In the Gremlins films, the fictional furry Mogwai creatures reproduce when they get wet. You start with one Mogwai, and before you know it you have hundreds of them. Costa is the retail equivalent of Mogwai, one seemingly innocent Costa shop pops up somewhere, and suddenly it has replicated its self and spread to every corner of the known world. I have nothing against Costa, but I can’t help but wonder why we have so many of them. Are they on a mission to take over our high streets? Are they a corporate sponsor of Walthamstow? Maybe they are going for naming rights, welcome to wonderful Costastow.
I was out for a walk on Sunday, a round trip from Markhouse Road via Lea Bridge, Hoe Street, the High Street and St James Street, everywhere I looked I saw Costa signs. I felt like I was in an episode of the Prisoner, but instead of being stalked by a large white ball, I was being stalked by Costa Coffee shops. I walked past no less than seven of them, seven! First there was Costa Express in the Co-op on Markhouse, then Costa Lea Bridge at Bakers Arms, there’s another express in Tesco on Hoe Street, the big Costa at Central Station, two of the buggers in the Mall and another on St James Street. Seven Costa Coffee shops within walking distance of each other, this is an epidemic.
I admit I much prefer smaller independent cafes than the larger chains. But I really don’t have anything against the chains, expect perhaps Starbucks, I really dislike Starbucks because of their questionable tax avoiding past, but that’s a different story. I just think our High Streets are better off with variety. When chains like Costa invade, High Streets all start to look the same, they become identikit clone versions of each other, they lose their character. Independents are also, in my experience at least, more likely to get involved at a local level. For example, Wynwood Art District on Chingford Road opened on Christmas day for those who were on their own, I doubt you’d find a chain store doing the same thing.
Before anyone shouts at me, yes I know independents can often be more expensive than the chains. I’m not being snobby about Costa, I often use Costa myself when I’m away with work as I know what to expect when I go in. Chains have a place, but I don’t see why they have to be in every place. We already have more Costa and Tesco stores than we know what to do with. I just hope that the invasion of the chains stops before it really starts to impact those characterful independents that keep our High Streets healthy and different.
walthamstowdiary 
Yes! I was thinking the exact same this weekend..! And Costa isn’t very nice coffee even
I would never go to one of these chains over a local coffee shop.
In Walthamstow High Street we had well known ‘independents’ like: Wooworths, Marks & Spenser, Burtons , Wimpy, BHS, Sainsbury, Co-op, Colliers etc.
I get what you are saying,but I think you knocked the nail on the head when you said “I know what to expect when I go in ”
I used to work for Costa and I admit they ain’t perfect,but generally you know the standard of coffee you are going to get every time, you may not like it but at least it’s consistent.
There are some great independent coffee shops in E17, but conversely there are still plenty of bad ones,or even worse inconsistent ones that depend on who’s making the coffee etc.
A cup of coffee isn’t cheap, £2-3 a go on average, so I see why chains that offer that consistency thrive as people play safe and go with what they know
They must be consistently bad then, my missus and I tried coffee from the Wanstead High St branch a few weeks ago, a Latte and White Americano and they were both terribly bland – may as well have had a large cup of warmed up milk with a shot of red-bull, we both left them and made coffee at home instead.
They must be consistently bad then, my missus and I tried coffee from the Wanstead High St branch a few weeks ago, a Latte and White Americano and they were both terribly bland – may as well have had a large cup of warmed up milk with a shot of red-bull, we both left them and made coffee at home instead.
Costa are part of the Whirbread empire
Euw.
Once upon a time, a very long time ago (before 1965) Whitbread brewed quite decent beer.
Since than, they have joined the slash-&-burn school of mismanagement.
I refuse to use their premises.
WHITBREAD – sorry
It’s jot just Walthamstow they’re appearing in, I’ve seen a massive one in Barcelona as well. Goodness knows why as there are so many wonderful independent cafes in that city.