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Jas Sohal and his wife Simmi, centre, with assistants Ann Calubana, left, and Karen Bidayan in front of his internet cafe Steamers , at Wokingham Station, and which may not be part of the new station
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Train station cafe owner fears end of the line with new station

January 31, 2013

A retailer fears his business could reach the end of the line as Wokingham’s new railway station approaches.

Jas Sohal, owner of Steamers internet café at Wokingham station, is accusing rail bosses of bullying him out of business.

The café was served an eviction notice in November, nine months before the new station is due to open, and will be forced to tender for new retail space, which could see it out muscled by a chain.

Mr Sohal said: “South West Trains are getting rid of the smaller operators and bringing in chain brands. You see the same ones in every station. Wokingham has a tradition of independent quality retailers and this could be a nail in its coffin.

“The station doesn’t warrant a tender process. There’s absolutely no need for it. We’ve been very reliable tenants. Could they not give us first refusal?

“I don’t understand why they want to get rid of us.”

The Winnersh father-of-three added: “The business is finished if we don’t secure the lease.

“We are asking them to communicate and negotiate with us.”

Mr Sohal has vowed to start a petition to show the community’s desire to save the company.

His wife Simmi added: “Customers say they want us to be there – they are so happy with the service.

“Staff at the ticket office have even written to them to ask if we could stay.

“We are scared. This is our livelihood and they’re behaving like big bullies.”

Steamers has been open since 2005 and the Sohals feel it has become an integral part of the station.

“We open the station every morning,” Mr Sohal explained. “We open at 4.30am in time for the first train to Gatwick at 4.40am. Rain or shine we are always there.”

The cafe secured an extension to its lease until Monday after MP John Redwood intervened but the couple fear for the future as they attempt to negotiate an extension to May.

Mr Sohal said: “I don’t understand why they would want nine months with no retail unit before the new station opens, but they said it was short term pain for long term gain.”

Mark Walton, Wokingham Chamber of Commerce chairman, added: “I’m sure the people of Wokingham and the rail passengers will have their say if they can’t get a coffee or a newspaper before the new station is open.”

He added he understands why South West Trains is choosing to go to tender, but reaffirmed his support for local traders.

Mr Redwood added: “I want the best for Wokingham in that space. I can understand why they [South West Trains] want an open process and it’s sensible to look at what’s on offer.”

A South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance spokeswoman said: “We are working on a major redevelopment of Wokingham station which will deliver improved passenger facilities.

“As part of this, we are taking the opportunity to review the services available at the station and will be introducing a enhanced new tenancy unit.

“We have been in close discussion with the existing tenant over these plans for some months and remain in discussions over future opportunities.”

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Most recent user comments 9 of 9

PoneRana - you will seriously consider travelling by car just because you can't get a coffee at the station!? You could always take a flask!

Smiffy, Reading
04/02/2013 at 09:17

It is a huge advantage to be able to cycle to the station, purchase a newspaper and coffee, and then commute in relative comfort. If the station cafe is removed it will probably push me into commuting by car as it is not practical for a cyclist to purchase a coffee on the journey into the station. I am also strongly in favour of the cafe being run by private inividuals or a small company rather than a tax avoiding chain.

PoneRana, Wokingham
03/02/2013 at 12:16

31/10/12: Wokingham MP John Redwood said: “As I understand it, the railway will insist on some kind of tender but I hope they will be sensitive to any existing local businesses.

“I’m on their side, it is just whether the railway will accommodate them as much as we would like.

"The Chamber of Commerce and the town’s MP would like to see coffee shops and newsagents, move into the £6 million station instead of high street chains, to support the borough’s economy."

31/01/13: Mr Redwood added: “I want the best for Wokingham in that space. I can understand why they [South West Trains] want an open process and it’s sensible to look at what’s on offer.”

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
01/02/2013 at 16:11

Snowdrop - there was an article a few months ago on local business leaders and John Redwood pushing for a local trader to run the shop (not shopS like is indicated), which you might be interested in: http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2123212_towns_retailers_wanted_for_wokinghams_new_train_station

Whether this amounts to anything remains to be seen. I'd reckon it would be tough on an independent, judging by the article they would have to open up the shop at still dark hours and stay open well after usual closing hours. It's probably more feasible for a chain outlet with the processes and facilities to do it, but I'd imagine it would be hard on a family run business with their mortgage on the line and a couple of employees.

Well done to Steamers for doing that, but I reflect what many have said already in that the food and coffee I have bought from there have been unfortunately sub-par, and now only get one if I absolutely have to.

alex_f, Wokingham
01/02/2013 at 15:47

Chain outlets at railway stations tend to charge high prices - maybe due to high rents or more likely just to fleece a captive audience. It would be nice to have a small independent cafe (of decent quality) but this would probably not be a priority in the corporate decision making process

Snowdrop, Twyford
01/02/2013 at 14:06

Of course it's madness to shut down a business 9 months before it is necessary, and very cold-hearted. That's a family's income - what kind of person shuts them down early just because they can? Give a good reason, any reason, to make that decision... no? Then you're a disgrace, sir. You're hurting that man's family and the local economy, for nothing. And your annoying, cliche management BS that it's "short term pain for long term gain", and "We have been in close discussion with the existing tenant" are meaningless. So you're also an idiot.

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
01/02/2013 at 12:13

The Dragonfly cafe in Dinton was worked on a few years back so the cafe moved into a 20 foot shipping container for a few months. Is that an option for Mr. Sohal during construction of the new station? As for the tendering process, is a story in the media berrating the landlord the best move? I'd expect that the landlord is required to search for a reliable tennant and get the best price.

Kevin Baker
01/02/2013 at 12:04

Mavdo - I could not agree more with you. Well said.

I P Freely
01/02/2013 at 10:17

To be honest, the teas are watery and bland, even when the teabag is left in, and the croissants are dry and stale. That they open at 4:30am is amazing, but that in itself doesn't warrant them staying there. I think other businesses should be able to provide better quality produce and choice. I absolutely think other businesses should be able to bid for the new space, but it must NOT simply be about how much rent they will pay, it should be about what services they will offer to customers and of what quality those services will be. One day old croissants wrapped in a bag, some with chewy ham and a bit of room temperature cheese stuffed in them, is very poor in my opinion.

That said, I've no doubt that SWT/Network Rail will want to charge a new tennant crazily high rents, which will be passed on to consumers in fankly insultingly high prices that you have to pay on any station in this country. That is not good and is all about greed.

But quite why SWT/NR would want NINE months without any kind of food/drink service anywhere near the station (I guess the next closest would be Greggs on Broad Street), is absolutely beyond me. Don't kick them out until the building is due to be closed. Saying it is short term pain for long term gain doesn't make ANY sense because the difference in the long term between having and not having a cafe for nine months is nothing. So have a cafe, let people get their weakly flavoured teas and stale croissants, and let them go through the proper process.

And *engage* with them properly for goodness sake. These are people we are dealing with, not a hard-nosed chain shop.