Internet Cafes: Are They Still Relevant?

Internet cafés were once part of a bright new future, capitalising on the growing popularity of “cyberspace” in the mid- to late-90s and early 2000s. The UK's first internet café, Cyberia, opened in Whitfield Street in London on 1st September 1994, and man

Of course, the pace of change in the digital revolution is phenomenal, and what once seemed futuristic can start to look old-fashioned almost overnight. The internet is more embedded in our everyday existence than ever before – in 2013, 36 million adults (73%) in Great Britain accessed the internet every day, 20 million more than in 2006, when directly comparable records began.
But new technology, greater accessibility and changing habits mean there’s not nearly the demand for internet cafés as there was in years gone by.

Back in the 1990s internet access within the home was relatively rare. Now, the figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) tell a different story. In Great Britain, 21 million households (83%) had Internet access in 2013. Broadband internet connections using fibre optic or cable were used by 42% of households, up from 30% in 2012.

And, of course, internet access on the move has become the norm, with smartphones, tablet computers and other devices. According to the ONS, access to the Internet using a mobile phone more than doubled between 2010 and 2013, from 24% to 53%.

So does all this mean the internet café is dead? Well, not quite. Internet cafés do still exist, albeit not in the numbers they once did. While the original example, Cyberia, closed down some years ago, there are survivors from the first wave. Cyberzone in Croydon opened in 1996 and is still operating, marketing itself as the oldest internet cafe in the UK.

Cyberzone is a good example of the kind of services internet cafés now offer. As you’d expect, customers can surf the internet, chat online and play games. But other services are available, such as word processing and use of MS Office, as well as printing, faxing and photocopying facilities.

Many internet cafés are now part of a wider business. For example, Cyberzone also offers web design, network installation and PC repairs. If you’re thinking of opening an internet café, consider the other related services you could provide. Diversifying could be the way to build a profitable business, helping you adapt to changing needs and habits.

You also need to think about location. There are certain places where the need for an internet café will be greater than others – for example, the facilities offered might be popular in areas where there is a large student population.

But also think of the “café” element. If you’re in an area without the usual quota of coffee houses, your key to business success might be to concentrate on the food and drink you offer, with internet and computer facilities as an added bonus.