Do cafes/coffee shops mind if you spend an hour or two there

Hollister11

For the next few months I'll have about 2 hours free before college 3 days a week. Do cafes mind if you spend an hour or two there on your laptop doing work, as long as you buy something? Or is it frowned upon.

elefant

Hollister11 wrote: »

For the next few months I'll have about 2 hours free before college 3 days a week. Do cafes mind if you spend an hour or two there on your laptop doing work, as long as you buy something? Or is it frowned upon.

I can't think of any cafes it would be frowned upon in, as long as you buy a drink or two and they aren't turning people away because they don't have any free seats.

Graces7

You can but try. was going to suggest the library but too early? I once had a 20 minute free wifi in Costa as long as I bought something..

Peregrine

I'd say I've definitely spent over an hour in cafés.

As long as you buy something and as long as you're not taking up space when it's packed, I can't imagine them saying anything.

Del2005

Hollister11 wrote: »

For the next few months I'll have about 2 hours free before college 3 days a week. Do cafes mind if you spend an hour or two there on your laptop doing work, as long as you buy something? Or is it frowned upon.

Does the college have a library? There'll be free WiFi, plugs, quite and proper seating/tables.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I see it all the time in coffee shops. Shouldn't be a problem when you buy a couple of coffees, particularly at the quite times of day. The college library would be better though. No harm in trying anyway.

dinorebel

As long as you don't stay too Latte.

Riddle101

As others have said, as long as you buy something you should have no problem. They're not going to turn away customers like that.

suicide_circus

dinorebel wrote: »

As long as you don't stay too Latte.

And espress yourself eloquently.

5rtytry56

Dangelo Rich Revolver wrote: »

Shouldn't be a problem when you buy a couple of coffees

and not just a miserable pithy 'SINGLE ESPRESSO'. Just for Costa lurkers: 'PRIMO ESPRESSO':cool:

riclad

Or just go to an internet cafe,some serve coffee .most charge 1 or 2 euro per hour.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

I used to work across from a small cafe. You could see the stress on he owners face when the few small tables in the cafe were taken up by people in laptops nursing an empty cup of coffee, as people would peer in the door and leave once seeing there was no space to sit down.

MarkR

Will you be bringing a typewriter?

Seriously though, if you're going to be there that long, that often, talk to the staff.

pauliebdub

A staff member might come along and remove your cup if you've finished your coffee, thus compelling you to buy another, but I've never seen anyone being asked to leave a cafe for staying too long.

Electric Sheep

I think a lot depends on the time of day - if you are hatching there for hours during the rush hour for that particular café, you will probably be unwelcome. If there are plenty of empty seats, and you leave when you see that seats are needed, they probably won't mind.

Chain Smoker

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I used to work across from a small cafe. You could see the stress on he owners face when the few small tables in the cafe were taken up by people in laptops nursing an empty cup of coffee, as people would peer in the door and leave once seeing there was no space to sit down.

Yeah, my mindset would be to not do it in a smaller cafe. Would have no bother at all sitting all day long over a cup in Starbucks or Costa though.

Provided you don't look homeless or stink and aren't taking over a huge portion of the store (i.e. if you're sitting somewhere you're potentially gonna make the area around look occupied too), I doubt anyone'll give a ****.

B.A._Baracus

This was probably about 9 years ago but I printed off some cv's in my local Chartbusters then decided I would hand them into shops there and then.
But it was windy/raining so went into my local pub (across the road) and sat down at the table just to put the two page cv's together and fold them. Took me about 3-4 minutes but in that time I had the barman come over to me and say "you alright pal?" (order something or get out)

It annoyed me a bit as I had drank in that pub quite a number of times over the years. But that's life. Pubs don't even like you using the jax if you're not buying.

So op, yes the managers/even some staff will mind you spending hours there if you are not buying. You'll get the hint at first... Taking your cup away, asking if you want another coffee etc. Keep staying there on a regular basis and they'll just flat out tell you it's not a library.

MarkR

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

This was probably about 9 years ago but I printed off some cv's in my local Chartbusters then decided I would hand them into shops there and then.
But it was windy/raining so went into my local pub (across the road) and sat down at the table just to put the two page cv's together and fold them. Took me about 3-4 minutes but in that time I had the barman come over to me and say "you alright pal?" (order something or get out)

It annoyed me a bit as I had drank in that pub quite a number of times over the years. But that's life. Pubs don't even like you using the jax if you're not buying.

So op, yes the managers/even some staff will mind you spending hours there if you are not buying. You'll get the hint at first... Taking your cup away, asking if you want another coffee etc. Keep staying there on a regular basis and they'll just flat out tell you it's not a library.

You walked in, didn't buy anything, sat down and started doing paperwork?

Did you ask for a glass of water too?

B.A._Baracus

MarkR wrote: »

You walked in, didn't buy anything, sat down and started doing paperwork?

Did you ask for a glass of water too?

Haha.
I'm not moaning tho. As I say it's the way it is. Buy something or get out.

But within saying that it all depends on what side of the coin you're on. Barman gave me the rub. Same barman would go into McDonald's in town to take a piss without buying something if out and about. What would he say if the security guard gave him a hint would he even care?

So it's all crap when you think about it.

wakka12

If its really quiet then Im sure they wont mind, in fact Id say they like it as it'd make the cafe look busier and livelier to people passing by
If its busy time don't waste a seat that a small non chain store could use to make money, if you wanna do that take up a seat in the giant ever expanding money whole starbucks

JohnCleary

That's why we use voucher systems when we install WiFi systems.

Customer gets a voucher with their order (if they ask about Wifi).

1 purchase = 1 voucher = 1 hour* (works on multiple devices but time starts once first device logs in)

Puts a quick stop to tight-arses.


* Or whatever time the client wishes

kammallow1984

I kept on doing exactly that for the last year and never had any unpleasant situation in a coffee shop, so just go for it!
But you most be such a nice person to even think about that

riclad

you buy something in mcdonalds ,you can spend more than an hour there ,
and theres free wifi,no voucher needed ,they you email the login code.
Just go upstairs and find a seat near a corner.
it probably depends on how small the cafe is, how many seats they have .

Ayuntamiento

I used to do all my university work in a local cafe. I was buying a new coffee on the hour though and lunch.
Staff never had any problem with it, if anything they were super friendly and chatting to me about my course/exams whenever I was up at the till.
I like being in a relaxed environment when I'm working so libraries just don't work for me.

cazzer22

dinorebel wrote: »

As long as you don't stay too Latte.

Brilliant!

Ursus Horribilis

Does your college not have a library or anywhere for people to study?

Only one answer.. If it's busy, leave or order a tea. If there are free seats, stay.