Small business breaks down cost of a cuppa after Chester visitor left in ‘shock’ at price

An award winning cafe in Wrexham city centre has taken the time to detail the range of unseen costs that hospitality businesses have to cover to actually even have a business, in response to a letter from Chester.

Sending the feedback via a second class stamped letter the anonymous writer spoke of their ‘shock’ over £2.20 for a cup of tea, saying “It is no wonder OAPs cannot go out”.

To^st (toast) on Charles Street, is owned and run by husband and wife team Claire and Paul, sharing the letter on their Instagram they said of the letter from a customer in Chester, “Both Paul and I feel disappointed and shocked to receive this letter where the customer felt compelled to write to us to complain about the price of a cuppa and also buy a stamp to post it to us!

“We have always tried to keep our prices in line with other independent cafes and coffee shops in Wrexham City Centre.

“After doing some research this afternoon I discovered some other similar independents in Wrexham are charging anywhere between £2.29 and £2.50 for a cuppa with the average price being £2.42 – our price is £2.20 per large cup with options to save more if you have a pot of tea for 2 people!

“Did you know when we buy food and drink from a small cafe, it’s hardly even about the cost to cover the ingredients and staff wages to create & serve the food and drink – the majority of the transaction amount is to cover all the overheads to actually just have a business.

“Advertising and marketing, accounting fees, cleaning products, repairs & maintenance, electricity, wages, kitchen & front of house equipment, licensing, payment processing fees, point of sale software, bank fees, telephone and internet, water, waste removal, rent, loans, delivery fees, subscriptions/ memberships and so on”

“We know things are hard for everyone at the moment and more so for pensioners and during these difficult times, we are trying not to pass the costs onto our customers but we feel we charge a reasonable price for our food and drink.”

They promised to ‘dust themselves off’ and are open again today 10-3 on Charles St.

You can find their website and online store on toastcafeanddeli.co.uk, or pop them a follow on Insta here.