Many cafes in the UK ban customers from using computers, sparking controversy

Recently, in response to the problem of "digital nomads" occupying seats for a long time, many cafes in the UK have introduced a ban on customers using computers, attracting widespread attention.

According to the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, as remote work becomes a new trend, more and more people choose cafes as their office locations. They only order a cup of coffee but occupy seats for a long time, seriously affecting the operation of cafes. Cafes such as "collective" in Caversham and "milkandbean" in Newbury have clearly stipulated that customers are prohibited from using laptops in the store during weekday lunchtime (11:30 am to 1:30 pm) and all day on weekends.

Cafe operators said that this measure is aimed at maintaining a leisure atmosphere in the store and making room for customers who are really willing to spend more. Alex Meadten, the manager of "collective" cafe, said that this is to seek a balance between business benefits and customer experience. However, this ban has caused differences among customer groups. Some people support the practice of cafes and think it helps create a social and relaxing atmosphere; but others express dissatisfaction, thinking that it is too harsh on travelers or locals who urgently need temporary workspaces.

In fact, the phenomenon of restricting "digital nomads" is not unique to the UK. In some cities in other European countries, such as cafes in Paris, Berlin, and Barcelona, they have also started to say no to "digital nomads", and some have even shut down wireless network services.

At present, this measure is still continuously triggering discussions, and how to find a balance between meeting customer needs and ensuring cafe operations has become the focus of attention from all parties. In the future, perhaps more cafes will explore more reasonable solutions to adapt to this change.