Enterprise Nation

In the first in a new series of articles for Enterprise Nation, technology editor, San Sharma, submits his review of Starbucks as a place to work outside of the home office.

This isn't a review of Starbucks as a place to work as a coffee shop employee! I won't be donning the barista apron and 'have a nice day' attitude of the Starbucks staff, although I will, incidentally, wish you a good day!

But first, I'm going to take a look at Starbucks as a place to work away from the home office, in the first in a new series for Enterprise Nation, all about 'third places.'

What is a 'third place'?

Well, for full-time homeworkers like myself, it's more of a 'second place' really - somewhere outside of my home office, where I can continue my work in a changed environment. (For part-time homeworkers, who spend some of their week in traditional offices, the home office would be their second and coffee shops, I suppose, their third.)

But third places aren't limited to coffee shops and cafes. Wherever you lay your laptop, can become a working space. So, over the course of this series, I'll be bringing you my news, reviews and issues surrounding third places, wherever they may be.

And I'd like you to submit yours too. So, if you've an experience of working outside of your home office and you'd like to share it with our readers, just get in touch and I'll include it in the next edition.

So, what about Starbucks?

Starbucks

Whatever you might think about Starbucks as a lynchpin in the problem of globalisation, it's commitment and reliability in providing "third places" is hard to fault. (Although I suppose some criticism could be levelled at their providing third places in too many places!)

"A marriage of home and office"

In any case, it was one of the first coffee shop chains to embrace this idea, and it's reflected, quite explicitly, in its design. Stuffed chairs and sofas sit beside tables and hard-backed stools, in a sort of post-modern marriage of home and office furniture.

"Wi-fi is a prerequisite"

Wi-fi is pretty much a prerequisite in a third place, unless of course you're looking to get away from the web. Starbucks however brings it to you with relative ease. Wi-fi is managed by T-Mobile, not Starbucks, so don't be surprised if staff are unable to help you get online - it's probably not in their training. But saying that, connecting is really a doddle.

Just fire up your browser and follow the instructions. It's easy, sure, but prices are still high. £5 for an hour, £10 for 24 and £40 for a whole month. Bear in mind, that broadband packages in the home are about £30 or less per month. So, it's hard to justify T-Mobile's price plan, especially when you take into account the inevitable cost of coffee and cake!

"Not pushed into buying another cake"

Saying that, connection speeds are good and reliable, which is more than I can say for other hotspots in the UK. Also the staff at Starbucks, at least in my experience, are more than happy for you to work in the coffee shop for hours on end. And I've never been pushed into buying another cake or cup of coffee. (Not by the staff, at least. My own greed is more to blame, really.)

Overall, my experience of working in Starbucks was a good one. Staff were friendly and unobtrusive, the technology worked just fine and my need to be out of the home office and in an environment that was buzzing but not too distracting was more than met.

Another plus, definitely worth mentioning, is the free electricity. You wouldn't think that would be a problem, except perhaps in those rare candlelit coffee shops, but free electrical outlets are actually quite hard to find, especially I think in Costa Coffee. Starbucks had plenty and in obvious places.

I only wish the wi-fi were more affordable, but this is, I think, a problem with hotspots in general. Perhaps independent coffee shops provide access for free. If you've found that to be the case, please comment below. And if you've any experiences of working in 'third places' please get in touch and I'll mention it next time.

Until then, I hope you find your happy 'third place'! – San Sharma

• Starbucks Coffee Company
• T-Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot