In most UK towns there are plenty of coffee shops. That seems to be a booming business when other shops are shutting down. I think that before Starbucks came along it was less of a thing. You would get basic cafes (or 'caffs'), but the coffee in those would not be great. People expect better these days and we have plenty of coffee snobs. I will try to avoid the big chains when I have a choice.
!LOLZ
Coffee shops used to take the place of the local pub I think, but less so lately since all the young 'uns just hang out in there on their miscellaneous devices. Well, myself included.
Well pubs are not doing so well. Some of those have been around for hundreds of years, but the drinking culture has changed. Some of them try to cater for the coffee crowd too.
That's too bad. I feel a social drinking spot is a good thing for society. I remember during the Covid shutdown that the oldest pub in England closed down.