Caffeine and machine
Discussion
RacerMike said:
Pothole said:
Try actually reading my post.
Sure, I read it 
not properlyPothole said:
I visited last Wednesday lunchtime
Pothole said:
Nothing interesting in the car park - not blaming the management for that, natch
quote fixedHence why I suggested a weekend
Pothole said:
No greeting from anyone on arrival
Which is why I said it's more of a place to go with a few mates for a quiet coffee after work during the week. I was trying to write a helpful response to your post, but you've instead got your back up about it for some reason! Perhaps it's also why you maybe misinterpreted a simple explanation of where the toilets were as a dirty look! In my experience none of the staff there are anything other than helpful and I'm sure they would have probably responded apologetically if you mentioned the burger and chips didn't meet your expectations. Remember that any establishment that delivers customer service can only improve if the customers feedback about things when they feel the service isn't up to standard. It's like the TripAdvisor effect:"How was your meal Sir?"
"Really nice thanks yes"
1-hour later on TripAdvisor
"1 out of 5 Stars - Would not recommend - I ordered the Salmon but they served me the Beef. I don't eat beef and I was appalled that no one made any effort to correct this terrible mistake"
I appreciate you weren't giving them a particularly bad review or anything, but I don't think you need to reply so defensively to a couple of attempted helpful pointers as to why you might have experienced something different.
The kids are Phil's btw (the owner). They were doing a great job helping pick up litter and playing in the garden on Sunday.
I didn't bother asking about my burger because I didn't want my lunch to be taken away and something else returned in 15 minutes time when my wife would have finished hers. Complaining afterwards may well have elicited an apology, but would good would that have been? The damage was done, it made them look dishonest and penny-pinching.
I'm sure the kids are little angels but I don't expect a (relatively, for me) pricey lunch to include a chorus of shouts from a young child with headphones on playing a video game or to be pushed past multiple times by a shoeless waif on my way to a table.
I've merely offered an honest and accurate account of my personal experience. You have leaped to an unnecessary defence. I also said I'll revisit later in the year. Perhaps my experience will be fabulous. I guarantee a glowing review if it is!
mustdash said:
Apart from the bloke in the red Westfield last week who left the car park, gave it too much right foot and ended up fishtailing into the hedge on the opposite side of the road. Luckily he didn't take anyone else with him and managed to drive away with nothing more than dented pride and some leaf litter.....
I was wondering what the owner was tweeting about when he reaffirmed the don't be a dick notice. Some people just can't help themselves. I'm not far away so should really pay a visit, then I just need to find a nice spot to hide the mx5 away from the nice metal.
l354uge said:
... I just need to find a nice spot to hide the mx5 away from the nice metal.
No, you don't. Even at a weekend there's all sorts of cars and bikes there...one of the things that makes it a nice place is that it's not like the UK / European version of "Cars & Coffee" (where if you don't have a supercar you're not getting in) - all flavours of petrolhead seem welcome.I'm also with Mike - my take is that Phil's trying to keep it low-key and casual during the week, and the weekends have become a victim of their own success (in good and bad ways).
havoc said:
No, you don't. Even at a weekend there's all sorts of cars and bikes there...one of the things that makes it a nice place is that it's not like the UK / European version of "Cars & Coffee" (where if you don't have a supercar you're not getting in) - all flavours of petrolhead seem welcome.
I'm also with Mike - my take is that Phil's trying to keep it low-key and casual during the week, and the weekends have become a victim of their own success (in good and bad ways).
As is evident from Potholes experience, it's not going to be for everyone, and it's certainly not somewhere you'd go if you want to be entertained by exhibits, displays or activities, or if you are expecting a massive pub lunch.I'm also with Mike - my take is that Phil's trying to keep it low-key and casual during the week, and the weekends have become a victim of their own success (in good and bad ways).
For me, I think it's a place to go with a couple of friends and talk to other like minded people about car related stuff. What I think is nice is that it's a massive cross section of car culture. There's guys there who virtually never get to see a supercar, supercar owners, bikers and cynical automotive industry types like me :P I greatly enjoy drinking coffee, looking at cars and chatting about automotive guff with others there.
Of course there's the sim and a few bits of automotive art, but it's the people you really go for. Everything else is just a nice setting to put it all in.
Pothole said:
So I'm not the right kind of person or my expectations were too high? Only on PH.
Do you genuinely take offence at everything?! How is the fact you didn’t really like it a problem?! You’re allowed to not like something other people do like, and you’re allowed to change your mind. Why is it a problem that I assumed you’d felt it wasn’t for you based on what you’d written? Only on PH indeed. I suspect if they’d served you a burger with three patties it would have been wrong...jingars said:
Victims of their own success would appear to be accurate;
Also seeking to attend to the pillocks;
It's turning into a nightmare. Those parked cars shown are only about 10% of the problem. Police in attendance outside the place every weekend. People lining the road to watch/record the aforementioned exit "shenanigans"Also seeking to attend to the pillocks;
RacerMike said:
How is the fact you didn’t really like it a problem?!
You tell me, that's the impression you've given me.ETA. Nowhere have I said I "didn't really like it" either. I have the basic expectation that anywhere taking money for goods and services should be focused on providing same while open for that business. Agree or disagree?
Edited by Pothole on Tuesday 5th March 10:16
I popped over there on a Saturday - understood it was going to be busy so got there early. had a nice coffee, and a chat with some other owners. saw a lovely 911 from 1968, and had a chat with the driver - really great guy. some lovely cars arrived while I was there, plenty of exotica mixed with unusual and classic. marshals on duty were kind and doing a great job.
like others have said it will be manic in the summer there!
like others have said it will be manic in the summer there!
I visit pretty regularly as I’m quite local, the owners are doing their best to keep up with demand and yet again are extending the car park this week.
On Sunday there were at least 6 marshalls directing cars and they stop people entering when it’s full, saying to return in half an hour or so. It was a Porsche owners club meet this weekend which meant it was busy from half 9 onwards but come 11am there was plenty of parking.
I decided to take my Defender (the black one) to add a bit of variety, returned to the car after a couple of hours and it had attracted a couple of friends.
Untitled by Alex L, on Flickr
On Sunday there were at least 6 marshalls directing cars and they stop people entering when it’s full, saying to return in half an hour or so. It was a Porsche owners club meet this weekend which meant it was busy from half 9 onwards but come 11am there was plenty of parking.
I decided to take my Defender (the black one) to add a bit of variety, returned to the car after a couple of hours and it had attracted a couple of friends.
Untitled by Alex L, on FlickrLike the reg Alex 
£5 charge for parking on weekends now https://caffeineandmachine.com/parkingupdate/
£5 charge for parking on weekends now https://caffeineandmachine.com/parkingupdate/
If you click on the link, it says £10 for pre-booking a weekend parking space - a "fiver" is ok, though I'd say £10 might put some off unless there's a 50% refund on buying a meal. I hope they succeed in their venture though when l get around to visiting, I'll try a sunny week day to ensure I can park onsite. The popularity of C&M just shows what a shortage of such places to meet in the wider Midlands area currently.
MrC986 said:
The popularity of C&M just shows what a shortage of such places to meet in the wider Midlands area currently.
Curborough do a coffee morning every other weekend or so, but I think the genius of C&M was making it more premium than the usual car park and greasy spoon most car fans go too, which could put off some. I can only think Goodwood has a similar "fine coffee/poshish food" setup when it comes to car friendly spots?
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