It's important that if people are angry about Costa moving in that they DON'T GO IN THERE. so many people complain but then go along with something when it happens. if the people of keynsham boycott it in force then they will be forced to leave. it's the only power we have. personally coffee #1 is my favourite place in town but there are plenty of others. we don't need Costa.

Let's not overlook the fact that both Costa and Coffee #1 are owned by big breweries. Costa is part of Whitbread and Coffee#1 was bought by Brains in 2011.

Whilst I can understand the concern of large chains moving into the high st, this is a franchise run and owned by local people. Bringing jobs back to Keynsham and at least it is not another charity shop!

Like it or not, chains like Costa will help attract better retail outlets for keynsham as a whole, especially during these early stages of redevelopment.

If Costa does well and takes business away from other coffee shops in Keynsham then that will be because more people have wanted to go there. To survive other coffee shops will have to improve and meet the demands of the consumer! I think it is called market forces.

We just need a nice cafe/bar like a Tinto Lounge that serves good food all day and would be used by all elements of the Keynsham population.

Hi Playboy51, infact I think it is you missing my point.

The success of the redevelopment in Keynsham town centre will be heavily based on the retail units that get attracted to the new development and Keynsham as a whole. Quality retail shops will be more attracted to a busy high st with busy coffee shops which generate good footfall. They will also be more confident to invest in Keynsham if some of these coffee shops are well established chains have also chosen the location. Chains such as Costa and Coffee #1 spend considerable time and money ensuring they chose the best retail locations or are in area's that are being redeveloped or likely to see redevelopment in the near future.

To be clear in my previous post I stated "If Costa does well and takes business away from other coffee shops". I am not explicitly saying I want Costa to succeed or existing coffee shops to be forced out of business or to struggle, far from it.

I am just stating a fact that if Costa does draw customers from other coffee shops, then there is a reason for it. Retail is all about competition and it is a good thing. If Costa folds after it's free drinks promotion then all that will do is harm the prospects for Keynsham's redevelopment over then next few years.
I agree that it is tough for independent coffee shops to compete financially, however, being an independent is also their main strength.

I am not sure that I agree with you 'playboy51' that the redevelopment is irrelevant by two years. Surely the redevelopment will be attracting the attention of potential retailers NOW and not in two years time (well under two years actually), why would they wait until the development was complete?!

A potential retailer for the new development could come to Keynsham and find empty shops or a high street bustling with busy coffee shops, which would look better from their perspective?

I am also interested in the high street today, not just in the future, and if I was a potential retailer I would love the fact that the high street was getting busier as a result of the facilities (e.g. coffee shop) and would see it as a good place to open up a business/franchise. I have been in several of them since moving to Keynsham a year or so ago and have always struggled to get a seat in most of them.

I don't see you targeting the many charity shops on the high street, this is what would put me off. Charity shops do not bring people to the high street like coffee shops do, I have lost count of the number of them we currently have.

Welcome, NewtoKeynsham. As you state, you are the new kid on the block. I speak as someone who has lived here for 43 years. Yes, i agree with you 100% reguarding charity shops and you would be familier with my past correspondence had you been a resident for longer than you have. The unfortunate fact is, is that Keynsham's charity shops are well established having been part of our high street for many years. However, for some, they do provide a service which in these hard financial times are a life line. I have bought picture frames from one myself. The point is, as much as they clog up the high street, they are selling items that people can buy and take home and use. The service they offer is "retail". This does not apply to Costa. You say that charity shops do not bring people to the high street, i beg to differ. The fact that so many survive while other types of businesses go to the wall speaks for itself. Yes, their existence is at the expence of "proper" shops, but another coffee house is not the answer. It deprives potential businesses of somewhere to open.

Hi Playboy51, apologies, I only have access to your recent post as like you say I am new here. As a long term resident I would really like to know your opinion on the Somerdale redevelopment?

I am surprised at the number of people that are prepared to pay upwards of £2 for a cup of coffee in big business cafés such as Costa. It seems to me there are a lot more gullible people on our high streets these days.

I've been hearing stories of quite a few people refusing to go there when their friends invite them out so this is great news. every time i walk past to get to coffee #1 i stare in angrily at anyone that will make eye contact with me :-)