Remote Working in Summer: Coffee Shops vs Beer Gardens
Doesn’t look to bad, hey?
Ah, British summer. Three days of glorious sunshine, two months of hay fever, and just enough optimism to make you lug your laptop somewhere al fresco. But where should you set up shop when the weather's on your side? Do you stick with the reliable hum of a coffee shop espresso machine, or chance it all in a pub garden with patchy Wi-Fi and a pint of something citrusy?
Here’s a totally scientific, mildly biased comparison of working from coffee shops versus beer gardens in summer.
The Coffee Shop: Your Air-Conditioned Ally
Perks:
Wi-Fi that usually works
It’s not NASA-grade, but it beats tethering to your phone next to the pub’s recycling bins.Caffeine on tap
Need to power through a pitch deck or rewrite your LinkedIn bio for the 17th time? Flat white it is.Plug sockets aplenty
Assuming you beat the bloke who brought his entire podcast setup.Vibes
Lo-fi beats, indie playlists, and enough MacBooks to start a startup.
Pitfalls:
Indoor guilt
You could be outside. Everyone keeps reminding you. Even the barista looks sun-kissed.Sweaty window seats
Especially if you gambled on a wool blend outfit.Table timers
Some coffee shops quietly expect you to leave once your cup's empty and your productivity's flatlined.
The Beer Garden: Freelancer Fantasy or Wi-Fi Wild West?
Perks:
Sunshine
Actual vitamin D. The holy grail for remote workers who haven’t seen daylight since Q1.Casual dress code
Flip-flops, shorts, and a mild sunburn are practically a uniform.Lager-fuelled confidence
Perfect for emailing bold client ideas or finally charging that new day rate.
Pitfalls:
Wi-Fi? Barely. Power sockets? Dream on.
You’re running on battery and bravado.Wasps
Nothing like defending your cider while trying to hit “Send.”, luckily we have a guide for remote working outdoors.Background noise
One table's deep in a stag do. The other is discussing Love Island. You were supposed to be writing a proposal.“Just one won’t hurt…” syndrome
Suddenly it’s three pints later and you’re pitching a new app to the bartender.
The Verdict
| Category | Coffee Shop | Beer Garden |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi reliability | ★★★★ | ★ |
| Caffeine supply | Infinite | Maybe a cold brew? |
| Battery life support | Plug-in friendly | Hope you charged it |
| Vibes | Calm, focused | Sunny chaos |
| Productivity levels | Solid (ish) | Dangerously low |
| Risk of sunburn | Minimal | Practically guaranteed |
| Best for | Deep work sprints | Replying to Slack with sunglasses on |
Final Thoughts
Summer’s short. Work’s endless. If you're chasing deadlines, the coffee shop’s still your best mate. But when the sun’s out and your inbox is quiet, there’s nothing wrong with a half-day in the beer garden, just don’t trust yourself to finish that spreadsheet after round two.
Got a favourite beer garden for “working” in? Let us know, especially if it has decent Wi-Fi and someone to swat the wasps.
