[Closed] Peel Centre Glentress

I was in on Sunday for a coffee and waiting for the rain to subside. I liked it - a lot. Spacious, clean and even the outside seating is under cover.

I agree it looks very smart....there just didn't seem to be anyone in it while the Hub still had punters.

imo because you are looking at a wooden wall when you ride up/down the trail it is not obvious that it is open. I never noticed that the bike shop had opened due to poor observation..there was a sign but it too was obscured and blended into all the other guff lying around at the entrance after the roundabout. Trying to avoid cars and other cyclist had distracted me at the time. After changing and coffee at the Hub(last ever cup btw)I went for a wander out of interest and found it was open.

Probably will not be back there in the foreseeable future so wishing Emma & Tracy all the best in whatever they do next.

imnotverygood - Member
I agree it looks very smart....there just didn't seem to be anyone in it while the Hub still had punters

Trekster, got a link for the CIC Facebook page?

I can find plenty for 7 stanes, but none that stand out as being for the CIC...

Trekster - Member
Nothing better on a nice day sitting at the Hub with a Panini, coffee and cake whilst watching the world go by and taking in the stunning scenery

lol - true the Hub's views are nothing special. Trekster is right though that the new centre really has no views at all being built in a dip. I was there with the bairn recently and thought it was nice, but the chosen location was a bit puzzling. Only other customers were all walkers - seems true that the Teds are staying loyal to the Hub.

The wildlife place adjacent is good if anyone is ever there with their kids.

i went in and the coffee was good and the toilets were spotless overall a pretty nice place i thought. The time before i was there i went to the Hub and the tables were filthy and the toilets were flooded and reaked of piss! I thought the new center kind of brings a modern look on the G.T. site.

We were at Glentress last week for our anniversary. The Hub has better cake, is cheaper and has a better atmosphere - also love sitting outside with all of the little birdies hopping around scavaging for crumbs.

The Glentress Peel has more seating and a wider choice in hot food. Looks a bit like a hospital waiting room though, was pretty much empty when we were there too. :/

mc - Member
Trekster, got a link for the CIC Facebook page?

I can find plenty for 7 stanes, but none that stand out as being for the CIC...

I was there a couple of weeks ago during the biblical floods and thought the new cafe was great . I also went to Alpine bikes and got great advise from Jake at Alpine Bikes on how to fix my pop loc myself and how the new bikeshop wasn't a main bike shop but would make money from small repairs , rental and subsiduries leaving Alpine and Icycles as the closest proper bike shops.
I haven't been biking long enough to be romanticaly drawn to the hub which I always found to be overpriced anyway but at the end of the day the FC asked for quotes and Alpine and the proprieters of the Glentress hotel won. That said Emma and Tracy have done a great job over the years and Its a shame they cant stay open along side the new Cafe but in the depths of winter theres no way Its sustainable.

When I'm sweaty and filthy after a ride, the last place I want to sit to eat cake is somewhere spotlessly clean. I'd much rather have something a bit more rustic... Plus, the cake at the Hub was really, really good.

We have just come back from a long weekend at Glentress and have been interested by all the recent developments. We have always liked stopping at the hub for post bike food but as we have also stayed at the Glentress hotelin the past would keep an open mind.

I must say I was really disappointed with the placement of the Peel Centre. I appreciate everyone is allowed their own views and appreciate there are mixed feelings on the Hub. I personally have been fortunate to be at GT when the weather has been lovely and agree with Trekster and Mrs Toast re the atmosphere and view. I appreciate that better views can be had at other places and I don't actually notice the A72 but the Peel centre cafe looks out onto a wall of soil and there was a smell of stagnant water from the nearby pond. I do think it would have helped both the cafe and bike shop if they had been in the building at the top of the car park. Before the weekend I was keeping an open mind but for me I will miss the hub and it's macaroni cheese and will make sure we have GT weekend before the final closure.

On the first day we boycotted the peel and went to the hub for coffee and cake
On the second day wanted a shower, so tried the peel centre
Must say was a better experience, cleaner,coffee was good, cake not up to hub standards but the other hot food looked good
Toilets and showers at peel were immaculate and cheap
It pains me to say it, but I think the new facilities are excellent
Shame the hub didn't put a good enough bid together

It's never been busy when I've been in there, but they've been doing a moderate trade. Partly it feels less busy because the roof-space is so much bigger. Prices seem pretty comparable. Staff are friendly and accomodating of indecisive knackered mountain bikers. No baked spuds though.

And they have tablet icecream. And I'll be honest, I'd eat in Pol Pot's House o' Human Ribs if he served tablet icecream.

The food etc isn't much better or worse than the old one but the facilities make the portakabin look as bad as, well, as bad as it is. Sentimentality'll only go so far, I wonder how many of the "loyalists" will stay at the Hub when it rains

And yep, it's weird that it's built in a hole. Not that it'd have a great view, but it has nothing. Parking strangely far from the cafe etc. Some odd decisions.

I've been lucky in the last few weeks and got down to GT a good few times. I try and park and frequent the Hub while I have a choice.

On the times that the queue has been too long in the Hub I've gone to the Peel. I do feel "gritty" going into the peel - all tiles and helful staff and all. But it is nice. Also the Venison burger is NICE! Not too sure about the purple coleslaw - but still...

2 words of warning.
1- Oversteer: After rain - the wooden bridge into the car park is driftastic in a rwd car. Also given the steep hill there is no way when the snow comes that we will be able to park in the Peel car park.
2- The wooden boards outside the cafe make for a seriously embarassing dismount when damp. All the more embarassing after a few hours round the black and red without incident when you splat yourself on the cafe forecourt!

Both lessons learnt from personal experience!

Peel placement / location borne out of 'the need' to buy out adjacent landowners to give FCS exclusivity on the site. Purchasing Jufrake House at £££huge then building further up the hill just wouldn't have been politic. Even for FCS...

Whether it's now in the publics best interest for them to be buying up huge swathes of land between GT and Innerleithen is debatable.

From speaking to the people down there I'm pretty sure they're prepared for a very difficult first few months until the Hub closes. Would be daft to think everyone would flock straight there so I suspect they're biding their time, trying to get it as good as possible and waiting until they get all the trade down there.

I like the new facilities and was perfectly happy with the new cafe. Wasn't a queue either so it was lightning quick on a busy day.

A few of us were there a month ago and we went to both. The new place is far better than the hub imo. The staff are friendly, food is very good and the facilities are miles better plus they have free wifi.

no decent views from the cafe

+1 I think the biggest mistake is that the outdoor seating area is completely shaded. Yes - great that is is under cover but why tuck it behind the building in the shade beside the midge breeding pools? Last weekend the atmosphere at the hub was great - loads of families outside in the sun. New cafe - not a soul.

Last weekend the atmosphere at the hub was great - loads of families outside in the sun. New cafe - not a soul.

Is the standard of jailbait as high at the new joint?

Instead of sitting in a cafe crying about not having a view how about hopping on your bike and cycling to the top of the hill.

You may just find a better view from there.

It all looks very nice, however, i'm a kill joy and tend to take my own sarnies and coffee anywhere i travel to ride.

The question shouldn't be is the new 9 trillion buck facility better than the hub, the question was and still is, would the hub have done a better job ❓

No one dissagree's about new facilities being needed at GT, the real question in my opinion is, have the FCS invested this money wisely ❓

For me the answer is NO!

The peel would have still been the same regardless of who won the tender, the tender process was to find a tennant.

No one dissagree's about new facilities being needed at GT

cycling to the top of the hill.

But remember that cafe not just for the hardcore "who needs a cafe" crowd - frequently Mrs DB and daughter potter about/ride the green/walk the dog then chill in the cafe while I ride. They tend to spend more time using the facilities than I do (and at the weekend there seems to be many families in the same boat - I bet the cafe takes a large percentage of its dosh from non-cyclists at the weekends), and they reflected the general view above which seems to be "new facilities are great - cafe is in a crap spot - old one is (currently) much more popular and has a better atmosphere".

I'd eat in Pol Pot's House o' Human Ribs if he served

at least hub food has some taste

Is the standard of jailbait as high at the new joint?

you mean the female children working in the cafe I assume?

IMO no new facilities were needed, but I avoid the place at peak times.

TT - yes - they are excellent waitresses.

I was surprised to discover which of the new buildings was going to house the cafe. One of the ones further up would have seemed a better place for it to me. On the other hand I like the food and the service has been good when I've used it. The atmosphere will improve if/once more people start using it.

Someone was telling me that the new cafe is doing much better trade on days with poor weather than on nice days. I'm not surprised, given there's no unshaded outdoor seating and the building is generally sheltered. Being able to sit outside on a nice day is certainly an advantage of the Hub but on a wet day how many people will decide that sitting inside a portakabin watching condensation drip down the walls is as appealing?

I'll probably go so the new place tomorrow. I'll be going because i fancy a change something the hubs menu hasn't done for a long time. and it'll make a nice change to have some elbow room. I'll enjoy the views when I'm out and about and hopefully enjoy the food when I'm in the cafe. and if good I'll go back.

TT - yes - they are excellent waitresses.

Particularly the blonde one!

I wont use the Peel centre full stop.
I feel the FC are making dreadful decisions with reagard MTBing at the moment following 10 years of being MTB proactive and looking to the right people - I now feel they are after the buck.. and would rather we all rode the fireroads and no more.

soulrider - thats why we have all these world class facilities for free? Don't forget how much we have - the glass is more than half full. compare what wehave to what they have down south or Norn Ireland?

I completely agree. The stanes are (imo) the best trail centres in the UK and it only cost a couple of quid for parking. I think that is a bargain.

I now feel they are after the buck..

They are doing a very good job of it then.

"The current forecast for the new Glentress Peel Project stands at £8.5 million." [url= http://www.theyworkforyou.com/spwrans/?id=2011-01-25.S3W-38741.h ]Ref[/url]

8.5 million. You'd have to sell a lot of cakes, bikes and parking to pay that off. All parking fees go back into the trails too. I don't think the FC is in it for the money!

The hub has been part of Glentress trails from very early on.. Emma and Tracey did so much to promote the trails yet they have now been pushed aside

here in the North the FC is trying to close trails
I am not asking for them for free.. I have no issues with parking - but it seems the FC mindset and attitude toward biking has drastically changed in the last few years.

>"The current forecast for the new Glentress Peel Project stands at £8.5 million." <

Aye - current in Jan 2011...

Doubt it will be capped at that, and besides, there will be in - kind contributions from other budgets which wont show in any final figure. Add in the 1000 acres they bought to the East of the Peel to aid access or was that part of the emerging forest exemplar strategy that led on to the additional 300a purchase announced earlier this week?

Could've got a Chairlift for that 😉

Soulrider - I agree its worked out very harshly on Emma and Tracey.

The peel centre is not just a new hub - its to attract more people to the site - birdwatchers, walkers, bus tours etc etc.

I don’t think people can have a go at the FC they have invested a lot of money along with the LA's and as has been said we are so fortunate to the the 7 stanes in the south of Scotland. I am only just waking up to the fact that they are a world class facility.

kaesae - Member

No one dissagree's about new facilities being needed at GT, the real question in my opinion is, have the FCS invested this money wisely

Not a difficult question, they clearly haven't. Fit-for-purpose facilities could have been produced for much less, that's not really a point of debate. Imagine the results if they'd spent 2/3ds of the budget on the facilities, and the rest on trails, footpaths, etc.

But that's not that relevant to the question of whether the cafe's any good. It's not a value-for-money facility but it's fit for purpose, a big step forward, and come winter it'll take a lot of pairs of rose tinted glasses to sit in the new cafe and say "I wish I was sat in the rain, in the cold, at the hub"

As for E&T, well, it's a subject we've gone over and the only thing that's changed since the first lot of threads is that now everyone knows E&T were lying to us about some things... "No new trails at glentress", remember? Local jobs to be lost?

The peel centre is not just a new hub - its to attract more people to the site - birdwatchers, walkers, bus tours etc etc.

Exactly. According to the FCs figures bikers are already in the minority at Glentress so why not cater for them?

[b]Year[/b] - [b]Total Users[/b] - [b]Mtn Bikers[/b]
2005-06 222,000 104,000
2006-07 234,000 110,000
2007-08 248,000 117,000
2008-09 266,000 125,000
2009-10 301,000 141,000

Could've got a Chairlift for that

Sad thing is, you really could! (Having been at our local resorts' tourist office / development council meeting last night!).

>I don’t think people can have a go at the FC they have invested a lot of money<

That's precisely why people are having a go. You see this day in daily with far too many public sector projects / contracts - Scottish Parliament and Edinburgh Trams projects being two extreme examples.

>Sad thing is, you really could!<

No, I think the sad thing is the top down approach to the whole thing -contrast the Funicular Railway fiasco for example, and the astronomical sums squandered on that, with the operation at the Lecht. The Innerleithen Chairlift Project, if it ever happens, would do exactly what the Peel's done and that's suck the life out of other needy projects across the wider forest estate. It's ridiculous to simplify this as 'Portakabin versus Peel' - which would you rather have...

>E&T were lying to us about some things... "No new trails at glentress",<

IIRC that was FCS de-facto position at the time. What has FCS built since this self imposed embargo?

[i]"No new trails at glentress", remember? [/i]
So what new trails are planned?

[i]Local jobs to be lost? [/i]
What are the relevant figures then?

If you're going to use a word like "lying" then you presumably have the evidence to hand, eh?

TandemJeremy - Member

soulrider - thats why we have all these world class facilities for free? Don't forget how much we have - the glass is more than half full. compare what wehave to what they have down south or Norn Ireland?

The glass is so full there's stuff dribbling down the sides and onto the floor.

Soulrider, I don't think you realise how fortunate you are. Hundreds of miles of quality trails that were built and are being maintained for your riding pleasure. All you have to do is turn up, pay a few quid and ride. There's even food, drinks and washing facilities at hand.

Contrast that with what we have in NI. Trails we build and maintain illegally ourselves. We share them with anyone who happens to decide the landing ramp of a jump would make a great place to have a family picnic or walkers who let their dogs lay eggs at every corner. Constant sabotage of trails by FS and the public (not just logs/tacks - but wrapping wire across trails at head height). Plenty of fire roads though, just a pity the newly proposed bye-laws plan to make cycling in forests illegal and no access to anyone on FS land after dark.

Want to swap?

Well I've just returned from a sunny afternoon at Glentress. The trails were buff and the tagalong didn't seem to much of a burden. Real gnar core around the green (including skills loop!) and then a trundle in the bike park.

Tea in the cafe was very nice, very accommodating. Lovely bright open space with mixture of seating and decent food. It was relatively quiet compared to the Hub though on what should be one of the busiest days of the year. It will be interesting to see how it pans out. Good luck to them though.

It'd have been a lot busier if it had been peeing down. Once some more Scottish weather arrives the new place will start to appeal more. Also once people get used to the layout or some better signage gets put up then people will start to use it.

No baked spuds though.

Same was true of the Hub when I was last there.

proteus - Member

"No new trails at glentress", remember?
So what new trails are planned?

If you're going to use a word like "lying" then you presumably have the evidence to hand, eh?

Seriously? I don't need to tell you about new trails planned, how about the new trail that's already been built and opened since they came out with that one?

"Local jobs to be lost"

The new place is run by another local business. Do you think they're going to import staff from China or something? Or they're going to run the cafe with robots? I suspect the final result will be more skilled jobs, the bike shop is set up to be able to run more staff in the workshop.

Usual shite on here. Ride the trials and go get a sandwich else where if you don't like it. Or, crazy I know, go ride somewhere different. My working life revolves around losing or winning new business each year. It's never fun, but that is how it goes in the business world. It's just a ****ing cafe for gods sake, get over it.

[i]Seriously? I don't need to tell you about new trails planned, how about the new trail that's already been built and opened since they came out with that one?[/i]
Yup. Go on. Tell me. Meaningful trail development, stuff that'll see the increase in visitor numbers forecast.

[i]I suspect the final result will be more skilled jobs, the bike shop is set up to be able to run more staff in the workshop.[/i]
You suspect? You suspect?! [b]You[/b] are the one calling people liars here.

proteus - Member

Yup. Go on. Tell me. Meaningful trail development, stuff that'll see the increase in visitor numbers forecast.

They said "no new trails". Your attempt to defend this by adding caveats and disclaimers is ridiculous.

But, to answer your question- the green extension's opened, and the ongoing blue route extensions have just added another totally new section. Both good additions to the trails which do most to attract new riders.

You suspect? You suspect?! You are the one calling people liars here.

Proving people liars, you mean. Your attempt to misdirect here is also ridiculous- I said I suspect that it'll lead to [i]more[/i] jobs. Don't pretend outrage at things I didn't say.

What coogan said
Hardly the end of the world is it, get over it life is full of so many more important things to worry about
It's a bike Ride and it's some food, be grateful you have both

Someone was complaining the other day about the trail verges getting trimmed. ****ing spoiled rotten!

[i]Don't pretend outrage at things I didn't say.[/i]
Who is pretending?

Enjoy the Kool-Aid.

"the change cycle"...denial, resistance, exploration..." or whatever variants you've seen before...
the peel is the future of GT MTB, use it and be thankful...or go to IL where there's nowt and be happy in your revolution brothers and sisters..

"the change cycle"...denial, resistance, exploration..." or whatever variants you've seen before...
the peel is the future of GT MTB, use it and be thankful...or go to IL where there's [s]nowt[/s][b]often a burger van selling food that blows away the usual namby pamby trail centre cafe offerings and a town with cafes/pubs/supermarket etc. 2 mins away[/b] and be happy in your revolution brothers and sisters..

was at Glentress today for first time in about a year. Arrived back of 9, left around 1330. Trails - red seemed much as it used to be, a new section at the bottom of the valley - middle sections all a lot more cut up/braking bumps than I remember. Lots of people about, mostly good manners. Rode red then blue - blue empty and flowy - I actually think I preferred it !!

Popped into the Peel Centre - beans n toast, coffee, cake - well priced, good food. Nice airy place - bike racks all in full view for security, practical plastic chairs and tables, but comfy and good quality - toilets clean. Also looked at the loos/showers beside the new car park - again clean and well appointed.

Ok, so not the atmosphere of the shonky Hub portacabins, but so what - it is good and functional and I'm sure will develop it's own atmoshphere in time.

Only downside of the day was the wee dog that took off down the trail from Buzzards Nest in front of us and was still in front at the car park - it was totally lost and quite distressed as obviously miles away from it's owners - some other guys took it to Alpine I think and left it there for the owners to hopefully collect...

INRAT

But The Hub at Glentress was the worst cafe at a trail centre I've been to. Don't know when i'll get back up there to try the new one out

Lets hope that dog didn`t prefer the hub if it was left over at the peel!

Was at the Peel for the first time today. Brings GT up to std and will hopefully create more trail development in future. Had organised a work trip and they all enjoyed it. Nice place to sit etc.

At the end of the day we'll all be at the Peel centre. like it or lump it.
It looks nice on the inside and will do fine. Pity the building is in the wrong place pointing the wrong way but the facilities are good and at the moment well maintained (volume may reduce the sparkliness).

There was a sign on the door saying muddy kit was welcome a few weeks ago. Will they open for winter night riding on a Wednesday as E&T did a few times? Doubt it where's the profit in catering for a few?

Doubt it where's the profit in catering for a few?

Yeah, cos there was no business incentive at all for the Hub to be opened then at all. 🙄

Doubt it where's the profit in catering for a few?

Yeah, cos there was no business incentive at all for the Hub to be opened then at all.

Eh? The hub was open on a few winter Wednesday evening to cater for a few cyclists on a limited menu. Why would they open the much bigger and i would have thought more expensive to run (to be fair i have no evidence of this) Peel centre in the hope of breaking even?

For the same reason the Hub did. Even if they don't sell many pies or coffees on the night they open, they are still providing a service to customers who will return to spend more money at other times. Customer loyalty?

The cafe in the PC is run by the folk who run the Glentress Hotel. Local folk providing a local service.

geoff - only, your argument falls apart if you actually remember the full history of what happened with Wed night opening at the Hub.

GW - I don't know or care about the history, but being open to serve customers makes good business sense irrespective of all the petty politics some folk insist on harping on about.

That was my point too.

Believe me, I CBA with all the tweed valley politics or taking sides either, they've been at it since I first got into riding there probably 20 years ago.. the people/businesses in that time have changes as have the trails/builders/organisers/riders but the bitching just gets worse as the years go on.

Someone was complaining the other day about the trail verges getting trimmed. ****ing spoiled rotten!

Yes, to someone from NI, that must seem incredibly arseholeish. Typical GT type comment though!.

Anyway, the Shed at Mabie knocks spots off the hub anyway.