To ask how long it’s acceptable to sit in a Costa or similar to work?

[Curious2021]

Obviously I’d buy a coffee/cake but what’s the kind of acceptable time limit?

Is it ok to use libraries in this way?

That would be a better idea for me.

I would say it’s probably reasonable to spend around 30-45 minutes there for each hot drink you buy and maybe up to an hour if you’re buying lunch (meal & drink); as long as you keep buying something regularly I think it’s fine to stay all day as having one person order 5 drinks is no different to 5 people ordering 1 drink each.

@Curious2021

Is it ok to use libraries in this way?

That would be a better idea for me.

Yeah. If they have the space, go for it

This is such a brilliant question!!! I always wonder this!!!!!!! Fwiw (because following with interest) I think:

If drink or food is being consumed = ok
Else:

If two or more tables free and food or drink purchased in last hour = ok

Else:
If food or drink purchased in last 40 minutes = ok

Else:

If said to staff "I'm gonna do some work but just shout me if you need the table" and they haven't shouted you = ok

Interesting replies everyone, thanks. I now feel an hour or so at most is probably enough but if it’s absolutely dead then I’m sure there’s no issue staying longer as long as you’re buying something often enough.

I’ve never actually done it before at all hence trying to work out what’s acceptable.

Depends how busy it is really. I went on Tuesday afternoon (not to work) and there were plenty of free tables so I stayed for about an hour. I would have left sooner if there was a queue for tables but there wasn't.

The most ANNOYING thing is when you go there with a friend and all the people with laptops are sitting at tables for FOUR. SO selfish.

Keep buying coffee and its acceptable to sit there all day.

@bonfireheart

Twenty mins to half an hour max.

What? I sit there longer than that just buying a coffee and drinking it! Many places actually encourage people working - makes the place look fuller

@KingdomScrolls

At the moment, as long as it takes to have a coffee/lunch, their capacity is much reduced your preventing other people using it and reducing the takings for a business that's been largely closed for sit in customers for a year

Yes. This.

I sit in my car as close as I can if I need the wifi. But I no longer take up their seats.

Our local coffee shop does refills and send someone out with tea and coffee refills. But they do tend to know their regulars on a first name basis without having to write it on your cup 😊

@Cameleongirl

The independent coffee shop near us has polite signs asking customers not to spend more than 45 minutes at their table. I think that's reasonable given they have limited seating.

What if they reorder after 45mine? Make no difference to the cafe owner if it’s new people or the same people

Those of you who use a cafe as a workspace, what do you do with your laptop, bag etc when you need to go to the loo or the counter? Do you pack it all away and take it with you and vacate the table (risking the space being gone on your return) or leave your stuff out (and risk it being stolen)?

Libraries are publicly funded so they're not relying on the income to stay in business. I personally think it's fine to stay for a while if you're buying lunch, for example, and perhaps an extra drink if it stretches to two hours.

I know our coffee shop's owner so I'm definitely biased, she operates on tight margins and the pandemic has been terrible for her.

@AppleSouffle I have done this for years and leave my laptop out and plugged in. I take my phone, bank cards and house keys with me. Never had the slightest issue in multiple countries.

@Curious2021

Is it ok to use libraries in this way?

That would be a better idea for me.

Normally, yes. Used to do that a lot. But I think there's a time limit in our local libraries at the moment due to COVID, and far less seating / far fewer computers available. Haven't tried this year, though, so might be wrong.

Those saying the time should be limited, what about other people who may be there to socialise rather than work but not spending as much
I don't care who sits at a table as long as they're buying food/beverages that are proportionate to the amount of time they spend there, and not keeping the seat warm indefinitely.

I'm aware this makes me sound very grumpy, but I don't like the idea that cafes become a free common room /study space for students who want to nurse a single coffee for 3 hours, same for people wanting to use cafes as offices, and same for a certain group of mums who sit for ages clearly not drinking anything and with no intention of buying anything else.

@cardibach The signs weren't there when the coffee shop first opened, they went up after a year or two so I'm assuming the owner felt they were necessary. I've never asked her about them.

My guess is that these little places need to build up clientele, they need as many people as possible to sit down and order a nice lunch and a drink. Then they'll return/recommend it to their friends, IYSWIM.

Really! That laptop would be stolen before you even sat on the loo here!!

@Mountaingoatling thanks, I’ve always wondered. A woman asked me to keep an eye on her work kit in a cafe recently and I wondered how she knew I was honest Glad to hear that you’ve never had any problems leaving your laptop out

I don't know what part of "work from home" people don't understand.

I'd be livid if I found out that any of my team were fluttering away hours in a cafe instead of doing what is stated on their contract.

Costa? I wouldn't give a shit about that big (pitiful tax payer( corporate giant's feelings and would stay for as long as I wanted.
An independent coffee shop? Coffee or good every half hour or so. Tap water does not count.

If there's spare tables and you are buying things every hour then they won't mind, but if they are turning away customers they might get grumpy as it doesn't take an hour to drink coffee

I'm aware this makes me sound very grumpy, but I don't like the idea that cafes become a free common room /study space for students who want to nurse a single coffee for 3 hours, same for people wanting to use cafes as offices, and same for a certain group of mums who sit for ages clearly not drinking anything and with no intention of buying anything else.

You are not grumpy. It's not a public park. If people want to sit, they need to buy.
We had lots of people spending afternoons in ours, but luckily only handful of CF who we, as uncomfortable as it was, had to politely push towards buggering off.

@TH22

Costa? I wouldn't give a shit about that big (pitiful tax payer( corporate giant's feelings and would stay for as long as I wanted. An independent coffee shop? Coffee or good every half hour or so. Tap water does not count.

Exactly this! I can't really do my job in a public place but I used to work in coffee shops all the time when I was a student. I don't give a shit about Starbucks losing some profit from me hogging a table but in an independent I'd spend more and be more considerate.

@NannyAndJohn

I don't know what part of "work from home" people don't understand.

I'd be livid if I found out that any of my team were fluttering away hours in a cafe instead of doing what is stated on their contract.

Work from home doesn't have to literally mean someone's home... Some people are more productove when they have noise around