I go to Birmingham financial district once a month to see an old client of mine and meet up for our book club and have frequented a few of the eating and drinking hostelries around the cathedral one of which is 200 degrees which has gone from being a boutique coffee house where the staff were energetic the floors and bathrooms were clean and the clientele worth people watching to not that.

It’s hard to see what’s changed (except everything) when the decor and food offering is pretty much identical.

The thing I think that’s missing is its heart.

I think when a corporate swoops in and buys any built from the ground up business, they believe people’s day to day routines, regular behaviour of coming will sustain it.

Coffee is a habit and I like many others enjoy my tipple of choice every day somewhere.

Don’t think I’ll be returning, this was the last time.

I don’t want a loyalty card I want an experience that makes me loyal.