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Original poster

Sat INSIDE Costa today and it was Dead!

57 replies

sociallydistained · 17/05/2021 15:46

Really pleased to be able to sit in and have a drink so headed there after school run half expecting not to get a table as there are less tables with social distancing and always seemed busy last time....

Nobody there! I stayed for a few hours it was joyful. Only two tables (at separate times) were occupied the time I was there yet all the outside seating was taken despite the rain (the outdoors has cover). Are people too nervous to sit indoors or maybe they didn’t notice? All I know is I was so happy to drink out of a proper list cup inside Smile

OP posts:
PicsInRed · 17/05/2021 20:00

It's because they're enforcing the NHS checkin, which is a fine roulette to play ever once in a while but not for a daily or weekly coffee break.

People don't want to get a phone call and be trapped at home for whatever number days it is this week, for whatever reason applies now, on pain of whatever the punishment is today.

HumunaHey · 17/05/2021 20:03

That sounds lovely. Pre-covid, my friends would hate to sit in a restaurant/cade if it was too quite as there was "no atmosphere" but I love ut. What's not to love about getting your pick of seating, not being jammed in like sardinesand peace & quiet?Hmm

SmidgenofaPigeon · 17/05/2021 20:07

I met my friend for brunch at Bill’s Victoria, it was nicely busy but not crowded by any means.

I’m going to have coffee indoors at a different cafe every single day this week, and I’m out for dinner as well on Friday.

Does everyone always do the NHS check in.....??

PicsInRed · 17/05/2021 20:15

@SmidgenofaPigeon

I met my friend for brunch at Bill’s Victoria, it was nicely busy but not crowded by any means.

I’m going to have coffee indoors at a different cafe every single day this week, and I’m out for dinner as well on Friday.

Does everyone always do the NHS check in.....??

Some chains are mandating it and enforce at the counter. I'll just continue to do a coffee on takeout as I don't need that call right now.
idontlikealdi · 17/05/2021 20:18

@GreenLeafTurnip

It's a shame that you aren't supporting independent cafes instead of a massive corporation.
Who will employ all the people who work in Costa?
flashylamp · 17/05/2021 20:20

Does everyone always do the NHS check in.....??

Nobody gets in here without showing they have checked in or giving details at the checkout. It's a pain in the arse because it holds the queue up so much when it's busy, which it has been every time I go 5/6 a week

The Costa app is better than our government app because you can add multiple people. With the gov app I have to manually add my Nanna as she hasn't got a smart phone! I have started writing her details on a small sheet of paper so I can hand it over rather then try to give her i through both a mask and a screen

Mumof3girlsandaboy · 17/05/2021 20:31

@tulips27

If the choice is there I will pick sitting outside every time for the time being.
Same
Worriesome · 17/05/2021 21:28

@Pumpkinstace what soft play if you don’t mind me asking? I thought they were going to be the last to open x

wtfisgoingonhere21 · 17/05/2021 21:48

Outside coffee with dh today,well in the car actually as it was absolutely pissing it down but after having been closed for 8 months of the last year my business can't afford for me to be off to isolate if I come in contact outside of my workplace so we are still treading v carefully for the minute.

Finances will literally not allow for anymore unpaid or lower paid time off for a good while so we can build up our emergency fund again and have something to fall bak on.

But to all those who are planning inside dining and coffee and cake this week enjoy it guys.
I am jealous CakeBrew

Original poster
sociallydistained · 20/05/2021 08:23

@GreenLeafTurnip

It's a shame that you aren't supporting independent cafes instead of a massive corporation.
I don’t enjoy costa coffee even but I was going to a certain area for the park and this is the only coffee shop nearby, it’s directly opposite the park. The 3 year old was so excited about having a baby chino with a flake, it was a massive deal for us! I’d prefer an independent coffee but I’ve many of those walking around in town over the past few months.
OP posts:
Original poster
sociallydistained · 20/05/2021 08:26

@PicsInRed

It's because they're enforcing the NHS checkin, which is a fine roulette to play ever once in a while but not for a daily or weekly coffee break.

People don't want to get a phone call and be trapped at home for whatever number days it is this week, for whatever reason applies now, on pain of whatever the punishment is today.

The poster for track and trace at this costa never works. It just says it’s invalid so I always scan it at the till and walk off so I’ve not actually given my details Blush I don’t mind genuinely doing it though and always do it just doesn’t work at this costa (it never did last time they opened either!)
OP posts:
flashylamp · 20/05/2021 08:29

The poster for track and trace at this costa never works. It just says it’s invalid so I always scan it at the till and walk off

That's interesting. For weeks our Costa has been asking to see peoples check in on their phone or take details manually. They are very strict. Perhaps the staff in the branch you were in are lacking but it seems quite strange that none of the managers have picked up on this.

Xiaoxiong · 20/05/2021 08:34

Our high street Costa is a franchise owned by one of our neighbours and employs people in our area. Like McDonalds, not all of them are owned directly by the main company.

I'm loving sitting indoors again - helps with this utterly shit weather too.

myhobbyisouting · 20/05/2021 08:49

Yep the two Costas here are franchises run by local families, for the poster with their knickers in a twist

Mindymomo · 20/05/2021 08:59

We had lunch at a local pub yesterday and despite indoors being allowed now, there was nobody eating inside. The pub has done extensive work outside with heaters and glassed partitions that everyone was eating outside. I just think a lot of people aren’t ready for eating and drinking inside at the moment, if outside is a available.

Sparklingbrook · 20/05/2021 09:02

I went to Dunelm yesterday to pick up a collection. The Pausa coffee shop that is open again had 2 people in it 11am.
Pre Covid you could barely get a table.

DenisetheMenace · 20/05/2021 09:02

Husband and I have had our jabs but our adult children haven’t so we won’t be sitting in u til they have. Imagine lots of others feel the same way.
Won’t be long now though. eldest, 27, has been invited this week 😃
You can’t beat coffee or tea in a proper cup, can you?

PickAChew · 20/05/2021 09:07

I went into Newcastle on Monday morning. Costa, Caffè Nero etc all full of tumbleweed. Even the 3 branches of greggs I walked past were all quiet.

Massive queue for pret!

H1978 · 20/05/2021 10:12

Maybe people are still vary with the new variant spreading as fast as it is.

Having said that, I was at a shopping centre on Saturday and people were buying drinks and walking around drinking them despite there being signs that said no food or drinks are to be consumed in the centre.

Mimsytove · 20/05/2021 10:20

When people have been subject to behavioural conditioning over a sustained period they are just not going to change overnight, if at all.

I have got over the coffee shop thing, and have seen though it, both on price and on what I thought made me happy.

Just don’t need it anymore.

brondary · 20/05/2021 10:53

I am not sitting inside yet. Met some friends and one suggested we eat inside. Everyone else agreed we would eat outside. It is too early to be going inside yet.

Houseofvelour · 20/05/2021 11:19

I'm a Starbucks addict and it was packed the other day! I didn't stay

Original poster
sociallydistained · 20/05/2021 11:32

@brondary

I am not sitting inside yet. Met some friends and one suggested we eat inside. Everyone else agreed we would eat outside. It is too early to be going inside yet.
I just don’t get this I feel like if any of your friends had Covid you would get it sitting outside too. But chances are they don’t at the moment!
OP posts:
brondary · 20/05/2021 11:37

@sociallydistained you are wrong. Ventilation makes a big difference to transmission. And that includes tables nearby. We know that people have caught the virus from other tables in restaurants.
Ventilation is the number one effective mitigation strategy. It is why the risks are fairly low if you are outside.

MikeWozniaksGloriousTache · 20/05/2021 11:48

I went into Newcastle on Monday morning. Costa, Caffè Nero etc all full of tumbleweed. Even the 3 branches of greggs I walked past were all quiet.
Now I know you’re lying. Greggs is never quiet in Newcastle Grin

Maybe it was just the time of day, people being at work etc. We passed a costa at the weekend and it was very busy. I don’t feel comfortable going into places right now but I’m prevent and unvaccinated and in a high Indian variant area so avoiding most places until I can get jabbed.