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Nick T



Member Since: 29 May 2011
Location: Bolton
Posts: 203

England 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Galway Green
New business
I dare say a few of you chaps eat the occasional bacon and egg barm (or whatever you may call a barm/roll/bap) and I'm after some feedback on what you pay and what you expect for your hard earned?

I am looking to open a seated cafe with a lot of passing trade and a nearby industrial estate. I would serve the usual breakfasts aswell as panini, salads and slow cooker foods. I think quality is paramount-but would you guys say cheap and cheerful is better?

I'm reckoning I should set a high quality standard, food should be enjoyed-but do people want to fill their bellies cheaply with crap?

The place and staff would be immaculatly clean-or would people prefer a greasy spoon?

All advise/comments welcome Thumbs Up
Post #103586 30th Nov 2011 6:13pm
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T1G UP



Member Since: 08 Dec 2009
Location: Bath
Posts: 3101

England 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Orkney Grey
i'd love a cafe.......cash everywhere!

depends on your competition and location really. also depends on the clientèle

but round here big breakfast with a cuppas £5
Post #103587 30th Nov 2011 6:15pm
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JSG



Member Since: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2412

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
I'd prefer clean and good quality food. Thumbs Up John

http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk

2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS
Post #103596 30th Nov 2011 6:26pm
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pom



Member Since: 01 Jun 2010
Location: Worcester
Posts: 1343

eastern euro watresses short skirts and 2 sizes too small shirts. Thumbs Up

Pom
Post #103599 30th Nov 2011 6:27pm
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JSG



Member Since: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2412

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
pom wrote:
eastern euro watresses short skirts and 2 sizes too small shirts. Thumbs Up

Pom


And what Pom said Laughing John

http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk

2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS
Post #103600 30th Nov 2011 6:28pm
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Nick T



Member Since: 29 May 2011
Location: Bolton
Posts: 203

England 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Galway Green
Pom-already sorted that Thumbs Up Thumbs Up Thumbs Up

I'm a bit of a cook on the sly (and a lot of an eater Shocked ) I'm hoping to make money out of a hobby Very Happy
Post #103606 30th Nov 2011 6:38pm
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twopoint6khz



Member Since: 18 Aug 2011
Location: North Lakes
Posts: 654

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Java Black
When I drove a delivery van I used to frequent a lot of transport caffs. In general you get what you pay for - i.e. if it's £1.99 for a 'full English' it's going to be low-grade sausages and tea with the teabag still in.

Personally I'd rather pay a wee bit more and get something palatable, but I doubt many truckers are looking for organic free-range meat, they just want something with a bit of taste for not too much dosh. All this you know already I'm sure.

What would be good is to have a) a short queue and b) do takeaway options, as I was always running behind schedule (bloody managers! Whistle ) and consequently had to down a lot of scalding hot tea before running for it. Barms etc are just the ticket, bacon/egg/sausage barm for £3ish and you'll have them queueing down the road.
Post #103611 30th Nov 2011 6:49pm
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DefenderOfTheEarth



Member Since: 09 Nov 2010
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1304

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Tonga Green
Serve decent coffee and the odd nice pastry/cake as well and you're sorted.

Decent bacon, nice free range eggs, cook in good oil, keep that cleanliness and charge a bit more IMO.

People will come from a long way for that kind of stuff - I used to when I was on the road a lot! Defender 110XS SW gone... now VW California 180 4 Motion.
Post #103612 30th Nov 2011 6:50pm
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twopoint6khz



Member Since: 18 Aug 2011
Location: North Lakes
Posts: 654

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Java Black
Oh and make sure you sell newspapers, cans of soft drinks, sweets and crisps on the side - the fewer stops the better!
Post #103614 30th Nov 2011 6:52pm
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BigMike



Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2253

United Kingdom 
I would say make it healthy food as well as the traditional dull stuff. This country is FULL of Censored like cafes selling crap quality, greasy food, stinking place, bad attitude. Be different and you'd get loads of PR.

A mate of mine runs a deli/cafe in Bolton (Horwich actually) and she does well with "proper" food rather than greasy spoon.
Post #103633 30th Nov 2011 7:46pm
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Nick T



Member Since: 29 May 2011
Location: Bolton
Posts: 203

England 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Galway Green
My buisiness partner runs a fat club-she's gelled up with nutrition etc, that is one of the angles that will be pushed Very Happy

Horwich-my home town Very Happy
Post #103635 30th Nov 2011 7:50pm
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22900013A



Member Since: 23 Dec 2010
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 3149

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Keswick Green
twopoint6khz wrote:
but I doubt many truckers are looking for organic free-range meat, they just want something with a bit of taste for not too much dosh. All this you know already I'm sure.


Definitely, especially when you consider how little we get paid! 2011 110 USW
1973 Series III 1-Ton
1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker
1969 IIA 1-Ton
1966 IIA 88"
Post #103638 30th Nov 2011 7:53pm
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kingofthesparks



Member Since: 06 Jan 2011
Location: Very close to Watford gap services , northants
Posts: 987

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Fuji White
Forum discount Whistle
Post #103648 30th Nov 2011 8:02pm
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
Depends what market you are after?

The industrial estate will likely have a mix of needs, from the cheap butty to the opportunity to deliver food for functions and events? We often ran training courses in our offices, and had to get deliveries of buffet-style food, along with the drinks and everything (even plastic cutlery) - usually paid at least £12/head...that MUST be profitable!
Sometimes we just couldn't get the local guys to do this so I used to order 10 pizzas from Domino's and several large bottles of fizzy drinks (sometimes almost £100).

If you do set up the business, I would certainly canvas the offices for buffet delivery (or even just a sandwich delivery service). For the buffets, you can get the ingredients the day before and prepare during the quieter parts of the morning (I guess 0700-0900 and then 1200-1400 are your busy times?).

Quote:
My buisiness partner runs a fat club-she's gelled up with nutrition etc, that is one of the angles that will be pushed



Yup - lots of money in fresh smoothies i bet... Thumbs Up MrsK seems to be quite happy spending £2.50 on a cup of some exotic friut smoothie (much to my annoyance...she should just buy an apple & an orange like the rest of us!). Anything with expensive imported blueberries seems to attract MrsK

DefenderOfTheEarth wrote:
Serve decent coffee and the odd nice pastry/cake as well and you're sorted.

Decent bacon, nice free range eggs, cook in good oil, keep that cleanliness and charge a bit more IMO.

People will come from a long way for that kind of stuff - I used to when I was on the road a lot!


Me too - especially when with the Mrs at the weekend

GOOD LUCK ! Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #103649 30th Nov 2011 8:04pm
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BigMike



Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2253

United Kingdom 
Nick T wrote:
My buisiness partner runs a fat club-she's gelled up with nutrition etc, that is one of the angles that will be pushed Very Happy

Horwich-my home town Very Happy


Ah go and check her out (the deli I mean Laughing ). It's called Thyme.
Post #103660 30th Nov 2011 8:29pm
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