We got pretty passionate about coffee recently, blogging about where we like to drink it and where we don’t, and it’s true that all this European-style cafe culture is a welcome addition to many British streets in summertime, boosting takings and looking pretty.

Some might say the lazy sip of a tasty cuppa from a streetside vantage point is one of life’s more subtle pleasures, but of course not everyone agrees. Members of the public have been complaining about the drive for “a new cafe culture” in Richmond, North Yorkshire because it will mean the loss of some parking spaces in the local market place. Kudos to the marvellously sarky Councillor Jim Fryer, who hit back at the naysayers reminding them that “they have legs” and “they can use them to walk”. Go Jim!

Meanwhile in Blackburn, Lancashire, locals are positive that expansive plans to regenerate the area will not be ruined by a small but irritating group of “drunken yobs” who use the Cathedral grounds to flout the the town centre alcohol ban. They think the cafe culture that they plan to build up via the modernisation project will “encourage people to come and look in the town centre”, with the Dean of Blackburn making the very good point that “Towns are built for human beings, not for police cars or aggressive marketing”.

So, what do you think of coffee by the kerb? A welcome respite from life’s hectic schedule or yet another obstacle to avoid? Where are the best cafes with streetside tables? Coffee…we need coffee!

Photo credit: cafe flore by jp_ryan (CC License)