To tell you not to go to Costa coffee in the Trafford centre

[CharityBurbag]

We decided to stop for a little coffee pick me up in the Costa coffee in next at the Trafford centre yesterday.

Mum went to order and I got a table. Every table was covered in cups and plates and used tissues. I managed to find a fairly clean one and sat down.

To be clear it was open!

Then I noticed a lot of staff on the left hand side of the shop all looking at something under one of the booths and trying to get sorting into a cup.

I heard them say 'I don't think that's a mouse I think that's a rat I saw it on one of the tables back there and then it ran under here' and then they closed the coffee shop to try and catch the rat

They must have managed to catch it as it was back open and serving food about an hour later 🤢

Just go somewhere else if you find yourself in next and fancy a coffee!

Yes we were being unreasonable to go into a Costa inside a next and expect a good coffee but we didn't expect it to come with a side of large mouse / rat

They're everywhere OP, especially in big cities.

When I worked retail, one of my jobs used to be getting rid of the rubbish - we used to have to kick the bins to get them to run off before we opened the lids!

OMG I'm always in there when I shop there.I would seriously die if I seen that.Time to find a new pit stop.

When I lived in Manchester as a young woman I had a rat that hung out in my oven. I used the same kick and wait method when I wanted to make my tea.

Don't go on the London Underground, Op! I've seen some huge Rats there.

I once pointed out an enormous one and a woman stood near us on the platform, screamed and fainted!

Probably best not go anywhere, ever.

At least this place dealt with it swiftly.

I worked in a shopping centre and had to report a sandwich shop to environmental health because they were rife with them and did nothing about it, I saw them scuttling along counter tops and all sorts.

Go to any supermarket carpark or shopping centre at 3am, you’ll see so many rats 😬 they’re everywhere

They are absolutely everywhere. When I went to Disney Paris years ago they were running everywhere near the food area, you could sit outside and watch them going backwards and forwards. They can get through any small space, climb, jump and swim. It's inevitable they will occasionally get into shops and cafes -doesn't mean it's an infestation. Wouldn't bother me personally, but I have horses so see them all the time. I even had one run up my leg and back down again.

I boycott Costa anyway because they glorify breast binding and mutilation. So they can have all the rats they want as far as I’m concerned :)

I realise that’s not helpful for people who choose to give Costa their money, though.

No, you wouldn't

A healthy mouse/ rat sure. One with internal bleeding as it’s been feeding at the bait station is much slower and less likely to flee. We had an issue at work and once the poison went down they were much more visible for a week or so.

@KobraChick @CharityBurbag

this is why it's unfair to single out one place. These centres are rife with them, it's not down to Costa.

it's also what makes me laugh when people get all airated over kids shoes in supermarket trollies. there are rats, foxes, birds in/on them all the time, they're not clean.

I saw one in Bristol Cabot Circus Starbucks. It's a common problem.

Loads of rats in shopping malls especially the food courts - it's warm, cosy and has a running buffet for them.

If there is an infestation the store needs to be closed. If you see one there are many more nearby.

There will also be rat faeces and urine.

They're in all shopping centers and grocery stores at times. Traps fail and they find new ways in.
The fact they couldn't tell if it was a mouse or rat means it was likely an tiny one. Proper rats are huge especially if eating in a food court!

It takes weeks to confirm they're properly cleared, and can take multiple attempts to even be successful. Stores always open when they have them and just get rentokill etc in after hours.
If places shut every time a new one got in they'd barely be open.

There shouldn't be rats in places where you eat.

you were being unreasonable to go into a Costa inside a next and expect a good coffee.
with or without a rat.
inside a next or not.

YABU. They shut the shop while they dealt with the problem.

The manager should have closed the shop immediately and called in the pest control. Them the shop should be deep cleaned before reopening. You should report to environmental health

This is probably more likely to make me go to Costa, their coffee is garbage and their prices are ridiculous 😂

It was probably a large mouse tbh. you couldn’t catch a live rat with all its faculties in a coffee cup.

That is gross. It's true that rats are all around where there's food. But to hear them talking about one running over the tables. And trying to catch it?! Surely that's not part of their training, it'd a diseased wild animal fgs, you're not meant to be a bloody rat catcher, you're a barista!
I saw a mouse in KFC once and I couldn't use the chain at all for several years. I don't eat it now but mainly cos I don't like the taste now.
The pest issue probably goes beyond that one establishment though. I guess all you can do is check reviews and hygiene ratings.

In our business we take all possible steps but we're in London by the Thames, we have no control over what happens outside, or even next door in the same building so sometimes there's mice.

We have a pest control contract, we follow all advice and regularly deep clean, this is all you can do as a business and all you can hope for as a customer. What the HSE mostly looks at, rather than the actual presence of vermin, is what you're doing about them.

I opened the door of Nandos Euston last week and a mouse ran out and over my feet 😂 had to order my Fino Pitta though. Mice/Rats are everywhere we just don’t usually see them.

Poor rat - just minding its own business and doing its rat stuff, and people get up in arms about it. It's harmless!