Greggs at stations

[Ash Bridge]

Until such a day when Greggs realise the potential of the South West market and make an irresistible offer for one of the aforementioned companies.

Greggs lack of presence in your region will be short lived. They've taken over most places!

I don't think they've a hope in hell it seems like a different market in the far Southwest, especially so in Cornwall. I mean how can you possible compare one of their pathetic, limp, minuscule excuses for a pasty compared to the real thing that is only available down there.

 

[Kentish Paul]

I don't think they've a hope in hell it seems like a different market in the far Southwest, especially so in Cornwall. I mean how can you possible compare one of their pathetic, limp, minuscule excuses for a pasty compared to the real thing that is only available down there.

You beat me to it. A Cornishman wouldn't touch a Greggs pasty with a barge pole.

Also most London terminals have a Cornish pasty shop of some description. I find the one at London Bridge very good.

 

[anti-pacer]

I don't think they've a hope in hell it seems like a different market in the far Southwest, especially so in Cornwall. I mean how can you possible compare one of their pathetic, limp, minuscule excuses for a pasty compared to the real thing that is only available down there.

They don't just sell pasties though.

You watch, the South West will eventually be incorporated into the "United Greggsdom", rightly or wrongly.

 

[Ash Bridge]

You beat me to it. A Cornishman wouldn't touch a Greggs pasty with a barge pole.

Also most London terminals have a Cornish pasty shop of some description. I find the one at London Bridge very good.

Yes, likewise up here at Manchester Picc. Not bad for outside of Cornwall, but much better to be found down there without even trying! Btw if the likes of Greggs were to break into that market, I think they would have done so by now.
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They don't just sell pasties though.

You watch, the South West will eventually be incorporated into the "United Greggsdom", rightly or wrongly.

Possibly in Exeter,Plymouth,St Austell etc. but couldn't imagine them in places like Padstow, Fowey... Far too many higher quality outfits to compete with in the touristy places.

 

[47802]

I think it is fair to say that in central London ie Westminster and the City, there are more Prets or Eats or Sushi etc than Greggs.

The real question is of course why we have allowed these chains to take over and virtually evict the good old greasy spoon from our High Streets. There are still a few around where you can get a well cooked traditional english breakfast, or a bacon or sausage sandwich made with fresh bread, a choice of sandwich made to your specification in front of your eyes. However not enough.

Incidentally has Greggs always just sold sandwiches, pasties, melts, sausage rolls etc or did it used to sell loaves of bread and other bakery items? Or is it just down soth where it doesnt sell bread?

They used to be more like a traditional bakery shop but in the last few years they have become more like fast food cafe's

 

[142094]

They still sell bread up here, along with stotties (which you probably cannot buy elsewhere in the UK apart from the North East).

Recently there was a shift away from the 'traditional bakery' side to more of food on the go, which was where the money was being made.

£2 breakfast deal is excellent value but apparently they make little to no profit from it.

 

[IanD]

They still sell bread up here, along with stotties (which you probably cannot buy elsewhere in the UK apart from the North East).

Recently there was a shift away from the 'traditional bakery' side to more of food on the go, which was where the money was being made.

£2 breakfast deal is excellent value but apparently they make little to no profit from it.

According to the Sky 1 program, Greggs: More than meets the pie a couple of Geordie customers did their own market research and presented it to Greggs and the result was that Greggs now produce and sell stotties darn sarf. Not seen any myself but I'm not a frequent customer.

 

[physics34]

Subway, which provides fresh sandwiches, seems to be going from strength to strength, does it not? (The one that used to be at Euston is missed...)

Neil

They are plastic as far as iam concerned and are too big a chain.

Plus i just want a fresh cheese and ham sandwich not the ****e they serve!

The only thing i'll praise them for is the Meatball Mariana.
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You beat me to it. A Cornishman wouldn't touch a Greggs pasty with a barge pole.

Also most London terminals have a Cornish pasty shop of some description. I find the one at London Bridge very good.

Way over priced those pasty shops, and i thought the West Country ones were in a bit of financial trouble.

 

[Flamingo]

I don't know who runs the pasty shop in Bristol Temple Meads subway, but they are filled with pepper, fat and gristle! They sell them by the smell, not the taste! Give me a Greggs one any day!

 

[johnnychips]

Those 'Ye Olde Cornish Pastie' type shops are really expensive! Give me a Steak Bake for £1.25 any day.

 

[HowardGWR]

Greggs now produce and sell stotties darn sarf. Not seen any myself but I'm not a frequent customer.

Translation please?

 

[IanD]

Translation please?

A stotty/stottie cake is a flat, round loaf of bread about 12 inches in diameter, originating in the North East. It's like a big bap/bread roll/tea cake/barm cake/bread bun or whatever term you use in your area.

A filled stottie was more or less the staple lunch when I was a student in Newcastle.

 

[142094]

Stottie cake, basically a large, circular loaf.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

According to the Sky 1 program, Greggs: More than meets the pie a couple of Geordie customers did their own market research and presented it to Greggs and the result was that Greggs now produce and sell stotties darn sarf. Not seen any myself but I'm not a frequent customer.

Never seen them south of Darlington. Morrisons sell the smaller versions but don't compare to the proper ones.

 

[Darandio]

Ahh, reminds me of the 'Breakfast Stottie' from the 'caff' on Coopies Lane Ind Est at Morpeth.

A full one of those crammed with bacon, sausage, egg, mushrooms, black pudding, tomatoes and fried potato.

Happy days.

Don't suppose anyone knows if the 'caff' is still there? Used to be in one of the smaller industrial units.

 

[142094]

Not sure, but I know there is one somewhere on the Pennywell Industrial Estate in Sunderland that does the exact same thing.

Now if Greggs did a breakfast stottie...

 

[duffield]

I don't know who runs the pasty shop in Bristol Temple Meads subway, but they are filled with pepper, fat and gristle! They sell them by the smell, not the taste! Give me a Greggs one any day!

I was down there on 22nd December and I think I bought some cheese & onion pasties from the subway shop, and I remember them as being quite delicious - however, I had just had a number of pints of 'Old Rosie' at the Wetherspoons outside Temple Meads and I was particularly ravenous so my judgement may have been impaired! Also I find food eaten in 1st class on an HST (15:30 XC to DBY and beyond) usually tastes better

 

[Kite159]

The Greggs at Bradford Interchange must get a good trade.

 

[anti-pacer]

The Greggs at Bradford Interchange must get a good trade.

Why do you say that?

I pass it twice daily and it often has the odd pigeon wandering around it. Seriously!

 

[Kite159]

Underneath the bus & train stations so morning coffees, lunchtime meals?

 

[anti-pacer]

Underneath the bus & train stations so morning coffees, lunchtime meals?

Commuters getting coffees in a morning seems to make them busy.

When I pass Costa in the city centre a few minutes later, they're always far busier though.

 

[Kite159]

Costa coffee is deemed to be a better quality product than Greggs branded coffee.

I used them for lunch yesterday as I couldn't find any other shops which did sandwich/baguettes in a grab & go meal-deal in between walking between the two stations

 

[anti-pacer]

Costa coffee is deemed to be a better quality product than Greggs branded coffee.

I used them for lunch yesterday as I couldn't find any other shops which did sandwich/baguettes in a grab & go meal-deal in between walking between the two stations

Although I think coffee is vile, if I drank the stuff I would choose Costa over Greggs for that very reason.

I'm fussy where I drink beer and wine, and what I drink, and for good reason. I see the principle being the same at coffee outlets.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Costa coffee is deemed to be a better quality product than Greggs branded coffee.

Costa coffee from the machines in services is often better than Costa coffee from the coffee shops. (This may be because, unlike Starbucks, the Costa machines are semi-manual, so if the barista isn't any good this will affect the quality of the coffee, whereas with Starbucks' bean to cup machines or the Costa automatic machines it won't).

Oh and...they added the "white Americano" button when I Tweeted them and asked them to! (Yes, I know, not technically an Americano, but I prefer white coffee made in that way over a bucket of milk with a shot of espresso in it)

The real "hidden gem" in coffee terms is McDonald's, where it is both cheap and pretty good. (McD's are known for being scrupulous over cleanliness, and it's mucky bean to cup machines that produce a bad drink).

Neil

 

[Drsatan]

I only ever visit Greggs to get a cup of tea. The one on Newcastle concourse charged me considerably less than any Pumpkin buffet, and was better quality. I'm assuming Greggs don't use Typhoo tea bags?

I'm fairly fussy about where I buy coffee though. Greggs coffee is foul, Costa coffee is good and Pumpkin coffee is either OK or foul. I once bought an americano at the outlet at Ramsgate station and was tempted to return it - I effectively bought a cup of foul-tasting water. Not to mention coffee from SSP outlets is much less appealing now that the BITE card discount has been reduced.

I've since bought a 'leak-proof' flask as recommended by a couple of forum members, which I cannot fault.

 

[Mugby]

But the thing about Greggs is there's usually a jug of milk available which enables you to adjust the taste of drinks to suit; strong or weak, hot or cooler plus sweet/not so sweet etc.

I would agree that the convenience and economy of a good flask is tempting though.

 

[Clip]

Indeed, can't go wrong with a baguette, Quavers and muffin for £2 from Pound Bakery. Never cared for Greggs, their pasties are at best mediocre and at worst unfit for human consumption. Their breakfast deal isn't too bad mind.

Well hello there mister over reaction. Did you just come from Mumsnet?


I do miss the stotties though. They did bring them down to Reading from that programme but alas I haven't seen them anywhere else.

 

[markydh]

I rather like Greggs coffees. And they are fabulous value! Mind you you can't beat the daily Waitrose freebie. The Cappuccinos are delicious there!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Well hello there mister over reaction. Did you just come from Mumsnet?

I thought it was a bit obvious I was being humorously over-dramatic. Sarcastic if you like. Never mind...

Still pretty poor scran mind you.

 

[physics34]

Costa is better mainly cos they use Whole milk as its default, whilst Greggs use Semi-skimmed, the whole milk helps tame bitter coffee.

I don't know why people dont notice this.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It's worth knowing that the coffee served at McD's is pretty much identical to the coffee that Costa used to serve (I think the old machines have largely been phased out other than at Roadchef MSAs), which was much nicer than the stuff they serve now. It's also a good deal cheaper.
Never had Greggs coffee though. Hopefully it'd be warmer than their frigid Steak Bakes.