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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.
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 ❓
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 ****ing 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
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.
biped - MemberDisappointed 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.
Any good trails at Glentress?
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...
Spaceman. I am allergic to dogs same as some people are allergic to nuts :- 😕
and I'm allergic to children but they let loads of them in 🙁
There's just no pleasing some people is there. Moan moan moan
The facilities are just fine but there is limited carparking to abandon my Audi over two spaces.
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.
Where did the £9M come from? Proper public coffers?
The quality of the coffee is crap and for that reason I'm out...
Are you breguding 9m spent on something worthwhile instead of 1k a week to keep some large families in accomodation in London?
[i]Where did the £9M come from? Proper public coffers?[/i]
A mix of funding, including disposal of other assets I'd imagine. Would love to see a full breakdown of costs right from the purchase of the original site to the doors opening, that way we could see how the budget jumped from £5m to £9m and see how much was paid for neighbouring properties / land (and why).
[i]Are you breguding 9m spent on something worthwhile instead of 1k a week to keep some large families in accomodation in London? [/i]
It's amazing how you've been able to overdeliver as a dafty year after year. Chapeau.
I can forgive all of the above, and hope that it will improve, but somebody will be going straight to hell for buying that coffee machine.
The simple thing I totally fail to understand is this...
With the view available over the road towards the castle and the hills beyond (same view you stop and drink in on the way up the blue route)
Why, Why, oh why did they plonk the new facilities in the gutter beside the road ???? Then point it looking IN toward the hillside ?
All your looking at is mud ! 🙁
Surely it would be better on top of the bare hill (currently open scrub land) at the same height as the shower block !
wasted opportunity, and very very poorly executed project IMHO.
Any good trails at Glentress?
Good lord man nobody here actually [i]rides[/i] bikes...
Don't forget this facility would probably more suit partners/kids/walkers waiting for cyclists prob abit more.
It was busy today with a bit of a queue. Not too long a wait. The problem seems to be the fact they're taking too many orders at once. The girl on the till took 4 or 5 orders then the other staff struggle to put them together. The soup was excellent though.
Very busy today on the trails , Also good to see them opening the bottom car park as well.
I remember chatting to Chris Ball on one of his dirtschool days about the parking a few years back, and I remember him saying that the new development would have a total of about 2 extra spaces over the existing place... any more and the FC would have to put in a roundabout at the entrance. Might be wrong but, sure someone at the FC could answer that one.
And yeah the cafe needs to sort out the queues, but they will get it sorted eventually.
THIS THREAD NEEDS MORE CAPITAL LETTERS.
Why don't you go ride your bike there, then go home, have a sandwich, wash all the body armour you might have been wearing and not worry about the cafe and moan about it online.
Following on from my last comment. Most times I've ridden there I've finished ride, packed up, gone for a piss then driven back to Edinburgh to stay with friends. Same with everywhere.
Replace Edinburgh with 'pub'.
Visitors centres are for family NOT riders IMO.
Visitors centres are for family NOT riders IMO.
😆
Been said millions of times no doubt but £9M WTF was fine before.
/THREAD CLOSED/
I have been in the new cafe a number of times and have no issues with the staff or the service. On every occasion they have been friendly and efficient. The increased interior space is a definite bonus. The bike shop is much-of-a-muchness.
With regard to carparking. I think that the new carpark is OK, and there are clearly plans to expand uphill. If you look closely, you'll see that the landscaping has already been done. There are toilets and showers on site, and that is progress. One cubicle for the men did raise an eyebrow, and I fully agree with the comments that many users travel quite long distance to use the centre, and may well arrive 'in need'...
My main issue is with the orientation of the new building, and the lack of an outside seating area with a view and direct sunlight. It is almost like the new building has been concealed from public view, while the FC offices on the hill dominate the hillside. One of the strengths of the old place was the ability to watch the comings and goings of friends and others, whilst bathing in the glorious and frequent Scottish sunlight. Staring at mud bank does not do it for me.
To be fair the bike shop were very helpful today. Arrived with my ten year old daughter to find she had a nearly completely seized bottom bracket (apparently it had been hard to pedal and had been making a funny noise while riding about the street but she hadn't thought to mention it!) They swapped it for a reasonably priced new one while we waited, good friendly service.