Cafes are no longer pleasant experiences

[GeorgeA12]

Just that really. I used to look forward to having a drink and a bite to eat in cafes, it was nice and relaxing. But no longer, some examples and you always get at least one or two now.

The expense, its getting crazy.
People on mobile phones making noise
Elderly on mobile phones with the speaker on so you can hear the other person.
Dogs
Toddlers
Keyboard warriors
Staff attitudes
Small portions / cheap ingredients
Wobbly and dirty tables
Poor toilet hygiene
Advertising screens (yes there was one in M & S today which really bright)

Anyone else the same?

We eat out at least once, usually twice on a weekend (breakfast, lunch or dinner) and recognise a lot of the issues you mention. Not sure what “toddlers” means though. They are also humans. And I have to say I rarely encounter disturbances from other people’s children.

I’ll also add super uncomfortable chairs, which I’m sure they do on purpose so you eat and go quickly. And really loud music. Was in a local cafe on Sunday and it was unbearably loud - I could barely hear my toddlers tantrum 😉
I do mean that though, the volume was horrendous and therefore everyone in there is talking even louder. I couldn’t wait to get out.

They are expensive because the cost of every single element that a cafe uses has gone through the roof from eggs and bacon to electricity and staff wages. Fuel as well if they deliver.

You should support small businesses like these as much as possible because before long they will be gone. I work in the food industry and a lot of our customers are up for sale because they are struggling to make the business work in this financial climate.

Why not kick an industry that has already been kicked to death OP.

They take work calls on Teams and speak at a much louder volume than necessary.

Apologies I meant parenting of toddlers. There was a little boy running amok between the tables today that had half inches a packet of crisps from the shelf that the parent seemed oblivious to whilst on their phone.

People on mobile phones, then you single out "elderly with phones"
push off with the ageism. Get some loop earplugs if older people being out and about annoys you so much

I think M&S have gone insane. Our nearest café, which was always busy, was closed so they could put in larger fridges and expand the range on offer except it's still not huge so a bit pointless and they've also lost footfall because there's no café.
The M&S café I usually go to is an out of town giant shop, and the café is very loud, food is just heated up and orders take forever. It is commented on in every inevitable queue and the customers eye roll at the 'improvements'. I was in the shop itself this week, 10am and it was almost exclusively pensioners shopping whilst Scissor Sisters and Dua Lipa caterwauled at top volume down the PA system like we were at a dodgy DJ party.
Generally I think cleanliness and a calmer atmosphere are more likely to be found outside of chains.

This is not my experience

I'm sorry but I've seen jacket potatoes with either beans or cheese going for a tenner. I know they need to make a profit but a spud is only 30p to me as a consumer.

We have a local independent which is a tech free zone, there are signs and if you get a call you're expected to take it outside. It's lovely

You misunderstand what a ‘keyboard warrior is’ 😂

The noisy hissy coffee machines and the clatter of mugs/cups/plates gets me. Maybe it's the confined space that makes the clattering sound louder! But I get used to it after a few minutes mostly. Sometimes not.

Also fish n chips for a small bit of fish and a few chips in one of those silver containers is £22 in my local pub. Come on.

Come on now, you're getting a bit carried away surely. How can it be so noisy with toddlers etc yet you can someone typing. You've got the most sensitive hearing I'm the whole world.

Is this post a wind up? We all know a potato costs thirty pence. You're paying towards rent, insurance, staff, water, electric, rates etc. It's a business.

I have noticed an upswing in the number of sticky tables. I really must ask someone whether there are new regulations about not using spray and a clean, damp cloth to wipe tables. Everywhere I go the tables remain uncleared for ages, then some poor soul with a barely damp, filthy cloth gives them a desultory wipe, knocking all the crumbs onto the floor and chairs rather than collecting them and smearing various sticky substances all over the table top. I am getting exasperated by getting this jam/chocolate sauce/fruit puree melange all over my cuffs everywhere I go.

These are examples I'm not saying they happen all at once, although the M & S cafe was close today!

So many cafes have dirty sticky tables which aren’t cleared quickly when customers leave. They’re probably short staffed and clearing/wiping tables is seen as low priority.

Cafe culture was a thing and was excellent up to around 5 -10 years ago. It’s not quite the same now, and I don’t know why. Ingredients and service getting cheaper because of higher overheads maybe. Fewer people going to cafes due to cost but also especially if they have one of those machines at home.

Tend to agree to be honest. Just too expensive and not worth the money.

I had 3 hours to kill on Monday in Bath. I bought a roll and a coffee from Greggs and sat in the park with my book.

It was the same yesterday whilst the dogs were at the groomers in Glastonbury. I bought a sandwich and a coffee from the baker in the high st and ate them in my car.

Keyboard warriors? How do you even come to find that out?

I'm not ageist, im getting on but I've observed the older generation seem ok to have their phone on speaker when talking. It's not just cafes it happens in supermarkets when they are talking about what fish to get or what have for dinner! Surely you have seen this?

Why this couldn't be done before they left the house I have no idea! Thank goodness they were born into the mobile phone revolution or would have likely starved to death!

I love cafes. Preferably with seating areas outside, but I dont mind sitting in if it's cold. Some Costa/Nero cafes are really cosy, as are plenty of smaller independant cafes.
Some garden centres have nice little cafes with great cakes, and good service. too.
I do agree about price rises though; they are getting ridiculous.

A lot of cafes are v disappointing ( chain or independent) i think because I want them to be like Betty's -i.e doiliesand no phones - which most obviously aren't.xx

The world has got a whole lot noisier and more crowded. Parents let their kids run riot and scream their heads off until they've been glued to a screen. Everyone is connected to some device or other. Most of them are shouting at a screen or frantically typing on a keyboard. Few people just sit in quiet contemplation, read a newspaper or people watch any more. I honestly don't think they'd know how to.

I don't recognise anything in your post.

I was at a cafe for breakfast with a friend this morning - nice and quiet, clean, freshly made food, friendly staff and quick service. It's locally run and independently owned though, not a chain. I had a (massive) breakfast burrito and two coffees, my friend had a Full English and two coffees - the bill came to less than £40.

In fact, all our local cafes are like that - I've never had a bad experience at any of them. Sometimes the service can be slow on busy days but it's nothing major and I just bring a book or chat to whoever I'm there with.