Dropoff cafe to leave Glyncorrwg
Popular post-ride hangout set to vacate Glyncorrwg centre at Afan Forest Park
Afan Forest Park's Dropoff cafe is to vacate its current home at Glyncorrwg MTB centre. In the going-on five years since the Dropoff was opened, it's become a popular haunt for pre- and post-ride refuelling. Owner Ian Luff is an enthusiastic (and brisk) rider himself and had a good handle on what MTBers were after in a cafe - sizable portions being a key element. Plus, of course, a license to serve alcohol...
But now the Glyncorrwg Ponds Corporation which owns the site has decided not to renew the contract to run the cafe, and the Dropoff team will move out on 24 December.
Ian Luff said, "I’m gutted that GPC have taken this decision, but it’s one that they have thought long and hard about and they believe that having the Dropoff at the centre is not viable."
It's not the last you'll hear of the Dropoff, though - plans are afoot to launch "something a little more interesting". Before that, though, the Dropoff will be hosting the post-event party at the Kona Mash-Up singletrack speedfest on 5 December - you can enter at www.konaworld.uk.com.
That's sad news, they do some right decent nosh there.  Where will you eat now Mike?
Posted: 16/10/2009 08:21
I can't see the logic of that at all, that's the best post ride refuel stop I have ever been to, by quite a sizeable margin. I guess it must have been running at a loss (not surprising with the size of the portions). I am not normally sentimental about businesses going, but that place really did provide top rate nosh, and friendly service like few others do. It is a real shame.
Posted: 16/10/2009 08:30
I hope they get drop-off in to replace the weirdo that runs the new(ish) centre at cwmcarn and their bizarre passive aggressive signs all over the place. A sad and probably misguided decision, I would imagine for most the decision to stay and grab some grub at Glyncorrwg rather than bring their own food for a post ride refuel is purely down to it being a nice place to hangout/good food/decent size portions etc. and you can bet your boots that a more 'commercially viable' (or in laymans terms eye gougingly expensive fast food served by an indifferent teenager on minimum wage) will see less traffic and most probably take less cash. I appreciate the place has to pay its way, but the fact it doesn't is more likely due to the over the top huge building that has been put there and needs to be paid for. Odds on the only real income there by this time next year is from car parking and the bike shop's rent.
Posted: 16/10/2009 10:02
Read about this afew day's ago on the Cwm Down site, never been there myself, but from what i've heard been told was a top place. The visitor center at Cwm Carn is a horrible place in my view, perhaps the drop off could take that over and show em how it's done.
Posted: 16/10/2009 10:55
Just reading back through, it sounds like he owned the business, so was probably just renting the premises. I wonder if the cafe itself was actually making a profit, and its just the centre owners thought they could get more money doing something else. Like BHB there may be more than meets the eye about the decision, one thing not taken into account was that the cafe was a great resource well liked by mountainbikers, and that's what the original investment from taxpayers money was meant to create.
Posted: 16/10/2009 11:19
Just reading back through, it sounds like he owned the business, so was probably just renting the premises. I wonder if the cafe itself was actually making a profit, and its just the centre owners thought they could get more money doing something else. Like BHB there may be more than meets the eye about the decision, one thing not taken into account was that the cafe was a great resource well liked by mountainbikers, and that's what the original investment from WELSH taxpayers moneyand the Welsh Assembly was meant to create.
He may not have been able to meet the new lease charges as well as buisness rates, so probabably Costa lotta coffe will take it over , for all the English coffee drinking incomers.
Posted: 16/10/2009 11:26
Bhb, it may well be english money , but when its spent in Wales its welsh money MSP, as per usual a well structured argument.
Posted: 16/10/2009 11:37
But, it's not without it's flaws, service does tend to suffer when crowded. I got shocking service and I was the only person in there. I got fed up of waiting and left, got something to eat on the way home.
Posted: 16/10/2009 12:21
I'v always had good service there and will be sad to see it go BUT a friend has had appalling service on the two occasions she has used it. Definately more to this than meets the eye.
Posted: 16/10/2009 14:32
Sorry, but its a top place to eat - we worked our day out last Saturday so we could both get lunch there and finish with coffee/beer/cake - 'cos there is no way we were eating down at the other centre's cafe, as that is seriously shite. We always said if you ever wanted to see the difference between public and private ownership, from a service perspective, go to the two Afan cafes! I'm guessing somebody has offered more money for the contract, the same thing happened near us, in the Ashridge cafe.
Posted: 16/10/2009 18:12
black heart billy,, We even get your money of you when you come over the 7 bridge as well,,,ha  ,, By the as for sheep, we shag um and you eat um,, . Its a sad day for the cafe , it was all part of going there riding the bike, shower then into the cafe, its a pity
Posted: 16/10/2009 18:40
Sadbloke we're all aware of the welsh fiscal policy regarding the UK taxpayers
Please elaborate on the above.........................
Well said Kerrry.
Posted: 16/10/2009 22:06
I loved the dropoff..Thier cheese on toast was legendary. When you capmed there it was a fantastic place to get bladdered in the evening also. I hope that the new leasholders will uphold the spirit of the trails and give good homecooked food and decent beer at reasonable prices. The Cafe felt like a place for mountain bikers and looking down the valley from the deck with your huge hunk of food and decent bottled beer you felt that you had made a pilgrimage . A plate of soggy chips with a plastic burger and a fosters would sorta take the shine off that
Posted: 17/10/2009 07:15
We even get your money of you when you come over the 7 bridge as well,,,ha And the reason you pay the whole toll getting into Wales is because everyone's in such a hurry to get back to civilisation they'd just crash thru' an toll booths in their way out. And it's Severn btw  I feel the need for an Afan trip before the end of the year, if only to have one last lasagne in there
Posted: 17/10/2009 14:38
Mmmmm Dec 5th. *goes to check calendar*
Posted: 17/10/2009 14:57
We even get your money of you when you come over the 7 bridge as well,,,ha And the reason you pay the whole toll getting into Wales is because everyone's in such a hurry to get back to civilisation they'd just crash thru' an toll booths in their way out. And it's Severn btw I feel the need for an Afan trip before the end of the year, if only to have one last lasagne in there
It maybe Severn but what "Crash thru an toll booths in their way out " means is anyones guess! And Ed, it maybe, in your mind, people from over the bridge who visited the trail centre more but that aint proof. And if its true it hasn't helped cos its shutting! So, if you dont want to pay the Bridge (which is owned by the French) ride your flatland and leave the hills to us.
Posted: 20/10/2009 20:04
So, if you dont want to pay the Bridge (which is owned by the French) ride your flatland and leave the hills to us. Or Just take the A48
Posted: 20/10/2009 20:08
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