All I wanted was a spare paper cup...
Today I finished my coffee at Costa, and asked for a takeaway paper cup, as I knew it would entertain my baby son all the way home. I was refused, and looked at as if I had asked for the contents of the safe or something. I think I just caught a bad member of staff (possibly a manager, possibly called Katie) who said no, they're not allowed to even use them for water, I certainly couldn't have one for my son to play with.
I can only guess the lady serving did not know I'd already bought a coffee, and thought I was a tramp off the street looking for free stuff, but still not good service.
I would not normally go in Costa in Folkestone, though I do like to vary my coffee stops. I probably won't again now. Go to Googies or Chambers instead, good coffee, free biscuit, and cheaper, and supporting genuinely local businesses.
I feel bad for ever going in Costa in the first place now.
This is part of my site The 'Gerald that I set up in a fury of excitement when we first moved here sometime in 2004. I'd been a frequent visitor for a while previous to that so I am technically one of those Down From Londons you get nowadays. The site was a lot more dynamic with a calendar of events + voting for favourite venues + things, + I know it was a handy resource for others who were thinking of moving to the area. Now I've moved out of Folkestone again (though only a couple of miles) it doesn't get as much attention as it used to. Ironic really as The town is now becoming the exciting place we always thought it was just about to. I am not Gerald BTW, the name comes from a pretend paper in an episode of The Day Today or something, the Portsmouth Gerald, and how there is a local newspaper here called the Folkestone Herald. Puns like this are GRATE aren't they? Do contact me if you have anything to offer, email anythign @ this domain, or try @folkestone or @pauly on Twitter.