Local independent cafes and coffee shops

[TheTecknician]

Do you have one of these that you frequent or at least try to visit as often as you can? I admit to being something of a Costa fan on account of their loyalty scheme and having three stores within walking distance or just a few minutes drive. However, I've started to visit again (after about two years) a small but quite smart and cosy cafe on my local high street. They do full breakfasts and lunchtime snacks and open two nights a week for homemade pizza - BYOB. I've yet to try this as it's a new direction for the owners but it seems to be popular. There's another two places just yards away that operate a similar business model with bistro nights but I think they're licensed. Again, I've yet to visit but it's great that they have become established and successful.

Similarly to others, I'll always pick an independent café over a chain unless I'm in an airport. Having said that, there are two good independent cafés in the very small town where I live and another restaurant that serves coffee and cake in the daytime just outside the town and I've never been to any of them because if I'm that close to home I'll go home for my coffee.

I rarely get coffees or other hot drinks when out, I just bring a bottle of water out with me and home made food. We'll go out for brunch a few times a year, usually for something like a birthday. We pick a different place every time, that has good reviews, so we can try out new places, they would all be independent or small local chains. Occasionally (a few times a year) we've grabbed a sandwich out of convenience if there's nowhere we can eat our own food, and we'd usually go for a chain like Pret as the kids will reliably eat them. We're in a touristy bit of central London and we have at least 20 independent cafes within walking distance, they are busy enough not to need our custom.

I try to support our independent cafes.
Where it is a struggle is I'll often meet a friend after work, or even mid afternoon. No point meeting in a cafe at 3 if they're going to be sweeping up around us by 3.45. Finding an independent reliably open when I'm most likely to use one is difficult to near impossible, then we'll have to fall back on a chain.

I tried a new local bakery spot (sit in) recently. No cold drinks on offer (not even water) just tea and coffee which I don’t drink. £4+ a pastry. I’m not sure I can afford to support them!

Loads of independent cafés where I live. I never go to Costa etc. I find them really meh.

Yes. There's a chocolate/coffee shop that only recently opened a second branch in town, but it's the same guys there forever and I went a lot when work was being done on my house. There was another but taken over by a small chain who stripped it out and it's lost so much character. Recently discovered a tiny Italian place which mainly sells specialty items but a few things to eat in at the three minuscule tables. And a Spanish place around the curbed which has the best cupcakes! Crying out for a makeover to make it cosier! It's just the cook and the server. We also like the crepe van near the library - delicious.
If I had to do chain Caffè Nero is my favourite. Starbucks only if it was the last place on Earth.

Yes I like to visit several independents and have my favourites.

I don’t drink much coffee out unless it’s from my flask, but if I’m in a city I use independents with good reviews. The coffee in Starbucks is awful, like dishwater.

@NoCarbsForMe

AI? I'm not with you. I'm real and not a collection of circuits and microchips, if that's what you're asking.

All of our local ones allow dogs in so we can't visit anymore unfortunately. We recently visited a few near Muswell Hill (about 400 miles from our home) and they were so beautiful, innovative and friendly.

I don't know if Costa officially allows dogs in (apart from assistance dogs obviously) but I've seen it happen a few times. Might be up to individual store managers.

I would love to but all the ones around me are closing at 4pm. But that's when I drop DD off at drama school and have time.

I don't want a coffee at 10-11am, when I am running errands. And it's too expensive to do lunch.

They do seem to do well, when I walk past them, most are busy.

I would love a coffee shop open until 8-9pm. Our Scout venue where there are groups every day apart from Wednesdays is next to the High Street and parents could use it to stay and wait for them to finish instead of going home and coming back 1 hour later.

The (only) one near me is dreadful. I've taken to packing a thermos if I want a hot drink. I wish they were better, they'd have ££££ of my custom each month given proximity to nursery, school, park etc.

Yes pretty much every weekend after a club fit dc

They are usually packed

Nope, going against the trend and actively seek out a Costa . Sorry!

I hate coffee chains. I have at least ten independent coffee places within 2-20 minutes’ walk of my home/workplace.

DH and I meet my parents most Sunday mornings at a wee local Greek coffee shop that sells amazing homemade Greek pastries, cakes and biscuits. The staff are lovely, they know us and sometimes give us an extra free cake etc.

No frequent but there's a couple I'd go to any day over costa.

I prefer visiting independent but :

• I don’t go if they are allowed dogs. I think having animals at eating place is wrong (unless it’s an outside space)
• they usually have really short hours so at 4.30 Costa is my only bet
• sometimes they don’t look like a cafe following proper regulations and standards more like someone cleared some space, put a table and started selling the leftovers of their baking. I do want independent to look cosy and relaxing but I want them to look professional still.