Costa opened two years ago. Also, two years ago, as is our wont, we speculated as to the likely results: how would cafés fair?
We felt that four cafés were relatively safe, albeit for the need in some circumstances of some refurbishment or updating: Bar Llaeth; Gail's; Annie's; and the Village Bakery.
About Annie's, we speculated it was safe as long as Annie was there. She retired. Annie's closed. First, the business passed to new owners, who continued much in the Annie tradition, while opening six days, longer hours and not closing over holidays (as was Annie's custom). Patrons were appreciably down and the same proprietors transformed it into the Seasonal Kitchen, while opening restaurant hours only (including evenings). This also struggled and it has now been sold to the people who live at The Wynnstay.
Gail's and Bar Llaeth are much as they were. The Village Bakery sold all its five outlets to Chatwin's two weeks before Costa opened in Rhuthun. It was business as usual and no much needed upgrade till tragedy struck and the place caught fire. After much speculation, Chatwin's relaunched just before Christmas 2014. It was an ill wind: the fire damage gave us a newly fitted out shop & café, with a light and ambient feel… and coffee to match Costa's.
We felt that four cafés might be in trouble: Crown House, Siop Nain, W & G Jones and Castle Park Café.
Crown House was indeed in trouble and it closed after Christmas 2014. It was Rhuthun's original "proper" coffee house, established 2006. Its offer was almost identical to Costa's: custom tables, chairs, classic sofas, decadent cakes, confectionery, and Italian coffee. It was obvious that Crown House's customer base would migrate.
Siop Nain changed hands in 2014. This was because the Davies, proprietors for years, retired. The incoming owners opened the garden and partly updated their menu but the feel of the place as not sufficiently different. It has struggled in terms of numbers… but it's still in business.
Castle Park Café closed. Its proprietors were also looking to retire. This really needed considerable updating. Patronage had sunk. In August, it opened as an Indian restaurant and is now unlikely to return as a café.
Meanwhile, W & G Jones continues unaltered.
About Annie's, we speculated it was safe as long as Annie was there. She retired. Annie's closed. First, the business passed to new owners, who continued much in the Annie tradition, while opening six days, longer hours and not closing over holidays (as was Annie's custom). Patrons were appreciably down and the same proprietors transformed it into the Seasonal Kitchen, while opening restaurant hours only (including evenings). This also struggled and it has now been sold to the people who live at The Wynnstay.
Gail's and Bar Llaeth are much as they were. The Village Bakery sold all its five outlets to Chatwin's two weeks before Costa opened in Rhuthun. It was business as usual and no much needed upgrade till tragedy struck and the place caught fire. After much speculation, Chatwin's relaunched just before Christmas 2014. It was an ill wind: the fire damage gave us a newly fitted out shop & café, with a light and ambient feel… and coffee to match Costa's.
We felt that four cafés might be in trouble: Crown House, Siop Nain, W & G Jones and Castle Park Café.
Crown House was indeed in trouble and it closed after Christmas 2014. It was Rhuthun's original "proper" coffee house, established 2006. Its offer was almost identical to Costa's: custom tables, chairs, classic sofas, decadent cakes, confectionery, and Italian coffee. It was obvious that Crown House's customer base would migrate.
Siop Nain changed hands in 2014. This was because the Davies, proprietors for years, retired. The incoming owners opened the garden and partly updated their menu but the feel of the place as not sufficiently different. It has struggled in terms of numbers… but it's still in business.
Castle Park Café closed. Its proprietors were also looking to retire. This really needed considerable updating. Patronage had sunk. In August, it opened as an Indian restaurant and is now unlikely to return as a café.
Meanwhile, W & G Jones continues unaltered.
Category killer: till the arrival of Costa, there was an "outdoor" café occupying this void within the Grosvenor shopping centre, Chester...
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