The Cape — Restaurant in England

As I write I am sitting in Costa Coffee drinking average coffee, with a decidedly average breakfast roll doing what thousands of professional do up and down the country, using something called wifi to work. Infact thereare 5 other people doing the same as me in here. It came in during the 90's....you may remember it ;) The reason I am here is because I could not abide to spend my money in The Cape. I really wanted to eat in The Cape. The menu looks good, the ambiance is quite nice and I have eaten there once with a colleague which was a decent experience, aside from a feeling of arrogance given off by a lady who was obviously the owner. No worries I thought. So I walked past Costa and went to the Cape for my first attempt.

Attempt 1) Q "Hello, before I sit down do you have Wifi".... A "No I am sorry" Now I run a national sales team on the road. I have been doing this or similar for 20 years. I still go to the same cafes after 20 years when I am in a particulare town. My average spend is £10-£15. Although I never cease to be amazed by the numbskulldness of many small cafe owners who do not invest in wifi , I expected a business like the cape to be beyond that....but no.

Ok so I leave and walk towards Costa, then I start justifying...hmmm I dont HAVE to go online for an hour or so. I could just do some presentation stuff....Ok lets go back to the Cape.

Attempt 2) I walk in. "Hi again.I have changed my mind and decided to knock Costa on the head to get some decent food. Can I see the breakfast menu please"...............waitress "Do you want a seat" ...me "maybe but I would like to see the breakfast menu please"....waitress explains a special deal including tea for £5. I like the look of this but notice on their main menu that they offer bacon seperately on a similar breakfast for 95p extra. "Great I say...I would like the Paoched eggs £5 deal with an extra slice of bacon which I am hapy to pay extra for" Waitress "Sorry I can't do that".....(me looking at her incredulously) "I am sorry?"...her ""I can't do that"...me "But I am willing to pay extra"..." cant do it with that deal"...."I am willing to pay extra, I dont understand"...."you cant have extra bacon with that deal"..."Even if I pay for it?..(Now dumbstruck and starting to realiseI have made a mistake coming back)......Then she finally hits me with the reason..."I am not allowed to do that".

Now it all finally slots into place...the air of arrogance last time I visited...the lack of wifi (not for reasons of dacorum because there were 2 people on their mobile phones when I was there).....the 1970's Little Chef style beauraucracy. The owner(s) are control freaks who believe it is an honour for you to spend your money at their establishment. This is confirmed to me when I see that there is no email address on the website...otherwise I would not be posting this review. If fact why am I posting this review?? If the owners see it I am not expectant of a humble, considered period of reflection on how they can improve.....I think I posted this because businesses like the Cape operate throughout the UK and if anyone operating a similar business or maybe starting up reads this, perhaps they will have the good grace and sense to take notice. Get wifi Be Flexible...let the customer have some power Post an email address on your website then you would get less reviews like this Listen to you...

The Cape catered a garden party for us last week. A South African Brai BBQ with wonderful accompaniments including some of the excellent salads etc available in the restaurant ( veggie option also catered for). We opted for platters rather than canapés - these were exceptional and portion size was very generous - there was plenty of food. Set up (on a rainy, windy morning which fortunately turned sunny) was highly efficient, reflecting the experience of the team in coping with different situations. Service during the party was exemplary, friendly, relaxed knowledgeable staff and all our guests commented on the outstanding quality of the food. Clear up at the end was equally efficient leaving us with very little to do. Certainly the way to host stress-free , high quality events. Highly...

Not very friendly for children! Have been without children and liked it, however please don’t bring your children here unless they are perfectly behaved. My son is 3, and was super excited to be going for breakfast with mummy on a weekday. He was sitting down in his seat, but was talking loudly and giggling. There was only one other table occupied (2 guests) in the entire place as it was so early in the morning, but the waitress still came and asked us to keep it down. So my advice would he don’t go unless you can keep the children quiet. PS have been many times to Fego and the Beech house with my children and have never felt anything but welcome, even if they are not always...