It’s incredible to think that Rhuthun/Ruthin will shortly see something of another example of 21st century living—the arrival in town of no less a phenomenon than Costa Coffee.
As the UK's second largest coffee chain—perhaps even the largest by the time Rhuthun's branch opens—Costa will be known to many. That someone wishes to establish a franchise in town will please, indeed thrill. It's a good sign, surely, that a town with a population of only 5,500 (plus a hinterland of about the same number) can support such a top-flight trader. It speaks of Rhuthun's prosperity. Dinbych hasn't got one (twice our population) and Yr Wyddgrug/Mold's only opened earlier this year (thrice our population).
Costa as an Indicator
It is also an indication in other ways:
But like Wetherspoon's, Costa and its ilk are a so-called "category killer". What, then, will be the prognosis for existing cafés in town? There are two schools of thought.
But, there are two further questions. One is, how often will Costa actually be full? It won't take much transfer of trade to reduce the margins of existing outlets but there's still a lot of space within Costa and the overhead will be high. We know from the successor to Nelson's, who converted the entire Well Street floor area to café space, that its customers simply spread out among a sea of empty tables.
The other is whether Costa has a role in attracting people up the hill from Tesco. With its sheer presence, will Costa actually succeed where others have failed in encouraging people from Tesco into town. Costa may have a negative impact on cafés but it may help others in the town.
And if so, will it actually help beleaguered council budgets by swelling the coffers of the pay & display car park opposite? Is there space in that car park, given that Wetherspoon's will also be popular at lunchtime and for coffee? Or, will the inevitable happen: people will park on the double yellows of Market Street for either a drink-in or take-out coffee.
What, then, of Costa's competition? Looking around, we don't see full cafés, at lunchtime or any time...
The Competition
↓ Likely to see a Costa related drop in trade
↔ Likely to see no real difference
Crown House ↓
There's no doubt that we have changed our coffee drinking habits and Crown House is an example. When Crown House Café opened in Rhuthun in 2006, it was the first outlet to sell so-called "proper" coffee (it was also Rhuthun's one and only internet café: remember them?). Since then, tastes have changed & demand increased. In many ways, Crown House is too much like Costa to survive. It's possible to see more than a marginal switch and, because Crown House is small, can it continue?
Siop Nain ↓
Here, we’d like to think that Costa might actually help drive improvement at Siop Nain. For its menu is in a 25-year time warp and the kitchen smells waft throughout the eating area. Siop Nain does need an urgent uplift but its proprietors are getting no younger and you wonder whether Costa may be a chance for them to retire. Siop Nain's strength is that it does have a loyal following of mostly older patrons and it serves proper food rather than Costa-style snacks. But Siop Nain is vulnerable.
Bar Llaeth ↔
Another example of a longstanding café. Bar Llaeth has modernised a bit and, of course, it offers its own bread. Fewer people these days actually want cheap coffee (when they can go to the likes of Costa and pay three times the price). So, other things being equal, this means Bar Llaeth will suffer. But, Bar Llaeth does benefit from a prime location on the Square, near banks and post office and it is this that will be its salvation. As the only other café open in town on a Sunday (assuming Costa will be too), it still cannot be complacent. (It once tried being a chippy but this failed.)
Gail's ↔
They say never trust a skinny cook but size 0 Gail offers decent, plentiful lunchtime food at reasonable prices. For drinks, Costa will win hands down. For food, Gail's is probably the best value café for luncheon in Rhuthun. Gail's nevertheless seems to struggle in terms of numbers and this is the weakness of this relative newcomer. Competes a little with Wetherspoon's. Does offer outside seating in the summer.
W T & G Jones Café ↓
Good lunchtime food but ambience cannot anywhere match Costa. Already fewer numbers. Needs updating. Perhaps far enough from Costa, though.
Caffi Rh/Café R ↔
Not strictly in the town centre, of course. Run by Crown House but with as wider array of food & drink, this very popular, bright café offers a good atmosphere and a good variety of food. People come here, park free, eat & drink and go. And there's the captive audience of the Craft Centre itself. Serves good coffee and is probably the safest of all.
Castle Park Café ↓
Somewhat down at heel and never seems to be patronised by any significant numbers. Proprietors looking to retire. An early casualty?
Annie's ↔
Incomparable in terms of her food offer. Homemade food at its tastiest. In a totally different league to anything on offer, café wise, especially when compared to Costa. Mind you, Annie's market isn't especially young people, either. Annie herself shuts up shop when she spends a lot of time on holiday. People always come back and this proves how good she is. Annie isn't getting any younger and will look to retire so this may be the threat rather than Costa.
Village Bakery ↓
Popular for watching the world go by. Offers decent enough food though on the greasy side at decent prices. Good takeaway food service. Café confectionery range is good, thanks to its retail bakery side but this, too, is Costa's strong suit. Village really needs urgent updating within but its turnover from the bakery & hot & cold food takeaways is nevertheless probably strong. Will be challenged by Costa's seductive interiors and coffees. Might consider updating ambience and drinks offer.
Costa as an Indicator
It is also an indication in other ways:
- The changing nature of our high streets. As convenience shops move out, so leisure type outlets are moving in. Throughout Britain in general, coffee shops are becoming much more abundant and although the number of cafés in recent years in Rhuthun has declined, it's still an indicator of relative wealth. Costa adds to that environment.
- The changing nature of our own tastes. The term "coffee culture" floats around. We are much more discerning as fewer of us will accept the miserable stuff of Jane Eyre's Lowood Institute of Baldrick's trench cocktail for Capt Blackadder. Rhuthun first saw "proper" coffee in 2006.
- As town centres change to reflect realignment in retail, the role of the coffee shop is pivotal. The more there are, the better the "feel" of the town and the more who will visit for a drink. High-end coffee merchants only encourage everyone else to up their games. Costa will enhance rather than detract.
- The appearance of Costa means that it is hard for local cafés to compete against the might of the Costa brand, its coffee offer & its ambience, especially for younger people. There will be café causalities.
But, there are two further questions. One is, how often will Costa actually be full? It won't take much transfer of trade to reduce the margins of existing outlets but there's still a lot of space within Costa and the overhead will be high. We know from the successor to Nelson's, who converted the entire Well Street floor area to café space, that its customers simply spread out among a sea of empty tables.
Ellie Louise traded under that name for a short spell, from 2011, before closing. This shot, from May 2012, shows one of the frequent *warehouse* closing down sales
The other is whether Costa has a role in attracting people up the hill from Tesco. With its sheer presence, will Costa actually succeed where others have failed in encouraging people from Tesco into town. Costa may have a negative impact on cafés but it may help others in the town.
What, then, of Costa's competition? Looking around, we don't see full cafés, at lunchtime or any time...
The Competition
↓ Likely to see a Costa related drop in trade
↔ Likely to see no real difference
Crown House ↓
There's no doubt that we have changed our coffee drinking habits and Crown House is an example. When Crown House Café opened in Rhuthun in 2006, it was the first outlet to sell so-called "proper" coffee (it was also Rhuthun's one and only internet café: remember them?). Since then, tastes have changed & demand increased. In many ways, Crown House is too much like Costa to survive. It's possible to see more than a marginal switch and, because Crown House is small, can it continue?
Siop Nain ↓
Here, we’d like to think that Costa might actually help drive improvement at Siop Nain. For its menu is in a 25-year time warp and the kitchen smells waft throughout the eating area. Siop Nain does need an urgent uplift but its proprietors are getting no younger and you wonder whether Costa may be a chance for them to retire. Siop Nain's strength is that it does have a loyal following of mostly older patrons and it serves proper food rather than Costa-style snacks. But Siop Nain is vulnerable.
Bar Llaeth ↔
Another example of a longstanding café. Bar Llaeth has modernised a bit and, of course, it offers its own bread. Fewer people these days actually want cheap coffee (when they can go to the likes of Costa and pay three times the price). So, other things being equal, this means Bar Llaeth will suffer. But, Bar Llaeth does benefit from a prime location on the Square, near banks and post office and it is this that will be its salvation. As the only other café open in town on a Sunday (assuming Costa will be too), it still cannot be complacent. (It once tried being a chippy but this failed.)
Gail's ↔
They say never trust a skinny cook but size 0 Gail offers decent, plentiful lunchtime food at reasonable prices. For drinks, Costa will win hands down. For food, Gail's is probably the best value café for luncheon in Rhuthun. Gail's nevertheless seems to struggle in terms of numbers and this is the weakness of this relative newcomer. Competes a little with Wetherspoon's. Does offer outside seating in the summer.
W T & G Jones Café ↓
Good lunchtime food but ambience cannot anywhere match Costa. Already fewer numbers. Needs updating. Perhaps far enough from Costa, though.
Caffi Rh/Café R ↔
Not strictly in the town centre, of course. Run by Crown House but with as wider array of food & drink, this very popular, bright café offers a good atmosphere and a good variety of food. People come here, park free, eat & drink and go. And there's the captive audience of the Craft Centre itself. Serves good coffee and is probably the safest of all.
Castle Park Café ↓
Somewhat down at heel and never seems to be patronised by any significant numbers. Proprietors looking to retire. An early casualty?
Annie's ↔
Incomparable in terms of her food offer. Homemade food at its tastiest. In a totally different league to anything on offer, café wise, especially when compared to Costa. Mind you, Annie's market isn't especially young people, either. Annie herself shuts up shop when she spends a lot of time on holiday. People always come back and this proves how good she is. Annie isn't getting any younger and will look to retire so this may be the threat rather than Costa.
Village Bakery ↓
Popular for watching the world go by. Offers decent enough food though on the greasy side at decent prices. Good takeaway food service. Café confectionery range is good, thanks to its retail bakery side but this, too, is Costa's strong suit. Village really needs urgent updating within but its turnover from the bakery & hot & cold food takeaways is nevertheless probably strong. Will be challenged by Costa's seductive interiors and coffees. Might consider updating ambience and drinks offer.