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Post by seanmac86 on Jan 9, 2013 14:37:47 GMT
Has lost its lease at the station and gone to a chain instead, gutting to see as they are lovely folk that work there and it was nice to have an old traditional cafe at a station. Southern railway showing there shocking stances as always
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2013 8:23:11 GMT
terrible I think they tried to get rid of them before but gave in to public pressure perhaps we should all let southern know what we think o these plans
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Post by Sonna on Jan 10, 2013 13:29:17 GMT
I can understand the sentiment with this cafe. It was there for years. But whats so wrong with something new in its place? I've seen the uproar about it on Twitter. Just shows that Lewes is still completely frightened of change. Too many nimbys. Sorry.
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Post by seanmac86 on Jan 10, 2013 15:00:17 GMT
disagree it shows how independent companies are bullied out, there was a huge petition to keep the cafe southern ignored its customers and put in a chain company.
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Post by Sonna on Jan 10, 2013 19:04:52 GMT
The Flying Coffee Bean are a 'chain' yes... but they only have 3 cafe's in total. Hardly on the same sort of scale as Starbucks or Costa.
I would disagree that the Runaway were bullied out. A lease extension wasn't offered. Quite different.
Coffee is coffee is coffee at the end of the day, wether its served from one person or another.
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spur
Isthmian South
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Post by spur on Jan 10, 2013 19:25:49 GMT
I can understand the sentiment with this cafe. It was there for years. But whats so wrong with something new in its place? I've seen the uproar about it on Twitter. Just shows that Lewes is still completely frightened of change. Too many nimbys. Sorry. That's a mindless comment, in my view. What's Not In My Backyard got to do with it? The cafe is going to be in the station's 'backyard' whoever runs it. As for 'frightened of change', that's another tired old cliche. If we like what we've got, why not fight to keep it? People who have a knee-jerk welcoming of change for change's sake are likely to get some very nasty surprises indeed. A sad day, I reckon.
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Post by Sonna on Jan 10, 2013 21:15:04 GMT
Mindless? I'm confused as to why one has come to that conclusion. It's a cafe at a train station. Firstly, it's somewhere you would need a ticket to gain access to. So not really somewhere where you'd take your old dear to for tea and biccies unless you were going to treat her to a day out in Eastbourne. And secondly, it's somewhere where a patron would probably spend half an hour at most waiting to catch a train/connection. Or to grab a coffee in the morning and then wait on the platform drinking it. I fail to see what the Runaway cafe offers that another one in its place couldn't.
I don't like change for changes sake. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But it's a cafe. Not a post office or grocery store or children's heart unit etc. that's being shut down or use changed.
The saddest thing is the fact that people are going to lose jobs. Unless the new business offers roles to current staff (to which they'll probably receive a middle finger).
The reaction has been blown way out of proportion really hasn't it. I'm sure the new place will do just as nice a beverage.
We've had this whole 'hoo ha' before with the Lewes Arms. I'm not a huge fan of Greene King but it didn't stop me from drinking there. I got over it.
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Post by seanmac86 on Jan 11, 2013 2:00:29 GMT
The Flying Coffee Bean are a 'chain' yes... but they only have 3 cafe's in total. Hardly on the same sort of scale as Starbucks or Costa. I would disagree that the Runaway were bullied out. A lease extension wasn't offered. Quite different. Coffee is coffee is coffee at the end of the day, wether its served from one person or another. the flying coffee bean are a chain look at there parent company
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Post by Sonna on Jan 11, 2013 13:29:40 GMT
It's not something I'm going to research too in depth.
I agree it wasn't necessary for Southern Rail to do this. But perhaps they're going to generate more income from the lease by giving it to the FCB. Cut throat world and all that jazz.
It's never nice to see an established and well regarded trade or institute move on (Rons, music library, various pubs in recent memory (Prince of Wales, Fruiterers, Pewter Pot, Windmill), the news agents down the Cliffe (the list goes on and on), all for whatever reasons. Nothing lasts forever. The Runaway had a very good innings. What's wrong with something new and fresh?
Lewes FC becoming a community club might not be everyones favorite flavor??
I'm not looking to get into a debate about it. This is just my opinion on the matter. I don't expect anyone to agree with my take on things.
BTW I don't work for Southern Rail nor the FCB. Just in case anybody was wondering...
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Post by davidarnold1 on Jan 11, 2013 21:30:27 GMT
Interesting little debate this. I signed the petition to keep the Runaway but I would have to confess that though I go to London on the train maybe only a dozen times a year these days, I can think of only two occasions I had time to use the Runaway, pleasant though those times were. Just for a can of beer, to my shame. I would have to say that Sonna hit on it - it's a cafe on a platform that's not accessible to the general public. Maybe the Runaway should have been marketed with more imagination (although it would have needed the landlord's agreement). For example, brought back cheap or even token Platform Tickets that enabled folk seeing off friends etc to get down to the platform and be there in a nice environment with refreshments (ie. the Runaway) until the relevant train came in. Quite a lot of people who visit me in Lewes come by train and I see them off quite often after frantic dashes from pubs up the hill when we cut it too fine. On other occasions the train is late and we hang about on a cold platform in limbo. OK - Lewes. Also - it's a shame nobody does trainspotting anymore. All gone with the steam engines and pullmans. We spotters of half a century or so ago always needed refreshments!
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Post by pj on Jan 15, 2013 20:17:59 GMT
The successful tendering company has pulled out of taking over the Runaway. They say it is due to intimidation. Some idiots had threatened to picket the place and their other outlets. Some will undoubtedly see this as a victory but it probably just opens the door for Costas or something similar. Maybe even the truly awful Lemon Tree
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Post by Sonna on Jan 16, 2013 14:23:05 GMT
Latest from the Southern Trains website... www.southernrailway.com/southern/news/lewes-station-cafe"Southern will no longer be proceeding to negotiate a lease for the Lewes station cafe with the Flying Coffee Bean. Following concerns expressed about intimidation towards his business and his local staff, the owner has decided to withdraw his offer.
Flying Coffee Bean owner, Barny Clevely said: “There appears to be a small, but very vocal minority who have made it clear of their intentions to mount a broad attack on our business activities outside of Lewes. It is too much to ask of my loyal and incredibly hard working team, who have helped me build my business, to deal with this contingent whose activities have verged on direct intimidation.”
Southern Managing Director, Chris Burchell said: “We are disappointed that this will deny Lewes station and our passengers the significant, new investment promised in the tender which would also have retained the individual nature of the outlet, in line with local wishes. However we remain determined to ensure that the best possible solution for the station is found.”
Southern will now re-evaluate the other tenders that were submitted and will be in contact with bidders to determine the way forward for the Runaway Café."How I would laugh if it was now offered to Costa or Starbucks. That would make people sit down and think about their future actions before they put their "Wunt be Druv" hats on. Of course it would be nice for all if the Runaway stayed. However, this recent episode might make Southern Trains more stubborn to get someone new in. At the end of the day, if they manage to lease it to someone new, they won't care how well it does for trade as they'll already have money in the coffers from it. Guess we'll wait and see.
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spur
Isthmian South
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Post by spur on Jan 16, 2013 14:35:22 GMT
Sonna wrote: "How I would laugh if it was now offered to Costa or Starbucks. That would make people sit down and think about their future actions before they put their "Wunt be Druv" hats on.
Of course it would be nice for all if the Runaway stayed."
So why would you laugh?
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Post by Sonna on Jan 16, 2013 14:52:19 GMT
Because Spur, instead of there now being a smaller chain running things, there could potentially be a larger multi-national one if an agreement can't be sought with the current setup (this of course is only a guess. I don't know who the other bidders are. I'm merely speculating and could be wildly wrong.).
People on the picket lines might have shot themselves in the foot on this one.
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Post by Sonna on Jan 16, 2013 16:53:09 GMT
I've heard that the Runaway has been given a new lease for 3 years. So a 'victory' of course to those concerned and good news for the lady that runs the place which is obviously the most important thing as she keeps her livelihood.
Will we be seeing similar scenes again though once the lease is up again.
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