http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...-london-russia

Hmm, not sure on this. In London it "might" be a boon, but only if the clock starts ticking once you get get served (it often takes ages in the Star/Costa/Nerro queues). Could certainly save a lot of money if you're prepared to drink up quickly.
Can't see much point in introducing it in most places in Madrid where coffee is generally only a pound or so. There again it may make sense in the old style cafe-bars, or on a terraza. And it may just take off for the novelty value!

I can´t see how this place will make money, not with the rental cost of premises in London.

Even in a cheaper place it still would be a shaky investment.

The customers can drink as much tea and coffee as they want, and even get bikkies thrown in all for 3p per minute.

The cost for one hours stay would be 1.80, which is not even the price of a single coffee in one of the "chain" coffee shops, and there a buiscuit would cost at least 1.50.

In an hour and a half the average customer I suppose would consume 2 drinks at a low cost of 2.70 not to mention the freebies.

Then you could have the quick drinkers, who spend 15 minutes in there and dunk a dozen bikkies at the cost of 45p.

Also places where folk can sit a tables and not be bothered by staff (for hours on end) who are checking if they want anything else, can become hotbeds of "small herbal suppliers".

That is my take.

I'd agree that the pricing is too low, but they'll probably increase that once they get a regular crowd move in.
Just my guess, but after a time I can see them charging for cakes and biscuits (or ask for "donations"), with just the drinks being free.
It's located in Old Street, so they're obviously after the silicon roundabout crowd, and they're probably hoping the regular clientele self-police.
We shall see. At least it's an innovative idea.

Fascinating idea.
Be interesting to see how well it goes in the UK or otherwise.
I wonder what the Spanish would make of it, though they could hardly charge for those sitting outside in the street.

and there coffee cups are so small you would only need a few seconds to drink it, it might take off here, lol

At least it may stop the free WiFi brigade and yummy mummies with their buggies.

http://goodtimes.ndtv.com/News_Detai...eatures%2C1143

Somehow I don't see this one catching on in Spain.

I really like the fact that mobile phones have to be switched off (I hate people taking calls in restaurants, especially the businessmen who come in and put two or three phones down on the table as soon as they sit down). The rest of it just sounds pretentious to me, though!

we have an Internet place locally - no coffee, just sign in, send your message and go.
many small cafes in Granada offer wi-fi as part of the service, you will see clusters of students with tablets and small laptops clustered around outside or taking a cup of coffee for an hour.
one place was full and i had to stand to have a coffee - before I got a smart phone.


as a business proposition?
Probably on the same level as opening a cafe on Malaga beach or selling ice creams to the sunbathers - come to Spain with £2million, leave with €1million if you are lucky.
being honest - get a real job, it may mean work but at least you may show a profit.

Years and years and years ago, my wife to be and I went into a new resto/cafe that had just opened up in our liddle hick town. Ordered a meal each from the basic menu. When it was served up we did'nt even get a knife and fork to eat it with. I said to her this will never catch on. It might be alright where this macdonald bloke comes from in Scotland,but down south we are more soffiistikated.how I right I was....

I agree re the phones, maybe there should be phone free sections as there used to be smoke free zones, .....could maybe extend that to brat-like kid free area as well.

I couldn't imagine half a dozen Spaniards sitting down to a meal and staying silent for even a couple of minutes.
It doesn't say how the food is ordered either, maybe its all numbered and just needs to be ticked in the appropriate box.
Most difficult of all will be when the food is not up to standard and you want to tell the waiter to take this cr@p back to the kitchen.

It could be one of those tasting menus where you don't get to choose, just have to eat whatever the chef decides you should have! I don't like that either, out of 10 courses or however many they serve up, there are bound to be some I don't like.

But as to whether it will catch on, who knows. I remember reading about the first restaurant to open where you eat in complete darkness, blindfold. I thought what a stupid idea, but there are lots of them now around the world, including one in London apparently. Sometimes the "I saw you coming" brigade just want the latest gimmick to let them think they are

I have been to them, its like a sit down buffet, Im not overly keen on it and I think I mentioned a chain some time back and you did say that it was not for you at the time. You could walk out starving or bloated I guess. Having experienced it I am now with you on this.

I just find it quite arrogant on the part of the chef, that all the customers must eat what he/she deigns to serve them, no matter what their preferences may be, and if I'm paying, I prefer to be the one choosing what I eat, not them!

It's no doubt more profitable for them as they can avoid wasting money on buying ingredients for dishes that fewer customers might order, plus with the ones I've seen, the multiple courses are served in such microscopic portions that all 10 of them wouldn't amount to one decent sized main course. I don't want to leave a restaurant feeling as though I've been a glutton, but neither do I have to want to call at the chip shop or wherever on the way home as I'm still hungry, having paid a fortune for the privilege.

I cannot see how this makes a profit.

http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/r...e-9056841.html