ShakeAway Milkshakes

While in Reading (revising of course) Ina persuaded me that I needed a break and suggested we go for a nice walk. Living in Reading town centre I didn't really see how a 'nice' walk was possible but welcomed the break from revision (and secretly hoped I could drag him into a few clothes shops for some retail therapy!)

Unfortunately, knowing me too well, he had envisaged the consequences of taking me past clothes shops and come up with a plan. That plan was to give me the messiest drink possible, that no sales assistant in their right mind would ever allow you in a clothes shop with. To hear about this visit from his point of view you might want to visit his blog.




It worked rather well but I didn't complain too much - I ended up with the most awesome drink!
ShakeAway is a milkshake company with a difference. The difference being that they fill their stores with hundreds of varieties of chocolate, sweets, biscuits and fruit and allow you to make any combination of them into a milkshake! They have over 150 choices - from the heavenly to the down-right bizarre.

My first thought on walking in was how on earth I would choose a 'safe', gluten free milkshake without spending hours in conversation with the staff. I needn't had worried. I picked up a menu and saw that the key included "ng" for "not gluten free" after any items unsuitable for coeliacs like myself. This meant that everything else on the menu was suitable!

On further examination I realised they also did dairy-free milkshakes made with soya ice cream. I don't have a lactose intolerance but am aware that it often co-exists with coeliacs and I was really impressed that this company had gone to such an effort to cater for people needing special diets.

So Rhubarb and Custard milkshake with Minstrels on top for me (although the minstrels sunk to the bottom!) Ina chose a Fry's Orange Cream milkshake with extra cream which was equally delicious.

On further examination of the menu there were a few anomalies for me. That is a few milkshakes not marked "ng" that contained ingredients that I know to contain gluten (for example Ferrero Rocher.) So I would advise any coeliacs visiting to use common sense as well as the menu when deciding what it safe. I am currently composing an email to the company to raise these concerns and will report back when they reply.

Still, with stores all over the south of the country, and so much obviously gluten free on the menu, they are well worth a visit.

And full marks to ShakeAway for effort in catering for people with special diets.