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?

A seperate category called “elderly” using phones inconsiderately?

I don't think that's what keyboard warrior means

A cafe near my house fixed this the wifi has a password and you have to buy something to get it 😊

Neither do I.

Well of course it's expensive. The price of everything has gone up. But all the other stuff you list is just you being intolerant. So you want no children, no old people, no one working and no-one using a phone.
My advice would to be staying at home and have a coffee.

Oh my days I stopped for a coffee whilst I had half an hour to spare yesterday and it was one of those most overstimulating experiences I’ve had since legoland. Clanking of cups and spoons, background music, people laughing, dogs barking and for this privilege i paid nine pounds for a tiny cake and cappuccino

They take all the best tables and sit there all day. Some cafes you can only get a middle 2 person table in front of the door.

We have an abundance of amazing cafes in our area in the SE .I cannot relate to the complaints that you have listed !

No fun any more.

I used to love Sainsbury's cafe about 25 years ago.

I would get my latte and have a cigarette in the smoker's section after shopping.

I really looked forward to that peaceful half-hour before going home.

Can't do that nowadays 😡

Places aren't cleaned properly these days. Tables are always sticky, bathrooms are minging, general muckiness all round. I'm definitely not a clean freak but its rare to find yourself in a cafe that has a comfortable level of cleanliness. Obviously the proliferation of dogs and children in these places is part of the issue but I also imagine staffing costs are a factor. I'd much rather get my drink to take away and sit on a park bench.

Are you Hyacinth Bucket?

(Peering at the rim of a coffee cup) “You frequently find traces of lipstick in places like this.”