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?

@Curious2021

Is it ok to use libraries in this way?

That would be a better idea for me.

I use the library to work all the time, but they're still not open for working in.

Fyi Starbucks is a franchise. There is someone behind each particular branch, not just massive company. Likewise Subway for example

I'd go with half an hour before buying another drink.

Costas near me are always dead busy and tables are in demand but I have sat in quieter independent coffee shops especially the ones in bookshops, working, for several hours

@SchrodingersImmigrant I have explicitly told those I manage that "home" means exactly that.

My team need to be on alert for impromptu Zoom meetings and also deal with sensitive client data. Working in a public place would be impractical and downright disrespectful.

Do you have any co-working spaces near you? The ones in our town offer casual drop in day rates.

Don’t take the piss by making one drink last 5 hours but don’t feel bad about it either - Costa is owned by the Coca Cola organisation.

I was told that it s polite to spend £10 for every hour you occupy a seat in a cafe.

[quote NannyAndJohn]@SchrodingersImmigrant I have explicitly told those I manage that "home" means exactly that.

My team need to be on alert for impromptu Zoom meetings and also deal with sensitive client data. Working in a public place would be impractical and downright disrespectful.[/quote]
Many many people do not have this issue. My last job I didn't. Why shouldn't I work from a cafe if I and the owner are both happy?

Current job it's not possible but then I am back in a office much to my delight.

@SchrodingersImmigrant That's a good point about franchises, we shouldn't assume that a chain isn't franchised, someone may have put their life savings into it.

As long as there are free tables for other customers I don't have a problem with anyone staying longer & working.
Oh but it is fuck annoying when it's busy, you've ordered & there's nowhere to sit because half the tables are taken up with finished coffees & 'oblivious' people tapping on laptops.
It's a place to sit & drink coffee really, not an office.

@NannyAndJohn

If you're on your own then no more than 15/20 minutes. Your drink would have gone cold by then.

who goes to a coffee shop and only stays 15 minutes?

It makes 0 difference if you are having a break or working, you can at least stay 1 hour. Otherwise you might as well get a takeaway.

@bonfireheart

Twenty mins to half an hour max.

Eh??

2 hours

I used to interview in Costas as their managers were always ok about it. I would check up front it was ok that I would be there for a while, and buy every candidate a coffee and myself a drink each time.

@NannyAndJohn

If you're on your own then no more than 15/20 minutes. Your drink would have gone cold by then.

Why specify that if you are on your own? Is it okay to hang out there all day if you're with Mary from down the road, Sandra from the co-op and their weans?

But if you're alone, you really need to leave asap and get home so no-one sees you, you big fat loser?

@LolaSmiles

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.

"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,"

I used to do that. A coffee would take anything up to an hour, and lunch would be 2-3 hours. That was pre-covid, though. I can't use most of the places I used to use.

People saying "use the library": I don't think so. Our library is main branch. Appointments to collect, or 15 minutes browsing only. I used to spend hours in libraries, as did other people. All that reading... 15 minutes browsing is not enough for people who are genuinely browsing books :(

It's a weird business concept really. A customer can spend a few pounds and then potentially work there for a hour or so earning at a much higher hourly rate.

So the customer could make £50 using the space, while the coffee shop makes £5/£10.

[quote NannyAndJohn]@SchrodingersImmigrant I have explicitly told those I manage that "home" means exactly that.

My team need to be on alert for impromptu Zoom meetings and also deal with sensitive client data. Working in a public place would be impractical and downright disrespectful.[/quote]
Well that's your team. For many others "wfh" means not in office

[quote Cameleongirl]@SchrodingersImmigrant That's a good point about franchises, we shouldn't assume that a chain isn't franchised, someone may have put their life savings into it.[/quote]
Yeah, lots of people don't realise what everything is a franchise. I know people who bought into different franchise and it's a hard graft still

One person using a table for 2 (sometimes 4) and buying a drink every hour is shit for business. Even if the person buys lunch there too the cafe has been denied the potential to maximise profit per table. That one person having 3 coffees over 3 hours could have been 6 people (12 at a bigger table) all having coffees and cakes/sandwiches/breakfast rolls.

My biggest issue is that social distancing has reduced capacity in the majority of hospitality venues. It's just selfish to take a table all day long and deny someone else the opportunity to sit and have a coffee. I know nobody owes anyone a nothing but I would feel awful table hogging while people were being turned away.

Wetherspoons does unlimited coffee and tea refills for 99p and you can use their WiFi.

Why would you? Just work at home surely.

If you’re planning to stay there for eg 7 hours and use their wifi/sockets/toilets etc for that time, then you definitely need to buy more than a coffee and cake! You should keep buying refills, buy lunch, buy bottles of water etc. It’s a bit cheeky otherwise

When I used to do uni work in Starbucks, I would always ask them if it’s okay first. And I would only stay for eg an hour max