AIBU to expect cafés to stay open after 4pm?

There must be good reasons why they shut at 4 pm. Surely if they could they would. Maybe it's simply unprofitable, or they have staffing problems. It could be one of several reasons.
It does seem unfortunate though.

Would if they could....muddled up my words.....😊

Thanks to everyone for your replies, and special thanks to GSM and Norah for coming to my defence!

I certainly would not expect those cafés which open for early trade to stay open later, but glad that many agree that it would surely be advantageous for some to open later and stay open later than 4 pm especially in touristy areas.
I am aware of the difficulties of recruitment and rising costs, but this culture existed pre-Brexit, pre-Covid, pre-cost of living crisis.
It will certainly affect my choice of overnight accommodation next time I go away, but that’s for another thread.

Yes, it’s a shame when you’re looking forward to a nice cup of tea and find everywhere closed. I hope you still had a nice break though.

Haven’t noticed it here, they seem to stay open all day until around 9 at night. Some don’t open until 5 but they would be more restaurants than cafés. Depends on the area I suppose, I think further out of the city they might close earlier. Monday is a day when some close, not the weekends.

mabon1

You are being unreasonable and selfish.

Really?

In my very small town - which is in The Cotswolds and a tourist spot it is quite plain there is a need for 'afternoon tea' around 4pm - when the two tea-rooms close.

Fortunately, the local delicatessen has obtained a licence to serve tea and snacks in a small section of the shop, which also allows outside seating between the hours of 8 - 6. It's always full of people both in the summer and winter. You can have a late 'breakfast' or a late afternoon tea or coffee.

The two tea-shops are not happy about it because it is taking trade away from them - and I understand that staffing and costs are a problem. If the locals and the tourists decide on a late lunch (and there's quite a few pubs catering for that) and don't finish eating until around 2pm, they're not going to want afternoon tea immediately afterward. It's unfortunate for the tea-shops, but that's how the market works - supply and demand, or, in this case - demand and supply.

Those tourists put money into the local economy, as do the locals themselves, which keep our shops thriving and, as we have quite a number of them catering for many wants and needs, it makes it possible to shop locally instead of having to traipse to the nearest city supermarket.

When I’ve fancied a coffee (plus often a wee) and there’s no cafe nearby, I’ve been known to go and sit in a pub, where they’re nearly always happy to make you one. I’ve never felt in the least uncomfortable.

I agree cabbie. There seems to be a popular trend - at least in this country and my city - more casual restaurants/cafes are opening early morning to 2:00-3:00 pm closings. Breakfast thru lunch, that’s it.

You can have lunch for breakfast and breakfast for lunch. And even a glass of wine. I like it.

I cross-eat to my pleasure - enchiladas in the morning, a lumberjack breakfast (eggs, bacon, potatoes, pancakes!) for lunch. I love it.
USA Gundy

So I have a question, reading the above, to help me understand the culture of a 'cafe'.

Are the cafe's serving coffee, tea and baked goods, or are they actual restaurants with cooked breakfast or lunch?

And if pubs are open in late afternoon, what's to stop you from going there? Pubs here serve coffee and tea; they just wouldn't have baked goods. Is it a matter of atmosphere, or do they not allow children in?

It's 4pm here... I have a day off and finished my chores. I just made a coffee and had a couple of cookies from the freezer (oatmeal and chocolate chip). I could have stopped at about 4 places in town for the same type of break, or I could have gone to a pub for a coffee and fries (although if I was going to a pub I would have a cider).

cheers,
Curious Canadian.

It's actually interesting to see the dynamics of my local cafes in our tiny High Street - perhaps it's typical of a dormitory town .
They seem to shut by four as well :
One is run by a mum , who has to collect her son from school .
Her food - which is delicious and healthy is the best in the area and she's constantly cooking .
Interestingly , it attracts women aged 30 upwards and a few professional men .
No food is available on one day a week and on another she has to employ a chef .

My Turkish friend shuts his greasy spoon by four as he's done a long day starting with early breakfasts for workmen . He's tried and failed to have teas and cakes for an older clientele . He found that they spend far too long sitting and chatting and not spending much !

Another friend closed her gorgeous traditional teashop -and she , too shut early by four unless you booked a full afternoon tea .
I've seen people not turn up for it .
Many commuters used to bang on her door as they'd got off the train and were longing for a good cup of tea - and that's it in a nutshell - why stay open to serve a few hot drinks ?
At one stage ,she ventured into serving cocktails at night and it was a failure. The drinks were so expensive .
So that leaves the huge pub opposite the station .
It's very noisy and doesn't offer much apart from alcohol .
There's Costa and it's far from great -but it absorbs the commuters , who don't want alcohol .

Otherwise , two fish and chip shops - one of them is always closed ( you used to be able to have a sit down meal there ) and a kebab take away .
We have a few restaurants with limited opening hours too .
It's very quiet even on Saturday nights .

I've often wondered how the owners afford the £20 - 25,000 rent per annum as most of them are rented .