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Original poster

Who was in the wrong - bakery or me?

291 replies

Doijb · 26/11/2024 11:56

I take my kids to a bakery after swimming. Most of the time they choose sausage rolls or similar. There is a tiny table with two chairs. I plop one of my kids on my lap and we eat our treat. I prefer this as otherwise the flakes would go everywhere.

Anyway, after going every week to this place for a year one of the staff members tells me we’re not really a sit down food place. I inquire about the chairs and she said it’s more for people who wait.

I just found this odd. My kids are brilliantly behaved and I make sure not loud. My oldest will wipe down the table with a serviette.

Who is being weird?

OP posts:
maudelovesharold · 26/11/2024 12:12

Why would ‘waiting’ customers’ require a table? If you find a table and chairs in a food outlet it’s a natural assumption that it’s an invitation to customers to sit and eat, imo.

helpfulperson · 26/11/2024 12:10

SwerveCity · 26/11/2024 12:07

If I saw a table and chairs I would presume that you can eat there.

Edited

If there were multiple tables and chairs I would think that, but just one I probably wouldn't

I imagine they've had a visit from either head office or food safety/licensing and been told to stop people using it to eat at.

MajorCarolDanvers · 26/11/2024 12:10

pictoosh · 26/11/2024 12:01

No one is being 'weird' - you were understandably mistaken about the purpose of the table and she decided to inform you. So long as she wasn't rude she is simply telling you the table is for the benefit of waiting customers rather than eating customers.
She expects you to take your order away.

Edited

Absolutely this

LimeYellow · 26/11/2024 12:07

It is a bit weird that no one told you about this for a whole year. But now they've mentioned it, I would either respect this request or take my business elsewhere.

Wendysfriend · 26/11/2024 12:07

There should be a sign stating this, you're not a mind reader and they never said anything for a year..

SwerveCity · 26/11/2024 12:07

If I saw a table and chairs I would presume that you can eat there.

Helixpoint · 26/11/2024 12:06

No one is being weird.

I do think it’s something to do with VAT on eat in food but someone should have mentioned it if you’ve been eating there once a week for a year.

MissMoneyFairy · 26/11/2024 12:06

Is it advertised as eat in or takeaway

ShinyPrettyThings87 · 26/11/2024 12:05

Yeah, it's not a personal dig at you. She's just making you aware of what its purpose is for. Don't read too much into it ☺️

SometimesCalmPerson · 26/11/2024 12:05

You are being weird if you are using the bakery seating area in a way that you’ve been told isn’t the intention. They don’t want to clear up your child’s sausage roll flakes any more than you do.

NoodleNuts · 26/11/2024 12:04

It doesn't matter how well behaved or quiet your kids are, the seats are for those who are waiting for something and not for people to sit and eat food. You mistakenly thought that they were but now that it has been pointed out, you shouldn't use them from now on. Wait until you get home if you don't want flakes everywhere.

LilacLilyBird · 26/11/2024 12:03

I'd be mortified that I'd never bothered to ask if it's ok to sit at the table all this time

Trickabrick · 26/11/2024 12:03

pictoosh · 26/11/2024 12:01

No one is being 'weird' - you were understandably mistaken about the purpose of the table and she decided to inform you. So long as she wasn't rude she is simply telling you the table is for the benefit of waiting customers rather than eating customers.
She expects you to take your order away.

Edited

First response nails it

DoraGray · 26/11/2024 12:03

Also, if you eat indoors I think you have to pay VAT.
Certainly, most places charge less for takeaway than eat in.

No-one is being weird though-what an odd choice of word

WifeOfMacbeth · 26/11/2024 12:02

Well somebody who is elderly or disabled is going to have to stand and wait, while you have your snacks in comfort. And as sausage rolls are greasy, wiping the table with a paper napkin isn't great. You may also be getting pastry flakes on the floor.

That's why 'eat in' prices are higher in bakeries that have the facilities - to cover the cost of cleaning up after customers.

'Thanks for letting me know' is the correct response.

pictoosh · 26/11/2024 12:01

No one is being 'weird' - you were understandably mistaken about the purpose of the table and she decided to inform you. So long as she wasn't rude she is simply telling you the table is for the benefit of waiting customers rather than eating customers.
She expects you to take your order away.

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