Sadly Pumpkin and the jovial staff are both no more. Starbucks has taken over and installed miserable, sullen staff who are more interested in chatting amongst themselves than being pleasant to customers. The opportunity to restore the original vision of the structure as a light and airy coffee shop on the station forecourt with access from all directions was missed by creating a dark dingy atmosphere and closing off rather than opening up views to the courtyard garden as part of the general refurbishment of the station. Unfortunately the connecting door to the seating waiting room has also not been opened up. This refurbishment and a new operator could have recreated the original striking, open and human-friendly design that the architect intended. It has not.
09-06-15