This was expensive?

[constantnc]

Local garden center..

2 toasted sandwiches with tiny side salad. The sandwich consisted of 2 pieces of bread with meat/cheese.
2 teas
1 fruit tea
£32 😬 for a quick bite to eat...

That’s a lot. I recently paid nearly £8 for a cup of black coffee and one over microwaved scone, which could have been used as a hockey puck. I thought that was too much! This was a farm shop.
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£32 is a lot. I’m guessing the sandwiches were £10 each and the teas £4 each. If the sandwiches were bakery made panini/sourdough, the cheese and ham were from local farms, and the teas came in a pot where you got 1.5-2 cups, I can see how it got to £32 and I probably wouldn’t resent that too much. If it was cheap white bread, a plastic cheese slice and a thin layer of watery moulded ham then I’d be cross. That said, garden centres tend to be expensive and high quality, and their food tends to be home cooked and really nice.

Maybe because they wanted a meal out that they didn't have to make themselves?! Why do people USUALLY go out?

The only problem is that Wetherspoons are the most depressing places on earth. The one near me is half full of lonely day drinkers and alcoholics.

I've generally found that many a good garden centre cafe does the inevitable refurb/extend and with it prices rocket and quality stumbles a bit. Greed, of course. That's usually our cue to stop going there and find somewhere else - which is a bit of a law of diminishing returns in itself, of course.

However, the biggest garden centre near to us ("The biggest in the South" and close to the M3 J3, some of you know where I mean) has extended its cafe and their pot of tea for two is £4.50 and a toastie is about £8. Yes, I know MNers expect those prices to be a tenth of that but we think its a good price and good value these days. Frankly any sit down lunch out is £20 for two, but £32 is a joke - it's a sandwich and tea, doesn't warrant that.

(If Longacres want to send me a free voucher for £500 could they please note that I am completely bribable and corruptable. Thanks)

I think everyone understands that there are so many costs that must be accommodated, but there is a tipping point beyond which people just can’t afford to patronise those establishments any more. In the end, it will be a question of the delicate balance between staying in business or folding. People will prioritise household expenses, weekly food shop, council tax, car expenses and everything that goes with maintains family life.

Not at all...mine is full of couples...young families and older people...its also in a beautiful old historic building right in the town centre.
What a shame you have such a narrow minded view.

Not read FT but they are charging so much because their costs including labour and tax have increased greatly. One cannot look at a paper without seeing an article about how this or that butcher, baker , pub or retailer is closing because they cannot make a profit now - some are also bankrupt and owing large amounts.

Last year I went to a craft fair, and in the basement they had a whole secondary food fair thing happening. Onion bhajis and samosas as big as your fist, bulging home made pies, exotic smoked meats - you get the idea. It was incredible!

Anyway, there was table after table of people stuffing down jacket potatoes with cheese and beans. Some of the more daring ones had tuna mayo. I felt pity for them tbh.

I've found garden centre cafes to be over priced, not much choice so of having lunch out will go somewhere else. Xx

I bought 4 coffees, 2 milkshakes and 1 toasted cheese sandwich at the weekend and it cost £42....for a round of soft / hot drinks and one sandwich.

Maybe next time you and your buddy can hang out at the local park with a flask of whiskey or a few cans of beer because you don’t want to pay to drink in a pub.

Depends on the garden centre, but it sounds about right. There seems be nowhere reasonable (that's good) these days.

I wouldn't pay that.

Sometimes it is better to find a Weatherspoons / buy a sandwich in a supermarket / take a packed lunch & a thermos (which can be quite vintage).

I’ll make you a big teapot of Yorkshire tea @constantnc with as much sugar and milk you want. And a big fat toastie, full of cheese and ham. And throw in and homemade brownie. For a fiver. Gorgeous Persian cat on your lap, free of charge, but on condition that he has a bit of cheese, ham, and leftover milk.

Seriously, prices are bonkers. Our local garden centre does afternoon tea for £30 p.h. Fruit scone, pot of jam, pat of butter, cup of cheap tea, not even a pot, choice of either two small sausage rolls or a round of ham or cheese sandwiches. A flapjack or brownie. Last year they offered far more for twenty quid.

F#cking scandalous. How can places possibly think charges like these are acceptable and realistic?

Oh of course!! Don’t you?! I take a cheese sandwich and a hip flask to my local Michelin starred restaurant - no way am I paying those prices!! Sometimes I bring a potato and ask them to put it in the oven for me (why not, the oven is on anyway), bring my own toppings though as don’t want to seem cheeky.

Sounds revolting

I don’t at all. That has been my experience. Be grateful you have easy access to superior Wetherspoons.

🙄

Our local garden centre is wild.
Sandwich £11.
Spud £11.50
Bit of cake £4.50
Tea/coffee £4.00
Breakfast £14 plus more for toast plus the cost of a drink.

Ooh that sounds fantastic apart from the ham but the cat can have that. When shall I come?

I live by one like that. It’s like an old folks home in the cafe- which is totally packed from 9am onwards. My inheritance is being spent here as my parents visit 3x per week 🫣

Just checked with Chairman Meow, cos naturally he’s the boss of this house. He says whenever you like, but he’s insisting on Dreamies, after your ham which he is very grateful for. Says he will offer an extra pudding for you. Only if you give him tummy rubs too.🐈

Lol I'm sure cats are addicted to Dreamies. One of mine broke into the shopping while I was sorting it to get to the dreamies