I tried Nottingham’s oldest greasy spoon that’s been serving breakfasts for 88 years
This place has stood the test of time - and for good reason
The origins of the traditional English breakfast can be traced back to the 14th century and it’s safe to assume that most of us have tucked into one at some point in our lives.
In its original form the full English would have included a few things that you wouldn’t typically find in a greasy spoon these days.
Broiled kidneys, sheep’s tongues and pheasant legs are just some of the culinary delights that hungry men and women of the era would have enjoyed.
These days the full English is enjoyed every day in towns and cities across the country and has grown to become one of the country’s best-loved meals.
Nottingham, of course, is no different.
A couple of weeks ago, as part of National World’s Food and Drink month, we at Nottingham World asked readers to share their favourite greasy spoon in the city.
Our request results in hundreds of suggestions, but one in particular was a clear favourite among readers.
The establishment in question was the BobbersMill Cafe in Nuthall Road.
Since opening in 1936, the cafe has gone on to become one of Nottingham’s most popular eateries.
A firm favourite among those in the west of the city for almost 90 years, BobbersMill is one of a dying breed of traditional greasy spoons.
As part of National World’s Food and Drink Month celebrations, I headed down to the cafe to see what all the hype was about.
A hidden gem
Located a hundred or so yards away from a McDonald’s, it’s testament to the cafe’s popularity that it has continued to thrive in the shadow of a global restaurant chain.
Although my visit fell just before lunchtime on a Wednesday morning, I was surprised to see that the majority of tables inside were already occupied.
Despite being well aware of BobbersMill’s iconic SOS sandwich, I decided to play it safe and go for a traditional English breakfast with an orange juice.
My total bill came to just £7.25, which I thought to be very reasonable in this day and age.
With two sausages, tinned tomatoes, baked beans, an egg and two rashers of bacon, my plate contained all the fried goodness you’d expect when dining in a greasy spoon.
While it’s not something I’d recommend tucking into every day of the week, I was very impressed with all parts of the breakfast, particularly the crispy bacon.
Oh, and the two slices of toast went down a treat when mopping up the leftover baked beans juice.
The thing that struck me the most was that there are no airs and graces with the BobbersMill Cafe.
What you see is what you get - a traditional greasy spoon serving tasty, home-cooked food at a reasonable price.
In a time of rising costs and increasing competition from big corporations, a city like Nottingham needs to maintain its working class roots by supporting independent cafes and restaurants.
I will certainly be returning to BobbersMill the next time I’m in the area.