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Greggs in Manchester Victoria.

yorksrob

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This is why local shops have been done so much damage by Tesco Express etc. The problem is that almost every independent local shop is expensive and poorly-stocked. If they weren't, the mini-supermarkets may not have taken off.

To be honest, I don't find the small chain supermarkets much better stocked either so tend to avoid them. I went into one the other day in Leeds and they didn't even have any parmesan cheese ! (Well, only the fresh stuff, and that's no use to me).

A small proper supermarket and an M&S Food are to me absolute minimum requirements for any major city station. It needs both like Piccadilly has.

It is a crying shame that the M&S didn't survive, but hardly surprising if it was constantly pilfered.
 
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Geeves

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Has anyone ever bought one of those £5 cupcakes from the stalls on the concourse? I’d have to be desperate to pay that much.
A pay day extravagance only but to be fair they are very nice. The portions are very large and very sweet. It's really the equivalent of two regular cakes!
 

RHolmes

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Has anyone ever bought one of those £5 cupcakes from the stalls on the concourse? I’d have to be desperate to pay that much.
I have on a few occasions.

Batch’d (the stall) doesn’t actually produce any of the products, they’re the equivalent of a food court in that they own the stall, but all the items sold are produced by independent food stalls/markets/stores.

The price is comparable to independent bakery’s and markets such as the makers market that specialise in artisan sweet treats, the higher cost reflecting the ingredients used being branded products such as Nutella, Kinder and Fererro Rocher

A small proper supermarket and an M&S Food are to me absolute minimum requirements for any major city station. It needs both like Piccadilly has.
It has Co-op outside on near Balloon St and the large city centre M&S is a five minute walk away
 

sprunt

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The problem is that almost every independent local shop is expensive and poorly-stocked. If they weren't, the mini-supermarkets may not have taken off.

More so outside big cities I'd say - when I lived in London the marvellous Lewisham Food Centre at the end of my street was head and shoulders above any of the mini-supermarkets.
 

Bletchleyite

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More so outside big cities I'd say - when I lived in London the marvellous Lewisham Food Centre at the end of my street was head and shoulders above any of the mini-supermarkets.

Those are good at specialist stuff but like your average Polski Sklep don't replace a normal British supermarket unless you're specifically wanting a non-British shop (e.g. halal meat and a load of rice and spices, and maybe a bottle of lassi). But yes, they're different from a classic corner shop or similar.

Back on topic, would one of those be useful at a station? Other than perhaps at Southall where there's a specific demand for that sort of shop, a resounding "no" - I'd rather a Sainsbury's Local or similar.
 

Trackman

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More so outside big cities I'd say - when I lived in London the marvellous Lewisham Food Centre at the end of my street was head and shoulders above any of the mini-supermarkets.
Been there many a time! 'Spoons is not far away and near where Mrs T has her nail done lol.
I'm sure there are more than one fishmongers on Lewisham high street which you don't see these days.
The outdoor market there is good too.
It also boasts large excellent independent DIY shops (just up the road from the food centre), I went in for something on a half chance and they had it! I was in and out in 2 minutes!
 

Llandudno

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Those are good at specialist stuff but like your average Polski Sklep don't replace a normal British supermarket unless you're specifically wanting a non-British shop (e.g. halal meat and a load of rice and spices, and maybe a bottle of lassi). But yes, they're different from a classic corner shop or similar.

Back on topic, would one of those be useful at a station? Other than perhaps at Southall where there's a specific demand for that sort of shop, a resounding "no" - I'd rather a Sainsbury's Local or similar.
The Polish shops are handy for some interesting cans of Polish lager and some unusual flavours of crisps!

There is a particularly good one on Brook Street not too far from Chester station!
 

oxfordray1

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Just as an update (as of 18:55 tonight) Greggs in Manchester Victoria station has reopened. From a cursory glance, there is no change to the layout.
 

Travelmonkey

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Good news if I need a steak bake on any journeys that end then, sometimes it's convenience that pushes a in station purchasing, you cannot rely on on train catering I know I was left coffeeless by GWR in December due to a urn issue.
 

Llandudno

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Just as an update (as of 18:55 tonight) Greggs in Manchester Victoria station has reopened. From a cursory glance, there is no change to the layout.
Presumably at inflated station pricing, unlike the one fractionally outside the station at Piccadilly which is normal Gregg’s pricing?
 

GoneSouth

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Presumably at inflated station pricing, unlike the one fractionally outside the station at Piccadilly which is normal Gregg’s pricing?
How inflated are the prices? Do you have any specific examples.

I made the mistake of buying a drink from the Starbucks in temple meads yesterday, I couldn’t believe it when they said a small Mocha was almost a five!

I won’t be making that mistake again, taking drinks with me from now on!
 

LNW-GW Joint

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Good news if I need a steak bake on any journeys that end then, sometimes it's convenience that pushes a in station purchasing, you cannot rely on on train catering I know I was left coffeeless by GWR in December due to a urn issue.
No soup or sausage rolls at mid-day yesterday.
So not completely satisfactory. ;)

Prices are (or were) better than the SSP lot.
I also noticed yesterday that what used to be the (SSP) Pumpkin at Crewe is now branded "Cafe Local" and refused my old loyalty cards.
Has that chain been rebranded/bought out?
 

Mcr Warrior

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I also noticed yesterday that what used to be the (SSP) Pumpkin at Crewe is now branded "Cafe Local" and refused my old loyalty cards.
Has that chain been rebranded/bought out?
Café Local is just yet another sub-brand of the SSP Group, isn't it?
 

RHolmes

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How inflated are the prices? Do you have any specific examples.

I made the mistake of buying a drink from the Starbucks in temple meads yesterday, I couldn’t believe it when they said a small Mocha was almost a five!

I won’t be making that mistake again, taking drinks with me from now on!

Average item is about 30p more, including the ‘meal deal’ style options they do
 

185

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Café Local is just yet another sub-brand of the SSP Group, isn't it?
Yes - it's the new brand for the same thing, formerly Pumpkin et al. Quote, SSP: The development of the Café Local proposition reflected the unique requirements of regional railway stations, where there are often limited outlets for passengers and staff to shop.

Haha.. NO. Most staff won't going there at Crewe, you'd have to be mad. Subway & Greggs 100m from the station, Lidl is a 3 minute walk if you know the way. Tesco 2 minutes, McDonalds is 4 mins.
 
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ServerHoster

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How inflated are the prices? Do you have any specific examples.
About 20% extra, a normal sausage roll is £1.20 but at the Manchester Airport Greggs it’s £1.45. Even if it’s inflated, I still go to Greggs at the airport as it’s still cheaper than all the other places.
 

Birkonian

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If it's an SSP franchise then I'm surprised it's so busy as they are more expensive than the regular Greggs and even the regular Greggs is getting a bit pricey these days especially given the quality or lack thereof, honestly can we not have local good quality outlets at stations anymore instead of endless branded outlets and large chains serving mass produced crap at highly controversial prices? My same complaint applies to motorway services and goodness only knows how many other outlets and locations
I avoid Greggs. Very bland food which is presumably why they do so well. Local/regional pie shops are much better.
 
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I avoid Greggs. Very bland food which is presumably why they do so well. Local/regional pie shops are much better.
I agree with you, Bury market has excellent pies and Hot pots- Which the old[ Good life]shop on the station used to sell. However Greggs is all there is that's half descent on the Station.
 

jkkne

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The Greggs isn’t a franchise, it’s a main chain but does operate at travel hub pricing
 

johntea

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As a born and bred Northerner I had to do a double take a couple of years ago when I suddenly noticed a Greggs had popped up at London Kings Cross :D

Pret seem to have the bigger monopoly 'down south' although I must admit I've never tried one!
 

GoneSouth

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Pret seem to have the bigger monopoly 'down south' although I must admit I've never tried one!
I wouldn’t bother, overpriced terrible sandwiches with the bare minimum of filling.

If you got a decent amount of filling for your money it would be fine but you are essentially paying for bread and a salad leaf garnish. No substance whatsoever
 

Blindtraveler

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I would say that the limited filling and bread comment applies to the last Greggs sandwich I had the misfortunate of eating as well, some of the supermarkets sandwiches are just 100 times better although again you have to be selective and know what you're doing to get the best out of them

This will probably be considered as swearing and piracy on here but up acrust are the most generous on their filling in my recent experience
 

Llandudno

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I would say that the limited filling and bread comment applies to the last Greggs sandwich I had the misfortunate of eating as well, some of the supermarkets sandwiches are just 100 times better although again you have to be selective and know what you're doing to get the best out of them

This will probably be considered as swearing and piracy on here but up acrust are the most generous on their filling in my recent experience
At least a Gregg’s sandwich is half the price of a Pret one!
 

trainophile

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Whenever I’ve tried a Greggs sandwich it’s been dry and uninspiring. Best thing from there is the hot (well warm) spicy wedges. Cheap and very filling.
 

holl1984

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14 Jan 2014
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My poor son last week was coming to an event with us at the arena last week (young voices to watch his brother) and due to an afterschool detention, didn’t get home till after we needed to leave so we had no time for a maccies for him on the way (he’s 11 so no judgement over the maccies!) Remembered there was a greggs at Victoria and thought I’d be saved but alas it was closed.

Ended up having to get him some nachos coz he was starving from inside the arena…for nachos and one drink it was £13.95! I was practically in tears. And worst of all, I was thirsty too but he chose bloomin Fanta so we couldn’t even share!

So please spare a thought when you moan about paying £1.45 for a travel hub price inflated sausage roll!
 

Athe

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On a very loose connection - the Greggs outside Piccadilly was shut today. Shutters down, no notices though. Does anyone know if this is a refurb?

You’d think they’d put prominent notices up as the other half of me thinks do they have a pest problem!
 

507 001

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Apparently the Victoria Greggs has applied for a new license to allow it to open for even longer.
 

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