If you’re out shopping on the weekend and you’re feeling in need of a sugar boost, forget Starbucks and head to Ben’s Cookies instead. There are simply no cookies quite like them.

Founded by self-confessed Chocoholic Helge Rubinstein, Ben’s Cookies started in 1983 with the first store opening in Oxfords Covered Market and they claim to source all their ingredients locally in the Oxfordshire area. Out of their 10 stores, 5 of these are in London, with the latest opening on Oxford Street just recently, situated next to Bond Street tube station. Being as yet fairly undiscovered, you will not be queuing here as you will in Covent Garden, although the queues move fast and it’s definitely worth the wait.

So what’s all the fuss about a simple biscuit I hear you asking? The answer is, this is not an ordinary cookie. Ben’s cookies sell by weight (roughly £1-1.30 per piece), and are more dome shaped rather than flat. If you time it right, you will find the inside still gooey when you buy one. My tip would be to ask the sales assistant which ones have just come out of the oven and buy one of those. All the flavours are good. Except the oatmeal and raisin. If you’re going to be unhealthy and have a cookie, for goodness sake do it properly and get chocolate.

Having tried nearly all of the flavours during the course of my several years in London, I would recommend the milk chocolate and praline, triple chocolate chunk and the white chocolate and cranberry.

Other branches of Ben’s can be found in South Kensington next to the tube, Leadenhall Market and High Street Kensington.

www.benscookies.com