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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To reserve the entire park benches?

180 replies

anyplate · 30/07/2025 14:46

I took my children to the park today and packed up a picnic, it was a woodland area with apparatus and was a short drive away.
When we arrived we headed straight to the park and thought we’d eat our picnic but every single bench had a “polite notice”
bench is reserved for children’s birthday party
don’t be that person.

There was about five benches and no one around so I got a blanket out of the car and sat on it and we had our picnic.
We stayed at the park over an hour and in that time many cross looking people went to sit down and saw the note and didn’t but there was no children’s party in the hour or so we were there.
Were they not completely unreasonable reserving every single bench for an unknown amount of time so nobody else could use it just so they were free for when they wanted?
We could have sat there eaten our lunch and gone without it affecting any party.

OP posts:
JDM625 · 30/07/2025 14:50

They are CF...kers! I would have sat on the benches!

I would also have left a note saying that THEY are THOSE people and how rude THEY were!
OR, maybe snuck around and removed all their signs 😆

RoadAtlas · 30/07/2025 14:50

Of course they were completely unreasonable. Not sure you need to ask. If they wanted reserved seating for a party they should have paid for a venue - and I say that as someone who has organised two parties in the local park over the years.

cadburyegg · 30/07/2025 14:48

Completely ridiculous, YANBU

NigelPonsonbySmallpiece · 30/07/2025 14:48

You were a better person than me. I'd have sat on the bench for sure if noone had been about - I may or may not have moved if they had arrived depending how I was asked

doodleschnoodle · 30/07/2025 14:47

Very rude of them. They can bring picnic blankets and use those if the benches are full with others.