NATIONAL trust staff across North Wales have been told to make hot drinks faster as part of efforts to improve customer service at the its cafes.

Staff at the 20 North Wales sites will be timed to see if they can make three coffees and a hot chocolate in just two and a half minutes, with the test to be repeated after a month to check for improvements.

Torello Lounge, a café in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, said that this was a normal rate of service, and that the deadline was a realistic expectation.

A spokesperson for the café said: “It’s achievable, it’s about average. We aim to have all our hot drinks out within five minutes. Having those drinks out in two and a half minutes is normal.”

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The move has caused uproar with National Trust staff, who have been advised by a union source at Prospect (which represents hundreds of trust staff) to contact their union reps.

A National Trust spokesperson told the Daily Mail: “Visiting our cafes is one of the things people most look forward to, so it's very important they enjoy high-quality food and drinks with the minimum possible waiting times.

“Serving hot drinks is one aspect we are striving to improve, from how the area is stocked and laid out to how long it takes to make a drinks order.

“Like any organisation that puts customers at the heart of what we do, we undertake regular operational reviews and staff training.

“It's a way of improving our processes to ensure we offer visitors a better experience.”

Staff will be affected at some of the following sites in North Wales:

  • Bodysgallen Hall, Conwy
  • Bodnant Garden, Conwy
  • Chirk Castle, Wrexham
  • Erddig, Wrexham
  • Penrhyn Castle, Bangor
  • Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey
  • Plas yn Rhiw, Pwllheli
  • Aberconwy House, Conwy
  • Conwy Suspension Bridge, Conwy
  • Cemlyn, Anglesey
  • Morfa and Nant Bach, Gwynedd
  • Porthdinllaen, Gwynedd
  • Porthor, Gwynedd
  • Porth y Swnt, Gwynedd
  • Llanbedrog Beach, Gwynedd
  • Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant, Conwy
  • Ysbyty Ifan, Conwy
  • Carneddau and Glyderau, Gwynedd
  • Ogwen Cottage, Gwynedd
  • Craflwyn and Beddgelert, Gwynedd