A cup of stewed tea please. (BHS British Home Stores)

Member Name: b-rokscarrie

Product:	BHS British Home Stores
Date:	17/09/01 (516 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You can buy food and drink here

Disadvantages: Many (see op)

For many years I have looked upon British Home Stores as being a bit old-fashioned as far as clothes are concerned, at least in ladies fashion. Teenagers fashion was much better though.

I therefore didn't set foot much in there once my daughter became 16 or so. However, I feel I have to write this opinion about their cafe. Myself and my daughter were looking for somewhere to have a drink in Stevenage on Saturday, and I suggested BHS as we hadn't been there since the time in their store in Oxford Street a couple of years ago, when the lunches we ordered were almost cold. Call me foolish, but I thought it was about time we tried them again.

BHS in Stevenage is a modern looking shop, brightly lit etc., but when you climb the escalator to the first floor and make your way across to the coffee shop, you are entering another world.

The serving area seems OK, the food laid out much the same as in other shops and cafes. Here is where the similarity ends. We bought our drinks and made out way to the nearest table.

* The coffee shop itself is drab, with the walls painted magnolia. Although there are spotlights of a kind, it is far from welcoming or relaxing.

* The tables, perhaps as in many places were waiting to be cleared, but this only added to depressing atmosphere of the place.

* The carpet was FILTHY. It looked like it hadn't been hoovered for a while, and large stains were apparent all over it. Yes, I know that spillages are probably ocurring daily, but I also wonder if maybe some of the stains are due to perhaps a child having too much milkshake mixed with too much dinner. I won't spell out the consequences but I think we can all imagine! Wouldn't it be a good idea to perhaps use a carpet cleaner just occasionally. After all, all eating places must have the same kind of problems, but most of them seem to keep on top of things. One look at the stains on the carpet was enough to
put anyone off their food!

Prices in the cafe are on a par with other in-store cafes, they are certainly no cheaper, so I expected more. The tea tasted stewed and came in the typical stainless steel teapot, and I had to ask for a cup and saucer instead of the standard mugs they were offering.

I just cannot believe how awful and depressing this cafe was and it is the last time I will be setting foot in there until I cam convinced it has changed a lot - for the better.

Summary: