Really? Where did you hear that?

Why would Costa want to share the shop with Sainsburys? I could imagine them selling take away hot coffee, in the same way that some petrol stations do, but I can think of better sites for a sit down Costa Coffee than inside a Sainsburys store.

Sainsbury's in Greenwich peninsula has a Starbucks concession inside.

The Sainsburys on Denmark Hill has a Starbucks in store.

There could be some truth in this. I have heard of a Sainsburys connection with the Old Bank too - I had thought this was a case of confusion with the new supermarket planned across the road. Am now not so sure.

If there is anything in it, the better question IMO is where this leaves the Sainsburys we thought was coming. Surely, they wouldn't have a 2 premises in the same parade?

Maybe the sainsbury's will be at the original site and they're planning a costa at the old bank site?

As far as I know Costa have a tie in with Tesco, Starbucks are Sainsbury. Either way neither would be great on that site. What's next, a West Cornwall Pasty shop?

I hope we don't get a pasty shop, I'd be the fattest person in HOP!

I can't disagree that a Costa would not be the preferred choice but look chaps, no pubs seem to want it (which is what we all really wanted), so a chain coffee shop isn't the end of the world

If it is true I am NOT going to oppose it to be honest

This post was last modified: 05-11-2012 07:05 PM by Southlonder.

Why on earth would ANYONE want a coffee chain when there are local independents selling superb coffee's?????

Yes, it could be bad news for places like HopScotch, the new(ish) deli, Nandi Nandi and possibly Tapa Tisserie.

A couple of campaigns against Costa opening up have been in the news recently, most notably in Totnes.

Aesthetically, a Costa would be infinitely preferable to a Domino's, and if there weren't already cafes on the parade it wouldn't be too bad.......but there are.

We heard it from a reliable source but obviously things change.
Apparently Costa are going to take part of it and Sainsbury's are taking part to use as storage.

I don't think either would be beneficial.

Even though Costa coffee is IMHO revolting coffee, it will obviously affect HopScotch, the deli and the Tapas bar but I'm sure it will devastate the guy inside the station.

Of course we'd all like to have a boozer or restaurant on the corner there but why is nobody interested after such a long time? Who is the landlord? Is he putting prospective interested parties off by high rent?

kemamira, there appears to have been plenty of interest from independent parties, including gastro pubs.

The combination of investment needed to bring The Old Bank's interiors and kitchen up to speed, and high rental demands seem to have put people off, though. But then again, every time anyone mentions the saintly landlords of HOP parade (clearly sitting it out for chain outlets and big bucks) and their equally saintly agents, someone will cry "conspiracy theory, all not true/ the tenants just don't pay/ there are no other interested parties/ their hands are tied/ they of course only act in the best interest of HOP and its residents and there is no bigger picture here, nope, not at all (select preferred excuse)". Costa and Sainsbury's make a great start, how about a couple of betting shops and another pizza chain a few doors down? Yey. Except me and my disposable income will probably have moved elsewhere by then.

This post was last modified: 07-11-2012 02:16 PM by Tinkerbell.

i would go for most things that wouldimprove the ugly state that it is in now... well i say that, but not pizza, chicken joint, estate agent or betting shop please!!

its surprising there is no betting shop on the parade yet, long may it last

If the independent coffee shops are so great and well loved by the locals, they should have little to worry about should they?

There is this assumption that any independent is preferable to any chain and I think that's a bit simplistic. They are different offerings and people who appreciate something a bit quirky and distinctive aren't necessarily going to desert those places for a Costa tucked inside a supermarket are they?
If the local coffee shops are doing a great job they will win and retain loyal customers.

It's getting the balance right that's important. I wouldn't want to see a high street dominated by chains, but having just small independent shops doesn't automatically mean you're getting something consistently better. How many of you would vehemently oppose a Waitrose opening up in the area? Some maybe...but I bet a lot of people would welcome it with open arms.

This post was last modified: 08-11-2012 01:46 PM by seeformiles.

@ seeformiles

You got that right. Totally agree.

also agree with seeformiles.

However, if there is any truth in Sainsburys using part of the premises for storage then this would seem to be relevant to the planning conditions for the proposed supermarket.

Tinkerbell, agree with most of what you say but the 'interest' from gastro pubs does not seem to have resulted in any actual offers being made. It would seem that the temporary arrangements on site will be continuning for a while longer (?), in which case there is still an opportunity for actual offers to be made.

The coffee at Hills & Parkes is excellent. If costa were to come I doubt I'd ever use it.

I totally agree with BCM. I can't stop myself from popping over to get a coffee if I am working at home, or just at home, or walking past, or for drinking in the car en route somewhere, or just because!