Chains...Is enough, enough?

Take a stroll down Upper Street in Islington or St. Paul’s Courtyard or even Spitalfield Market and the surrounding areas…do you get a sense of déjà vu? No? Consider the restaurants and bars in these areas…are they a bit predictable…repetitive…same old, same old???


My question is, why is Britain so brand obsessed??? What happened to variety being the spice of life?


I a metropolis as (quite frankly) incredible as London I can’t help but get a little frustrated with the trap we find ourselves in when it comes to chains.


During my time in university I conducted a research project titled, Chains…Is enough, enough? I learnt that with price sensitive consumers and brand power, chains will always have an impact on the restaurant scene in London.


A good example of this is in a pub that I used to work in called the Fox & Anchor which served only 1 larger called Meantime Helles Biere, which is now fairly well known within London but still not as mainstream as the likes of Fosters.


Customers would approach the bar and immediately order a pint of the ‘amber nectar’ despite there being absolutely no evidence of it being served there. I politely explaining our alternative on offer (obviously passing no judgement on the customer…phffff!). The sense of panic on the customers face was priceless! “OH NOOO, I DON’T KNOW THAT ONE!!!”


If us 7.5 million Londoners tried something new everyday we might just put a halt on the homogenous high street that is becoming oh so familiar these days.


My response…Be brave, try something new today.