Mabel's OldTown

Mabel's Old Town runs a coffee counter inside a shared unit on Devizes Road that also houses a bakery stall, a hardware seller and a jeweller under one roof, an arrangement more common on the Continent than in most English high streets. The counter serves organic coffee alongside teas, hot chocolate and fresh juices, with pastries, sandwiches, wraps and salads made using locally sourced ingredients where possible. It opens seven days a week, earlier on weekdays for people passing through before work and slightly later at weekends. Seating is limited and shared with the rest of the unit rather than set aside exclusively for the cafe, so customers often end up next to someone waiting for a haircut or picking up a repair. The format keeps overheads low for each trader while giving the building steady passing footfall.