When cousins Jo and Phyl decide to become Lyons Corner House waitresses, or 'Nippies' as they are known for their speedy service, they have no idea how their lives are about to change. They are whisked from family life in Woolwich to digs in London; they are transported from a factory and a grocer's shop to the wonderful dining rooms of Lyons, Marble Arch, and they swap their old overalls for the smart uniforms of the Corner House girls. Jo and Phyl settle in and make friends with both waitresses and customers. There are boyfriends, lovers and fiances, friendship and romance, but as the Second World War becomes increasingly imminent, the future of these men and women seems more and more uncertain.