Bean — Restaurant in England

What a sad experience to have had.

I walked into Bean for the first time today, looking forward to doing an hour of work before having a lunch date with an ex-colleague. I walked in, found my seat and set up my laptop (as I have in hundreds of cafes before).

I was met a few minutes later with a lady (I later found out was the owner) storming over to say 'you can't be plugging that in'. I was confused, and asked her 'sorry?' and she said 'don't think you're charging that in here'. I was so surprised that this was the first interaction I was having, that I paused a few moments... was THIS the welcome a small business, which surely wants customers, was going to greet me with?

I asked her whether laptop workers were unwelcome here, and she said no, but the price of electricity is too much for me to plug in. She seemed enraged that I had presumed I could plug in, as she said 'if you had asked, then maybe, but not now'. Whilst she was angry, I remained calm and said I totally understood that electricity has rocketed, but people have been working in cafes for decades, so I felt safe to assume it was okay (and totally normal practice?) (And aren't laptop workers the kind of customers that fill otherwise-empty cafes during the week..)

Similarly to her annoyance that I hadn't asked first, I was annoyed that she had lead with an unwelcoming barrage of rudeness rather than simply say 'we are really struggling with electricity costs at the moment, you're welcome to plug in but do you mind donating a couple of pounds to the cost?' - the approach would have been much more welcoming, and more welcomed by me!

As it happened, I tried to resolve our disagreement by offering exactly that. I said 'fine well I'll give you a couple of quid towards it...' by which point she already had her back to me and was walking away.

Shocked and annoyed by the interaction, I went back to my laptop. Had a mediocre Mocha and went to pay. I asked for change so that I could donate some coins. I was told I couldn't change my note there. I said "I need to if you'd like me to contribute to electricity, as previously arranged with a female staff member." The man serving me at this point then snapped at me and said, with a snarky look on his face 'she isnt a staff member, actually, she's the OWNER'... honestly as if I was supposed to know, or care at this point? All I know is she was the rude and unwelcoming woman who now suddenly doesn't want any one working in her cafe.

May I suggest, that if you feel unhappy with laptop workers coming into your cafe and plugging in (which has been standard practice for years and years), that you set up a policy? I understand and empathise with the fact electricity costs have gone up, but unless you display a poster saying you require a donation towards electricity, or that we aren't allowed to plug in full-stop, then it isnt the responsibility of your customer to read your mind and know that this (standard) practice is forbidden. Additionally, I suggest you handle matters like this in a much more friendly, approachable, welcoming way. Ultimately, the cost of having a laptop plugged in for 60 minutes = less than the custom from me you COULD have had in the future, had I had a...

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