It's official... I hate Starbucks in the UK!
I ducked into this Starbucks because I wanted to take advantage of the free WiFi. So I ordered an espresso and looked for a place to hang out. The cafe was disgusting, not like the typical Starbucks that I'm used to in Canada. Chairs were all over the place, empty cups everywhere and crumbs on almost every table. It was most def NOT the sophisticated, trendy, clean and polished setting that Starbucks is known for. I found a big arm chair that was clean in the front and enjoyed my espresso there, all the while trying to login to the WiFi. Accessing the free WiFi is such a b!tch in UK Starbucks, they require you to log in with your Starbucks username, unlike in Canada where you just accept the terms of service and you're good to go. If you're like me who hates signing up for things and hate memorizing usernames/ passwords, then you'll understand my sentiments.
In my humble opinion, Starbucks in the UK should be no different than the Starbucks in Canada, the USA, Asia, etc etc. That's the whole point of franchises: customers are supposed to feel no different and recieve the same service/ products regardless of where a franchise is located. The reason why it costs soo much to own a franchise is because one is buying a proven receipe for success, the name, the brand, operating licsence, products... it should be a no brainer and/ foolproof.
Another thing that bugged me, as an urban, mega-city princess is that Starbucks closes around 7PM everyday! That's absurd! In Toronto, ALL Starbucks (with the exception of those in Chapters or in malls that closes at 5pm) stay open till 10PM! How the heck am I going to get my coffee boost when I'm cramming for exams? I cannot count the times that Starbucks have saved my life when I needed to stay up late for an exam or essay. I guess the only logical thing to do is find quality instant coffee... yuck.. totally my last resort. read more