Am I alone in thinking this cafe’s policy is daft.

[PriamFarrl]

I’ve just been into a local cafe. Nice place part of a small chain of four places in local towns.
The policy is that you have to have a table number to order. But how can I do that on my own? I didn’t have anything to leave on a table, like a scarf or coat, and the tables are out of the view of the till so I’m not willing to leave my bag. I’m most places, including the other branches of this cafe, they give you a table number as you order.

Am I being silly or are they?

I like the system of getting a table first so you're not left standing with a tray, but wish there was more of a consensus. You can't tell what the done thing is when you go to a new cafe. I usually have a tote bag and book or something with me, so happy to leave those to mark my space, but I love the idea of the stash of reserved signs.

That would mean knowing this is how the place works though.
And that you automatically have something to leave. A coat, gloves whatever in winter is easy. In summer? I rarely have any of those and like the OP I wouldn’t leave my handbag (see people sitting at the table anyway even when you’ve left a coat etc….)

One place we used to go to had a folded card with this table is occupied one one side and this table is free on the other.

We (me and small dc so couldn’t leave them) did this at a cafe in the woods. Saw a table and went to order drinks. When we gave the table number they said that a family had just sat there. There were no other free tables and we weren’t allowed to sit with drinks on the tableless bench so we left.

This can be problematic if you're not able to physically reserve the table with something. Some of them have a physical number you can bring to the counter. I've even seen numbered wooden spoons in milk bottles for that purpose.

Ah it’s this way round today is it? Usually it’s someone complaining because they queued for food and then they were cross because there were no tables available because everyone else had bagsied them by leaving their coats/scarf/elderly parents there before queuing for the food.

Yes, I loved the COVID era table service. It meant I could go to cafes on my own with my dog. A lot of places are dogs outside only, which is fine, but problematic when it comes to ordering if you're on your own.

Jeez how ridiculous of them ! 😱

It’s so they know where to take your food.

and you don’t need to leave stuff. When you place the order if someone else has already ordered on that table they will tell you.

I hate this so much.
Id also much rather wait half an hour at a table to place an order than have to wait standing in a queue for 10-15 mins plus whilst getting served. So stressful with kids. And really annoying if you go out to meet someone and spend so long just waiting in a queue whilst they’re at the table.
My favourite places offer table service - at least to order - even if you have to go in to pay later.
(I’m also more than happy to pay when ordering if they’re scared about dine and dash.)

Lol. Then you go back to the table and someone else is sat there and they expect you to move. Then you can’t physically make them clear off. So you have to find another table and then go change the table with the server.

I don’t think you read my comment.