Five lose jobs as Calne café closes after lease and competition wrangle (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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Five lose jobs as Calne café closes after lease and competition wrangle
7:00pm Friday 21st September 2012 in News
Five lose jobs as Calne café closes after lease and competition wrangle
A popular Calne café closed its doors last week, leaving five people out of work and many of the town’s residents angry.
Popins coffee shop and takeaway in Phelps Parade had been run by husband and wife Maureen and Norman Richardson for six and a half years, but closed on Friday.
Mrs Richardson blamed problems renewing its lease with Wiltshire Council and the opening of Costa Coffee just across from Popins, although the national chain has not yet applied for planning permission.
She said: “We have spent two years trying to renew our lease, which is a big part of the problem we’ve had.
“We just can’t seem to get the lease again.
“This is a problem about seven other businesses in Phelps Parade are having too.
“We’ve spent a fortune on solicitors’ fees, and for some reason we’ve all been unsuccessful, so there’s no security. There seems to be a problem once the application reaches Wiltshire Council.”
Mrs Richardson said she was angry nothing had been done to stop Costa Coffee moving into the town centre.
She said: “They’ve knocked two shops into one and opened their doors and there’s still no planning permission. It’s so frustrating.
“They’ve been told they can apply for retrospective planning permission – why are they getting such an easy ride? A lot of our regulars have told us they wouldn’t stop coming, but the way the economy is at the moment it only takes a few moving away to crush a business.”
Mr and Mrs Richardson had employed three part-time members of staff.
Mrs Richardson said: “Running a place like Popins is an expensive thing to be doing. For example, if our industrial washing machine breaks down, that’s £4,000.
“It just became too insecure for us to continue with the business.
“Lots of small businesses are finding they just can’t operate any more – it’s going to be the death of the High Street.
“We want to say a huge thank you to our customers – they’ve been fantastic and so supportive.
“I’m sad for them as well as us – this was a meeting place and we welcomed everyone. People came in as strangers and left as friends.”
Comments(45)
RobinsTalk
says...
9:03pm Fri 21 Sep 12
These coffee chains Costa, Starbucks and Nero are dominating retail space in every town and city now. Even motorway service's are over run with the things.
Grumpy of Calne.
says...
9:13pm Fri 21 Sep 12
tony montana
says...
9:30pm Fri 21 Sep 12
Grumpy of Calne.
says...
10:01pm Fri 21 Sep 12
tony montana wrote:There's always one who does not support the locals!
I love Costa...........open all day 7 days a week !!!
tony montana
says...
5:41am Sat 22 Sep 12
Grumpy of Calne. wrote:Judging on how busy Costa is i think it is probably more than just me supposedly not supporting the locals?!?! and TBH i always use the local established shops, ie Sainsburys M&Co CO-OP Iceland Boots ..... ;)
tony montana wrote:There's always one who does not support the locals!
I love Costa...........open all day 7 days a week !!!
Local Bloke
says...
6:52am Sat 22 Sep 12
number 6
says...
1:47pm Sat 22 Sep 12
Phorever
says...
7:29pm Sat 22 Sep 12
Maybe even the first one in Calne. Why has there been issues renewing a lease?
Will-Calne
says...
7:59pm Sat 22 Sep 12
Will-Calne
says...
8:14pm Sat 22 Sep 12
RobinsTalk
says...
9:01pm Sat 22 Sep 12
tony montana
says...
9:18am Sun 23 Sep 12
Will-Calne wrote:Couldn't agree more !!!!!
I have been to Poppins. I'd go in at lunchtime ,12pm to get a pasty and find one sausage roll left! . Not much choice really, especially at 'Peak Time' , so id go to sainsburys. Plus it was shut at 3.30pm daily. At Least Costa is open all day, offering its menu throughout the day, and open sundays. It gives people somewhere to go, socialise etc without having to go to one of our rough pubs, that have never heard of coffee!. Its a Thumbs up from me , as Calne finally appears to be dragging itself from a spit & sawdust town into a more people friendly place, in a a modern world. If people dont like it, Go move to Westbury (Another town sat there rotting, Whilst neighbouring towns progress).
tony montana
says...
9:19am Sun 23 Sep 12
Will-Calne wrote:lol .........
Grumpy of Calne ! - A Bus leaves Calne every 20 minutes in 2 directions !!! Take one! You might find another world outside ( Though i expect you were against the bus coming through the town )
Don Jones
says...
9:08am Mon 24 Sep 12
Grumpy of Calne. wrote:Have you got the guts to make that accusation to the Mayor's face using your own name?
I wonder who took the backhander this time Mr. Mayor!
And if you do, you'll find the Mayor could have done sfa about it. But why let the facts get in the way of a good dig, eh?
thelittlemorgan
says...
11:26am Mon 24 Sep 12
cris
says...
11:28am Mon 24 Sep 12
I was in this Costa on Sunday. It was very nice well presented and had lots of options and the staff when very polite and professional.
I can see why the town council approved it. Calne being the one horse town that it is… needs all the help it can get. Getting larger businesses in may mean there is a reason to go to the place..
I went to popins once I think in passing and was left very unimpressed. Mug of cheap coffee that didn’t taste too special. And the sort of banter you expect in a transport café in the 80s.
I think Calne has made the right choice and if popins cant up there game or diversify to keep there audience they should just close… who needs them there is a Costa. !!!
Don Jones
says...
12:50pm Mon 24 Sep 12
Grumpy of Calne.
says...
12:58pm Mon 24 Sep 12
number 6 wrote:Yes but by letting in this shop, it's closed another, so no progress.
Is it the town council who have a say in who moves into Phelps Parade or Wiltshire Council? I have not been in Costas yet but a used unit has to be better then a closed unit or another charity shop.
Grumpy of Calne.
says...
1:03pm Mon 24 Sep 12
The mayor of calne wrote:It was a question to the Mayor not an accusation, being female my name is not Tom!
Grumpy of Calne or as we know you as "tom" making accusations about myself like this will only come back and bite you.(note to myself book appointment with lawyers).
cris
says...
3:19pm Mon 24 Sep 12
The Mayor of Calne... GET THE PLACE ON THE MAP.. not a place people just drive through.
Grumpy of Calne. LEAVE if you don't like it... oh yes and corruption and conspiracy in everything... of course !!!
GuyNextDoor
says...
3:44pm Mon 24 Sep 12
However, I doubt Costa's arrival could have had much effect on Popins' trade as Popins closed within a fortnight of Costa opening - hardly time for a trade war.
One has to wonder though why one has proved so much more popular in such a short time.
My experience with Popins was that they never had any produce available at the times I wanted it. Several times I just fancied a hot pasty for lunch only to find that all had sold out. At 12.30!
These days work ethics mean that people take their lunch breaks at different times of the day. Long gone is the mass lunchbreak at 12 'til 1. If I took a break at 2pm Popins was a no hoper, they were cleaning up and ready to close. Costa recognises the modern lifestyle and caters to that.
A lesson that would be well learned by other traders in the town. Keep up or you will find yourselves left behind.
I am all for independent small businesses, they are what give character to a town, but they need to keep pace with the modern world.
RobinsTalk
says...
1:34pm Tue 25 Sep 12
As long as the sheep can follow the flock and drink their overpriced coffee in a fashionable chain they really don't care do they. Laughable really.
Don Jones
says...
2:50pm Tue 25 Sep 12
Anyway, I agree with your major concern about the big boys riding roughshod over the process. But Joe Bloggs is just as free to do this himself. Trouble is, he hasn't got the legal and marketing muscle to back him up. That's the difference.
RobinsTalk
says...
4:25pm Tue 25 Sep 12
cris
says...
8:35am Wed 26 Sep 12
RobinsTalk wrote:spoken like a true person that cant afford a coffee...
I would say 'if the cap (or should that be fleece) fits, wear it', but people just don't realise how much like sheep they have become, and that's too baaaad.
never mind robin if i see you around with a dog on string i will buy you a one.
some people like the face that i can go to London, Glasgow or even now the fantastic town of Calne and get a GOOD coffee.
for Calne this store is PROGRESS and it really needed something to help it.
i agree process should have been followed but i would hope with the custom they are getting they will be able to afford the fine.
frosch
says...
9:15am Wed 26 Sep 12
Don Jones
says...
9:24am Wed 26 Sep 12
RobinsTalk wrote:But you do? Got any other misanthropic insights?
I would say 'if the cap (or should that be fleece) fits, wear it', but people just don't realise how much like sheep they have become, and that's too baaaad.
Don Jones
says...
9:36am Wed 26 Sep 12
cris
says...
9:39am Wed 26 Sep 12
frosch wrote:strange strange man... i have drunk many many coffees all over the world.
if you think costa coffee or indeed any of these chains is good , you haven't drunk good coffee
Frosch... the is a reason the are successful and it's not the orange squash.
Don Jones
says...
11:01am Wed 26 Sep 12
cris
says...
11:14am Wed 26 Sep 12
i have seen you in many many places but never in a coffee shop... :)
i hope i haven't drunk more coffee than anyone and i don't think i said i have drunk more coffee than anyone ... but i do enjoy a good coffee as i don't drink,smoke, take drugs or gamble. i really a coffee vice is to bad :)
as for globalisation its a coffee shop nor wall mart !!!
cris
says...
11:15am Wed 26 Sep 12
Don Jones
says...
11:28am Wed 26 Sep 12
RobinsTalk
says...
1:36pm Wed 26 Sep 12
cris wrote:Spoken like a true person that can't afford a bus ticket out of town.....
frosch wrote:strange strange man... i have drunk many many coffees all over the world.
if you think costa coffee or indeed any of these chains is good , you haven't drunk good coffee
Frosch... the is a reason the are successful and it's not the orange squash.
Never mind cris, if I see you hitch hiking I'll be sure to get my chauffeur to pull over to give you a lift and I'll even get him to stop by the Costa drive through so you can get your fix of wordly coffee!
RobinsTalk
says...
1:39pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Don Jones wrote:Yes and yes.
RobinsTalk wrote:But you do? Got any other misanthropic insights?
I would say 'if the cap (or should that be fleece) fits, wear it', but people just don't realise how much like sheep they have become, and that's too baaaad.
cris
says...
3:36pm Wed 26 Sep 12
RobinsTalk wrote:here i love that costa Drive trough on J16...
cris wrote:Spoken like a true person that can't afford a bus ticket out of town.....
frosch wrote:strange strange man... i have drunk many many coffees all over the world.
if you think costa coffee or indeed any of these chains is good , you haven't drunk good coffee
Frosch... the is a reason the are successful and it's not the orange squash.
Never mind cris, if I see you hitch hiking I'll be sure to get my chauffeur to pull over to give you a lift and I'll even get him to stop by the Costa drive through so you can get your fix of wordly coffee!
its pretty good there is also a Greggs and Subway just by it now...
Chauffer... i love your delusions or grandeur... thats the bus driver,,, but good luck with that ;)
tigerlilly11
says...
12:44pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Shiftyb
says...
10:52am Sat 29 Sep 12
Shifty
News New News
says...
10:31am Mon 1 Oct 12
News New News
says...
10:36am Mon 1 Oct 12
RobinsTalk wrote:If Costa coffee was that bad they would not have hundreds of shops and thousands of customers every day. Millions of people can't be wrong, just face it and move on RobinsTalk !
Don Jones wrote:Yes and yes.RobinsTalk wrote: I would say 'if the cap (or should that be fleece) fits, wear it', but people just don't realise how much like sheep they have become, and that's too baaaad.But you do? Got any other misanthropic insights?
RobinsTalk
says...
10:14am Wed 3 Oct 12
News New News wrote:Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
RobinsTalk wrote:If Costa coffee was that bad they would not have hundreds of shops and thousands of customers every day. Millions of people can't be wrong, just face it and move on RobinsTalk !
Don Jones wrote:Yes and yes.RobinsTalk wrote: I would say 'if the cap (or should that be fleece) fits, wear it', but people just don't realise how much like sheep they have become, and that's too baaaad.But you do? Got any other misanthropic insights?
That just about sums up what I have been saying all along.
Millions of people read the Sun everyday too and they can't be wrong either can they? Ha ha.
One last question, why don't people drink coffee at home any more or isn't it socially acceptable?
djqster
says...
1:25pm Wed 3 Oct 12
RobinsTalk wrote:
News New News wrote:Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
RobinsTalk wrote:If Costa coffee was that bad they would not have hundreds of shops and thousands of customers every day. Millions of people can't be wrong, just face it and move on RobinsTalk !
Don Jones wrote:Yes and yes.RobinsTalk wrote: I would say 'if the cap (or should that be fleece) fits, wear it', but people just don't realise how much like sheep they have become, and that's too baaaad.But you do? Got any other misanthropic insights?
That just about sums up what I have been saying all along.
Millions of people read the Sun everyday too and they can't be wrong either can they? Ha ha.
One last question, why don't people drink coffee at home any more or isn't it socially acceptable?
One last question, why don't people drink coffee at home any more or isn't it socially acceptable?
Maybe they stay home to eat and then go out for coffee because you certainly don't go to Costa for the food.
Arty Al
says...
6:29pm Wed 10 Oct 12
I have heard nothing but great feedback from people about Popins but in fairness they needed to up their game if they wanted new customers, its different people that will use Costa so I don't see the problem.
Costa has brought more jobs to Calne and has employed local people, it has brought more trade to the town centre on weekends and evenings and has friendly polite staff along with planning permission that you can see up in store! It's added true cafe culture, more choice and a new venue to a town centre that in all due respect was very tired!
Jollycountryman
says...
4:35pm Fri 19 Oct 12
I find that it is sad that Popins has closed it's doors and feel sorry for the staff that have lost their jobs.
However the issue relating to Costs coffee opening without planning permission can be resolved by complaining officially to the council.
The closure of the cafe was due mainly to the council deliberately messing with the leases, as with several other businesses in the Phelps.
The question is if your all this angry about the fact that they closed then, stop being the typical british person, get up, stand up and get noticed...
Bertyboo2 says...
7:39pm Fri 21 Sep 12
I used to take my children there for breakfast on a Saturday morning for a little treat...no way can I afford to take them to Costas now.