Costa Coffee — Restaurant in England

UNETHICAL! HOSTILE STRATEGIES. Avoid!!! Isn't it bad enough that Costa opened up NEXT DOOR to the local family run cafe? So luckily the owners of the family run business next door just get on with it, despite the corporate competition. Now Costa employees stand outside giving away free samples - YES that is something all branches do - but right opposite the competition that they opened next door to? REALLY!? I have photos to prove but won't publish until faces can be blurred. I always support local but when I'm out of the area I WAS a fan and had a loyalty card. No more - bad show Costa, shame on you! Just to make absolutely clear I have no connection to ether coffee shop nor cafe. I live around the corner.

UPDATE: as I was sitting in the cafe, three times different members of Costa staff walked past in quick succession to the next shop unit (an estate agents) then span around, walked back and glared at me. It was quite intimidating.

The last person to try come past was a young lady, as she looked directly at me I raised my arms in disbelief.

Instead of being professional and perhaps doing the same, she stormed INSIDE the cafe - no care for the customers present. I believe this may have all been caught on camera. Her beef was I had taken a photo of the staff handing out the drinks outside. I promptly tried to reassure her (as I wrote here earlier) that I wouldn't have exposed faces and actually had decided to send the images only to the Costa head office. She proceeded to tell me this wasn't legal and I had to point out, actually no crime had been committed and further more, I knew my issue had to be with head office because until this moment it had not been a personal argument and I had no wish to get into it with individuals. I was actually about to offer to delete the photos once I had mailed them to head office but wasn't given a chance. Sadly the moment she stepped into the cafe and raised her voice to me, this turned into something very personal. She wasn't even on the photos so had just attempted to be part of the crowd causing me discomfort. (Very childish).

I sat in the cafe for a few moments very upset. My heart was racing and I was also upset that things had got out of hand. So I decided to go next door and asked to speak to the manager. With hindsight, I should have telephoned but as I was only next door that seemed weird. As I walked in, several members of staff were all discussing the whole tale loudly in front of their own customers.

In that moment I felt instantly as if I was being rounded on in a school playground. I was asked to leave by a polite young man so only a few seconds were in the coffee shop and the rest outside. The girls that worked there followed me and were just talking AT me, telling me I had no right to be in there. I mentioned the fact one member of their staff had just done exactly the same, she instantly denied it until I pointed out next door had cameras.

At one point I asked to speak to just one person and had thought this was to be the young man. Then a woman who said she worked in the kitchen said the young man couldn't speak for them all he wasn't the manager I asked if she was in charge and she said she was. I had my first opportunity to defuse things slightly by explaining my position however, unfortunately at this point one of their female customers came out from Costa. She tried to push the barista back inside like she was his mother! She then noticed a customer from the cafe had been stood outside, he had witnessed EVERYTHING (both parts) but so far he had stood silently and observed. She poked him and called him a bully and I could see this might escalate! So by the time someone opened the Costa door and said "we have the manager on the phone" I walked away. I'm very, very upset.

Costa is staffed by children, with no one (except the young male barista) acting as if they represent the brand, let alone in a professional manner. When you wear a Costa uniform you represent Costa, this wasn't personal until the show YOU brought inside...

I popped into Costa for a quick bite, selected my drink and toastie and paid at the till. The young girl who served me called to a second girl by the ovens and then flung my food at her. I was mortified that she had the audacity to throw my food like a frisby and shamelessly in front of me! I took a seat and patiently waited for my food to be served. There was only one other person in Costa, but I was again shocked to have my order shouted across the room because they could not be bothered to take it to me. I approached the counter to find my food boxed up - when I said I was eating in they made no effort to put my food on a plate or offer cutlery. Considering the place was empty and they were far from rushed off their feet I found today's visit unacceptable and the employees' behaviour rude. Avoid at all cists, instead go to the...

We randomly came across this café at Costco in Great Missenden while riding and it turned out to be a great spot to take a break. There’s a convenient space right in front where you can park your bike — perfect for one, two, or even three riders together. It’s not an official parking spot, but it looks like private land, no one bothered us, and it felt completely fine.

The staff were very friendly, and the toilets and surrounding area were spotless and well-maintained. There are also seats facing the road, which makes it a nice setup for watching the traffic and keeping an eye on your bike at the same time.

If you’re passing through Great Missenden, it’s definitely a place worth...