Fed up with drinking coffee in other people’s offices.

[canyouseemyhousefromhere]

That’s what it feels like lately. I popped in for a coffee in a local coffee shop and was surrounded by four separate people working with laptops, headphones and piles of paperwork talking loudly to ‘clients’ . No food or drink in sight. I have just heard one of them invite 2 people to a meeting in this cafe, he’s busy arranging chairs (carrying them across the cafe) as I type.
I have no particular problem to people working in coffee shops but some are really taking the p now.
They often take the best tables and are now frequently causing a nuisance. I have seen two groups of shoppers change their minds whilst in the queue not sure if it’s because of the office people or just coincidence.
Is there also a confidentiality issue here perhaps? A list with personal information was clearly in view on the table.
Does anyone else feel fed up with this or am I just being a misery? 🤷‍♀️

This has become much more marked since Brexit. I find it with pubs in touristy areas too, where you would think it would make good business sense to always be open and serving food at lunchtimes and late into the evening, but they're often closed several days or several mealtimes a week. Basically there aren't enough/good enough staff.

Yeah, but all that is, frankly, none of your business. Their meetings policy or information security has nothing to do with you. And it's up to the coffee shop how they handle customers.

You can dislike it. You can comment to the owners, if you want. You can withdraw your custom, or even open your own coffee shop if you're minded to. But there is no reason for the world to change just because you don't like it.

The WiFi privacy thing is a moot point.

Corporate laptops have automatic VPN as standard and their employees will regularly connect to WiFi in hotels, trains, in flight WiFi and airport lounges.

I was in my favourite coffee shop yesterday, independent dog friendly local chain. It has a couple of “nooks” with three or four tables for two in them which are ideal for those wishing to work.