Fletcher's Chocolate Box, Swindon's Best Desert?

Swindon Centric was, like Komadori, invited to two Christmas meals, one at Cosmo and the other at Fletchers.

Once you get past all the hype about Cosmo, it really is just an all-you-can-eat restaurant in nice surroundings. The selling point seems to be lost on most diners, with no-one, on a full Saturday evening, taking advantage of the chefs to cook various dishes from a multitude of ingredients. The buffet choice is wide, but the quality of the food, under heat lamps, is hit-and-miss, rice was congealed to the bowl and serving spoon and curries were watery.

What seems most strange was, even later on, when there were no-more sittings and many vacant tables, the staff asked you to leave according to the 'eating window' you are given. Any classiness portrayed by the surroundings is lost when you have to keep getting your own cutlery after each course. But for the price, what should you really expect?

Fletchers, just a few yards away was full, but service was excellent, with an extensive drinks menu behind the bar. Like Komadori, the starters and main course were good, however, that leads onto the desert. The chocolate box was new since my last visit and delicious, indeed, the only point to linger would be if it could be a bit bigger.

Swindon Centric Says ; Cosmo looks good when you go past it, but all the money appears to have been spent on the decor. Fletchers is the better choice, not just for a meal, but for the best desert in Swindon.

Can anyone better that chocolate box? Or does Fletchers take Swindon's desert crown?

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 83

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. The pardon should be revoked.

9. It's all pre-recorded, but you can't hear the join.

8. Toxic sludge is a stain you I haven't got a lot of experience removing.

7. Surname is Sheen, same as you-know-who.

6. Sun was seen for the first time in ages.

5. Breakfast needs to make a comeback.

4. Going backwards isn't quite what you'd imagine.

3. Making a difference, one scone at a time.

2. Starting again, from clean.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. I bought her a wooden leg, it's not her main present, just a stocking filler.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 82

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. I ask that they wait and be patient.

9. Give that man a coconut.

8. I'd like to thank you for your thoughts and good wishes.

7. If you want to go before 9.30, just pay.

6. It's going to take a long time.

5. That smell will come back to haunt me in the morning.

4. Out of everyone who appeared on the radio, they were the only ones that didn't pay.

3. There's many, many reasons people buy crap at Christmas, mostly, it's tradition.

2. Allow me to step-aside, before I kill you with my shopping.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. At any other time of year, mince pies wouldn't get past the testing phase.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 81

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. I can't hear a thing, did you hear me?

9. Well, just think, you'll get to hear all about this at the trial.

8. The governor and Mrs Johnson, is the way they like to be known.

7. I'd usually have to pick two from seven, but I went for all of them together.

6. The turkey thing is getting so old.

5. If it's a girl, Delores is a good name.

4. He's obviously use to being around people with no teeth.

3. I feel like that, the same way a comic book fan feels about a new Lord Of The Rings film.

2. Attach those strings before it gets switched on.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. You can tell that the tree on the Magic Roundabout was put up by a man.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 80

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. I had to wade through an hour and a half to get to ninety seconds of perfectness.

9. She is thoughtful to a fault.

8. Luminous smocks will be the next in thing.

7. I got hayfever from my lapel rose.

6. As soon as Woolies goes wobbly, everyone gets nostalgic, then feeds on it when they slash prices.

5. His name is Gerald, which is the least of his problems.

4. The council still use the ducking stool on those who haven't paid their community tax on moonlit evenings.

3. I was appalled, cold, but mostly hungry.

2. The bag burst open, she'd bought so much Christmas crap.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. Don't call me a chav.

With thanks to Sean Wilson for contributing this week.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 79

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. Miming is not singing, no matter where or when.

9. It's a signal to noise.

8. She did it and she liked it.

7. I thought it would be quite rough, but they both smoothed it over by Monday afternoon.

6. Get granulated, it's full of vitamin E, excellent for lots of things.

5. If you can't afford to buy stuff, then don't.

4. The only way he can measure himself is by how much he earns, he's about two decades too late.

3. He's playing an old, militant gay ; he was born for that role.

2. Comedy is the best way of getting through Christmas, the winter and the recession.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. No matter how many times he begged, the director wouldn't let him take off his shirt.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.