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Noooooooo! Not Patisserie Valerie!

104 replies

tectonicplates · 11/10/2018 13:58

"Patisserie Valerie on brink of collapse" - www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45824285]

Sad

According to the article they also own Baker & Spice and the Flour Power bakery, neither of which I realised before.

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tectonicplates · 11/10/2018 13:59

Sorry, here's the link again www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45824285

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Babybearsporij · 11/10/2018 14:02

Well in the interests of public service, we must all immediately start going there every day. I'm game Grin

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mikapatika · 11/10/2018 14:09

Their cakes look nice but don’t really taste of anything not surprised really

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EmmaStone · 11/10/2018 14:11

I'm quite pleased - their cafes are always filthy, they seem to employ inexperienced staff who don't really know about clearing away tables and wiping down, their cakes look beautiful, but taste of air, and they charge an absolute fortune.

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LaGruffaloGrumble · 11/10/2018 14:12

I’ll eat some macaron for the team...

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Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 11/10/2018 14:15

One opened near me a couple of months ago.
I ordered a decaff coffee and a cinnamon thing.
Received a pain au raisin and a caffeinated coffee Hmm

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Lipsticktraces · 11/10/2018 14:15

There are people in the world who don’t like their cakes? They are delicious! I’ll have any you lot don’t wantCake

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Azelma · 11/10/2018 14:15

I wonder if they've expanded far too rapidly from eight shops in 2006 to 192 in 2017, with the quality going downhill.

I remember going to the Patisserie Valerie in Old Compton Street in the 90s. Their eclairs were amazing.

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costacoffeecup · 11/10/2018 14:15

We had a really bad experience in one of their places, one poor waitress on a Saturday afternoon when it was full, it took her half an hour just to take our coffee order. Swore we'd never go back which is a shame as I like the Black Forest gateau. I'm not surprised to be honest.

Might go and get some take away cake tomorrow ...

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SputnikBear · 11/10/2018 14:16

I’m glad, it serves them right! They put fabulous cakes in the window with a sign saying “We offer gluten/dairy/egg free!” Then you go in and they gleefully offer you a shitty square of allergen-free brown cardboard. I want a luscious cake like the ones in the window not a stupid dry brownie in a plastic wrapper! Twats.

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tectonicplates · 11/10/2018 14:17

I've had cooked meals there lots of times, which were all good. They're not just a cake shop.

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OlderThanAverageforMN · 11/10/2018 14:22

I always get our birthday cakes from there, much nicer than the dry boring old victorian sponge alternatives from the supermarkets. I will miss them if they go.

SputnikBear If you need a whole cake, they will make one to order for you...... not much help if you only want a slice though, granted.

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bibliomania · 11/10/2018 14:23

I find their cakes weirdly sickly (and I normally can't get enough of sugar and cream).

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Frosty66611 · 11/10/2018 14:25

Took my mum there for an afternoon tea once. The cakes were quite nice but the sandwiches were rank. Bad service too and the table was dirty.
I do love their chocolate mousse gateaux thing though

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supermodel · 11/10/2018 14:25

Had one of the worst meals I have ever been served there, it was the only time I have ever sent food back.

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JacquesHammer · 11/10/2018 14:26

I'm quite pleased

That’s rather unkind, especially when a number of people are at risk of redundancy.

I’ve visited a couple recently and both were pleasant experiences.

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CinnaMessala · 11/10/2018 14:26

Their original shops were amazing - then they sold the business, someone tried to make them into the Starbucks of cake and they messed with every single of their recipes. It was like going into Sainsbury’s and grabbing a cake off the shelf. Very sad.

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Wolfiefan · 11/10/2018 14:27

I’m with biblio. Far too sweet. And I like sweet stuff. Very pretty but disappointing.

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lurkingfromhome · 11/10/2018 14:27

Sorry about the job losses but the cakes are absolutely vile.

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Scatteredthoughtss · 11/10/2018 14:28

I can see why, it's horrid and grotty and I would only go if it was the only place open and I was really desperate for a sit down and it was raining.

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Scatteredthoughtss · 11/10/2018 14:29

Obviously bad about the jobs.

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TheWiseWomansFear · 11/10/2018 14:29

They're gross, very bland desserts and average coffee..

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Member · 11/10/2018 14:30

They’ve expanded too quickly
They are an odd mix of trying to sell “high end” in shops that don’t feel much above a greasy spoon.
Wonder how many stopped buying from them because they’re pro Brexit, I know I did.

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Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 11/10/2018 14:30

My Sainsburys has started selling their cakes.

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Thymeout · 11/10/2018 14:32

Yes. I agree with Cinna. The original shops were really special. The quality deteriorated rapidly when the business was sold. We've got one in our local shopping centre which is grim. Orange and brown decor. It's like eating in a BHS cafeteria.

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