THE SANDWICH CLUB, COW WYND, FALKIRK
A very small friendly cafe that is bright and shiny with optimism. They only have two tables, which is really all you need unless you're planning a banquet of Henry VIII proportions. The soup is inexpensive and traditional, with varieties like 'Potato and Leek,' and 'Tomato and Vegetable.'

ALDERS, COW WYND, FALKIRK
A traditional tearoom that always has three soups on. There are always 'Lentil' and 'Scotch Broth', along with a Soup of the Day, like 'Leek and Potato'.

AROMAS, BEAN ROW
Aromas is a busy coffee house in a quiet back street in Falkirk. They do a side-line in flowers, so you may obtain free floral aromas as you enter and leave. Just one soup on each day, like 'Lentil' - a good traditional soup.

TORWOOD GARDEN CENTRE TEAROOM, LARBERT
'A Fun Day Out For All The Family,' their leaflet once said, which is enough to send me scampering swiftly in the opposite direction. It's a phrase that brings to mind bouncy castles and screaming kiddiewinks and that dreaded 'experience' word, as in The Torwood Experience. Anyway, on this occasion, I'm wrong; wrong to moan, wrong on the bouncy castle thing, and wrong to walk on by. Why? Well, let's just say a wee woman (Elma) from Torwood wrote to me and informed me about the place. Wouldn't have known it was there if she hadn't. And, for fear of her turning up one day and messing up my hair with an umbrella, I thought I'd just better mention the place. Larbert's not in Falkirk, but it's very close, and given the soup on offer it is clearly a small journey worth making. There are three on each day in what they call Blossoms Coffee Shop (used to be the Three Trees Tearoom (try saying that ten times fast!)). I understand the manageress has published a booklet of her favourite soups, over 2000 of which have already been sold, the money in aid of McMillan Nurses. So, unless you want me and Elma round your door, you'd better get yourself off to Central Park, off Bellsdyke Road in Larbert, right this very minute. [Check out their website at www.torwoodgardencentre.co.uk]

THE TEASHOP AT THE STABLES, CALLENDAR PARK
A very nice tearoom in an old stables once used by the wealthy residents of Callendar House. Inside, it is prim and proper with polite, well-mannered ladies serving, and a good atmosphere. When I was there there was a queue waiting in an orderly but clearly excited fashion outside. I'm not sure if The Teashop at The Stables is always so popular or if I just managed to arrive at the same time as a bus-load of folk, but it was all very civilised, there was no pushing or shoving, and I managed to sneak in without being lynched. One soup each day, like 'Lentil'.