Imagine this: you’re a freelancer juggling a tight deadline and a loved one’s hospital visit. You’re racing between appointments, trying to squeeze in work wherever you can, and let’s be honest, hospital cafeterias aren’t exactly known for their inspiring atmospheres or reliable Wi-Fi.
That’s why the news of WHSmith launching Smith’s Kitchen, a new express café concept, at Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton is a welcome development. With a menu featuring locally sourced coffee, freshly baked pastries, and grab-and-go meals, it’s a tempting proposition, especially for freelancers who often rely on coffee shops as their makeshift offices.
The idea of combining a trip to a stationer’s or bookstore with a decent cup of coffee and a light lunch is incredibly appealing. It’s a potential game-changer for those days when you’re on the move, commuting between client meetings or simply need a change of scenery from your home office.
With the success of their Smith’s Family Kitchen food range and the positive response to this first Smith’s Kitchen, it seems inevitable that WHSmith will roll out this concept to other locations. The question is, when will we see it on our high streets and travel hubs, too?
For now, at least your next hospital visit can be accompanied by a good cuppa. You could even bring your laptop and get in a bit of work before an appointment or while visiting a friend or loved one. But here’s hoping that WHSmith recognises the potential of this concept beyond hospitals expands into train stations, high streets and airports.