Nigel Slater talks to Spy!


The UK's top writer on food, as voted by readers of Restaurant Spy, talks exclusively to Spy! Click here for details.

Related Search

Channel 4 are looking for Spy readers in the Aberdeen, Luton and Bedfordshire areas who might want to take part in their popular show, "Come Dine With Me". Click here for details.

User login


Optomen, producers of "Kitchen Nightmares" want to hear from Spy readers about places you think may be in need of some help. Click here for details.


Five Reasons Wine are proud to announce a new wine bar across from Tunbridge Wells Station entitled "Taste". Choose from a remarkable range of quality wines and pay a simple £5 corkage per bottle. Listen to why Taste is "the" current happening place to go in The Wells .

Primary links

Restaurant Spy

Subway Sandwich Shop, 12, Harefield Rd, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 4HD

Submitted by m on Mon, 10/04/2006 - 10:44.

12, Harefield Rd, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 4HD

024 7634 2200

A typical experience of trying to find a decent lunch in middle England. Food revolution in the UK??? Obviously not in the South Midlands. Why is it that when travelling in mainland Europe, most little towns will have somewhere decent and clean to pop in to for a quick tasty bite at lunch-time. Not in this country though. So here I am, hungry, and in darkest Nuneaton(don't ask!)on a grey October Wednesday at 12.30. Where to eat? Big problem. Wandered the greasy,chewing gum splattered streets. Marks and Spencer maybe-no Cafe Revive.Then on to a little old fashioned Debenhams store. Went in to the ''restaurant'' and swiftly turned on my heels. It was full of the ''grey and fawn brigade'' getting excited about toasted tea cakes, and micro waved ''baked potatoes'' filled with indeterminable sludges. Other eating options were of the formica topped table variety of cafe, with miserable punters staring out of the steamy windows on to the street, while stuffing baked beans and chips in to their obese pasty faces.

Then, lo and behold I see a Subway Sandwich outlet. Can't be bad I think. Oh dear how wrong can you be. It was staffed by sullen teens who couldn't be bothered to wipe the place clean. I chose the hot teryaki chicken with some bits of garnish.The chicken was wrapped in greaseproof paper and then 'pinged'. I was asked what roll I wanted ''six inches or twelve?' Well there's no answer to that! The filling was then tipped out on to the roll and I took it outside to eat with a 7-Up. I sat at a filthy table desultorily forcing this concoction down my throat whilst inspecting the detritus of an over flowing waste bin nearby. The only saving grace was a little food wagon down the street which was serving real coffees etc from a Gaggia machine.So I had a half decent espresso and a cigarette standing in the drizzle. What a thoroughly depressing experience. I went back to my car and shot out of Nuneaton (None Eaten) as fast as I could. Often when I return home from my various business trips around the UK my wife enquires ''What did you have for lunch today?'' My reply this time was 'Don't even ask!' This episode was typical. REJECTED with knobs on. Don't go to Nuneaton and don't even contemplate a Subway wherever you are. Al Imentada

Search the Site

Alternative search includes archived reviews here

UKinsuranceNET

Restaurant insurance specialists. For more details visit the UKinsuranceNET website.

Latest News

3rd September 2008 - British chefs scoop London awards
British chefs and restaurants have gained the top awards at the 10th London Restaurant Awards. more...

30th July 2008 - Restaurant tipping law to change
Employers are to be banned from using tips and service charges to 'top up' staff pay to meet the minimum wage, under government plans. more...

29th July 2008 - Buxhall Crown owner dies
more...

8th July 2008 - TV chefs 'fail on basic hygiene'
TV chefs are setting a bad example by failing to following basic hygiene standards, public health chiefs say. more...

27th June 2008 - TV chef loses Tesco chicken vote
Tesco shareholders have not backed proposals to improve welfare standards for chickens championed by TV cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. more...

Lots more in our Food News Archive.

Recent comments

Gatwick Parking


Reliable and courteous parking service for visitors to London Gatwick airport.

Directory - search by area or type

Click on any of the following categories to see reviews by area, rating or type.
Country/Region
Americas - Canada, Greenland, USA
Asia/Australasia - Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, The Maldives
Europe - Austria, Belgium, Eire, France, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland
Other world region
UK, England - Beds, Berks, Birmingham, Bucks, Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Glos, Hants, Herts, Humberside, Kent, Lancs, Leic, Lincoln, London, Manchester, Middlesex, Norfolk, Notts, Oxon, Shrop, Somerset, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Wilts, Worcs, Yorks, Scotland, Wales
Cuisine - African/Afro-Caribbean, British - Modern, Traditional, Cafe, Chinese, French, Indian, Italian, Meditteranean, Mexican/North American, Other Asian, Other European, Pub, Takeaway
Special type - Ambience, Disabled Access, Families, Large Groups, Romantic, Service, Views
Spy rating - Approved, OK, Rejected

Rose Prince talks to Spy!

Rose, author of the Savvy Shopper and the New English Kitchen, talks exclusively to Spy. Click here.

Poll

Wired for Sound

Listen to our growing body of interviews with chefs, chocolatiers and food and drink specialists in our Wired for Sound section.

Award winning restaurants

World's Top Restaurants 2006

London's Michelin Starred Restaurants 2006

Book Reviews

”Cooking” by Tom Aikens
”Fast Food Nation” by Eric Schlosser
”211 Things a Bright Boy Can Do” by Tom Cutler
”Kitchen Con” by Trevor White

Disclaimer

Restaurant Spy disclaimer