#walkden

We decided to start 2025 the way we meant to continue: with adventure, intrigue, and a dedication to try only the best. That's right, ladies, gentlemen and everyone in between. We went to the biggest Big Tesco in the country, Tesco Extra in Walkden.

What Frances had: Crispy chicken burger (£7.50)

What Sharon had: Crispy chicken burger (£7.50) and a Coke Zero (£2.05)

Vibes: 1/5 ⭐

The café sits on a mezzanine above the rest of the supermarket. We assume the designer's intention was that you could look over the rest of the shop and people watch, as the fencing at the edge of the mezzanine is glass, however at this particular Tesco, large advertisement banners have been tied to this which means that we didn't have a view of much other than the ceiling. On top of this, the noise of the shop carries up to the café which made for a lot of background noise. The furniture was utilitarian, but comfortable enough. No wall art that we could see which was also a disappointment.

Service: 4/5 ⭐

Service was quick and polite, and we have no complaints other than not being given an option of sauce when our food was delivered. The food was brought to us hot and freshly made, and we noted that tables were being cleared quickly after other customers left, so that the area was always clean and tidy.

Quality: 5/5 ⭐

The Biggest Tesco really delivered with the food! The fries were perfectly hot, and seasoned with paprika, salt and pepper which we were both thrilled about. The coleslaw was tasty, and the star of the show, the chicken burger, was excellent. The brioche bun was soft, the chicken was hot and crispy, the lettuce was crunchy and clearly freshly cut, and there was a perfect amount of BBQ sauce and mayo, each on a different side of the burger. We don't give out this 5 star rating lightly, and think this is probably the best quality food you could get in a supermarket café. No complaints whatsoever.

Price: 3/5 ⭐

While we do not feel ripped off paying £7.50 for such top food quality, it is also not able to be considered a bargain. We do feel that £2.05 for a can of Coke Zero was far too much, however, with Frances making the comment that we probably could have found a multipack of 6 on the shop floor for not much more.

And of course, we would be remiss if we forgot our final criteria: would we propose to the love of our life in this café?.

This was a nice lunch, but even with the draw of being at the biggest Big Tesco in the country for an extra special touch, the atmosphere was simply not romantic enough for a proposal. Perhaps for a celebration lunch afterwards, but not the main event. Our search for the perfect location continues.

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Can anyone help me with regards to Walkden, the area of Greater Manchester? I used to live in the Winton area of Eccles and would sometimes go through Walkden on my way to other places, but it's a long time (almost 20 years) since I've been to it. I wonder, has it changed at all?

The reason I ask is I've been asked to write about buying a house and getting a mortgage for a property in Walkden. Now, there are many different types of house available in Walkden and also you don't have to buy, you can rent, or even buy to let.

I know that Walkden is popular with commuters - it's close to the East Lancs Road (the A580 East Lancs Road) that connects Manchester with Liverpool and its proximity to the M60 makes it very attractive for those of use who use the motorways a lot.

Being so good for commuters means that house prices in Walkden tend to be higher that for similar areas that are less well connected. Getting a mortgage for a house in Walkden shouldn't prove too difficult if you go to an independent mortgage broker like myself.

Be careful of high street mortgage lenders such as RBS and HSBC as they will only offer your their own products, so by going to an independent adviser you are bound to get a far better mortgage deal that will, over the course of 25 years, save you a substantial amount of money.