a cardboard cup rather than a proper mug, though this doesn't bother me as I find hot chocolate tastes better in these anyway. The only downside to this is that you miss out on some of the 'coffee shop experience'.

If you fancy something to eat, they do a great range of...you guessed it....cookies! Whether you like them plain, flavoured, with chocolate chips, full chocolate, white chocolate, raising, nuts etc, you should find something to suit. They're American-styleeee, so they're nice and big! When comparing prices for a single cookie at £1, that's similar to other coffee stores (perhaps a little then than the more expensive ones like Starbucks). They do good deals on multi-buys and also sell them in boxes which make for good presents. What would also make a good present are their huge cookies, which you can get decorated to say 'happy birthday' or whatever you wanted. I certainly wouldn't be disappointed getting one of these! Alternatively, if you wanted to sit and have a nibble, they do a good range of muffins and ice-cream, if you can face anything cold in this weather that is!

My opinion on a hot chocolate and double chocolate cookie?... Heaven! I can honestly they were the best-tasting I've had from a cafe, though that may partially be because I used a coupon to get a discount. This is where I find Millie's to be so good. Their website offers some great discounts, such as buy one get one free on a hot drink, buy one get one free on a box of cookies, and buy one get one free on a meal deal (drink + two cookies or drink +muffin). The meal deals cost £2.99, so with a voucher I got 2 hot chocolates and 4 delicious freshly baked cookies! Bargain :o)

Students are also entitled to a discount at Millies, which I think is a buy one get one free on a hot drink. They also offer a card scheme like Nero & Coffee Republic where you get a free bit of cardboard stamped a certain number of times and receive a free drink. Every little helps in my books!

Their website is very useful, so if you want to find your nearest Millie's you can use their branch locator. It also gives you an idea as to what they serve, nutritional information for sweet treats & drinks and of course the discount vouchers.

All-in-all I would definitely recommend Millies, it's just a shame they don't have as many branches. For a chain that's not technically an independent cafe, they do great cookies, muffins and drinks that taste delicious, that are reasonably priced and are a bargain when there's offers on :o)

Summary: I've got a sudden urge for a hot choc and double choc cookie! Yum! :o)