Greggs at stations

[Bletchleyite]

In kind of related news (that doesn't justify a new thread) - I've noticed several WH Smiths at stations have replaced their Costa Coffee machines with Nescafe ones. The good news is the Nescafe is only £1 - probably the cheapest thing in WH Smith! The bad news is it's absolutely foul stuff!

That's a shame, as those Costa machines produce very good coffee - sometimes better than a manned Costa. I guess they have the self-cleaning function very well-designed, as bean to cup machines (especially the milk bit) getting mucky is the main thing that makes it taste foul.

I believe they also use proper milk (refrigerated) rather than that foul UHT muck.

Neil

 

[Darren R]

There's also one downstairs at Bradford Interchange. I can't say that I've noticed any difference in price between it and any other branch, but unlike most branches they still have a good selection of hot food available after 1pm!

Greggs is rubbish anyway though. I prefer Pound Bakery.

I can hear your taste buds groaning in disapproval!

 

[rg177]

York and Newcastle have Greggs on the station.

Since Newcastle has been refurbished, the Greggs is no longer there. Closest one is opposite the entrance, over the road.

 

[northern156]

Since Newcastle has been refurbished, the Greggs is no longer there. Closest one is opposite the entrance, over the road.

It was there just last week!!
Right at the foot of the footbridge on the concourse adjacent to plat 9 and 10...

Note the Neville Street Greggs is still there. I think it's something small like 5-10-15p more in the station itself than across the road.

 

[DelayRepay]

That's a shame, as those Costa machines produce very good coffee - sometimes better than a manned Costa. I guess they have the self-cleaning function very well-designed, as bean to cup machines (especially the milk bit) getting mucky is the main thing that makes it taste foul.

I agree, I also found it was usually a lot quicker to get coffee from those machines than having it made in a manned Costa.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Greggs is rubbish anyway though. I prefer Pound Bakery.

Indeed, can't go wrong with a baguette, Quavers and muffin for £2 from Pound Bakery. Never cared for Greggs, their pasties are at best mediocre and at worst unfit for human consumption. Their breakfast deal isn't too bad mind.

 

[Mugby]

York doesn't?

I'm sure it doesn't. I would have found it if there was one!

 

[driver_m]

Is that (and VAT) the reason why they have threatening signs saying "don't you dare eat in"? This strikes me as rather stupid, I think they should give you the option of paying the VAT if you wish to eat in.

Neil

The Gregg's I've come across in brum and London have also got 'eat in' prices that are dearer. Where have you seen that?

 

[Chrisgr31]

And at London Bridge (behind Upper Crust, by M&S, on the terminating trains' concourse). Both these London Breadbox outlets charge £1 for basic hot drinks (tea, non-fancy coffee etc.) and about £1.50 for things like lattes, as far as I remember. The coffee isn't bad for the money, though in terms of quality, I prefer their pastries, which are surprisingly good and can be added to the price of some hot drinks for a matter of only 50p, or thereabouts.

I cant recall that unit in London Bride having reasonable prices. In fact nothing near London Bridge has reasonable prices either, particularly since the frid chicken place in the arches went.

 

[Flamingo]

There's a bakery in Temple Meads in Bristol that charges £3 for a sausage roll! Astronomical prices!

A Greggs would be great to be fair.

The cafe out by the taxi rank is much better value.

 

[tsr]

I cant recall that unit in London Bride having reasonable prices. In fact nothing near London Bridge has reasonable prices either, particularly since the frid chicken place in the arches went.

Don't confuse it with the Delice de France next to it (and which shares some staff and even, it seems, products), which is anything but reasonable, from what I've found. The London Victoria Breadbox somehow produces rather superior coffee than the London Bridge one, but either seem OK. I won't really argue with £1.50 for a latte when everywhere in the immediate area charges almost twice that. That said, I do hope they haven't put their prices up!

 

[DelayRepay]

The Gregg's I've come across in brum and London have also got 'eat in' prices that are dearer. Where have you seen that?

The Greggs at Toddington Services Northbound has the notice strictly prohibiting eating in - I assume to make sure people who want to eat in go to the more expensive outlets. They also have no tables or chairs so I doubt many would want to dine in anyway!

 

[Hyphen]

The Gregg's I've come across in brum and London have also got 'eat in' prices that are dearer. Where have you seen that?

Same, perhaps it's a more recent policy (after the "pasty tax" debacle)? I don't recall seeing those prices in the past, but they definitely show them now.

I even see the "eat in" prices listed in locations where it would be all but impossible to eat actually inside the shop (where it's literally all but a kiosk, and any queues have to extend outside).

That said, I was always amazed at the popularity of the Greggs Cafe in Chesterfield when I lived there. Never come across another.

 

[Kite159]

Isn't there one hiding somewhere at Reading station, they have pretty much everything else?

 

[deep south]

Isn't the higher price for eat in due to the requirement to charge - and account for - VAT?

 

[Bletchleyite]

The Gregg's I've come across in brum and London have also got 'eat in' prices that are dearer. Where have you seen that?

Motorway services - I think at every one I've seen a Greggs.

Perhaps the Greggs is just renting space rather than being operated as a concession, and won't pay for the use of the seating area?

Neil
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Isn't the higher price for eat in due to the requirement to charge - and account for - VAT?

I believe so, yes. Though companies can absorb it if they want - typically Subway do. (Though the majority of sandwiches are sold toasted, so it's only a few that wouldn't be subject to VAT, so I suspect they just charge it anyway and keep it if not toasted).

Neil

 

[Stats]

It was there just last week!!
Right at the foot of the footbridge on the concourse adjacent to plat 9 and 10...

Note the Neville Street Greggs is still there. I think it's something small like 5-10-15p more in the station itself than across the road.

You're imagining things. The kiosks at the foot of the stairs were removed as part of the refurbishment.

 

[johntea]

I was stunned at the price for a sausage roll in Greggs these days - Not only did it seem smaller it was 90p I seem to recall!

I remember the days when you could get 3 of them for £1.15 or something like that!

Is there still that Greggs 'outlet shop' just outside the main centre of Newcastle (walking distance) that flogs the stuff that is just about to go out of date quite cheaply?

 

[Iskra]

That's a shame, as those Costa machines produce very good coffee - sometimes better than a manned Costa. I guess they have the self-cleaning function very well-designed, as bean to cup machines (especially the milk bit) getting mucky is the main thing that makes it taste foul.

I believe they also use proper milk (refrigerated) rather than that foul UHT muck.

Neil

There's no self-cleaning function, they are cleaned manually, although the milk will be changed regularly. Also the Costa machines are inspected regularly by Costa themselves to make sure they're up to standard.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I was stunned at the price for a sausage roll in Greggs these days - Not only did it seem smaller it was 90p I seem to recall!

I remember the days when you could get 3 of them for £1.15 or something like that!

Is there still that Greggs 'outlet shop' just outside the main centre of Newcastle (walking distance) that flogs the stuff that is just about to go out of date quite cheaply?

A sausage roll was 47p when I started uni in 2008. It shocks me what they are now everytime I get one!

The greggs 'no eating in' signs are about VAT for those speculating.

 

[HowardGWR]

Who are greggs or Greggs? Never heard of them. Is this a northern outfit?

 

[Cletus]

50 posts in next to no time just about a bakers!

I thought that Greggs were everywhere?
There's one in Dover which is quite a way south.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Who are greggs or Greggs? Never heard of them. Is this a northern outfit?

Not absolutely certain, but I think they are North east (Newcastle) based.

 

[Chrisgr31]

Don't confuse it with the Delice de France next to it (and which shares some staff and even, it seems, products), which is anything but reasonable, from what I've found. The London Victoria Breadbox somehow produces rather superior coffee than the London Bridge one, but either seem OK. I won't really argue with £1.50 for a latte when everywhere in the immediate area charges almost twice that. That said, I do hope they haven't put their prices up!

I will have to investigate further. I have never noticed the coffee prices, usually am looking for something to eat in the evening as am peckish as running late. I always thought it was a conspiracy by my wife to stop me eating and not sticking to her diet!

 

[Flamingo]

Who are greggs or Greggs? Never heard of them. Is this a northern outfit?

I didn't know you were a High Court Judge!

 

[tsr]

I will have to investigate further. I have never noticed the coffee prices, usually am looking for something to eat in the evening as am peckish as running late. I always thought it was a conspiracy by my wife to stop me eating and not sticking to her diet!

To be honest their sandwiches don't look terribly appealing, but I'm not particularly interested in acquiring those from Breadbox so I don't really bother looking any further at them. Their drinks and pastries are fine if you need to just warm up after hanging around on a cold platform (as I have a need to do), though!

Back on topic, I rarely see Greggs shops on the actual concourses of most major stations in the South of England, but if the town centre or suchlike is very nearby, they never seem to be anything other than 5 minutes or less from the entrance. I suspect, as above, that this is a reasonable compromise for the benefit of the business. For example, you'd never see the one in Redhill if you didn't walk out of the station, but it's a couple of minutes (at most) down Station Road, and you often see their packaging around the station, so it's obvious the two are both used in tandem quite a bit!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Sorry but Pound Bakery is vile. The clue is in the name! Awful stuff.

At least it's hot... If you think Greggs is much better that strikes me as terribly naive!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Don't confuse it with the Delice de France next to it (and which shares some staff and even, it seems, products), which is anything but reasonable, from what I've found. The London Victoria Breadbox somehow produces rather superior coffee than the London Bridge one, but either seem OK. I won't really argue with £1.50 for a latte when everywhere in the immediate area charges almost twice that. That said, I do hope they haven't put their prices up!

Indeed that was my point mentioning Motorway services. In my younger days I had a summer job at Taunton Deane services on the M5, never knew from one day to the next if I'd be working Costa; Wimpy; petrol station or the main cafe area. I think SSP run in similar ways at large stations.

 

[HowardGWR]

Never heard of Pound bakery either. Still, 'let them eat cake' I suppose. I have heard of Mcdonalds, Krispy Kreme, KFC, but never been anywhere near them.

 

[alexl92]

Never heard of Pound bakery either. Still, 'let them eat cake' I suppose. I have heard of Mcdonalds, Krispy Kreme, KFC, but never been anywhere near them.

Don't ever go near KFC. I've been subjected to two in the past 4 months after not having it for a good 7 years - it's still as disgusting as it ever was.

 

[anti-pacer]

At least it's hot... If you think Greggs is much better that strikes me as terribly naive!.

I don't eat pasties from Greggs either, but have tried Pound Bakery in Leigh, Swinton, Salford and Wakefield, and they were all crap.

 

[Aldaniti]

Greggs sausage rolls, mmmm, I can see all that pink fatty slurry oozing out of one now. The chain bakeries (and probably the supermarkets) are, in my experience, rarely good when it comes to savoury products. Pound Bakery really isn't going to be good quality ingredients, OK if you're on a tight budget and struggling to feed yourself I suppose, but if you care about what's in your food, not to mention your long term health, I'd go elsewhere. If I really have to get something on the move, I'll find what looks like a decent chip shop and have a bag of chips. Nothing better!