Counter Service R.I.P.

There has been talk in the world of garden centre catering of the benefits of table service for cafes - I'm from the restaurant business and appreciate the increased average spend, greater customer service and better plate presentation that it can deliver.

However, counter or self-service cafes are great when:

• you want to encourage the mid-morning and afternoon market where that cake sale depends on customers buying with their eyes
• customer numbers are inconsistent - ie due to weather or season - and you cannot afford to have expensive staff standing idle
• table-blocking and dwell time is a problem at peak periods when customers sit waiting for food to be delivered
• you want to keep a real value proposition because the customer does much of the service themselves
• customers like the self-selection process as in a supermarket or with a buffet
• coaches or large groups need to be served quickly
• finding and training smart, smiling, reliable, fast, English-speaking staff is an issue

Counter service has its fans and is far from Resting In Peace.