Indeed Guy. Pret seem to be taking the piss now frankly with their ever increasing prices . I bought a sandwich , apple, crisps, and drink and was best part of a tenner !
I had already stopped using them for lunch - far better options out there if you are going to spend £7-8 on lunch. If I just want a sandwich/salad snack and drink I will go to Tesco for £3
They increased prices on everything in January. When my regular order was suddenly over £8, I asked about it - the server flatly denied there had been any price increases. Never going back. Now get a salad and (bigger) soup from Waitrose on my way in for £4.
Guy agreed it’s that yesterday I really fancied one of their sandwiches. And their tuna Niçoise salad boxers , the ultimate piss take . PLENTY of salad leaves , half boiled and sliced egg, 6 french beans , and a tablespoon of minced tuna £7.00 upwards please . fook off
Year of the pig, yes indeed all those people being mugged off by Prets gluten free , sliver of smoked salmon slice with milk free butter and “cream cheese” 8 quid please
I was working from home yesterday so went to my local one and I was struck just how smug people that go there are , and the loons who froth with excitement at being there as if they don’t have one near them outside work . Often seen people buying a days bloody supply :
bacon and sausage breakfast bap , coffee and orange juice .
sandwich , crisps , drink,fruit bar for lunch
random snacking products . And that my dear friend is20 quo’s in a day!!
When they started they were viewed as a premium product and could charge premium prices. They are now as ubiquitous as McDonalds, sell stuff that is now bog standard everywhere and need to re-asses their strategy or I reckon slowly but surely they are going to start to crash and burn.
It's almost as if they bought up one of their main competitors and are now absolutely everywhere and have consequently ramped up their prices to cash in...
Their porridge is the most consistently good though - that's the problem... Eat's porridge was like wallpaper paste more often than not...
But yeah - everything's overpriced there. Their mac and cheese things are tasty but something like £6 for a smallish square box of macaroni and cheese that's about 1.5cm deep at most.
BENJIS!! They were fab - thick white bloomer toast dripping with butter and a good foffe for about 3 quid. That was my height of luxury in trainee days!!
Oh, didnt realise - so have all EATS gone then?? No wonder Prety have upped their prices - I went once a couple of weeks ago, couldn't believe how much it cost and have avoided it since.
Also not very many Greggs in the City/West End (and none at all on CW still I think). Definitely room for them to expand a lot in all those areas I'd say to challenge Pret.
I suspect Pret will keep going as there's always people in a hurry/ stressed and in a rush in the city who don't have time to shop around and/ or don't need to watch the pennies...but susspect there'll also be a drop off for those like us who feel it's taking the pi** with prices!!
Greggs do more gluten free/healthy type stuff than you might expect, but that stuff is also why Pret is expensive. If you want the w**ky fad superfoods you pay the premium price.
It's like saying there's a gap in the market for a supermarket like Waitrose where the poors don't go, but a lot cheaper.
If someone wants to open a business there's a gap for a basic packaging place (like Greggs) that does pasties etc (like Greggs) but also decent, non salt/ mayo laden sarnies (unlike Pret/ Subway), decent sized salads/ hot bowl things for when you're in a hurry but that don't cost the earth (unlike Pret/ Pure/ Leon). Subway has the expanse/ name, it just needs to reconsider the menu offerings for a health focussed public.
I don't agree pancake. M&S manage to do the healthier options without the high prices. All Pret need to do is reduce the mayo/ salt/ butter etc. Their "healthy" marketed stuff isn't that healthy anyway.
I suspect Greggs will continue to branch out and bridge the gap, like they did with the Vegan pasty, and people will stop viewing it as a chavs option.
Guy, I popped in one the other day but they didnt have a lot but admittedly it was a non city one! Will revisit! Aside from what they actually sell, they need to do some marketing as it's generally considered low end.
The supermarkets who do plenty of healthy options, take up the budget end of the scale it seems to me
I miss the Italian delis which used to abound in my early years in London which did great variety at a reasonable price -the likes of Pret have sadly killed most of them off.
Certainly they did but I think that image has pretty much gone now; the vegan sausage roll was genius marketing in achieving that.
For sure there are a handful in the City Abbs, another one on Leather Lane, and a tiny one in Westminster Tube station if you count that, but literally a handful; not exactly like Pret or Starbucks literally everywhere!
BST - agree the vegan roll was genius and their profits from it were astounding but dont think they completely addressed the image from their old campaigns which were quite low end. Just needs a bit of a PR overhaul IMO. There are two in the area I live in and they're still viewed as that locally. When I win the lottery I might offer them some free PR ;)
Who remembers lords , absolutely best ever sandwiches , salads, and hot meals all made fresh every day , and their home made chicken Kiev were divine . Chancery Lane was great , where did they go
i went into pret the other day for a soup (I like their tomato) and a salad and did a double take at the till when she told me how much it was - I actually thought she’d double scanned something
Everything is expensive now. Pass the Werthers, ta. I came back after a couple of years away and the price of a soup at Nusa seemed to have increased by about 20% (presumably to finance their expansion from one to about six outlets in that time). Still my favourite place for lunch.
What I like about the City is the great range of lunch places to grab and go. Yes, they all tend to be expensive but it's a lot better (and no more spenny) than the offerings in other major European cities that I'm familiar with.
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Indeed Guy. Pret seem to be taking the piss now frankly with their ever increasing prices . I bought a sandwich , apple, crisps, and drink and was best part of a tenner !
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I had already stopped using them for lunch - far better options out there if you are going to spend £7-8 on lunch. If I just want a sandwich/salad snack and drink I will go to Tesco for £3
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They increased prices on everything in January. When my regular order was suddenly over £8, I asked about it - the server flatly denied there had been any price increases. Never going back. Now get a salad and (bigger) soup from Waitrose on my way in for £4.
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Guy agreed it’s that yesterday I really fancied one of their sandwiches. And their tuna Niçoise salad boxers , the ultimate piss take . PLENTY of salad leaves , half boiled and sliced egg, 6 french beans , and a tablespoon of minced tuna £7.00 upwards please . fook off
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Never realised that bad mayonnaise and “no bread” sandwiches (aka bad salad) could be so profitable.
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I always wondered what sort of person pays over £2 for Porridge ffs.
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A lazy person wibble, but I have now reached the limits of my laziness...
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it is less time and effort to make it yourself than to go to the shop for it.
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The "protein pots" are the funniest. A boiled egg with a couple of spinach leaves.
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Year of the pig, yes indeed all those people being mugged off by Prets gluten free , sliver of smoked salmon slice with milk free butter and “cream cheese” 8 quid please
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I was working from home yesterday so went to my local one and I was struck just how smug people that go there are , and the loons who froth with excitement at being there as if they don’t have one near them outside work . Often seen people buying a days bloody supply :
bacon and sausage breakfast bap , coffee and orange juice .
sandwich , crisps , drink,fruit bar for lunch
random snacking products . And that my dear friend is20 quo’s in a day!!
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you don't have a microwave at work?
Sod the pret shit. everything is overpriced there
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it is less time and effort to make it yourself than to go to the shop for it.
Not true - it is about 30 seconds v 5 minutes give the shop is actually in my place of work.
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Their dark chocolate covered almonds are good value though.
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Their apple fizzy drink in a can is very nice though
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one trick Pret use is charge large sums to skinny girls by offering low calorie options - of course low calorie basically means not much food.
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Guy is in fact Svetlana from Pret AICM std
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This place represents everything that is wrong with the world today.
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Do they still give you free stuff every now and again? I used to like that.
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Agreed Coffers (and others) they've stretched the prices too far now and are taking the piss; I still go a bit but less.
That's except for the 49p (with reusable cup) filter coffee which is still a bargain.
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When they started they were viewed as a premium product and could charge premium prices. They are now as ubiquitous as McDonalds, sell stuff that is now bog standard everywhere and need to re-asses their strategy or I reckon slowly but surely they are going to start to crash and burn.
BRING BACK BENJIES!
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It's almost as if they bought up one of their main competitors and are now absolutely everywhere and have consequently ramped up their prices to cash in...
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Their porridge is the most consistently good though - that's the problem... Eat's porridge was like wallpaper paste more often than not...
But yeah - everything's overpriced there. Their mac and cheese things are tasty but something like £6 for a smallish square box of macaroni and cheese that's about 1.5cm deep at most.
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BENJIS!! They were fab - thick white bloomer toast dripping with butter and a good foffe for about 3 quid. That was my height of luxury in trainee days!!
Also did the BEST Chelsea buns - HUGE they were.
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Also, who did Pret buy out??
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Oh, didnt realise - so have all EATS gone then?? No wonder Prety have upped their prices - I went once a couple of weeks ago, couldn't believe how much it cost and have avoided it since.
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There's a gap in the market for a non overpriced alternative to Pret/ Leon. I used to go to Pod in the city but it was rank
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The non-overpriced alternative exists already, it's Greggs. Porridge is £1.
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They don't do a nice range of low cal/ gluten free/ healthy nice things tho do they??
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oooh, didn't realise Greggs did porridge - is it ok?
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Also not very many Greggs in the City/West End (and none at all on CW still I think). Definitely room for them to expand a lot in all those areas I'd say to challenge Pret.
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I suspect Pret will keep going as there's always people in a hurry/ stressed and in a rush in the city who don't have time to shop around and/ or don't need to watch the pennies...but susspect there'll also be a drop off for those like us who feel it's taking the pi** with prices!!
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Greggs do more gluten free/healthy type stuff than you might expect, but that stuff is also why Pret is expensive. If you want the w**ky fad superfoods you pay the premium price.
It's like saying there's a gap in the market for a supermarket like Waitrose where the poors don't go, but a lot cheaper.
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If someone wants to open a business there's a gap for a basic packaging place (like Greggs) that does pasties etc (like Greggs) but also decent, non salt/ mayo laden sarnies (unlike Pret/ Subway), decent sized salads/ hot bowl things for when you're in a hurry but that don't cost the earth (unlike Pret/ Pure/ Leon). Subway has the expanse/ name, it just needs to reconsider the menu offerings for a health focussed public.
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I don't agree pancake. M&S manage to do the healthier options without the high prices. All Pret need to do is reduce the mayo/ salt/ butter etc. Their "healthy" marketed stuff isn't that healthy anyway.
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I suspect Greggs will continue to branch out and bridge the gap, like they did with the Vegan pasty, and people will stop viewing it as a chavs option.
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Greggs actually do most of what you are talking about Maid M
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Guy, I popped in one the other day but they didnt have a lot but admittedly it was a non city one! Will revisit! Aside from what they actually sell, they need to do some marketing as it's generally considered low end.
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The supermarkets who do plenty of healthy options, take up the budget end of the scale it seems to me
I miss the Italian delis which used to abound in my early years in London which did great variety at a reasonable price -the likes of Pret have sadly killed most of them off.
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Just needs a bit of a re-brand and more vegan options and bingo, it could be the new big Pret rival
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Do people still think that Maid M?
Certainly they did but I think that image has pretty much gone now; the vegan sausage roll was genius marketing in achieving that.
For sure there are a handful in the City Abbs, another one on Leather Lane, and a tiny one in Westminster Tube station if you count that, but literally a handful; not exactly like Pret or Starbucks literally everywhere!
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Isn't this inherent to the pricing though? People tend to perceive higher-priced things as more desirable and "premium"
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Not when they'r eladen with salt/ mayo etc like the Pret offerings
Ps for the porridge hunters - Costa do a nice one and it's not too bad sugar/ fat wise
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It saddens me that colleagues will easily spend £50 in Pret during the week - they can afford it - but it is just such a rip off.
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The sandwiches at EAT were better and larger.
I now go to Coco Di Mama which is better than either.
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BST - agree the vegan roll was genius and their profits from it were astounding but dont think they completely addressed the image from their old campaigns which were quite low end. Just needs a bit of a PR overhaul IMO. There are two in the area I live in and they're still viewed as that locally. When I win the lottery I might offer them some free PR ;)
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I was put off Coco as they only seemed ot do pasta - do they do other stuff??
Agree, EAT sarnies were much better
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Diablo - try Coco de Mer - much better.
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Who remembers lords , absolutely best ever sandwiches , salads, and hot meals all made fresh every day , and their home made chicken Kiev were divine . Chancery Lane was great , where did they go
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A timely thread
i went into pret the other day for a soup (I like their tomato) and a salad and did a double take at the till when she told me how much it was - I actually thought she’d double scanned something
won’t be back anytime soon
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Agreed Pret prices have become ridiculous.
But the food is nice and there is usually a well smashable eastern-european girl serving you, so it's all right, innit?
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Everything is expensive now. Pass the Werthers, ta. I came back after a couple of years away and the price of a soup at Nusa seemed to have increased by about 20% (presumably to finance their expansion from one to about six outlets in that time). Still my favourite place for lunch.
What I like about the City is the great range of lunch places to grab and go. Yes, they all tend to be expensive but it's a lot better (and no more spenny) than the offerings in other major European cities that I'm familiar with.
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