On Friday morning recently following the overnight snow I went into Jasper's tea rooms, close to Garland's. It was packed, with every seat taken, so I went over to Garland's. It is quite a contrast to Jasper's, being light and airy, painted white with white furniture, whereas Jasper's is very traditional with a number of small rooms. Both are appealing in their different ways.
However there were only five customers in Garland's. Why the disparity? I can only speculate based on my own experience and other people I have spoken to. The problem with Garland's is that the radio is permanently on, and on the mornings I have been there it has been tuned to a phone-in. When I go to a coffee shop to read a paper or chat with my wife or friends I do not wish to hear the inane prattlings of a phone-in host or his callers. Garland's is a classy gift and flower shop, so why is the attached coffee shop so downmarket? Is it for the benefit of the staff? For this reason, it will always be Jasper's for me. read more