Do any of you work in a coffee shop?

Kerwin · Dec 14, 2022

I've been trying to find ways to get out of the house a bit and was thinking about taking my laptop down to a local coffee shop and working from there. I'd buy a couple of drinks, maybe a sandwich, and use my mobile as a hotspot for internet access.

What are people's thoughts on this?

Avilon · Dec 14, 2022

Impossible for me. The slightest sound or movement is enough to distract me, even under the best conditions, my maximum focus time is 20 minutes and it takes an average of 30 minutes for me to start again. I really envy people who can still work under chaotic conditions.

Scalloway · Dec 14, 2022

I find working in a coffee shop gives me less distractions than working at home. No laundry looking at me accusingly or starlings fighting at the bird table to watch.

Kerwin · Dec 14, 2022

Avilon said:
Impossible for me. The slightest sound or movement is enough to distract me, even under the best conditions, my maximum focus time is 20 minutes and it takes an average of 30 minutes for me to start again. I really envy people who can still work under chaotic conditions.

Can you not wear noise-cancelling headphones/earpods? I do all the time as I live in a shared house, and unless it is like 3 am, there is always noise.

Avilon · Dec 14, 2022

Kerwin said:
Can you not wear noise-cancelling headphones/earpods? I do all the time as I live in a shared house, and unless it is like 3 am, there is always noise.

That would be a nightmare for me. It is impossible for me to study in the school library. A few weeks ago I was sneaking into the conference room of the school and studying there for visas, a huge place with only me in it, no sound other than the echoing sound of the pages I turn and just a dim light enough to see. Didnt try but thought about noise canceling headphones in my previous home because I was completely distracted at the slightest noise from the upstairs neighbor, and then thought about covering all ceilings and walls with soundproofing and then finally I have rented a single storey house very close to school (far away from the work) and I am quite at peace.

ethical PR · Dec 14, 2022

Kerwin said:
I've been trying to find ways to get out of the house a bit and was thinking about taking my laptop down to a local coffee shop and working from there. I'd buy a couple of drinks, maybe a sandwich, and use my mobile as a hotspot for internet access.

What are people's thoughts on this?

I think people running coffee shops are understandably upset at freelancers and those working from home using their coffee shops as free office space saving on their home utility bills. If you are going to work from a coffee shop for a morning or afternoon you should buy more than a sandwich and a drink

Kerwin · Dec 14, 2022

ethical PR said:
I think people running coffee shops are understandably upset at freelancers and those working from home using their coffee shops as free office space saving on their home utility bills. If you are going to work from a coffee shop for a morning or afternoon you should buy more than a sandwich and a drink

Hmm. Well, it is a laptop so it wouldn't cost anything in terms of electricity, and I'd be using my phone as a mobile hotspot, so I wouldn't even be using their WiFi.

I'm surprised it would be an issue, but I'll ask them if I decide to try it out. They can always tell me to leave if they want.

ethical PR · Dec 14, 2022

Kerwin said:
Hmm. Well, it is a laptop so it wouldn't cost anything in terms of electricity, and I'd be using my phone as a mobile hotspot, so I wouldn't even be using their WiFi.

I'm surprised it would be an issue, but I'll ask them if I decide to try it out. They can always tell me to leave if they want.

You are missing my point. People who work from coffee shops tend to spread out across a whole table (often four person table) and will only pay for a minimal amount of food/drink. By occupying a four person table for a half a day you are depriving the cafe of income they would generate from having multiples of four people occupying it throughout that time and paying for food and drink. If you want to do this I would suggest you do it at a large chain rather than a small independent. Or pay for a spot at a freelance hub for a day or half a day.

Kerwin · Dec 14, 2022

ethical PR said:
You are missing my point. People who work from coffee shops tend to spread out across a whole table (often four person table) and will only pay for a minimal amount of food/drink. By occupying a four person table for a half a day you are depriving the cafe of income they would generate from having multiples of four people occupying it throughout that time and paying for food and drink. If you want to do this I would suggest you do it at a large chain rather than a small independent. Or pay for a spot at a freelance hub for a day or half a day.

I see. Sorry for missing the point.

I was thinking of getting a drink once an hour or so with a sandwich for lunch and maybe a biscuit or something in the afternoon.

I appreciate your feedback, though.

Mark T Jones · Dec 14, 2022

It will depend very much on your specific shop

Layout, traffic, management etc

When I first decamped from the office to WFH (way before it became the norm) I joined a decent quality gym - with bar, coffee shop and cafe and would spend many hours working there. As a member nobody would complain

Not cheap, but far cheaper than a serviced office - plus I actually used the facilities regularly

Paul Kelly ICHYB · Dec 15, 2022

Kerwin said:
I'm surprised it would be an issue,

If the shop is busy, you could be stopping another customer using the space, therefore buying something. If you are taking a small table or comfy chair and a drink every 20/30 minutes, it would probably be OK.

Kerwin · Dec 15, 2022

Paul Kelly ICHYB said:
If the shop is busy, you could be stopping another customer using the space, therefore buying something. If you are taking a small table or comfy chair and a drink every 20/30 minutes, it would probably be OK.

OK. I see what you are all saying. It was just an idea. Perhaps the library would be an option? It was just an idea anyway.

Paul Kelly ICHYB · Dec 15, 2022

Its a case of being sympathetic to your environment.

There are many workspaces that would charge you £20 for a day's use, which will normally include refreshments, which could work out better because you can meet interesting like-minded people!

HFE Signs · Dec 15, 2022

I don't see it as a problem, if you're spending reasonable money then I'm sure they will welcome your custom.

BusterBloodvessel · Dec 15, 2022

I have considered this myself in the past. I think either choose one of the big chains (I can't see how the staff in Costa for example would care or be affected by you sitting there), or if you go to an independent, go out of your way to speak to the staff/owners and ask them if they're happy with it. If they're super busy every day with people coming in to eat every day then they might not appreciate it but if they're not always full I can't see why they'd have a problem with you buying a couple of coffees and a sandwich each day.

Or you could try a pub - likely to be much bigger, a pub near me was actively encouraging this as we came out of lockdown and I think offering a deal of unlimited tea and coffee plus a sandwich for £10 or something.

And again if you went to a national, how about Wetherspoons - huge, and unlimited tea and coffee refills for about £1.99!

HFE Signs · Dec 15, 2022

BusterBloodvessel said:
I have considered this myself in the past. I think either choose one of the big chains (I can't see how the staff in Costa for example would care or be affected by you sitting there), or if you go to an independent, go out of your way to speak to the staff/owners and ask them if they're happy with it. If they're super busy every day with people coming in to eat every day then they might not appreciate it but if they're not always full I can't see why they'd have a problem with you buying a couple of coffees and a sandwich each day.

Or you could try a pub - likely to be much bigger, a pub near me was actively encouraging this as we came out of lockdown and I think offering a deal of unlimited tea and coffee plus a sandwich for £10 or something.

And again if you went to a national, how about Wetherspoons - huge, and unlimited tea and coffee refills for about £1.99!

But as a pub/café owner, you wouldn't be too happy if all your customers came in to use your warmth and comfort and only spent £1.99 on your loss leading offer. I'm a firm believer in give and take, not just take

IanSuth · Dec 15, 2022

You might actually be welcomed.

An empty coffee shop is less inviting than one with someone already in it.

I have walked past places in the past rather than be the only customer thinking "what does everyone else know that i don't ?"

Avilon · Dec 19, 2022

You will go to a place and ask if it is okay for them to work there or not. They will say yes or no, you can also understand how sincere they are in their answers from their gestures and facial expressions. Also make sure when you exceed the "maximum frequency range" required to place the next order, they will come and ask what you want to drink or eat "Rigth now !!!"

Ozzy · Dec 19, 2022

IanSuth said:
You might actually be welcomed.

An empty coffee shop is less inviting than one with someone already in it.

I've worked from many coffee shops when in London and when around here; chains and independent. I've never come up against it being an issue partly I am led to believe for the reason @IanSuth mentions here.

I know the owner of a few and they welcome people coming in to work, it makes the place busier and a busy place brings in more people. If they find someone not eating or drinking much they go over with an order pad and ask them what they would like to order and they'll bring the drink/snack to their table.

fantheflames · Dec 20, 2022

If it's a chain coffee shop, you'll be completely fine.

Be polite and ask the manager/staff if it's okay to work for X amount of hours if it's a small coffee shop.

I've worked in coffee shops in the past, and always brought my headphones with me.

You'll be surprised how loud it can get!

JamaC · Dec 21, 2022

Many coffee shops welcome this. I recently watched a business related channel on YouTube, where a coffee shop owner was speaking about exploring options to keep people in the shop.

He identified the different types of customers like take away customers, short stay customers, long stay customers. Hence the reason he added WiFi and usb ports.

If you Google coffee shops to work from in Londo, you will get a list of coffee shops that are known for this.

Kerwin · Dec 21, 2022

JamaC said:
Many coffee shops welcome this. I recently watched a business related channel on YouTube, where a coffee shop owner was speaking about exploring options to keep people in the shop.

He identified the different types of customers like take away customers, short stay customers, long stay customers. Hence the reason he added WiFi and usb ports.

If you Google coffee shops to work from in Londo, you will get a list of coffee shops that are known for this.

Thank you! That is useful information.

JEREMY HAWKE · Dec 22, 2022

I told you from day one that working from home was a bad idea.
Now look at our poor OP in a bit of a state falling victim to a modern day soul destroying method of working!

Working from home is a terrible idea

YasmeenLondon · Dec 23, 2022

Kerwin said:
I've been trying to find ways to get out of the house a bit and was thinking about taking my laptop down to a local coffee shop and working from there. I'd buy a couple of drinks, maybe a sandwich, and use my mobile as a hotspot for internet access.

What are people's thoughts on this?

It really depends on the coffeeshop, some coffeeshops are larger with less foot traffic outside so it makes sense for them to encourage people to stay for longer periods, while others are small, very busy, rely on a quick turnaround and occupying a table for a few hours will take away from their business.

Peter Morris · Jan 4, 2023

I actually find coffee shops to be less distracting than my normal office. Last Monday, I went to a coffee shop and got the same amount of work done there in 4 hours as I do in a typical 8-hour work day.

BusterBloodvessel · Jan 4, 2023

Do you have a Pret near you? I recently found out my sister, who travels around London a lot with work, subscribes to the Pret monthly coffee subscription - £25 a month for up to 5 coffees a day.

When she's out and about and needs to work she just dives into the nearest Pret for a few hours and essentially is on free (at point of consumption) coffees. Can order one every half hour I believe.

Seems a reasonable monthly cost for free office space if you have one nearby!!

Kerwin · Jan 4, 2023

BusterBloodvessel said:
Do you have a Pret near you? I recently found out my sister, who travels around London a lot with work, subscribes to the Pret monthly coffee subscription - £25 a month for up to 5 coffees a day.

When she's out and about and needs to work she just dives into the nearest Pret for a few hours and essentially is on free (at point of consumption) coffees. Can order one every half hour I believe.

Seems a reasonable monthly cost for free office space if you have one nearby!!

That sounds really good! I'll look into that.

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Do any of you work in a coffee shop?

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