I liked the Hub cafe but found the bike shop guys grumpy. Dealing with trail centre heroes on a daily basis can't have helped though 
Not tried the new place yet but heading down sometime in Jan. Hi John!
Bike Forum
Glentress new facilities
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Posted 4 months ago #
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Always love reading these threads - makes me chuckle! Happy new year, everybody!
On behalf of myself and all my fellow grumpy ex-Hub mechanics, sorry for the occasional moodswing... that place could bring out the worst in anybody, ha-ha!
I promise we're much nicer now in our nice new shiny warm workshop at Alpine Bikes... come and see for yourself! Posted 4 months ago # -
Posted 4 months ago # -
come and see for yourself!
It'll save them having to switch on the motion activated lights themselves.
Happy New Year everybody.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I was down there on Friday. Nice to sit in the warm and dry, coffee Ok, burger overpriced. the number of people in there would have overwhelmed the hub completely and there would have been no seats left inside.
I suspect it will take them a few weeks to work out when they need staff - 6 in the cafe on Friday. they had the competition from the hub for months that they were not expecting and now over a holiday period get the full trade. I am sure that being a local business that they will get it right.
The other thing people forgot is its not just for the bikers - there is walkig and birdwatching as well. Its a tourist centre not just and MTB cjentre.
Posted 4 months ago # -
shortbread_fanylion - Member
I liked the Hub cafe but found the bike shop guys grumpy. Dealing with trail centre heroes on a daily basis can't have helped though Not tried the new place yet but heading down sometime in Jan. Hi John!
Dan. Was out with Justin B yesterday
On behalf of myself and all my fellow grumpy ex-Hub mechanics, sorry for the occasional moodswing... that place could bring out the worst in anybody, ha-ha!
Understandable. Recent experience good, past experience questionable. Lack of customer training(if any)
Enjoy the new job Posted 4 months ago # -
Working at the Hub was an interesting experience
Posted 4 months ago # -
It's interesting in that the facilities could be good but aren't. Wrong place facing the wrong direction and too far from the carpark. Not nearly enough parking I had to put my frame in my mates car but if i'd been there on me own i'd have just headed home or to teh Traquair Arms for scran and a pint. Think this will be gotten used to.
BUT
Service way toooooo slow (more folk queueing than eating) took 30 mins to get served. The smoke from the kitchen was venting into the cafe (should be an easy sort). and that pond will be midge heaven after May, so short life for the outside tables.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I just miss the muddy sofas full of mice!
Posted 4 months ago # -
onehundredthidiot - Member
too far from the carpark.
The furthest-away parking is still closer to the cafe and the trailhead than the old bottom car park, btw
Posted 4 months ago # -
onehundredthidiot - Member
It's interesting in that the facilities could be good but aren't. Wrong place facing the wrong direction and too far from the carpark. Not nearly enough parking I had to put my frame in my mates car but if i'd been there on me own i'd have just headed home or to teh Traquair Arms for scran and a pint. Think this will be gotten used to.I've seen a few comments about the parking. How is the new parking any further away from the new cafe than say the bottom car park was from the hub?
Unless you managed to get parked right next to the hub, your car was never in view so I find this a strange gripe about the new place.
Unless people are just looking for any excuse to moan about the new facilities.
I know it's a radical concept, but you could just take your bike to the cafe and leave it on one of the racks, which will be in your full view while inside the place.
Posted 4 months ago # -
First visit today. Opinion = Meh. They need to learn to clear the bloody tables.
Posted 4 months ago # -
edit
Posted 4 months ago # -
Also, why the hell are the two bottom car parks closed?
Posted 4 months ago # -
Originally I assumed the bottom car park was closed to drive folk towards the new facilities. The one at the old hub must be closed while they dismantle the hub and other bits that aren't staying. Long term though they have to open them again.
Posted 4 months ago # -
The point about lack of parking in view is bollox - your car would not be in view at the old hub most of the time.
If the old hub had had the number of people in it that the new cafe had on friday there would have been no indoor seats left and a queue out of the door
Posted 4 months ago # -
tandemjeremy
go back to school and learn to read the post it says 'out of view next to the trees. good cover for thieves....
yes the lower hub car park was out of sight but was in the open and could be seen by you our your mates or if you were stupid enough to leave bikes on the roof... we didnt at the hub or the new car park !
however the car parking is shite for the amount of money spent
it could have been sooooo much better,, but it isnt..
and yes i do agree the new facility is bigger more seating and potential for even more woohoo,still no atmosphere or smiley staff..
Posted 4 months ago # -
tandemjeremy
go back to school and learn to read the post it says 'out of view next to the trees. good cover for thieves....
yes the lower hub car park was out of sight but was in the open and could be seen by you our your mates or if you were stupid enough to leave bikes on the roof... we didnt at the hub or the new car park ! however the car parking is shite for the amount of money spent
it could have been sooooo much better,, but it isnt..
and yes i do agree the new facility is bigger more seating and potential for even more woohoo,still no atmosphere or smiley staff..
Posted 4 months ago # -
We visited the new cafe today for the first time, really sad to see the old one boarded up.
Like many above, we thought it was soulless, sterile, more pitched at coach-parties of golfers. The staff were polite rather than friendly, (one delightful girl gave me the old 'service with a snarl' when she slammed the plate down in front of me). Understaffed, big slow-moving queues and finding a clear table was a challenge. The food was average and the coffee was rubbish.
Disappointed too that none of the old Hub staff seem to have given jobs there (maybe they were offered?) as it puts them out of a job. No matter how busy it was, I can't recall any of the Hub staff making me feel like I was inconveniencing them by ordering their simple and excellent food. AFAIK, they were all cyclists too.
End of an era, them were the days etc.
Incidentally, much has been made of the 'green' credentials of the new centre being built of Glentress wood. What does not get mentioned is that all of that wood was transported to Aberdeenshire to be planked and driven back for building. I'd be amazed if there wasn't a suitable facility for planking in the Borders somewhere...
and what's that Osprey's nest all about? Does anyone really imagine...
Posted 4 months ago # -
Calm the beans, its only a cafe for fux ake.
It was fine when I was there.Posted 4 months ago # -
Tried the new place on Wednesday, service was ok, food nothing special and the place felt pretty lifeless. That said, I never rated the food at the hub and found the service much the same. So, I've maintained my overall view that I go to ride my bike, and I'll use the cafe there if needed.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I always take my own food when I ride places, with so many different foods to choose from, why take the chance that it will be crap
In this day and age we simply need to make the most of what ever resources we have and get on with it, if you don't like the place just avoid it and make the most of your saddle time
What are the tracks like any damage to them or tree's down? anyhing to watch out for when you're there
Posted 4 months ago # -
What I don't understand are the wooden inlays across the roads. With a sign next to them warning that they're slippy.
Well duh, wood gets slippy when it wet, so why put **** wooden inlays into the road? Completely and utterly pointless.
IMO, they've spend a lot of money for some nice-ish buildings, which look rather large from the outside, but once inside didn't have much in the way of actual 'facilities'.
Cafe looked 'meh', didn't bother looking at the bike shop. Gents toilet cubicle in the Cafe doesn't lock. I'm wonder where all the £££ has gone TBH
Posted 4 months ago # -
I was in earlier today, service was quick and pleasant. They seemed to struggle with clearing the tables. Burger and chips was OK. Noticed there doesn't appear to be a proper coffee machine.
Posted 4 months ago # -
biped - Member
Disappointed too that none of the old Hub staff seem to have given jobs there (maybe they were offered?) as it puts them out of a job.
Hub was still trading after Peel cafe opened remember.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Any good trails at Glentress?
Posted 4 months ago # -
It does smell of shite, I'm guessing the septic tank is behind the bike shop somewhere as it was strongest over there.
The car parking is inadequate if they don't reopen the car park at the old hub.
The staff were slow in the cafe, but I guess this will improve with time, AFAIK the staff in the hub cafe were mostly part time youngsters, doing the serving so don't thing their non re-employment is a great tragedy. Quite a few of the old bike shop staff have transferred over I think.
Coffee was minging first time I visited but was ok the other day.
They don't let dogs inside, do dogs bring a more highly toxic type of mud in with them? Unless I let my dog up onto the work surfaces in the kitchen I don't see how he can be a health hazard! never had a problem with that at the hub.
That pond looks like midge heaven,in the late summer you won't be able to sit outside in the afternoon which is a bit rubbish.
I think it could have been far better laid out than it is and would have expected far more for £9M. I miss the atmosphere of the old Hub and was sorry to see it go, I realise that progress is inevitable and mibby the new place will develop its own 'vibe' over time, here's hoping.
At least now it's finished they may start spending on the trails instead...
Posted 4 months ago # -
Spaceman. I am allergic to dogs same as some people are allergic to nuts :-
Posted 4 months ago # -
and I'm allergic to children but they let loads of them in
Posted 4 months ago # -
There's just no pleasing some people is there. Moan moan moan
Posted 4 months ago # -
The facilities are just fine but there is limited carparking to abandon my Audi over two spaces.
Posted 4 months ago # -
In the old cafe. I can't remember trying to find a seat indoors (virtually impossible). If I sat outside in the elements I might just see my car parked in the small carpark (if I could find a space there).
See a theme?
As for leaving my bike on the roof. Do you know how easy bikes on thule racks are to steal? You don't need a key.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Where did the £9M come from? Proper public coffers?
Posted 4 months ago # -
The quality of the coffee is crap and for that reason I'm out...
Posted 4 months ago # -
Are you breguding 9m spent on something worthwhile instead of 1k a week to keep some large families in accomodation in London?
Posted 4 months ago #
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