Bad News: UK Cafes are Banning Laptops, Know Why

As the culture of work-from-home and remote jobs grows, several employees are often seen in cafes with their laptops and a freshly brewed coffee for several hours.

In response to the growing number of remote workers “hogging” seats during peak hours, two UK eateries have introduced restrictions on laptop use.

 Milk and Bean in Newbury has implemented a one-hour limit on laptop use during weekdays and has banned laptops entirely on weekends. Similarly, The Collective in Caversham has prohibited laptops on weekends and restricted their use to between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm on weekdays. Both establishments have cited reduced revenue and slower table turnover as reasons for these measures.

However, this might soon be a thing of the past in the UK, as several cafes are banning laptops in response.

According to reports, some coffee shops are now implementing laptop bans and policies to deter remote workers from “hogging” tables and to make room for patrons who are more prepared to spend.

Milk and Bean in Newbury has introduced a one-hour limit on laptop use during weekdays and a complete ban on laptops on weekends.

The owner, Chris Chaplin, told a leading media outlet, "Having [people using] laptops isn't ideal — it does mean a lower turnover and quite a low spend compared to people that aren't on laptops."

"It also brings the vibe of the place down with people on laptops. On one hand, we rely on them for revenue, but on the other hand, they've got to be reasonable and have some self-awareness," he added.

Another cafe, The Collective in Caversham, has introduced a similar policy. The owner said, "We are a small independent business, so we need to keep those tables busy and turned around — we can't have people hogging the table, and we don't want to disrespect people that come in with laptops either."

The main reason behind the policy is that people with laptops do not spend much compared to the time they spend in the cafe.

Similar initiatives have been taken in European cities like Berlin and Paris to reshape cafe culture. While some eateries have banned laptops completely, others charge an hourly rate for their use.

These measures aim to strike a balance between accommodating customers and ensuring the sustainability of their businesses.

The policies have garnered mixed reactions from patrons. Some people welcome the policy, while digital nomads may not be as pleased. However, cafe owners believe it is important to provide a more equitable environment for all customers.