Jane: I don't think that they were all pensioners in the tea-rooms that I saw. I think that the management was just exploiting a habit that many Brits have when they see a teapot; i.e., if you can't think of anything to do, have a cuppa;-)
In North America we have the phenomenomenenom of "tyre-kickers" named for men with nothing to do, who go into car show-rooms to ogle and waste the time of the sales-staff. People wander around shopping malls and shopping districts, aimlessly filling up their spare time, needing nothing but perhaps buying something trivial. One such place in Calgary has failed spectacularly as the shops selling quality merchandise went out of business and were replaced by "cheap-jack" stores. The original tenants failed to recognise that the site and demographics were wrong and the majority of people coming through the doors would be tire-kickers (Nam spelling) at the weekend (the coffee shops and ice-cream stalls are still in business).
Keeping chicken stockwhile it is in an aerobic environment....... it yes it will be. It will be a perfect anaerobic environment...
I'm sure that a couple of the places I saw in Suffolk made their money by recognising this as the refreshment area was thriving but the rest of the place was virtually empty. It's a sort of insurance policy. I'm not criticising anyone, and certainly not seniors as I am clbuttified as one, but I find it interesting, sociologically speaking.
Cheers Graham
