Coffee stalls on train station platforms

[Smowball]

I'm just curious as so how much rent they pay a month and can you actually buy one? Coffee stalls charge an absolute fortune!

[Psybbo]

Are you not going to tell us what the announcement was?

[Smowball]

Lol, sorry! There wasnt one! I asked him straight out that I had been expecting some announcement the night before and he said "Like what??". And no there wasnt one. So it was apparently just on a whim. Maybe he wants something lol

[Maydup]

Yes, tell us what the announcement was and whether you drank the second bottle of bubbly, and we'll tell you all we know about coffee stalls on station platforms. Pleeeeease!

[craft1948]

No I don't think you can buy one...................the one on York station is part of a nationwide franchise.

[Psybbo]

Aw, still the champagne and flowers were great.
Can't help with your question but you've answered mine thanks x

[DTCwordfan]

Isnt it Costalotofmoney who has most of the franchises - were part of the Whitbread Group

[Smowball]

Dont know, I was just having a talk last night to somebody about how the coffee was so expensive and yet always had such a big queue, was curious whether these were all owned by companies , franchises, or if individuals ever owned them

[craft1948]

lol DT yes it is Costa Coffee at York station...................Starbucks used to be there but they got slung out a couple of years ago.

[Smowball]

lol @ maidup/sibton. I sneak onto Business & Finance and you found me!

[mike11111]

Remember when British Rail used to have their own buffets on stations? Sandwiches God knows how old curling up at the edges under the glass dome.

[craft1948]

I do mike...................it was always full of old dossers late at night.

[DTCwordfan]

maidup and sibton are here to find out how many bottles of champagne you intend buying from the platform shop.....though I think that will be more the domain of platform M&Ss

[Maydup]

I think the rents are pretty high but the coffee stall owners (Costa or otherwise) always charge a premium because the have a captive audience. I find the prices seem to be worse at the smaller stations sometimes.

(Bad luck about the announcement - although I'm nbot sure what you were hoping it would be, but at least he brings goodies home with him)

[mike11111]

If I missed the last bus home from town on a cold winter's night there was nothing for it but to head for the all-night buffet on Newcastle Central Station until the first bus in the morning. You saw some sights there.

[DTCwordfan]

A mate of mine qualified as a solicitor - we went to the Times for the results and ended up in the Strand in no less than the Savoy. He had to leave for Paddington to get back to Oxford, change at Reading.

Totally "ploshed" he wakes up just as the train is pulling out of the station - in a panic and moving down as if to descend from the train, "Is this Reading?"

"No mate, that was Bristol Parkway, next stop is Newport"

So he ends up in Newport in the very wee hours of the morning and has to hang around for two hours to catch the train back to Reading and change for Oxford.

He falled asleep again and ended up back in Paddington............

[Smowball]

lol, DT that is so funny, tho not for your friend!

[DTCwordfan]

excuse my English, tripping upon the tenses of my verbs!

[dzug2]

Some smaller stations have independently run coffee stalls - you could find one near you that doesn't have one and set up in the station yard. I'm sure there will be a rent though