Starting a nice cafe

[littlegreenfairy]

I've been thinking about this again and if you get a good selling point and enough to differentiate yourself from the competition then it is totally do able.

BUT you need a product that beats the pants off the highstreet chains (not hard really )

And advertising is a must. Get a good base of clients and you'll be reet.

Where are you planning on doing this?

[car crazy]

Would have to be something completly different, up here for instance on the A66 near Penrith is the llamakarma cafe. It opened about two years ago, as well as having llamas out the back you can go on a llama trek on lake district tracks. Seriously people pay £120 to drag a llama round a field on a lead for a couple of hours. Food is expensive around a fiver for a sandwich and the same for a coffee and you can buy people llama trekking vouchers for xmas and birthdays.
Would need to be an off the wall idea like that to work in my opinion. Take a look here
http://www.llamakarmakafe.co.uk/

Edited by car crazy on Saturday 1st January 12:06

[F i F]

the deascription cafe covers a very wide spectrum, from the Starbucks type thing, through trucker type stops, little old lady tea rooms, workmen/lunch restaurants and so on.

One area I think is completely not addressed in this country are the Mom&Pop type diners that you get in USA. If there was an ace barbecue type place near office, brisket, pulled pork sandwiches, all that sort of stuff then our canteen would be empty.

It's a risky venture and depends how flexible you are on location.

Also what is your motivation for this venture.

Left field suggestion, fish and chip shop?

[Sour Kraut]

Leicesterdave said:

I am half French and would love to start a "proper" French cafe.

F i F said:

Left field suggestion, fish and chip shop?

[F i F]

Sour Kraut said:

Leicesterdave said:

I am half French and would love to start a "proper" French cafe.

F i F said:

Left field suggestion, fish and chip shop?

indeed but you've ignored the previous two lines and comments from others.

This IS a risky venture and it depends what OP's motivation is for going into catering industry. A chippie won't fail unless OP is a total muppet, a French cafe might very well fail even with excellent ownership and operation.

[Cotty]

Globs said:

Try and avoid making it too comfortable though, or you'll get people staying for 2 hours with a single cup of tea!

Try finding a decent cup of tea in London. I have a Starbucks in my building, I bring my own tea bags an just use their hot water and milk, its subsidised so I get away with it.