"Nurture the fledgling new Metropole"

A review of Metropole Coffee House by Aileen, Edinburgh written on Monday 25th of April 2011

I was a regular customer of the Metropole for several years but had stopped going there by the end of last summer because the once friendly and comfortable coffee-house I'd always known was, for whatever reason, quite clearly going down the drain.

The staff were still friendly and the food was still good even although the menu was boringly repetitive - but why were the customers drifting away? Even at the height of the tourist season, when visitors staying at the many B&Bs in the area could be counted upon to fill the place in the evening, it was woefully and depressingly empty and most evenings it closed it's doors at 8pm due to serious lack of custom. The answer to that question could be that the place was simply no longer fit for purpose, something which doesn't surprise me since it had increasingly become an uncomfortable mix of a restaurant, a disco (the music was always much too loud) and a communal study for students.

I had heard it had changed ownership but only returned to it a couple of weeks ago to see what the "new" Metropole was like. I have to say I wasn't impressed at first. Having always been used to self-service, table service a bit strange and I was concerned that this would make the atomosphere impersonal. I was, however, prepared to give it a try and after a few days began to get used to the new set-up. I have found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. Also I've seen the occasional customer using a laptop, so obviously it has retained its wi-fi facility. It's still possible too to go there and have a pot of tea or cup of coffee and sit for an hour or so.

My family were in the catering business, so I know a little about the problems which can be faced when taking over premises from existing owners who are selling out because keeping the place going is no longer viable. In the case of the Metropole a good blast of fresh air was needed but it does take time for any change to bed in - anything up to two years, I'd say.

A previous critic has mentioned that the Metropole has an identity crisis. Perhaps it has for the moment but I understand that a few changes are planned, one of them being a badly-needed overhaul of the decor. The menu too is under review. Once all this has been settled then its identity will be established. Change from familiar things and places can be difficult initially but change can also mean improvement, and I hope this is the case here.

My criticism is that serving teas and coffees in nicely decorated china cups and saucers looks completely out of place on rather used-looking bare wooden tables. Hopefully one of the improvements will be to rectify that.

I also hope they will improve the quality of lighting - something which is very important during the winter not only for brightening the place up but for customers who wish to sit there and read. The old Metropole was too gloomy.

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