Fashionable sales! Fashionable Coffee!
With bargains to be had in nearly all of the high street stores, trawling around for that elusive cut-price bag, pair of boots or coat has never been more enticing - or fun.
But it's also thirsty and tiring work. And so, stopping to refuel with a good cup of coffee and a sugar fix is often high on the agenda, before we do it all again.
Many of the high street department stores and shopping centres boast coffee shops to allow us to rest those weary feet and get our second wind. But how good are they? They may be cheaper than the Starbucks, Costa and Neros of the city centre, but are they actually worth it?
We took to the streets and paid the coffee shops at Harvey Nichols, Jenners, Marks & Spencer on Princes Street, The Gyle and Ocean Terminal a visit to see just how they fared in taste, cost, cleanliness, customer service and value for money.
HARVEY NICHOLS
With its offering of top hip designer names and directional fashions, you'd expect that resting those weary shopping legs would be an equally glamorous affair. And it is.
A simple filter coffee may be an expensive £2.50, but it's worth every penny. First of all the surroundings make it visually pleasurable - far-reaching views over the city and the Firth of Forth - as well as the sleek white and black interiors that make up the new secluded bar area, comfy leather seats and clean tables.
Then there's the swift table service by attentive staff. But all this means nothing if the goods aren't up to scratch. But they were. The coffee (which came in a funky cup and saucer) was full-bodied and had that all-important kick, while the sizeable complimentary short-bread was crisp and soft - just as it should be. And if your taste buds craved that little bit extra then homemade fries, sandwiches, meat platters, champagne and cocktails accompany the standard offering of muffins, scones and pastries.
JENNERS
Nestled in the corner of the men's fashion lab in Jenners, this dinky coffee shop is perfect for people watching, with its views over the shop and on to the bustling St David Street.
And the coffee packs a punch too. At an affordable £1.30 the cup tastes great, as does the little and extremely moreish piece of shortbread... a full-size slice of shortbread is an additional £1.10, but worth it.
The service - which comes with a smile - is great, but you do have to go up to the till yourself and queue with all the other thirsty shoppers, wrestle for one of the few remaining seats (this place is popular) which are bar stool high and unforgiving on larger derrieres.
There are also no tables, giving it a bar feel, which is inappropriate if there's a few of you but perfect if you're shopping solo.
But don't go there with loads of bags as, unlike Harvey Nichols, the Jenners coffee shop is limited for space.
MARKS & SPENCER
Oh dear. A trip to the Rose Street coffee shop of the 54 Princes Street branch was not a pleasant experience.
Massive queues, dirty tables, weary staff, zero ambiance, communal toilets fragranced with stale urine and a seemingly faulty air conditioning system which was providing the background buzz.
But this store is embarking on a major refurbishment so I gave Cafe Revive a second chance and paid the flagship Princes Street branch a visit. Much better. There was a better selection of cakes and sandwiches and the tables were cleaner... when you could get one. The store asks that patrons refrain from taking a seat until AFTER they've queued and bought their food and drinks, meaning lots of stony-faced customers walking around laden with food in search of a seat. It is not a good system, but once you find one (or wait patiently until someone leaves), it is worth it. The coffee is nice - albeit on the weak side for hardened caffeine lovers - and extra large for its £1.30 price tag, and the two large pieces of shortbread (£1.30), unsurprisingly, are stupendous and enough for two people.
living.scotsman.com
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