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Post by isabella on May 17, 2012 5:15:57 GMT
When you visit a garden how much do you think is a reasonable price to pay for a cup of tea and a piece of cake or a scone with jam and cream? I would be interested to know your thoughts as I want to raise as much as I can for our chosen charity - Breakaway visits- which will get all the tea and cake money  Thankyou  |
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Post by JennyWrenn on May 17, 2012 5:56:06 GMT
I visit a lot of the NGS's during the year and tend to favour those that provide "Teas's" but am not sure, and forget, how much I pay on average As the cakes and scones are usually home made I think people are happy to pay an over average asking price because of this and the trouble the Host has gone to to arrange the whole day The next one I go to will make a note and report back |
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Post by isabella on May 17, 2012 6:57:28 GMT
Thankyou Jenny - I would appreciate that I have charged £1.50 for a piece of cake and 50p for a cup of tea in previous years |
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Post by Tig on May 17, 2012 8:43:11 GMT
I think it is about finding a balance, depends what type of people visit the garden and how much 'spare' cash they have to spend. If the cost is more than people think they can afford you could sell less and therefore make less money. You could just increase your prices by 10% which is above the rate of inflation but would still make slightly more profit and hopefully not stop anyone buying them - £1.65p & 55p, or even £1.60p for cake 60p for a cup of tea? At least you won't need lots of 5p pieces for change at those prices  x Tig |
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Post by Auricula on May 17, 2012 8:59:43 GMT
I think people still expect to pay less at someone's house, however good the cause. I wouldn't pay more than £1 for a piece of cake and 50p for tea at an open garden, but wouldn't baulk at double the price in a cafe  I know it doesn't make sense, and it's a bit mean spirited, but having paid to get into the garden, I'd expect the tea and plants to be relatively cheap or I wouldn't bother  |
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Post by bobbiek on May 17, 2012 11:25:50 GMT
What a wonderful way to help raise funds and to serve the guests who visit.
The tours I have taken in the past haven't included anything like that over here. But my thoughts on what to pay would depend upon what was being served, how much I wanted it, and how it was served.
On a cold day, I'd pay a lot more for something to warm me up. And I'm a sucker for anything chocolate.
But I agree, sometimes keeping the price reasonable will generate more than raising it higher.
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Post by Barbara on May 17, 2012 11:34:37 GMT
The last cream tea we had Pam was £2.50 each, for that we got a small pot of tea, it held 2 cups, and a large scone with cream and jam, I wouldn't mind and have paid more though, it's £75.00 for a cream tea in London at the top hotels.  |
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Post by JennyWrenn on May 17, 2012 15:40:10 GMT
Yes true Barbara in comparison the teas served a the NGS's are very reasonable and you have usually a nice comfy seat in someone else's garden with a view FB nodded off at one of those - Mrs FB and I didnt know whether to just go and leave him there  |
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Post by Jasmine on May 17, 2012 16:57:52 GMT
Homemade cake and cream teas are quite dear on the ingredients front and the money is going to charity. I guess if you've paid to get into the garden it can't be more than that - it would be interesting to see what NGS folk charge on average.
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Post by isabella on May 17, 2012 17:55:26 GMT
Thankyou so much for your thoughts everyone - I do appreciate it I will probably stick with the £1.50 for cake and 50p for tea/coffee- having round numbers with the money makes giving change easier When My penfriend Nancy came to visit 3 years ago we went to an NGS garden and were charged £2.00 for tea and a miniscule piece of Lemon Drizzle cake - there were only 3 cakes to choose from and none of them looked very appetising  We weren't even offered a napkin! I do serve our teas using white china and always offer a napkin This year I am proposing to make at least 2 x Choccy Malteser cakes 2 or 3 Lemon Drizzles 5 dozen Scones 36 asstd Cup Cakes Chuckles Sultana slab cake Coffee and Walnut cake and anything else that takes my fancy The last time we opened we took about £175.00 on the Teas - I would love to do that this year  |
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Post by Amber on May 17, 2012 18:32:19 GMT
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Post by Jasmine on May 17, 2012 18:42:11 GMT
Oh yum Pam! And if they're anything like your GCs birthday cakes and cupcakes they'll sell really well!
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Post by farmersboy on May 18, 2012 5:40:26 GMT
Yes true Barbara in comparison the teas served a the NGS's are very reasonable and you have usually a nice comfy seat in someone else's garden with a view FB nodded off at one of those - Mrs FB and I didnt know whether to just go and leave him there Did you have to tell everybody i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/grin.gif |
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Post by JennyWrenn on May 18, 2012 5:47:53 GMT
I only told Isabella FB Your Menu sounds yum Pam you is doing everyone proud; sorry you dont live nearer |
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Post by farmersboy on May 18, 2012 6:03:54 GMT
Oh thats alright then
I think that one place we went to Jen,cake was £1.20, tea 60p,and i didnt nod off there ;D
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Post by JennyWrenn on May 18, 2012 6:11:54 GMT
Typical - trust you to remember something like that I have one arranged for your visit this time ;D |
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Post by farmersboy on May 18, 2012 6:14:24 GMT
Plenty of tea and cakes i trust,are you buying for me |
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Post by Auricula on May 18, 2012 17:57:37 GMT
I was told off by OH, Pam He said I was being stingy, and that as he bought the tea and cakes I was to apologise I'd rather have a thick mug of coffee and a biscuit, but he says I should be classier, have a china cup and pay accordingly ( I still wouldn't pay more though ;D) |
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Post by isabella on May 18, 2012 18:23:45 GMT
Auricula - ;D |
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Post by Missredhead on May 18, 2012 18:45:20 GMT
;D ;D ;D
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Post by JennyWrenn on May 18, 2012 19:12:30 GMT
A mug and a biccy - oh dear Auricula  Nothing beats a piece of home made cake complemented by a coffee in a china cup |
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Post by Ladygardener on May 19, 2012 5:51:42 GMT
No tea for me but I'd pay whatever the price was for home made cake and coffee. Good luck Isabella. |
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Post by Auricula on May 19, 2012 11:11:09 GMT
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Post by bobbiek on May 19, 2012 14:31:11 GMT
You all have me on my toes. I fixed a cup of tea this morning and had to decide. Should I use one of my fine china cups or my mug. I settled for the mug because it held more. |
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Post by Jasmine on May 19, 2012 15:05:41 GMT
A mug every time at home for the very same reason Bobbie but I don't mind a cup when I'm out!
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Post by isabella on May 19, 2012 16:18:43 GMT
Everyone has a mug when they visit but when I had my birthday tea party I told them mugs were banned that day ;D It was lovely to see my DILs drinking their tea out of a china cup and they said they really enjoyed it ;D
I don't drink Tea or Coffee - give me a pint glass of warm water any day ;D
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Post by Barbara on May 19, 2012 16:19:43 GMT
I only have china mugs. |
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Post by Auricula on May 19, 2012 16:30:56 GMT
Oooooh, my M.I.L. would only have a china mug..................she used to bring her own to mine ;D ;D
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Post by farmersboy on May 19, 2012 17:01:22 GMT
A mug and a biccy - oh dear Auricula Nothing beats a piece of home made cake complemented by a coffee in a china cup Can't see what all the fuss is about with "china cups" myself  .... and you get more in a mug!!   But Jenny is a refined lady,she even frowns when i put 3 heaped sugars in my coffee i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/cheesy.gif |
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Post by Auricula on May 19, 2012 17:13:42 GMT
;D ;D
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I know it doesn't make sense, and it's a bit mean spirited, but having paid to get into the garden, I'd expect the tea and plants to be relatively cheap or I wouldn't bother 
We weren't even offered a napkin!
