No clubs — just caffeine: London’s Coffee shop raves are the ‘new way to party’

‘A lot of people are sick of going out, they want a change from the nightlife,’ she tells Metro. ‘People are becoming more conscious about drinking too much, especially in this generation, we just feel like we’ve done it all and it’s unhealthy – being hungover isn’t nice, so this is a good alternative.’ 

Tanya first heard about coffee shops raves last year after seeing Fred Coffee’s viral parties everywhere. She’s been to approximately 18 raves across the world and three in the UK, but she plans to attend even more in her hometown. 

While working as a consultant and having to juggle long working hours, she developed a love for coffee and found solace in her local café. As someone who also loves music, coffee raves are the perfect blend of both worlds.

‘Coffee shops are the only place you can go to that feels like a place away from home,’ says Tanya. ‘The barista knows you, and it’s a nice way to interact with strangers – you can’t get that anywhere else, especially in London.’ 

These spaces are not only challenging the way people view partying, but they are actively addressing wider issues such as social isolation and loneliness. According to a report by ONS, one in four adults say they feel lonely ‘often or always’. 

‘In the event I went to this weekend, we had coffee love notes – you had to write something on a piece of paper and give it to a stranger,’ Tanya says. 

‘I saw people who don’t know each other actually chatting, which is rare. It was a way for us to build authentic connections, plus everyone was sober.’ 

The music is often quieter than a club, so you don’t have to struggle to have a conversation, which makes it ideal for those looking to meet new people. 

The daytime raves have also been a game-changer for coffee businesses. Many independent owners are now partnering with pop-up event organisers like The Coffee Gen to bring new experiences to their venues. 

Founded by Manpal Bhullar and his childhood friends, Vishal and Selina, The Coffee Gen concept came from their own experience after a night out clubbing. 

‘We were in Mykonos, seriously dreading our hangover, craving a good coffee,’ Manpal explains. 

‘We ended up at a beach bar, ordered our coffee, and as we sat there, listening to the music and soaking in the vibe, it suddenly clicked. Why not combine our passion for music with great coffee? That moment sparked the whole concept.’ 

Since then, The Coffee Gen has worked with independent coffee shops, Wham Coffee, Sloth Coffee and Urban Baristas to help them increase their footfall and establish a more regular client base. ‘We try to stick to coffee shops that we work well with. Some coffee shops aren’t receptive to the idea because they are not used to the nature of the parties,’ Manpal tells Metro. 

Manpal, Vishal and Selina first started out as producers and DJs in the music industry, before shifting to event planning. Before their first coffee shop event, they created a Whatsapp community of coffee-lovers and had over 200 people sign up. ‘To be honest, we weren’t nervous to host our first event as we had already built a big online community beforehand, so we knew the first event would be filled with everyone we knew,’ Manpal shared. 

The Coffee Gen prioritises intimate gatherings to bring back the personal connection once felt between DJs, artists and the crowd, so they intentionally steer away from big establishments. 

‘Our events hold a maximum of 100 people and we aim to keep it that way – we want it to be a nice environment, not packed from wall to wall. It’s a nice number where people can socialise – maybe as we grow we may consider expanding to larger coffee shops.’

The locals that frequently visit these cafés have also had to adjust to the change. Surprisingly, many have latched onto the idea and come in to join the party.