The Tiny Teapot in Basildon

There is no doubt that Tesco is one of the largest of its kind. To be frank, as a family, we do not usually prefer to do our shopping there, but from time to time, we do. We also occasionally go there to dine in at their café, though not very often. It's obvious we've known this place for years, and we have seen the changes and improvements they have made over time. Recently, we went there for breakfast, assuming that things would be the same as they had been for years. However, things had changed. Their café, which used to be located upstairs, has now been moved downstairs, and unfortunately, it has lost much of its charm in the process. The previous café upstairs had a much warmer, quieter atmosphere, and it truly felt like a cozy café. Now, the café has been relocated to the worst possible spot—right by the entrance, where there's constant foot traffic and noise. Although they have built a glass wall to separate the seating area, with blurred glass panels to offer some privacy, it still feels awkward due to its location near the entrance and exit. The new décor doesn't have the classic café feel; instead, it resembles the inside of an airport. It's noisy and uncomfortable, and I doubt anyone can truly relax while dining there. There is an updated ordering system, with self-ordering screens now available, but again, the location of these screens is at the café entrance, which doesn't seem ideal. Maybe it's just me, but it feels poorly thought out. The seating area itself is quite basic—ordinary chairs and tables like any generic café would have. I must point out, however, that they do have some L-shaped, leather-like seats with soft cushioning, which seemed like a good idea. Unfortunately, the noise level in the area is so high that even the glass panels behind the seats don't help, making it impossible to ignore the commotion. This makes you just want to eat quickly and leave. The food itself was quite disappointing. We had a very basic toasted bread with poorly cooked eggs, and the avocado was spread over the toast like butter. It was neither tasty nor visually appealing. Honestly, I believe anyone without much culinary experience could make a better egg and avocado on toast. There isn't much to say about the hot drinks either. The tea was served in a standard teapot, just like any other café, nothing special. Overall, it was not a good experience for us, and we definitely will not be visiting the café again unless they decide to relocate it back to its previous upstairs location. I really hope the upstairs section is just being redecorated and hasn't been completely demolished.

Since the last time I visited the place has improved a lot very friendly staff and the food was excellent

if I could give half of a fiver star I would just because there was a little spillage

We always stop now to have a hot drink and snack on our way back from visiting clients or family because of the later opening hours (7pm!). Lily's a favourite. Good job Coca-Cola. Keep being customer-focused

This costa must have the friendliest and welcoming staff of all the costas. They are always happy to help with a smile and are very knowledgeable on the costa range. A large store which is normally pretty busy. Its just off the A127 but a bit hidden. Lots of parking in the retail park.