Discussion
How many does a town need?
I live in a smallish town (Warminster if anyone knows it?) it consists mostly of hairdressers and antique shops with one or two clothes shops, up to approx 3 months ago there was 4/5 coffee shop/tea room type places and then...Costa Coffee moved in!
And now on the opposite side of the high street from the Costa shop they are opening up a Coffee Nation!
I live in a smallish town (Warminster if anyone knows it?) it consists mostly of hairdressers and antique shops with one or two clothes shops, up to approx 3 months ago there was 4/5 coffee shop/tea room type places and then...Costa Coffee moved in!
And now on the opposite side of the high street from the Costa shop they are opening up a Coffee Nation!
You may want to be a little more careful with the accusations, there.
A Costa franchisee is operating without planning permission. Note that it's not a Costa owned operation.
I think that's also something the residents of Totnes have missed, too - although it may be a national brand over the door, any new Costa opening is more than likely going to be a local franchisee.
A Costa franchisee is operating without planning permission. Note that it's not a Costa owned operation.
I think that's also something the residents of Totnes have missed, too - although it may be a national brand over the door, any new Costa opening is more than likely going to be a local franchisee.
HeatonNorris said:
You may want to be a little more careful with the accusations, there.
A Costa franchisee is operating without planning permission. Note that it's not a Costa owned operation.
I think that's also something the residents of Totnes have missed, too - although it may be a national brand over the door, any new Costa opening is more than likely going to be a local franchisee.
yeah, you're right. The Bristol ones are owned by a franchisee but the Totnes one is not and since it's "their name above the door" in all cases... Can't see Maccy D or any other major operating like this.A Costa franchisee is operating without planning permission. Note that it's not a Costa owned operation.
I think that's also something the residents of Totnes have missed, too - although it may be a national brand over the door, any new Costa opening is more than likely going to be a local franchisee.
BTW I have no real issue with it but with 41 coffee outlets in the town it sort of answers the OP's question. Obviously the answer to life, the universe and everything is "42"
21TonyK said:
Ah Totnes, twinned with Narnia :-)I used to live in a village which had a proper olde worlde Italian cafe. It was awesome, but the owner retired and his son didn't want to take it on... So they'd welcome the likes of Costa moving in.
I've often thought about it myself, but don't have the capital to invest, without taking it out of my house... And I'm too cautious to do that!
I've often thought about it myself, but don't have the capital to invest, without taking it out of my house... And I'm too cautious to do that!
I live in Woodbridge in Suffolk, we have Costa, Caffe Nero, and now Starbucks opening, as well as 8 independent cafes... All for a town of about 9k people!
Caffe Nero were the naughty ones, took on a site in the main street of the town that was subject to the "town plan" and designated retail only, not takeaway use.
They opened & claimed that the main part of their business was sale of biscuits and packaged coffee, so was suitable for retail premises, and then applied for retrospective planning permission after 6 months to change the use... Which was granted!
Caffe Nero were the naughty ones, took on a site in the main street of the town that was subject to the "town plan" and designated retail only, not takeaway use.
They opened & claimed that the main part of their business was sale of biscuits and packaged coffee, so was suitable for retail premises, and then applied for retrospective planning permission after 6 months to change the use... Which was granted!
HeatonNorris said:
You may want to be a little more careful with the accusations, there.
A Costa franchisee is operating without planning permission. Note that it's not a Costa owned operation.
I think that's also something the residents of Totnes have missed, too - although it may be a national brand over the door, any new Costa opening is more than likely going to be a local franchisee.
Costa and similar franchises operate with a very tight grip. They'll have a team dedicated to property and I'd be absolutely amazed if they were unaware these franchisees didn't have correct planning permission in place. I suspect at best a blind eye was turned to the situation and likely a calculated decision was made to apply for retrospective planning permission. A Costa franchisee is operating without planning permission. Note that it's not a Costa owned operation.
I think that's also something the residents of Totnes have missed, too - although it may be a national brand over the door, any new Costa opening is more than likely going to be a local franchisee.
21TonyK said:
yeah, you're right. The Bristol ones are owned by a franchisee but the Totnes one is not and since it's "their name above the door" in all cases... Can't see Maccy D or any other major operating like this.
I can't comment on McDoanlds specifically but large companies regularly flout the law when they feel the risk/reward ratio justifies it. For example Tesco often build their Express stores with inadequate storerooms in order to maximise shelf space. This means that the stock needs constant replenishing.
They therefore have trucks out the front delivering throughout the day. These trucks are illegally parked with little regard for the safety of others. Parking fines are simply factored into the running costs of the store.
I live in Bakewell which, in 2001, had a stated population of just under 4000. We have over 20 coffee shops and cafes in the town centre. Recently Costa Coffee applied to open a branch here. Why? I know we're overrun by tourists in the summer but I often wonder how all of these cafes exist through the winter.
miniman said:
Frankly if Costa can drive Starbucks off the high street then so much the better, then at least we will be able to get a vaguely passable cup of coffee rather than a f
king st one.
Costa are a British company, too - so it can only be a good thing.king st one. Not sure why so many are so against a British success story.
(Costa make money in the UK, Starbucks make a loss and have done every year since they first entered the UK market)
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