Why I’m never going back to Pret A Manger

When the University announced that it was bringing a ‘new and exciting retailer’ to campus the student population held its breath. Then when we found out that is was going to be Pret A Manger the social elite were thrilled whilst the rest of us groaned with resentment.

There are three types of students who will frequent this shiny new establishment. .

A.) The Tiffanys and Oscars who are so Ra they’ve been like sipping Pret lattes since they came off breast milk.

B.) The middle/working class who groan and say they can’t afford it but go anyway.

C.) The students who really CAN’T afford it.

I’d say that I’m a type B student since I could technically afford it every now and then as a treat (and as part  of research for The Tab ) but despite this here are the reasons why I’m never going back:

AMT do a better Cappuccino

My vice and weakness is a Soy cappucino. I have a fierce loyalty to AMT so initially I boycotted Pret out of principle. Then I decided to taste test both of them. Neither place charges extra for Soya milk which is good and the taste is only slightly better at AMT. However what costs £2.25 at Pret costs £2.20 at AMT. Plus the AMT cappuccino is slightly bigger so that 5p really does make a difference.

Mmmm

It’s all a Pret-ence

It’s strange when a coffee shop that would look more at home on a high street suddenly turns up on a uni campus; the place where budget outlets should reign supreme. This is Exet-ah though and Pret is like social purgatory. It’s the the perfect place (for those who can afford it) to practice sipping overpriced coffee and looking trendy before going on to do a grad scheme in London. They should insert a trap door that leads to the research commons so they can practice running for the tube.

Naturally overpriced

It should have been Subway

The whispers of a Subway turned out to be unfounded rumours. However it would have been so much better. Imagine being able to get a cheese toastie without having to text a message about Jesus to the  ECU?

Crispy Kale chips

Kale is something which like hummus isn’t really that expensive as a raw material but has come to be marketed as a middle class commodity and #eatclean. It’s just a green leafy vegetable. Get over it. This is evidenced by the fact that at  Iceland you can buy a 1kg bag of curly kale for £1.19 whereas a miniscule  bag of Pret Kale crisps will set you back £1.50.  How much profit are they making? Maybe I should make my own and sell them on the black market.

Crispy or curly?

I’m a veggie but I’m not desperate

As a vegetarian/part-time vegan I should really be rejoicing at the wide range of options available at Pret. However I refuse to pay £3.75 for a Chana Chaat Flat bread or £3.69 for a meaner green smoothie. I think I’ll stick with the Market Place Innocent smoothies and the Guild shop wraps.

I’ll take the wrap for this

They removed seating space

In order to pave the way for the new Pret, a few of the seats have been removed from in front of the entrance on a campus already straining to provide sitting space. Plus the fact that one sad little piece of bench remains makes the inflated price to ‘Dine in’ sort of redundant.

Help the homeless

Pret A Manger donates unsold food to local hostels and shelters each day as part of an initiative by the Pret foundation’s trust. So in theory, by not eating there it means more food for the homeless.