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?

I don't think a keyboard warrior is what you think it is..

why would they, when people accept it.

I'm not ageist but... then proceeds to be bloody ageist.

The rest of the world is just fine, and you have the problem. So get loop earplugs. Job done.

I think it depends on the cafe and when you go in.

I don't tend to go to any cafes where I live but I do go when I am with my mum because she likes going out for a coffee (tea in her case). There are some nice independents where she lives.

DH and I were away for a few days recently and one of the biggest issues wasn't kids or dogs or keyboard warriors (of the OP's loud typists variety) or people having loudspeaker conversations, it was loud music. And that is totally within the control of the cafe owner. For goodness sake turn it down.

I don't think people have become more intolerant, I think the world has got too noisy.

I've always disliked cafes, and not just because I've worked in a few. They are nearly always cramped with too many tables for the space, either very expensive and everything comes on a rock hard sourdough or horribly cheap and I'm questioning what's in the sausages. I understand both business models and it's a bloody hard way to make a living for most, but my heart sinks when someone suggests meeting in a cafe.

There are lovely independent cafes if you know where to look for them. One of my favourite things to do is bring a good book to a cafe, on my own, order a coffee and a cake or a sandwich and just exist. Bliss.

The likes of M&S, costa etc are not the place for such things

I went to a Costa coffee shop in a retail park today. Aircon on too full. I’m sure it’s been welcome over the heatwave, but it was pouring with rain and grey today so a cosy retreat was more the vibe I was hoping for. I’m not saying heating on, just no cold air blasting out please.

Sticky tables as pp have mentioned. Not so much actual jam or whatever, just that horrible sensation of your cup sticking to the not-very-clean surface.

Noisy because of the flat surfaces.

The staff headsets! I now realise from this thread that it’s because it’s also a drive-through. Didn’t twig at the time.

But I will say the woman who served me was really lovely, like noticeably so (ie I’ve got used to pretty perfunctory or disinterested service) and so was the person who made the drink.

Also: it was rammed! So a lot of people still seem to enjoy it.

One thing I HATED in the Olden Days was the way you had to queue up to order, and then just hope you found somewhere to sit once you were carrying your cuppa. Or if you were with someone else, one person would go and sit down by themselves whilst the other had to order for both, and then there was the awkwardness about settling up etc.

I love the new system where you can sit down first then just order off the app, although in my local cafe you can still order at the counter if you prefer.

It is expensive, though. Sigh.

Nah I still love going to a cafe and treating myself . To me M&S cafe is not a treat it’s just like a pit stop for coffee when shopping

I love cafes and while I don't agree with most of your points, the phone speaker noise is something that I find very hard to look beyond. I really wish cafes would enforce rules about this. Even stick up a few signs if nothing else to encourage compliance. The tinny noise of music or dialogue on a phone drives me absolutely crazy, i can't focus on a conversation. It's sad that these days when I see children out I am disappointed not because they are children, I actually really like little children and am happy to engage with them, but the reality that when a young child arrives the tinny sound almost always follows. That or they are shouting for no reason at the person right beside them. It's bizarre, it was never like this before.

lol at the elderly with mobile phones on speaker. DH and I are in our sixties. Our phones link to our hearing aids via Bluetooth so no one even hears them ring!

IME it tends to be younger people (under 30) who inflict their chat and music on other people. it's annoying but I try and overlook it as they might be on a budget and can't afford earbuds.

I think it’s because many of us feel like a trip to the cafe is a little treat and should be calm and peaceful. Also what is deemed to be acceptable for one is not acceptable for others.

For me it’s the sheer number of dogs, mobile phones on speaker (although I’ve never noticed the elderly being the culprits 😂) iPads for children with sound up and no headphones.

I love dogs, but not in cafes/restaurants, and when a member of staff gives them a treat, strokes them, then proceeds to serve coffee and cakes ….. yuck! I also love audiobooks on my phone, but with headphones when out and about.

I love the idea of the no technology sign but would maybe negatively affect revenue.

Quite. And I've never come across an elderly person with their speaker on, that's always the under 30s.

You need to find better cafes, M & S have been terrible for ever. Everything tastes like it's been made a long time ago and stored for ages. Which it probably has.

I've always felt M&S cafe to be pretty soul destroying. They closed the one near me and nobody missed it I don't think. Similar to Costa.

So if their standards are already pretty low then it'll only have got worse. Making it really a massive rip off.

My local independent I like is great though. Great coffee, lovely fresh hot food and hand made cakes, warm staff, clean loo, nice decor and music. And cheaper than the chains. You have to use places that actually care.

UK cafes are always a bit grotty. It's like we don't know how to do anything beyond sausage baps and strong tea. Very 1970s. Apparently it's not like this in mainland Europe and they really do know how to do cafe culture. Lovely fresh coffee, good pastries, tasteful vibe etc.

A new cafe opened up in the next town to us. Called itself 'Victorian'. It has some retro furniture and pictures, modern tables and chairs, modern crockery, plastic flowers everywhere, pop music playing and sells sickly sweet commercial quality cakes and coffee from a press button coffee machine 🙈 there's also air fresheners everywhere. Yeah, 'nuff said 😬😂

It is a money issue. I used to think travelling up to Scotland to see my family was miserable (Victoria coach station) until I took a friend with me (American student, had money) and she booked a Caledonian Sleeper berth compartments for us since my family was hosting her, she said - it blew my mind, I was in my 20s, had no idea you could travel like that. I genuinely did not know it was an option. I lived in London for 30 years and had no idea fantastic cafes tucked away near Piccadilly were an option - I thought Pret was the bees' knees. When a friend showed me, we went halves, and it was amazing, but after I paid my half, I realised that this is not for me - linen table cloths, adult waiters, etc. I am positive that there are amazing places still (I am none the wiser now than I was ages ago where they are), but I am positive that this is a money issue.

Reckon you went to Burns the Bread.

Love that cafe.
When Boris Johnson came to Glastonbury they had to change his tour route because there was a massive sign saying 'GO HOME YOU FAT CLOWN' outside of Burns.

Probably best to have your coffee at home.

What really annoys me is dogs in cafes on mobile phones. Barking away.

like an old fashioned typing pool? I am quite noise sensitive but have never ever been aware of this and there are people on lap tops/phones/tablets in every cafe these days.

oh the old "I am not xxx but" thing.....

I’m on the fence here
There are some local cafes which are lovely, if a bit spenny
This week I popped to Costa as I was early for an appointment- I had a passion fruit lemonade which was a tiny cup and so full of ice that the entire drink was barely a mouthful and it cost £4!

well of course its a money issue. Better stuff costs more.

We use independents and if they are not places to 'enjoy' your coffee or meal we don't go back. Make shift offices and we don't go in, creches where a coffee is nursed same, service with a snarl and we don't return. You pay for ambience and food/ service, not chaos.

I went to a lovely Patisserie Valerie in Fenwicks in York the other day. Had a lovely pot of tea and a croque monsieur, and it was lovely and calm and quiet and pleasant.