(Press Invite) If you are heading to Lakeside for a bit of retail therapy there is so much choice. Even if you ignore the shopping centre the surrounding retail parks have so many HUGE shops. One of my favourite areas on the other side of the lake from the shopping centre has a Homesense, B&M, The Range, a Lidl and more. I could spend all day there, but all that shopping is hard work so stopping for a break is essential. Handily they have just opened a Tim Hortons so whether you just want a coffee and a really tasty doughnut, you fancy a breakfast wrap or a Crispy Chicken Stack burger it is worth checking out.

With so much choice at Tim Horton's it might take you a while to choose what to eat

Tim Hortons is a Canadian brand which has been in the UK since 2017. They are currently rolling out their restaurants across more of the UK so where ever you live there might be one near you soon. You can check the locations of their current and future stores on the Tim Horton UK website.

The Lakeside restaurant, which includes a Drive Thru option, opens 7am Friday 10th December and I was invited to come see what it is like. You can find Tim Hortons in Lakeside Retail Park, West Thurrock Way, RM20 1WN.

Doughnuts and Timbits (mini doughnuts) are made fresh at Tim Hortons each day

You can buy boxes of doughnuts to take away

Tim Hortons do lattice fries instead of chips

There is a wide range of hot drinks to take away or drink in

What You Need to Know About Tim Hortons UK

• While this is a fast food style restaurant the food is cooked to order so you will have a short wait between ordering and receiving your hot food.

• They have a huge range of doughnuts which are cooked fresh each day. 

• Sadly they don’t have any vegan or dairy free doughnuts, but some of the hot food is vegan and there is a good choice for vegetarians.

• They have soya and coconut milk available so most coffees and milkshakes can be made with alternative milks. 

• You can order on screens or via people at the counter and then you go to a separate window to wait for your food.

• They have a drive thru, eat in and take away. You also order from most venues via Uber Eats, Just Eat or Deliveroo.

• Because they are making the food fresh it’s easy for them to switch out anything you don’t want so just ask.

• The food has a little more flavour than some other fast food restaurants, my hot dog for instance was a chunky sausage lying on a bed of crispy onion inside a bread roll and it came with a mild mustard and a chipotle sauce on it. The lattice fries have a small kick to them.

• Before 11am hot food is just the breakfast with the rest of the meals available from 11am. They have some all day breakfast items including their breakfast wrap and sausage and egg muffins which are served until until 5pm.

• Hot food options include chicken or beef burgers (which come in brioche style buns containing dairy), grilled cheese sandwiches, wraps, chicken tenders and kid's meals.

• The hot drinks menu is huge and reminds me of a coffee shop rather than a fast food restaurant, but they also do lots of cold drinks including fruit coolers, "Iced Capp"s and shakes.

The Lakeside branch has a light and airy seating area with plenty of space, you can find it opposite Lidl.

Order using the touch screens or at the counter

Food is available to pick up at the serving hatch

The Lakeside Tim Hortons toilets are enclosed Unisex rooms with sink and hand dryer

Disclosure: I was invited to try the food out and received a goody bag, but wasn't asked to produce any particular content. This post is based on my experience.