Kelly’s Food halls – unpretentious, cheap, good value sandwiches (Kelly's)

Name: libertybell

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Product:	Kelly's
Date:	25/09/00 (614 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great VFM, large portions, wide selection of cold and hot food

Disadvantages: Staff aren’t very friendly, you don’t get an itemised receipt, no frills

I first stumbled across Kelly’s when I began working for Natwest in Aldgate, East London. I noticed all these office workers pouring in and out of this shop opposite Aldgate tube station. Working on the principle that they must be worth checking out – I wandered in and yes I am a convert.

Compared with say Marks and Spencer’s, and Prêt a Manger; Kelly’s is miles apart. Inside there is an area selling pizza, and another selling hot food such as curry, jacket potatoes etc. Around the other side of the shop are a number of chilled cabinets containing sandwiches, rolls and all other combinations under the sun.

The rolls are huge and cheap. Made on the premises, a large ham and cheese salad roll costs £1.50. To that you can select a variety of soft drinks, sweets, fruit etc. No fancy packaging, no glamorous décor – just plentiful and cheap food made by the tonne !!

And here is the strange bit. To pay for your food, there are a bank of cash tills. The till operators almost grab the items off you, stuff them in a bag, ask for the money and punch the total into the till. No bar code, no chitchat, no sub-total and no receipt. They do say please which is a revelation. I wonder whether they are on a piece rate as the operators are determined to process the orders ASAP. Its quite a revelation when you compare it with Boots, Prêt and other shops.

I don’t know if the Kelly’s I go to is one of a chain or is a one-off. I don’t really care. I can eat lunch like a king for a fraction of the price I would pay in nearby shops. That’s got to be a good thing.

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