UK On the Go! (Discussion #5)

Location: Westminster Abby, London
Date: November 6th, 2018

           I cannot recall a time that I've ever passed a little hole in the wall shop in Denver, Colorado. With the exception of food trucks, restaurants are buildings where you can drive your car up to a window and order, walk in to order food, or you sit down. In the UK, they do things a little bit differently. On most major streets, there's at least one 'pocket dining' shop or food vendor. Most sell on-the-go foods such as a box of fish and chips or other ethnic treats. Why are sit-down restaurants so sparse?

          One explanation for the lack of sitting food vendors is due to the busy schedule of large city residents. This means that meals are eaten while walking to and from various workplaces so as to conserve precious time. This weekend, I spent three and a half days in London exploring the different attractions, such as Westminster Abby, Tower of London, and Harrod's. During a pause to go and eat lunch, I witnessed several businessmen and businesswomen in suits that were literally fifty shades of grey stop by to purchase fish and chips, sandwiches, and coffee from small shops that didn't even have a room, but were simply tucked into the pockets along the walls. Every inch of space that wasn't the display case was used by register or a small cooker directly behind the cashier. Employees of these locations were hasty in their preparations and dispatched meals in under a minute, all while the grey suits cycled through the line and promptly ran off to catch the tube. Major chains, such as Pret A Manger, Costa, and Cafe Nero, had a mostly tourists-needing-coffee populations during lunch rushes. People who spend the majority of their day working desire places that can cater to their schedules, not sit-down eateries. 

          Aberdeen has a similar concept but using bakeries and coffee shops instead of meal eateries. The notable difference is that instead of having pocket restaurants, the on-the-go food is mostly restricted to cafes and bakeries. On the campus of the University of Aberdeen, two of these exist: Kilau Coffee and J. G. Bakery. Kilau's ground level is strictly for those that are getting coffee before sprinting off to lecture or tutorial. Next to it, the bakery has no seating and the line is squashed between the fudge rack and the register counter. These customers are exclusively those heading between classes that need a snack or quick caffeine boost. Seating is provided on benches outside the library less than a block away. 

          The prominence of the quick pocket restaurants and to-go bakeries/cafes has risen from the UK's desire to have easy access to food while getting to work or school. Although this concept may seem like a universal idea at the heart of all food vendors around the globe, it is particularly important in this country as their society values hard work during the days and putting in much effort in as they can while taking the nights off to relax. I hope that the rest of my time here can help me to develop such habits to maximize my efficiency!