As More Cafes Ban Laptops, Should They Resist The Reputation Of Cafes As Third Places? – CoffeeTalk

The trend of enforcing laptop bans in independent cafés across the UK is becoming increasingly prevalent. Three London proprietors have explained their reasons for enforcing a computer ban, citing the lack of energy and hard cash as the main motivation. Another café owner has restricted laptop use to one hour a day and made it strictly verboten on weekends after feeling like his cosy coffee shop had turned into an unofficial coworking space.

In 2024, Newbury-based coffee shop Milk & Bean, The Collective in Caversham, and Fringe and Ginge in Canterbury all made headlines after introducing laptop bans or restricted-use policies to increase turnover and foster community. In response to customer complaints about a lack of weekend table space, Reading branch of franchise Black Sheep Coffee went viral after announcing a policy of “no laptop, no tablet, no study” from 12pm on Fridays until 7pm on Sundays.

The imposition of this new regime has been met with criticism. The signs themselves are a small point, but there seems to be an unbearable quirkiness or self-congratulatory whimsy about the whole thing that rubs the author the wrong way. Some argue that tables should be reserved for laughter, flirting, and conversation, while others suggest that people should pretend it’s 1985 and talk to each other on chalkboards. Introversion is not just a 21st-century affliction created by the internet, but it is a growing issue in independent cafés across the UK.

In conclusion, the trend of enforcing laptop bans in independent cafés is causing frustration among customers who feel they are being forced to use their devices in the workplace. It is essential for cafes to address this issue and provide a more conducive environment for people to work and socialize.

The post-Covid world has seen a significant increase in remote working, with over 28% of UK workers now being hybrid workers and 16% working from home full-time. This shift is not always by choice, as some companies have axed their offices due to the cost savings and ease of employee adaptation during lockdowns. Working from home creates a two-tier system: those who have an airy, quiet home office space and those who do not. Houseshares, which account for 2.9% of all households in the UK, account for at least 1.6 million people.

Working from a café can provide a boost in mood and productivity, as background noise, such as conversation and coffee machines, can help focus and foster creativity. Studies have even developed Coffitivity, a selection of “curated soundscapes from international coffee shops” to listen to while working.

The axing of public services across the country has left a void that cafés have inadvertently filled, with over 180 council-run libraries closed or handed over to volunteer groups since 2016. This has affected those who don’t have the privilege of space or wealth most when they lose access to vital free resources and spaces.

It is important to remember that buying one coffee and spending eight hours taking Zoom meetings is bad remote working etiquette. Rocking up to a small business, buying one cheap drink, parking it for eight hours, occupying valuable space, rinsing power sockets, and taking loud business calls constitutes unacceptable behavior and goes against the unspoken yet fundamental rules that underpin the entire working-from-home community.

Fringe and Ginge, for example, outlawed laptops only when entitled work-from-home types started telling café staff to be quiet during their work calls. However, it is the tiny minority of customers who are the real problem, as they should not ruin things for the rest of us well-behaved keyboard-wielders.

In conclusion, the post-Covid world has led to a shift in remote working etiquette, with many cafés becoming de facto coworking spaces. It is crucial to address these issues and ensure that everyone has a productive and enjoyable work environment.

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