A new UK map reveals exactly where to find the closest air-conditioned shops and restaurants to escape the heat. The free interactive map uses your postcode to locate the nearest pubs, cafes and bars that have air conditioning. Founder Thomas Chivers created Where's Cool during the last period of hot weather in the UK, since most people in the UK do not have air conditioning at home.
Founder's Motivation
Chivers said during unprecedented temperatures felt across the UK last week, it "genuinely matters" to know where the nearest cool room is. He added: "I built it during the last heatwave because I couldn't find anywhere cool to sit and work, and I couldn't face reading through every cafe's Google reviews to check. It turned out everyone had exactly the same problem."
How the Map Works
Thomas created it using the Food Standards Agency's list of all registered food venues in England and Wales, which he cross-referenced with the Government's Energy Performance Certificate records to flag those with cooling. The more people who use the map, the sharper it gets. Anyone can help keep it accurate by tapping a venue and confirming whether it has air conditioning. Once a few people agree, the map updates.
Record-Breaking Heat
It comes after a period of record-breaking heat in the UK, with temperatures soaring to 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire, on Wednesday afternoon. Hundreds of schools shut across England and Wales and transport was also disrupted, with train passengers advised to avoid all non-essential travel.
Red Warning and Health Alerts
The Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme heat from Wednesday to Friday in parts of the UK, the first time this has ever been issued for three days in a row. Andy Page, Met Office Chief Meteorologist, said: “Significant disruption to daily life is likely and the public should take every effort to adapt their daily routines to cope with these levels of heat, which up to now have been extremely rare for the UK.” The UK Health Security Agency also issued a series of heat health alerts, with the red alert indicating a risk to life "for even the healthy population". It said simple actions like staying hydrated, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, and keeping your home cool can make a big difference.
