Guest KingCharles1st Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Train delayed as some poor unfortunate decided to end it all at Stevenage Station- wonder why...? Had to go to a place in Pall Mall, afterwards decided to get a bite and a coffee, so after telling the first few people "no thanks" with regard to their empty shops and ludicrous prices, (6 quid for a sandwich) I happened across a really good little food bar in a side street just off Pall Mall. Got talking to the owner, a decent 30 something Italian guy, and he said business had dropped off a cliff. He reckoned the foot traffic past his shop had declined by around 40% since last year, and his business was down 100 sales a day. He also relayed that Pret- a manger up the road were around 1000 sales down a day IIRC! He reckons most people up there are truly shitting themselves about losing their job etc, and lots of small businesses like him are REALLY struggling to make ends meet. I got the freshest, tastiest Beef sarnie I have EVER had, a bit of caramel slice, an extremely good cappuccino all for £4.90, and he threw in an iced coffee for free on the house! Way to go that man!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juvenal Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Train delayed as some poor unfortunate decided to end it all at Stevenage Station- wonder why...?He reckons most people up there are truly shitting themselves about losing their job etc, and lots of small businesses like him are REALLY struggling to make ends meet. I got the freshest, tastiest Beef sarnie I have EVER had, a bit of caramel slice, an extremely good cappuccino all for £4.90, and he threw in an iced coffee for free on the house! I hope you didn't have a decent suit on. London is a city in fear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Hovis Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Train delayed as some poor unfortunate decided to end it all at Stevenage Station- wonder why...?Had to go to a place in Pall Mall, afterwards decided to get a bite and a coffee, so after telling the first few people "no thanks" with regard to their empty shops and ludicrous prices, (6 quid for a sandwich) I happened across a really good little food bar in a side street just off Pall Mall. Got talking to the owner, a decent 30 something Italian guy, and he said business had dropped off a cliff. He reckoned the foot traffic past his shop had declined by around 40% since last year, and his business was down 100 sales a day. He also relayed that Pret- a manger up the road were around 1000 sales down a day IIRC! He reckons most people up there are truly shitting themselves about losing their job etc, and lots of small businesses like him are REALLY struggling to make ends meet. I got the freshest, tastiest Beef sarnie I have EVER had, a bit of caramel slice, an extremely good cappuccino all for £4.90, and he threw in an iced coffee for free on the house! Way to go that man!!! Glad you gave your business to a good 'un. London changed about 99/00 IMHO. I worked in the city and msot sandwich bars had been there for years and the price reflected the product. Cheap & cheerful at Benjys or fancy at the prepare while you wait ones (bacon & avocado - yum). Then the chain coffee bars arrived and the obscure and overpriced sandwich bars. All feeding off the spend spend spend culture, previously the mainstay had been low / average paid clerks. It would be nice to see it go back to more honest times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNACR Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Very edgy, I think, at the moment - more than the usual west to east descent into edginess. When's crunch time going to be for SMEs? When the savings/mortgage equity is exhausted or when HMRC calls time on the 'time to pay' arrangements? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@contradevian Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I hope you didn't have a decent suit on.London is a city in fear. Not notice that. In what way? London can take it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KingCharles1st Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I hope you didn't have a decent suit on.London is a city in fear. No - just normal smart casz.. good jeans, quality shirt, nice shoes, scruffy round the edges- messes with people's minds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juvenal Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 (edited) Not notice that. In what way? London can take it. Is the old Cockney Blitz spirit already in evidence? When the Haliwide monthly index is negative again will we see home owners down in the Tube tunnels for a cuppa and a singsong? Edited July 29, 2009 by juvenal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvidFan Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Is the old Cockney Blitz spirit already in evidence? When the Haliwide monthly index is negative again will we see home owners down in the Tube tunnels for a cuppa and a singsong? Let's all go down the strand ('av a banana)... Let's all go down the strand ('av a banana)... I remember it like it was yesterday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvidFan Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I've got a love-erly bunch of coconuts, There they are all standin' in a row, Big ones, small ones, Some as big as yer 'ed... (Get off me barra...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@contradevian Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 (edited) I've got a love-erly bunch of coconuts,There they are all standin' in a row, Big ones, small ones, Some as big as yer 'ed... (Get off me barra...) I'm off for a Jellied Eel.. or Pie and Mash Edited July 29, 2009 by HostPaul TAFKA Rover2000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotherdatamoney Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Train delayed as some poor unfortunate decided to end it all at Stevenage Station- wonder why...? Same here, I was working in London over the weekend. One of the Tube lines was closed for maintenance on Sunday (Victoria I think) and I need to get to Green Park. The trains on the Piccadilly line were at a stand still. The reason given for the delays was "A passenger under a train" further down the line. I refused to pay the £12.00 for breakfast in the hotel I was staying in. By chance, I was early for my first job on Monday so had 30 minutes to kill. So I popped into a greasy spoon in Finchley for breakfast. Full English breakfast and a great cappuccino for £3.80. Best of all the staff were chatty and very pleasant. Trade was down for them but they appreciated the business - all £3.80 of it. Support the local independents. They deserve it. Unless you own shares in a chain..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Hun Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I hope you didn't have a decent suit on.London is a city in fear. Really.... I went out on Tuesday, the expensive restaurant was busy as hell. There is no sign of any recession. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_duke_of_hazzard Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I'm in london and I pay 2.90 for a massive wholemeal baguette stuffed with whatever I want till it's falling out the sides. Tastes great. And I get a free bag of crisps as well. Where does it cost 6 quid?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_duke_of_hazzard Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 There are still tons of nice non-chain small sandwich bars in London. One of my favourites is opposite the side entrance to Victoria coach station. I hate the whoredom of the corporate ones. Ooh, which one is that please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rave Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Things are bad, was chatting with a customer/mate today to tell them I wont be putting them onto their new system next month as too busy at the mo with a couple of other projects until next year now.Anyway they are just ticking over but personally what shocked me was he had his house broken into 4 days after he had got his wife a new Q7 a few weeks ago/ Clearly this is karma. Buy a Q7 and you deserve to suffer. It's an XC90 for people who really lack the taste gene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattydread Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 My favourite cheap eat in London is 'Wong kei' on Wardour St, Chinatown. This place used to be 'renowned' for it's rude service, but they've mellowed over the years. I always order the Singapore noodles - £4.20 to sit down and includes a pot of dishwater green tea. Hits the spot, everytime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beckenham Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 London is a city in fear. Ha ha. I work in Hoxton and I see no fear at all! Stop being hysterical. My local sandwich bar has seen no great fall in profit. People still need to eat and £5 a day on lunch doesn't break the bank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tin Foil Hat Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 (edited) Clearly this is karma. Buy a Q7 and you deserve to suffer. It's an XC90 for people who really lack the taste gene. They're all whankmobiles for wannabees with inadequacy problems who need to show others their (strength/prowess/status/lack of penile tissue). Edited July 29, 2009 by Tin Foil Hat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest absolutezero Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Ha ha.I work in Hoxton and I see no fear at all! Stop being hysterical. My local sandwich bar has seen no great fall in profit. People still need to eat and £5 a day on lunch doesn't break the bank. I beg to differ. That's a ridiculous amount to spend especially when you can take your own for 50p or less.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Loo Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I like Dirty Dicks. well I did go in once 30 years ago. It was dirty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beckenham Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I beg to differ. That's a ridiculous amount to spend especially when you can take your own for 50p or less.... Why bother? Life's too short. I doubt anyone who I work with would consider £5 a day to be a lot. Most get a £2.50 coffee in the morning as well and I suppose you could drink a nescafe at work but, again, why bother? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest happy? Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Same here, I was working in London over the weekend.One of the Tube lines was closed for maintenance on Sunday (Victoria I think) and I need to get to Green Park. The trains on the Piccadilly line were at a stand still. The reason given for the delays was "A passenger under a train" further down the line. I refused to pay the £12.00 for breakfast in the hotel I was staying in. By chance, I was early for my first job on Monday so had 30 minutes to kill. So I popped into a greasy spoon in Finchley for breakfast. Full English breakfast and a great cappuccino for £3.80. Best of all the staff were chatty and very pleasant. Trade was down for them but they appreciated the business - all £3.80 of it. Support the local independents. They deserve it. Unless you own shares in a chain..... I think I've been there: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest absolutezero Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Why bother? Life's too short. I doubt anyone who I work with would consider £5 a day to be a lot. Most get a £2.50 coffee in the morning as well and I suppose you could drink a nescafe at work but, again, why bother? Yeah, life's too short to make your own dinner. If the people you work with are stupid enough to spend £1500 a year on their dinner and a coffee then they're fools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charterhouse Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Yeah, life's too short to make your own dinner. If the people you work with are stupid enough to spend £1500 a year on their dinner and a coffee then they're fools. Hahahahahahahahaha who (of the professional working set) does not have a few quid for lunch...? Oh man this thread is the best. That said, the people saying there's no recession here are on crack, there are a lot of empty shops, a lot of previously top spots occupied by short term crappy businesses, and a definite slow down amongst smaller businesses, including the corporate whoreness of Costa Coffee going bust. Things seem to be ticking along okay though compared to a lot of the suburbs imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyOne Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I like Dirty Dicks.well I did go in once 30 years ago. It was dirty. If you mean the one on Bishopsgate, it is still dirty and now also full of dicks ....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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