This Starbucks is nestled inside a Sainsbury's supermarket. I knew it was there but normally avoided it. It's not a franchise so you can use any rewards you have and they can top-up your Starbucks card with cash.
We were in a Starbucks in Piccadilly train station in Manchester a few days ago on our way to York which apparently was a franchise so you can't use your rewards and while the staff were sweet they were clueless on how to add money onto my card (on my phone) as I had only a few pence on it.
So on this Starbucks visit we were directed by our granddaughter who at 11 declares she is a Starbucks fan/aficionado.
We now actively opt first for independents with Starbucks and other chains now down our list and cafe Nero not on the list at all. I can't see this changing.
But on this occasion our fate was sealed so we compromised as en route, and with much protest, grandma and I had a coffee each in an independent while all the while granddaughter refused all offers of food and drink instead looking grim, insisting we hurry up albeit in a gentle manner.
So we hurried up and next to Starbucks. It was a very warm day so they had a side door open with some outside footpath seating on a rather unattractive side road near a pub.
On the journey she had pleaded for a Starbucks cup. It used to be goods from Smiggle but no longer. If she didn't have Smiggle tat she had honestly assured us that her life would be over. Now it's Starbucks mugs that apparently save lives.
The mug was £22.95 and I was the mug who paid for it. Next it had to be filled with a strawberry concoction and a lot of ice so by the time she was momentarily satisfied her bill alone was over £27.
She did try to gently lobby for another cup but failed and was reminded that we had bought her a Starbucks mug on our last visit (and very likely the next).
My wife and I had a flat white (me) and a cappuccino. I also got a glass of iced water and the very friendly servers didn't try to charge me for it. I still think of Starbucks Portsmouth UK when, about a year ago, I was charged 20p for a plastic cup of iced tap water when ceramic cups were plentiful. Never again.
When we got our order we sat out in warm sunshine, but after a few minutes a melee broke out in the nearby pub so we moved back inside the cafe. The air con was on and it was all very pleasant. read more