When did Subway stop being a viable post pub/club food because they shut so early?

Posted by wardyms@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 36 comments

When I was a student some 15 years ago, there was a Subway across the road from the things that are now all O2 academies. It used to be open until 2am and it was often very full with people after a night out. I live in a different city in the UK now and every single Subway shuts at 6pm. The one I spoke about previously in a different city now shuts at 10pm. When did this happen? Is it a covid hangover? I’m not a massive Subway fan tbh, I find the cost now has exceeded what I’m willing to pay, I was just Suprised to see ones near me closed at 6pm on Friday and Saturday nights.

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36 Comments

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super_starmie@reddit

Back in my clubbing days Subway was open until 2 or 3, and so was Greggs. Friend worked in Greggs at the time and would give me a free sausage roll if I staggered in

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Riddly_Diddly_DumDum@reddit

I’ll make it a foot long if that’s makes it any better bro.

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aytayjay@reddit

I don't know when it happened but I definitely remember picking up subways post club before getting a taxi home. It always felt like the more responsible choice than a kebab. I feel like it was pre-covid because I made the switch to a local late night chippy some time around 2018.

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Riddly_Diddly_DumDum@reddit

I used to love a subway after a night out. Especially the morning me who would wake up with a 6 inch sub.

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coldnorth3enf3@reddit

Woah this is a family friendly sub, I don’t want to hear about you waking up next to six inch slabs of submissive meat mate

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ForeignAwareness6568@reddit

Totally feel that! Subway was a solid late-night option, but now it seems like they’re missing out on all those post-club cravings.

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10-15-5-12-@reddit

Bot reply

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concretepigeon@reddit

I think it’s probably that town and city centres just aren’t as busy these days. Staying open late means paying staff and generally sticking a bouncer on which probably doesn’t seem worthwhile for franchise owners anymore.

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Trivius@reddit

Ther was one that always used to open post clubs in Glasgoe just down from Garage and the ABC

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glasgowgeg@reddit

That's the only one I've ever known to open late enough for post pub/club food.

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Kolo_ToureHH@reddit

According to the opening times on Google Maps, it still opens until 4am on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Was a decent option if Wok Way was too busy after Jellybaby or Propaganda.

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glasgowgeg@reddit

The only subway I've ever known to be open late enough for that is the one at the top of Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow, and it seems they open until midnight. I wouldn't expect any other subways to be open late enough for post-pub/club food.

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Kolo_ToureHH@reddit

There's a Subway branch on Sauciehall Street in Glasgow which is open to 4am. That is because Sauciehall Street (and some of the surrounding streets) have a high concentration of popular bars and clubs so they take advantage of that. Other Subway branches don't stay open that late, probably because there isn't anywhere near the demand for a drunken scran in those branches.

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Good_Lettuce_2690@reddit

Live in Edinburgh, loads of Subways here, never seen one open past about 8pm.

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wardyms@reddit (OP)

The one on the way to Leith is open until 11pm.

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kelliphant@reddit

The Bristol Harbourside one is 24 hours at the weekend, it's saved me many times!

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Fickle_Hope2574@reddit

I wouldn't say 10pm is post pub or club that's probably why as not many are buying a sandwich at 7,8 or 9 at night.

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Fred776@reddit

That's what they were saying. That one used to be open late but now shuts at 10.

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peterbparker86@reddit

He wasn't saying that

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

I have heard they are on a downturn generally. Too many of them, any novelty has gone, they are just a bang average and expensive sandwich.

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platebandit@reddit

The one in bigg market in Newcastle is still open until 4am

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granty012@reddit

When I was at uni in Leicester there was a Subway a few doors down from the club we'd go to every Friday (Mosh). So I'd often get one for the way home and sometimes one for the next day! Waking up in the morning and realising you had a subway in the fridge definitely helped with the hangover!

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Obvious-Water569@reddit

Subway has never been a good post-pub food. It's nowhere near greasy and dirty enough. Just get to the boss man kebab shop like the rest of us.

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dinkidoo7693@reddit

Subways are all franchised owned. The one in my town that opened til 4am at weekends shut in 2019 and moved to a different location nearer to shops and offices. Never seen anyone in it anymore. Given the price of a subway sandwich now though if i had the option after a night out id rather go for a pizza or a kebab

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asmiggs@reddit

We used to have a late night Greggs, it was always packed out at kicking out time but I can only guess they struggled to staff it as this closed well before COVID and none of the other Greggs took over the mantle. There's a subway near me that still trades until about 11 near the nightlife, one that opens till 1am on a weekend and another that is in a Petrol station open 24/7. As someone else said it varies and depends on the owner and whether they can get the staff.

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g00gleb00gle@reddit

Franchises and depends on owner and city.

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BaBaFiCo@reddit

Used to love a Subway after a night out. Proper filling after a few beers.

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Gauntlets28@reddit

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they were outcompeted on price by the local independent takeaways, and lost their customers. Subway also used to do tonnes of vouchers, which they don't seem to do anymore. Basically every time you bought a subway, you got a voucher offering a discount on the next one. That probably wasn't sustainable, but probably also led to a lot of repeat customers.

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XSjacketfiller@reddit

I used to work at an O2 venue with a Subway next door - it was never open beyond 9. Never seen it as post-night out food ever tbh.

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Master-Trick2850@reddit

Lot of places close before midnight now. The drop is customers and increase in crime makes it not worth it

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Spottyjamie@reddit

15 years ago in this town But then the clubs have long gone and pubs are dead after 9:30pm

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mkr215@reddit

I think it depends on the franchise but can confirm my uni city subway used to be open pretty late on weekends then after Covid it’s opening hours changed to closing quite early

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sunnyhoneycomb@reddit

Some shut as early at 5pm now

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kartoffeln44752@reddit

I’ve never seen one open that late wtf

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dospc@reddit

Subway is a franchise, so it'll be the local owner/manager's decision.

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