Stafford Station Revamp

[Masboroughlad]

I note that as part of the rebuild of Stafford, Pumpkin cafe has been replaced by Starbucks. Are Pumpkin outlets disappearing altogether or have Virgin opted for somebody willing to pay more rent at Stafford?

Is anything being done to platform areas as part of the revamp?

 

[PHILIPE]

I note that as part of the rebuild of Stafford, Pumpkin cafe has been replaced by Starbucks. Are Pumpkin outlets disappearing altogether or have Virgin opted for somebody willing to pay more rent at Stafford?

Is anything being done to platform areas as part of the revamp?

Starbucks have taken over quite a few Pumpkin Outlets. Taunton and Shrewsbury to mention two.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Are these Starbucks just SSP franchising the name (like all the motorway services ones), or are they actually Starbucks owned?

 

[Steveman]

Starbucks ! I'd rather die of thirst.

 

[ag51ruk]

Are these Starbucks just SSP franchising the name (like all the motorway services ones), or are they actually Starbucks owned?

They are SSP operated - when the Sheffield one first opened, it was unable to accept Starbucks Gift Cards due to the different tills they used although this may have been resolved

 

[DarloRich]

The pumpkin at MKC is morphing into a starbucks

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

They are SSP operated - when the Sheffield one first opened, it was unable to accept Starbucks Gift Cards due to the different tills they used although this may have been resolved

Unlike Pumpkin/Upper Crust and the other SSP outlets they don't accept SSP's Bite card, or the Pumpkin 10th coffee free card.
A new Starbucks is now the only coffee outlet at Manchester Victoria (other than the even pricier Beer House).

 

[fairysdad]

The pumpkin at MKC is morphing into a starbucks

If we wait 'til Midnight, will we be lucky and it'll morph back into a pumpkin again?

 

[adrock1976]

Something that I have noticed at major railway stations nowadays in relation to retail outlets is that there seems to be a proliferation of Star*ucks, Boots, and Cafe Nero cropping up everywhere.

It is not the rent I would actually be concerned with from those companies - what I would be concerned about is the amount of (very little, or zero) tax that they pay. It is well known that that Star*ucks, Boots, and Cafe Nero have intentionally avoided paying tax to the UK Treasury, hence my main reason for not using them.

 

[ilkestonian]

Something that I have noticed at major railway stations nowadays in relation to retail outlets is that there seems to be a proliferation of Star*ucks, Boots, and Cafe Nero cropping up everywhere.

It is not the rent I would actually be concerned with from those companies - what I would be concerned about is the amount of (very little, or zero) tax that they pay. It is well known that that Star*ucks, Boots, and Cafe Nero have intentionally avoided paying tax to the UK Treasury, hence my main reason for not using them.

But you can hardly blame the landlords for wanting to maximise the rental potential of the sites. Its for government to sort out tax issues, not Network Rail or other property owners.

 

[rdeez]

I note that as part of the rebuild of Stafford, Pumpkin cafe has been replaced by Starbucks. Are Pumpkin outlets disappearing altogether or have Virgin opted for somebody willing to pay more rent at Stafford?

Is anything being done to platform areas as part of the revamp?

I'm fairly certain the platforms are staying as they are as they were resurfaced and the canopies refurbished very recently. Waiting rooms also aren't that old in terms of their last refresh.

It's entirely about reconfiguring and reallocating the internal space in the entrance hall. Starbucks has replaced Pumpkin, travel centre and ticket windows replaced by three 'open' counter positions, four ticket machines instead of two and a new waiting area off Platform 1 created with space from the former Pumpkin. I'm not entirely sure but I think W.H.Smith will move into what used to be the travel centre - I definitely recall that space being re purposed for retail.

 

[CheesyChips]

Something that I have noticed at major railway stations nowadays in relation to retail outlets is that there seems to be a proliferation of Star*ucks, Boots, and Cafe Nero cropping up everywhere.

It is not the rent I would actually be concerned with from those companies - what I would be concerned about is the amount of (very little, or zero) tax that they pay. It is well known that that Star*ucks, Boots, and Cafe Nero have intentionally avoided paying tax to the UK Treasury, hence my main reason for not using them.

At a railway station, I don't think it's Starbucks' impact on the UK Treasury you need to worry about.

 

[Geeves]

A new Starbucks is now the only coffee outlet at Manchester Victoria (other than the even pricier Beer House).

There is still Java Coffee at the top end of the station