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Independent vs chain coffee shops
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An experience today has me mulling over this again. I like to support independent, local businesses, rather than big chains. I can get Costa in bloody Spain now, FFS. So, I wanted to work from a café this morning, so I was positioned to go to the bank at lunchtime (not made it there yet!) Off I tootled in my manual wheelchair into the local shopping centre and into the independent coffee shop. Three problems. One, the only toilets are upstairs. Two, almost all the tables are bar stools/high tables with only low level, knee height tables otherwise. Three, no plug sockets. I bought a coffee, drank it and left while using my phone to do email/Teams.
Two or three shops along and I'm in Costa. The vile new soya milk means I'm on the green tea, but there's a wide choice of tables, sockets and two accessible toilets.
Yet, I feel guilty for not supporting the independent business. How can we support independent businesses to become more accessible, because this is a recurring theme. Not just coffee places, but restaurants, shops, bars etc. Big chains are almost always accessible, independents often are not, and it's frustrating. |
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Just give them some feedback, the independents need the trade and whilst it shouldn't be an issue for the one you used it clearly isn't right for all ..
If they take it on board they can address it for the future..  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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My local coffee shop when it first opened welcomed suggestions on how they could improve. A number of suggestions were put forward, sole presumably didn't go ahead but in a relatively short space of time they changed quite a bit based on suggestions made such as different milks, paper straws etc, whilst these points aren't in the same issue as some of the points you have raised they did listen and I'm sure any other local independent worth their salt would listen too as I would hazard a guess that any issues impacting you will also impact other customers too
Have a lovely day and I'm sorry you had to succumb to Costa |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Access is something I have dealt with previously. A local disability group helped in doing a QA of local businesses and how disability friendly they were. Not just mobility, hidden disabilities as well. Lots of local independent businesses took the feedback and adapted. Raising awareness is crucial. |
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I did ask about a downstairs loo and they just said there's not space. I go and speak to them.
It seems to be a massive issue for independent businesses across the board. I can't get into the local butcher, nor the newsagent or opticians (on a parade of shops a short push from home). I even struggle to get into the doctors because the push button access has been broken since at least February and not fixed. Unless someone is looking at the door when I arrive, I have to phone from the car park and ask someone to come outside, which is a faff and a pain in the neck when it's raining. |
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By *viatrixWoman
over a year ago
Redhill |
There is a Costa 3 doors down my mother’s house in Mexico  they’re bloody everywhere haha x
I know what you mean. In my case it’s something more menial- I am very fussy about coffee, -very- and somehow the chains get it right. When I go to independent shops and I clearly ask for NO MILK, they always put milk in, or they’re offended if I ask for sweetener and they want to bring me sugar crystals from the Atacama desert, etc- also I need a vat of coffee- the large in Costa or the Venti in Sbux are perfect- and in little cafes a 200ml cup is all they can offer. Nah.
Would love to support them but they don’t satisfy my needs…
P.S el café solo en España es pequeñitoooo como un espresso!  espero estes disfrutando, amiga! xx |
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"There is a Costa 3 doors down my mother’s house in Mexico they’re bloody everywhere haha x
I know what you mean. In my case it’s something more menial- I am very fussy about coffee, -very- and somehow the chains get it right. When I go to independent shops and I clearly ask for NO MILK, they always put milk in, or they’re offended if I ask for sweetener and they want to bring me sugar crystals from the Atacama desert, etc- also I need a vat of coffee- the large in Costa or the Venti in Sbux are perfect- and in little cafes a 200ml cup is all they can offer. Nah.
Would love to support them but they don’t satisfy my needs…
P.S el café solo en España es pequeñitoooo como un espresso! espero estes disfrutando, amiga! xx "
Sí, café solo español es diferente que aquí o en América del Sur. Pero mejor que aquí, no?!
I'm about to top up on green tea and take my leave of Costa |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Some independent coffee shops have the most arrogant staff working in them. Love to support those that are welcoming and friendly, but some don't do themselves any favours... |
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To be honest, accessibility is a problem even in a lot of the big chain stores where I am. Everything is so tightly packed together making most of the space difficult or impossible to get to if you're on sticks or wheels. |
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"To be honest, accessibility is a problem even in a lot of the big chain stores where I am. Everything is so tightly packed together making most of the space difficult or impossible to get to if you're on sticks or wheels. "
At least in this case, you can ask for things to be moved, if you've managed to get inside. And there's more likely to be an accessible loo. |
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That’s a real shame, they’re missing out on customers for things that aren’t difficult to resolve.
I’m taking a guess that part of the issue is, larger companies have policies in place that ensure accessibility is taken into consideration from day one. Plus they have money to adapt existing premises. Whereas perhaps many independents won’t even think and then setting up on a tighter budget may be reluctant to spend on what they see as being beyond the basics. Sadly not seen as standard even now.
Hope you find your perfect spot! |
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By *avie65Man
over a year ago
In the west. |
Could this be happening more often as the independent coffee shops don't have the money to operate from newer buildings or adapt, if they are allowed, the premises they are in.
Whatever the reason I think councils shouldn't allow hospitality business to operate from sites that can't accommodate everyone's needs. |
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By *avie65Man
over a year ago
In the west. |
"Could this be happening more often as the independent coffee shops don't have the money to operate from newer buildings or adapt, if they are allowed, the premises they are in.
Whatever the reason I think councils shouldn't allow hospitality business to operate from sites that can't accommodate everyone's needs. "
Ps, I'm currently in an independent that has access straight from the pavement and only one toilet that is wheelchair accessible, well I think it is but a wheelchair user may say different. |
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"Could this be happening more often as the independent coffee shops don't have the money to operate from newer buildings or adapt, if they are allowed, the premises they are in.
Whatever the reason I think councils shouldn't allow hospitality business to operate from sites that can't accommodate everyone's needs.
Ps, I'm currently in an independent that has access straight from the pavement and only one toilet that is wheelchair accessible, well I think it is but a wheelchair user may say different. "
Its not 100% of independent places that are unaccessible, but it is the case that independents are far more likely to be inaccessible compared to big chains. I'm sure it is to do with cost and suchlike but then councils should be able to fund such things. Some independent businesses just need inexpensive things like a basic folding ramp that might cost £120 but they don't even have that. That's when I get irritated because it's something so minor.
The one I mentioned yesterday is in a mall where everything is accessible from the ground floor but they've chosen to arrange their unit such that toilets are upstairs. The Costa unit is basically the same, just a bit bigger. The independent place could have installed a downstairs loo and better tables at little cost, if done when they first set up, but obviously they didn't think about it and the attitude from the staff was pretty much "this isn't something we're bothered about". |
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