To feel ripped off

Cafes are more expensive than they used to be, simply because the cost of everything has gone up. It's about what I'd expect for what you ordered.

I wouldn't be surprised at this cost- it seems in line with most cafes now. Doesn't mean it isn't hugely expensive for what it is.

I used to go out to a cafe or pub 4 or 5 days a week. Now maybe once a week or fortnight and I'd probably only get a hot drink now- rather than a cake and sandwich too. I can afford it, I just don't bloody want to!!

I agree OP that’s a fortune! The fact soup is seems reasonable to be a fiver is beyond me

I got given a Starbucks voucher for £15.
I got a coffee. Maybe a caramel latte can’t remember
one wrap
one croissant

I asked how much was left on the card. 60p

£14.40 for that!!! It is absolutely ridiculous and I’m glad it was a voucher. The fact this seems the norm nowadays is ludicrous. It was all take away as well!

Older we get the more we understand where they were coming from, huh?

Don't blame you.

I bought possibly the worst sandwich from the work cafe the other day - wasn't paying attention and paid £4.50 for a dry as fuck pre-packaged sandwich! Really disappointing.

Don't do it, don't allow yourself to be ripped off.

Another northerner here.
Bloody hell, that's insane! 😬

Probably the going rate all over the place but it is ridiculous that coffee, cake and soup costs more than an hour's wage for many people. I would feel ripped off too.

I managed to spend £60 on breakfast for three the other day, nearly had a heart attack. I really don’t begrudge paying inflated prices for decent food, but might start taking my own flask of coffee out!

Yep, a disgrace. Met a friend a few weeks ago, and had a hot drink each and a cake each (Starbucks.) Came to £17. 😱

I understand that, but local small cafes also need to be run by professional people who realise they are running a business not a hobby. Harsh, but hear me out.

Mil loves eating out, coffees etc she's in her 90s so we go out a lot. Next town to us has a very nice cafe, we go in one Saturday, it's being run by two teenagers....who cannot deliver 3 coffees at the same time. They cannot also toast tea cakes other than one at a time.

Our local cafe, where we had gone something like 5 times in 2 weeks...again on a Saturday 40 minutes for 4 bowls of soup....they only had a domestic microwave so warming one at a time (mine was cold) but home made soup is on the menu permanently. The next Saturday, just teenagers running it again...we got 3 out of 4 meals.

It's simply isn't good enough. I have refused to visit either cafe again. If you are running your own business you have to be there or at least train staff to a level of professionalism...not employ 6th formers because they are cheap.

Why did you order the stuff if you didn’t like the prices? Seems odd they’d have the menu with no prices

I went to Greggs today - 4 sausage rolls, two ginger bread men, a cupcake, a chicken baguette and three drinks came to £13. That fed four people with some left. I don’t think that’s bad at all. And yes I know it wasn’t a very healthy lunch 🤣

Sadly yes. Pisses me off. Today I paid £5.50 for two average (brake brothers frozen) sausages in stale bread when I had breakfast with mil as I do every Monday in a trendy bistro style cafe bar. Lunch in a very popular country pub about 3 miles from the first place £7.95 baguette with sausage (3), black pud and side salad. Meat products from local indi butcher who sources local products....so £2.45 for much more, much fresher and much more tasty meal.

Some places take the mick. Have you been to Greg's lately...most things £2+. For a tiny (they have had shrinkflation) bake.

Please remember that food costs have gone up massively in the hospitality industry and their gas and electricity do not have the price caps which apply to your domestic utilities. You have noticed your food has increased in price in the supermarket- the same applies to the local cafe who can't usually buy in such huge quantities that they get a discount. NI has gone up, minimum wage is going up and since covid insurance has increased hugely too - all things which contribute to the price of food and drink in your local cafe. If you don't like the price then don't go to the cafe but don't be surprised when the little independents disappear and you're left with the chains....

Agree seems about right when broken down. £3.50 flapjack, £4 mocha, £5 soup.

Given a cold and claggy sandwich in a garage is over £4 these days I don't think £4.5 for a panini is expensive tbh. There is a takeaway window of a small cafe in our local market town and pretty sure there's are over £5, depending on fillings.

Although I'm a cheapskate and just rarely buy food out, as a small scale food producer I can tell you over the last few years costs have gone up astronomically in the last few years.
Biggest one for us has been energy costs, 2 years ago our electricity bill more than doubled, and we were lucky it was only that.
Fats for baking shot up a couple years ago, mainly blamed on the Ukraine war (biggest producer of sunflower oil, then has a knock of effect to all other fats), I think my costs of making shortcrust pastry specifically has pretty much doubled in the last 2/3 years.
Although costs haven't gone up much again for us in the last year (or it's a slow creep now not a huge leap) I think a lot of small producers were afraid to pass on the increased costs and absorbed them as long as possible so there was a lag/cushion for a while, now it has got to rhe point where they have to either increase costs or go out of business so you are seeing prices still rising as they try and catch up.

That would be cheaper where I live oop North.

There is a Costa in my town and I’m always surprised it survives as local cafes are much cheaper. My favourite cafe has tea at £1.50 and a toasted tea cake for £2. They do home made pie, mash and peas with gravy for £8. Avocado on sourdough with salmon or an egg is £6.50, small fry up a fiver. All the coffees are £3 or under.

I paid £8.90 for a croissant and a cappuccino yesterday which neither of them were that great

We rarely eat out as recently took DC to local sushi train & it cost almost as much as a week's worth of home cooked meals.

I noticed recently the staff at work aren't going to the cafe up the road as much anymore. Only the younger ones still seem to, but.much less.

It's just pricey these days. Coffee and wrap or bun from Starbucks is between £8 and £10

And my flapjacks are way better. Less dry and more fudgy

I bought a couple of thermos flasks, wide neck one for the soup. Turning into my parents more and more as the years pass