To not return to Caffe Nero?

[dontrunwithscissors]

I've generally preferred Caffe Nero over other chain coffee shops. I travel a lot for work so I've been in many stores across the country. They are looking in need of repair, the staff seem eternally pissed off, and for some reason the shops are often cold. Yesterday, I was in a Caffe Nero when the air conditioning started blowing out cold air like it was summer. I (politely) asked the staff twice to increase the temperature, but nothing happened. The tables were covered in dirty dishes. I left earlier than planned as I was sat shivering with my coat on. To top if off, a dog was in there (not a service animal) that kept trying to lick my hand and was nearly tripping other customers up.

Yes, this is a first world problem, but AIBU to think that Caffe Nero needs to pull its socks up?

There is a Costa in your village, Rufus? And three is a small market town!

Our nearest small town (population 9000) doesn't have anything like that at all, although the next nearest (population 35,000) does have one Costa and lots of small restaurants/eateries.

None of the nearby villages (populations ranging from 400 to 1000) have any chain coffee shops, although most boast a tourist style pub/hotel or two!

I want a Costa! (or a Cafe Nero if they let dogs in )

Well the local town has a population of 13000 and 1 Costa + 1 caffe Nero.

The local city of 140000 and has 3 Costas, 1 caffe Nero, 1 Starbucks and about 5 independents. It's a mostly piss poor place in N Scotand.

YANBU, if it's crap don't go but it doesn't mean they all are. It's annoying that you can't rely on consistency in a 'chain' coffee shop though, surely that should be one of their redeeming features, that you're supposed to know what you're getting whereever you are.

Tbh we are lucky to live in a city that takes it's coffee seriously with two of the Indies mentioned in Caffeine magazine (I kid you not.) The problem with them though is that they are a bit up their own arse and I love my coffee but don't think it should require a certain haircut/clothes/surly disposition to fit in

adish

Overkill, though i do like a costa tiffin

Another very local (5mins walk) cafe lets dogs in...it does dog breakfasts and dog icecream

We have masses of cafes...we are near the coast though

CN in our town always has a horrendous queue and dirty tables. But then DH won't let me queue I any coffee shop in town as I get infuriated by crap service and it is never as efficient or nice as in the city of London (where I work). In the city they get a lot more made a lot faster than any coffee shop in my home town. DH sends me off to find a table (which if Nero will always mean doing the staffs jib of clearing up the place). Unfortunately we haven got any good independents in our home town that are also child friendly. It's a great shame.

"The local city of 140000 and has 3 Costas, 1 caffe Nero, 1 Starbucks and about 5 independents. It's a mostly piss poor place in N Scotand."

Does that make you a Dundonian, Scissors?

Is it Cafe Nero Inverness...? I love them- I left my purse there on Dec 23rd and they kept it for me to collect on Christmas Eve.... They were lovely to me

My local town has one Costa and one independent. The independent is award winning and friendly, Costa is always empty.

I don't see why people rave over chain places. You wouldn't catch me gushing over a particular petrol station.

You've got it addish, although DH and I are originally from Yorkshire. (The DD's have a full-on Dundonian accent, much to DH's sorrow.) We live in Broughty Ferry, which still has a lot of granny-cafes. Any of the chains are an improvement on those net-curtains and piss-weak drip coffee.

The one I was in this morning was under-staffed, but the man and woman on duty were not helping by being so damned chatty to each other while the queue built up and the orders were taken but the coffee not provided.

No response? Useless fuckers. Show them this thread

Sour milk? Gross there's a reason you can't stomach the smell of it.

My village suburb has two lovely independent places and a Coffee #1 (which is third choice but beats CN, Costa or - God forbid - Starbucks). Lucky me!

I like our local Caffe Nero because it opens at 8am, plays classical music only til 10 (this is chain-wide policy) and the coffee is excellent. Oh, and I enjoy seeing people's dogs there. I do use independents as well, but they open later, close earlier, and often have jarring music. The staff are always pleasant and work hard.

I don't like our local cafe Nero either, incredibly noisy and dirty, although it may have improved recently, I have been in since I got some kind of food poisoning from there 3 years ago on Christmas eve . Mince pie with cream, didn't taste quite right but stupidly ate it anyway. I was very ill.

*haven't

Humph. Still no reply from Caffe Nero.

Depends on the branch I think but better than Starbucks IMO

I dont get the attraction of these places either....i think they are soulless, overpriced and with no character, give me a quaint old fashioned tea shop anyday.

Yes they do need to get with the programme.
I like their coffee best out of all the chains. Sounds like a shit branch that is poorly managed. Our one in Essex is very pleasant.

Most chain coffee places are understaffed imo. The priority is to serve customers (as lots will be taking away) so cleaning only gets done in quiet moments. Also you would be amazed at how quickly the toilets go from clean and shiny to manky! The staff are basically going on full tilt all day, having got up at 5.30 to open.

In Nero the reason they ask your drinks order before they serve you is so they can start prepping it in advance (ie so they know if they need masses of foam for cappuccinos). Then they double check before they actually start making it.

[disclaimer - used to work at one! But not for years, shame if they are going downhill]