Station Catering - independents now and after lockdown

[whole diary]

[grahame]

An article caught my eye from the Northamptonshire Telegraph

The station cafe in Corby has closed for good.

Loco Coco had been a popular destination for commuters. The cafe had been operating from a unit inside the station building for a decade.

But last week the equipment was removed from the cafe and it permanently shut.

The reason for the closure is not known but it is believed that the fall in people passing through the station has contributed.

Passenger Miles Tilley from the Priors Hall estate who commutes to London at least twice a week said: "Since last year the number of passengers has been much lower from my point of view but I often got a coffee from there and it's a shame it's gone. I think it brought a bit of life to the building and it made you feel safer if you were here waiting on your own."

With the majority of journeys being that were being made a year ago NOT being made at present, tough times for operators or concession holders. The comment above makes it clear that there's a wider community interest in the provision of a station cafe than just a business / employment and profit for the operator.  The operator's statement agrees - looking for a new operator - though using the word "hope" which is no promise of certainty:

It is hoped that a new operator will take over the unit.

A statement from East Midlands Railway, which operates the station, said: "We have been formally notified by the tenants of the cafe at Corby railway station that they will not be reopening.

"We are now working with the tenants to make the necessary arrangements before we start the process to introduce a new operator to Corby station in due course."

How are outlets - especially smaller independent ones - faring wider at present?  (re)opening plans?   Gains and losses?  Is the Corby story no more than general turnover that's always going on? My personal experience locally has been virtually zeroed out for coming up for 12 months ... and with many more like me, that increases the coffee drunk at home, and decreases the coffee purchased out that's brought a viable business to these places.

[IndustryInsider]

I would expect many other smaller outlets at smaller stations with a heavy commuter bias like Corby to face similar problems, and some of them will no doubt close.  I'm thinking of places such as Pangbourne, and perhaps slightly bigger places like Twyford.  Larger stations with established outlets such as AMT, Costa, etc. will probably be OK, though it's a shame that it is probably the 'small independents' that will be under the most pressure.

[eightonedee]

The one at Goring has closed, and there's a "To Let" sign on it.

I cannot see anyone taking it on for a while. But it is unlikely to be the only commercial premises for which that will be true.

[TaplowGreen]

The one at Goring has closed, and there's a "To Let" sign on it.

I cannot see anyone taking it on for a while. But it is unlikely to be the only commercial premises for which that will be true.

Much smaller commuter numbers will make these businesses less of an attractive proposition.