Afternoon Tea same price to eat in as to takeaway

[SatsumaFan]

Bit boring I know, but I've just got a price for a takeaway afternoon tea from a local cafe. It's the same price as if I were having it there, obvs with hot tea and service.

Am I alone in thinking it would be a pound or two cheaper given I'll be collecting it then getting the kettle on at home myself? I'm looking to get lots next month for a special occasion but now I'm not sure...

I guess they are trying to survive but I agree, it should be a little cheaper.

Aye. A lot of restaurants near me are doing eat at home boxes for the same price (or very near) as in the restaurant. If I'm paying restaurant prices I want someone to come round and do my dishes.

Can you be sure that the eat-in price hasn't been reduced to the takeaway price to try entice more people in?

They still have the same costs as they did pre pandemic, I'm sure they're just trying to stay afloat. They still need to pay the electric bill, rent and for the food even though your bum isn't on a seat

It's likely that the cost of the packaging to allow takeaway is roughly the same as the added cost of eating in.

Depends how much they're charging and what the quality's like.
Some afternoon teas are good and some are an abomination with mass produced factory scones and cakes and £££s for a sandwich and a scone. But, it's been really hard for cafes and they're just trying to survive.

If it's good quality, with fresh home made scones and nicely made sandwiches, well presented, I'd pay more, but honestly, if you're having afternoon tea at home, you might as well make it all yourself and/or buy the stuff from the supermarket and arrange it yourself unless the cafe is offering something really special.

All our restaurants doing take aways are charging the same price to do take aways as they are to eat in. I won't be paying the same price to have a take away as I would to eat in once they re open. I know they are trying to make a living but that doesn't mean we all have enough money to spend on a restaurant priced take away.
I think they will find over the next few weeks that people are reluctant to spend so much.

I think in the past they would have "sit in" customers who paid extra for service and takeaway would be a little cheaper as not paying for space in the restaurant or service. But now the shop is opening just for takeaway we all need to pay a little to cover the overheads that they normally wouldn't charge you for when taking out as covered by the sit in customers. I don't mind in current circumstances. Also the packaging for takeaway is possibly more expensive than washing and reusing the dishes.

It should be a lot cheaper because most afternoon tea places aren’t baking their own afternoon tea boxes in-house. It’s just a generic product with their brand on it. Honestly you’re better off going to your local bakery (even if it’s in a supermarket) and getting stuff from them. Supermarkets will even do nice teas and coffees

Oh sorry, its a gorgeous little independent coffee shop with high quality freshly baked goods and lovely freshly made sandwiches. Definitely not cheap or mass produced.

I went in last year and sat inside and loved it so much I thought I'd look into getting a takeaway for me and some friends for a special treat end of May. So contacted them to ensure they'd still be doing take away versions despite the fact they'll be fully reopened by then. They confirmed they'll continue to offer take away boxes as they've been so popular (I guess if you developed Covid symptoms or were under the weather, isolating etc it would be a lovely treat).

Perhaps it's the cost of the packaging like you say.

They still have many of the same outgoings, and a much reduced income, so I think in the spirit of supporting local businesses, including cafes, it’s to be expected. At least it’s good it sounds as if it has got through the last year and, unlike many businesses, will be able to open again soon.

I’m not objecting to any business prepared to work during a national lock down when many are shut indoors keeping safe.

I'm sure places used to have different pricing levels based on eat in/ takeaway and the later being the cheaper option despite packaging. Take away requires less staffing costs as no-one needed to clean the tables and do the washing up. It's the delivery part that should technically be increasing costs if not doing a collection service.

In your case I would eat in as I'm not going to pay the same price for me to do some of their work.

Under normal circumstances I might raise an eyebrow but given how badly hit these places have been since covid I wouldn’t begrudge the price. They will be missing out on the sales of additional drinks that people might purchase when they sit it and presumably still have a property to upkeep?
Even with things starting to reopen there will be limits to how they can run and how many customers they can seat at one time. Unless we want to see businesses go under I think people should be supportive

If you want these places to survive then don't begrudge them the prices they need to charge.

Costs will have gone up and their income will be getting hammered.

Yes I'm overlooking it right now as they need to survive but if it continues then I will only be eating in which is a shame.

I would imagine that if the shit show that has been the last 13 months hadn't happened it probably would have been a few quid cheaper.
However the majority of the businesses that would do you an afternoon tea have been forced shut, and over the busiest period too - Xmas, new year, valentines, mothers day, Easter so are probably trying to claw back a small amount of lost profit anyway possible, so that if the world ever gets back to normal they have a better chance of reopening their business and serving you in person.

We get restaurant meals as takeaways all the time and always pay the full price. It doesn’t bother me at all. Yes they save on certain costs, but it takes time to package it all nicely, making sure nothing is missing, and the packaging costs money. It’s perfectly reasonable to pay full price.

We’ve had takeaway from a couple of restaurants near us that charged their usual prices. The food was great, just like the restaurant standard, and I think that their overheads won’t be much less than usual at present and they are competing in a new market, locally there are already a lot of established takeaways.

I think there will be a lot of settling down in the market and prices once everything opens up again.

@Canigooutyet

I'm sure places used to have different pricing levels based on eat in/ takeaway and the later being the cheaper option despite packaging. Take away requires less staffing costs as no-one needed to clean the tables and do the washing up. It's the delivery part that should technically be increasing costs if not doing a collection service.

In your case I would eat in as I'm not going to pay the same price for me to do some of their work.

It's small and not licenced, and shuts around 3pm. I'd rather host in my garden with fizz and just relax.

I’m sure without covid the prices would have increased anyway. Perhaps the current take away prices just reflect this. Suppliers have also increased prices too in order to try and recoup some of their losses.

It should be a lot cheaper because most afternoon tea places aren’t baking their own afternoon tea boxes in-house. It’s just a generic product with their brand on it

Not a single one of the (very many) businesses near me who do afternoon tea do a generic one. The fact that it's freshly home made is one of their selling points.

I've ordered a few over the past year and I'm happy to pay slightly more than usual to support a local small business

My local places are doing all home made.

I don't think their overheads are going to be much different, and prices have gone up. I've had a couple of afternoon teas, they've been lovely.

Why not order some slices of cake and then make your own sarnies and scones? Half the price.

Those styrofoam cups as a private buyer I can get a thousand for less than £30. The takeaway boxes are a similar cost btw. Compare those costs to crockery breakage as these cost more. Never mind the cost to employ a full time kitchen porter, washing up material and the rest. Eat in unless the business is very strict will still have staff in doing overtime for the clean up, takeaway not so much. Wear and tear on tables and chairs reduced. Takeaway less people using the toilet thus reducing those costs.

Regardless of how the stuff still needs plating up and care taken to ensure everything is included.