Free coffee offer draws Covid lockdown rule-busting crowds before police tell cafe boss to end giveaway
- Over Under coffee shop in Clapham, south London opened its doors on Monday
- It offered free hot drinks between 7am and 10am but had to stop due to crowds
- Boutique cafe sells smashed avocado toast and a poached egg for £11.05 a plate
A boutique café was today forced to stop giving away hot drinks after police were called to disperse crowds breaking social distancing rules to get a free coffee.
Over Under in Clapham, south London, has been offering free coffee, tea and hot chocolate between 7am and 10am since it opened its doors for the first time on Monday.
The café, which serves smashed avocado toast with a poached egg for £11.05 and is situated in the heart of Clapham Old Town, quickly gained popularity as word spread about the giveaway.
Over Under in Clapham, south London, has been offering free coffee, tea and hot chocolate between 7am and 10am since it opened its doors for the first time on Monday. Pictured: Crowds outside Over Under
The café, which serves smashed avocado toast with a poached egg for £11.05 and is situated in the heart of Clapham Old Town, quickly gained popularity as word spread about the giveaway
However, police were called as a result of the promotion today when more than 50 customers were seen packed together outside the trendy shop.
Passersby were forced into the road to avoid coming into contact with the crowds.
‘It was an absolute shambles,’ one resident told MailOnline. ‘There were at least 50 people outside the shop, packed together.
‘They were standing far too close together and all over the pavement and on the other side of the road.
‘No one was queueing, or social distancing. It was a flagrant breach of Covid regulations. They were putting themselves and others at risk for a tiny cup of coffee!’
Owner Ed Barry told MailOnline he had abandoned the free-drink promotion after receiving ‘words of advice’ from Met Police officers.
However, police were called to shut down the promotion today when more than 50 customers were seen packed together outside the trendy shop. Pictured: Crowds outside Over Under
Passersby were forced into the road to avoid coming into contact with the crowds. Pictured: The cafe
‘What can I say, we opened on Monday, in the middle of a pandemic and we were trying to build up a customer base,’ the 30-year-old said.
‘But we have stopped the promotion now. It got out of hand this morning.
‘We have been encouraging customers to order online or via our App to maintain social distancing as much as possible. But today the crowds were just too big.
‘The police came and said they had received some complaints. So we will not be giving away any more free drinks.’
Owner Ed Barry told MailOnline he had abandoned the free-drink promotion after receiving ‘words of advice’ from Met Police officers. Pictured right: A free coffee from Over Under
Located in one of the most fashionable streets in south London, the café is one of a series of Over Under branches in the capital.
Hot drinks include a ‘Turmeric Latte’, an Indian-spiced milky coffee, an ‘Iced Choc’ cold hot chocolate, a ‘Chai Latte’, milky tea as well as regular Cappuccino and Flat White coffees, all for £3.50.
Snacks include a plain ‘freshly baked’ croissant for £3.90 and a ‘Ginger Pig pork’ sausage roll for £6.00.
A salt-beef and sauerkraut, ‘Reuben Toastie’, with pickles, cheddar and housemade reuben sauce costs £9.75.