Coffee Mill Bridge Street Chester

Sad news indeed as another long, well established establishment disappears from Chester city centre. This time The Coffee Mill in Bridge Street has closed after more than 20 years of business. As I say, sad news indeed. The popular eaterie closed in March like every other similar business as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But unlike some of the other establishments, The Coffee Mill has not reopened. The owner, Debbie Burns confirmed that it was an ‘incredibly difficult decision’ to close while citing a host of contributing factors.

The Coffee Mill On Bridge Street Now Closed

I don’t know the full ins and outs of each of the contributing factors, but it would seem that Covid-19 was the final nail. But not the sole factor. The impact of Covid-19 is significant of course.

With the safety aspects for staff and customers alike, the need for social distancing in a relatively small location will have caused problems no doubt. But, as there were other contributing factors before the arrival of Covid-19, the scene had already been set it would seem.

Debbie explained that the “bus station’s relocation had a huge impact on footfall in town. The rising number of empty shops put visitors off coming, as did the cost of parking in Chester. Also, decisions like not allowing us a small “A Frame Board” outside to advertise, high rents and the increasing associated costs and the large increase in competition all played a part in the closure.”

These non Covid-19 factors seem all too familiar. Over the last three years of this website’s existence, I have mentioned shop closures before. You can see a selection of the posts below:

More Shop Closures – September 2017 – https://chesterlifestyle.com/more-shop-closures/

Shop Closures Part 4 – March 2020 – https://chesterlifestyle.com/chester-shop-closures-part-4/

I understand that some of the closures mentioned in the March 2020 article above are as a result of natural progression. Others though, and some of those in the links provided, are due to the problematic factors Debbie Burns has faced. Mind you, it’s not only a problem that Chester has is it. Throw internet shopping into the mix and places up and down the country are affected. But what can we do about the aspects that we can control though?

Local Think Tank

In the September 2017 article I touched on the subject for a local think tank. This was initially for the benefit of the local retail community. I revisited this topic again in July 2020. This time though the local think tank concept was mentioned on a wider scale. Either way, a local think tank of some description that could be developed along the way could well be an idea to take on board.

The link to my local think article in July is here below:

A Local Think Tank – July 2020 – https://chesterlifestyle.com/local-think-tank-is-it-worth-a-thought/

The Coffee Mill Closed – Contributing Factors

Consider this as a case in point of where a local think tank may be of use. Taking the issue of the removal of “A Boards” for advertising. I don’t know the full reasons but I’m sure I could find them somewhere. But, playing devil’s advocate, I can see the kind of problems a whole host of “A Boards” may bring.

Difficulties for people to access pavements, problems for people with mobility issues, people in wheelchairs and pushing prams etc. Also, will street level “A Boards” on streets that are wide enough give these businesses an advantage over businesses that couldn’t logistically utilise one. On the Rows maybe, or passageways that are too narrow. A bit like planning permission in that respect I suppose. If a street level coffee shop applied for an “A Board,” could a Row level coffee shop object for instance?

Does that mean though that “A Boards” should be rejected completely? Or, to put another slant on it, if the decision was made to remove them, were there alternatives suggested?

As I say, I don’t know the full details of why “A Boards” were removed or rejected, but was it a unilateral decision to just remove them? Or was a Plan B, or a Plan C offered?

No “A Boards” – But Here’s A Plan B

Maybe there were alternatives offered as substitutes to “A Boards.” I can think of a few. I can’t see any evidence of any alternatives though. Maybe it’s me and I’ve just not seen them.

But, seeing what Debbie from The Coffee Mill has had to say, you could effectively derive a formula that is almost guaranteed to equal shop closures (or any other businesses for that matter).

Let me take one of the components of that formula and ask a question. Do we have footfall figures available since the new bus station has been open compared with footfall figures from the ‘old days’ of Delamere Street bus station and the Town Hall bus terminal?

Only last Sunday I was having a sherbet with a local business person and we were remembering those days mentioned. Including in the scenario the Gateway Theatre. The big question was, how much better are the figures now compared with the old days (excluding the current Covid-19 period)?

We also touched on the subject of more and more planning decisions being granted for more and more hotels to be built. The equation doesn’t seem to stack up does it? More people being enticed to come into the city but with a declining number of places to visit.

Working From Home – What Impact Will This Have?

One aspect of the Covid-19 crisis that may well stay way beyond things returning to normal is the impact of people working from home. This is a great unknown at the moment. But, it would seem, working from home is now so very feasible for many. An option not considered practical or ideal for employers previously.

I recently heard of a local resident accepting a new job offer from a company in York. Wow, that’s some commute on a daily basis you would think. Not so. The terms of the role allowed working from home and the need to only call into the office in York once a month. Meetings during the month? Zoom or Skype or Messenger. Not a problem.

How many employers, irrespective of their location but also including Chester as well of course, are now thinking, “do I really now need that city centre office?”

Cue those that deem they don’t would of course mean that fewer and fewer people are flooding into town and city centres on a Monday to Friday daily basis. Big rent and NNDR savings for the employer (and all the other overheads of course) and a huge saving for many of the employees as well. Savings on travel costs for instance.

Fewer people visiting the city centre = not good news for those city centre businesses of course.

In the York example mentioned above. The previous role this person had was based in Manchester. Mainly working from home for a York based business will result in a monthly saving of about £300 per month in travel and parking costs.

And what about students? Will a Covid-19 spin off include more remote, virtual learning courses? If so, even fewer city centre visitors.

Some food for thought there maybe?

A Fine Balancing Act

Yes, the working from home option is Covid-19 related. And it is something that probably would not have been considered by many businesses if it wasn’t for the virus.

But the virus has happened. And businesses are not only fighting to get back on track and profitable as soon as they can, they are fighting for their actual survival. Pure and simple as that.

And, it is a situation that needs to be factored in. No doubt about that. Which may lend itself to a more transparent, local think tank. As per mentioned in my article from July 2020.

If I haven’t done so already I could get really stuck into this subject. But I won’t as I’m starting to ramble a bit. I think you get the drift though. It is, without a doubt, a fine balancing act. Who is best served to carry out such an important balancing act? Again, I have my thoughts on this but that is not for this article. No doubt these thoughts will get an airing during a Sunday afternoon impromptu sherbet or two in due course!!!

Unfortunately any helpful suggestions going forward will not be of any benefit to The Coffee Mill. Or any of those others that have bitten the dust over the last few years. But going forward? Who knows?

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

Anyway, many thanks for reading my “The Coffee Mill Bridge Street Chester” post. It’s just a shame the post isn’t one of good news. I hope that Debbie and all her loyal staff who served her and their many loyal customers so well over the years get themselves sorted employment wise very quickly.

If you would like to read any of my other blog posts here on my Chester Lifestyle website, then click HERE.

Stay safe one and all.

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