How 'cars and coffee' meets can fuel Gen Z society

The Hut seeks to foster friendships and safe car culture

At a former pub, signs and posters offer positive messages for Gen Z petrolheads.

The Hut at West Meon, Hampshire, was taken over in 2024 by Caffeine & Machine, one of many groups that organise so-called car and coffee meets for motoring enthusiasts.

Founder Phil McGovern says under-30s car culture can sometimes be troubled and needs to be fostered in the right way.

The mantras on display include "I love you, man" and "Driving under the influence of nothing but joy".

Cars and coffee meets are a global phenomenon, which reportedly started in the United States in the early 2000s.

Attendees gather to talk motoring, show off vehicles and, of course, drink hot beverages.

Isaac Potter, 14, is a cars and coffee regular

Fourteen-year-old Isaac Potter is a regular at The Hut, practising his photography skills and meeting fellow enthusiasts.

"My grandad basically got me into cars from a really young age," he says.

"Just talking to people and getting to know them, getting to know more about their cars... it's just a nice thing."

Caffeine & Machine, which also runs venues in Bedfordshire and Warwickshire, has transformed the long-deserted pub into a car fan cafe.

The firm organises a mix of ticketed events and free gatherings.

Mr McGovern says: "There's a thing to fix in society on a wider level.

"We've got a platform to show how doing it in the right vein is actually a really good way of doing it.

"It's been really heartfelt and beautiful."

Elsie-Rose Robbins belongs to a group of young Alfa Romeo enthusiasts

Elsie-Rose Robbins, 24, has brought her Alfa Romeo to The Hut to meet fellow "Young Giulietta enthusiasts" and gain confidence.

She says: "There's a bit of a stigma – maybe younger women feel like they can't be a part of this because it's always been more male-dominated.

"But that's not to say that if you have a passion for it you can't just go for it... Whatever you may think is holding you back probably isn't."

Cars and coffee meets are not immune from misbehaviour.

One organiser, who asked not to be named, said he had given up hosting events at another venue after an outbreak of trouble.

Hampshire has had its fair share of unauthorised late-night gatherings, seizing vehicles for dangerous driving as recently as January.

In December, police in Peterborough said planned car meets, intended for "good-natured car enthusiasts", had a "history of becoming anti-social".

However, Phil McGovern hopes The Hub and venues like it can be a "safe haven" for responsible engine enthusiasts.

Isaac Potter says he feels comfortable in the cafe's community.

Recalling words painted on the building, he says: "When you go somewhere, you have to feel safe and you want to feel welcomed, and a place like this, as it says on the wall, 'It feels like home.'"