Patisserie Valerie- not surprising?

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Just heard on the news that Patisserie Valerie is in trouble. Frankly I'm not surprised. For me it has always missed its target. It sells nice patisserie like a posh cafe but looks like a cheap diner. As much as I'd like to go for the coffee and cake they're not pretty or comfy places. Anyone feel the same?

Bring back Spud-U-Like

Spud-u-like never went away! There's one in my local so shopping mall

I love Spud-U-Like, they are still around generally in food courts in shopping centres.

I go in quite a lot for meetings and it is fine but not really a special treat. The cakes often look nicer than they taste as others have said but smoothies and ice cream choices are nice. My local ivy is doing really well. I saw someone else mention Jaime’s Italian and I’ve never loved it. I’m not surprised it’s been in trouble as it always seemed more expensive than the other Italian chains with a menu that’s not as broad in taste. There’s more on it now but when it first opened the menu was quite limited.

I went in once for afternoon tea with 18m old DD on the way home from her eye appointment. Tea was OK, but the scones had not only been split but TOASTED! have had drinks in different one with mil since but no food.

Ah Fleuriepeninsula- A mouse running around the window display, in and around and over those cakes.
You've ruined it for me now.

Strange when you spot a branch of a chain you thought had gone. There is a Wimpy in Dorking. I haven’t seen one of those for years. Thought McD etc had seen them off? Have Burger King gone too? I go to Byron or GBK when I want a burger (rare these days) but I think these two chains have expanded very rapidly too.

Burger King is still around, often in service stations.
I had no idea Spud-u-like was still going. I used to go in one on Shepherd's Bush Green getting on for 40 years ago, it's long gone

There are loads of Wimpy burger places here in South Africa. They tend to be in shopping centres and motor way services. They do excellent affordable breakfasts, great coffee and orange juice.

There's a Wimpy near me too, but haven't seen a Spud-U-Like for years.

There is a really nice Patisserie Valerie near my work. I love their cakes but whenever I have sat inside and eaten there (I’ve had both breakfast and lunch) I have found it to be very average and expensive for what you get.

Strada is another going down the drain

Their hot chocolate is rank. When we went for afternoon tea, I asked for extra clotted cream and after waiting 15 minutes they brought out a small bowl. I mean small! I ten got charged £1.50 😤 which they didn’t tell me about. Some of their cakes are nice but far too pricey for what they are.

PV is just so average. Last time I ate there the scone was so stale it was solid. I took it back to the counter where the man, instead of just apologising and giving me a new one, insisted it was baked fresh that morning. I mean it couldn’t have been. I couldn’t get a knife in it.

I thought Strada had already gone?

Hmm we went to one of the remaining Carluccios yesterday as our local one has closed.

It was rank. I was really disappointed that the one near us had gone, but if the one we went to yesterday was more representative Cambridge then they deserve to go!

I thought Spud U like only still existed in Norwich! I've never seen one anywhere else! It's my go to if the kids are having Burger King which they love but I dont like, since they got rid of the Spicy bean Burger.

Are Carluccios on the way out then? I've been to the Cambridge one several times and loved it, although probably not for more than a year.

Hold it right there

they got rid of the Spicy bean Burger
When did THAT happen?

I believe Strada is still going although they've shut two branches near here. Carluccios looks like it's going strong here though and I may go this week as I've got an offer for a free bottle of wine!
Where I live must be the only place where Mcdonalds and Starbucks moved out!

SpudULike still going strong in Woking of all places

Agree Strada dropping off a bit. Sad Ask went down the pan, had many a ‘fancy’ dinner in there as a student with my uni boyfriend.

I don't know who their target market is. The window displays indicate luxury, the patisseries beautiful to look at. The prices reflect this. Yet the inside is like a greasy spoon café and how you order isn't clear.
I suppose it all comes down to the product and how it tastes: rancid at worst and absolutely tasteless at best.

Ivy cafe has already stretched itself.
Style over substance.

I think we all know now any franchise chain is great for me the first couple of years then it's down hill and unloved.

I really really miss harvester, the fun of the salad bar (innocent days before realising people sniffing all over them) the fabulous early bird menu....

It's hugely overpriced and the cakes are average to below average.
They are too expensive for a normal pop in for a cuppa cafe when you're in town but if never go there as a treat because I'd rather spend a couple of quid more and get something lovely.