Temple Cycles Step Through - alternatives?

Had a little search and couldn't find anything so hopefully the hive mind can help out.

My brother's girlfriend is looking for a new bike. She's very taken with the Temple Cycles Step Through Lightweight and they've asked my opinion on it. Personally I think it's expensive for what it is, exploiting the vintage-a-like wanting market.

I'm not having a huge amount of luck finding something similar but also it's been so long since I've bought a new bike I doubt I'm looking very efficiently as I'm sure there's a large market for similar things. My first thought was to get something from a reputable LBS that deals in second hand framesets and offers builds (Seabass, Parts and Labour?). However there is a strong preference for a new (OTP) bike. So are there any other better options for that kind of thing?

The Hackney Pedlar also build up vintage frames with new components - I think they more or less have an off the shelf build kit ready to go.

I know what you mean about the Temple stuff. Matt (who runs it) is a friend of a friend. We've not crossed paths in a while, but he does know his bikes, they're well finished, and I actually think they start to look reasonable value vs Tokyobike etc. I'm just super not into the whole new-bike-masquerading-as-old-bike thing.

If it's just for short spins go for a old Peugeot Mixte or equivalent. If it's for daily use just buy an OTP. Building something nice from scratch can be end up very expensive pretty quickly.
The Genesis Columbia Rd is not cheap but looks well specced to me.

These are quite nice https://www.cannondale.com/en/bikes/active/fitness/treadwell/treadwell-2-remixte

I used to work for Temple, so probably in a good position to advise here. Their bikes are very competent in spite of the vintage look - much more so than Tokyo Bike or Freddie Grubb IMO (frames are ED coated for a start, which is decent, and things like Shimano BBs and okayish wheels). Matt and James (head mechanic) are good people, which doesn’t hurt.

Would second the suggestion of Hackney Peddler, given that they tend to use very similar components to Temple. Slightly cheaper are the mixte options at BLB but not quite as well specced.

Sweet, thanks so much all. That's given me plenty to go on and appreciate the feedback on the Temple itself and have to hold my hands up I was being overly harsh!

I'm in the market for a step through frame for the other half. She likes the classic Temple ones but in the current scenario I doubt the ability to get a frameset before next summer.

Any other good alternative brands for a nice stepthrough/mixte frame?

Cheers

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