One of the more frequently encountered restaurants in SE England - though their range is extending - is Bills. It’s affordable and does things like avocado toast and scrambled eggs and …. Harmless things, really. Nice enough, but surprising that there was a gap in the market for it. But what interests me is this: I knew Bill’s before it was a restaurant, let alone a chain. Back in the day it was a trendy grocery store in Lewes (god, I have posted so many times about Lewes), on the south coast pretty much due south of London. Then they opened up a few tables selling amiable snacks as an extension of the grocery - we used to go there often back then, as it was cheap and rather good. And we have watched with a degree of puzzlement as it grew. Nearing 100 branches now. I would never have thought that would happen with such a simple idea.
j