You’re out for a coffee, cake and people watching in a cafe, what annoys you and spoils the experience?

[Britpopbaby]

People who “talk” so loudly that even in a busy cafe you can follow their full conversation.

I remember being at a Starbucks year ago with a really animated performance parent and he family a couple of tables across.

It was one of those in a Borders bookshop (remember those) and I said - to my husband in a normal volume voice - I'm going to have a look at that table of books over there on my way out and she screamed at me "it's so TEMPTING IN HERE ALL THESE BOOKS ISN't it"

So I smiled and said yes and got back to the private conversation I was having.

Then she started waving a toy car in the air and shouting at her toddlers "LOOK IT's Millie's AMBULANCE" and proceeded to knock a (thankfully cold) drink all over the baby.

My baby was a similar age and I had a spare baby grow with me that I could have given them - and would have done so for any other parent - but I didn't want them to stay so waved them off as they trudged off home.

Urgh.

The arseholes who people watch and judge people for living their lives are what annoy me when I'm out for a coffee and talking to my kids.
Never met anyone who "people watches" who isn't a total judgemental twat.

People.

I people watch all the time. Unless you can read my thoughts, you have no idea what I was thinking about the people in my view.

People who change their kid's nappy on the table. No need for it at all.

This does my box in.

If anyone starts a thread about things you don't want to see in Primark you can add this post there as well! I'm sure the stack of clothes was very comfy for the baby but it put me off going over and rifling through them for my size!

This! Loud people, the performing parent, people taking up the comfy chairs and sofas when there's only 1 or 2 of them, rough/common people with no manners shouting across the room, their children running free, people eating loudly, slurping loudly, banging spoons and cups on the plate, smell of smoke wafting in from outside, the staff constantly asking is everything OK while I have a mouthful....maybe I should just stay indoors with my cats and dogs 😂...families who come in with their whole family from the estate/Valleys (I'm from Wales) for example - "Aunty Baaaaarb wah you wan' laaaaaaav!? Sit here Uncal Diiiii I'll gerru coffeeeeee." queue screaming at their child "SIT DOWN, KAYDEN, JAYDEN, AND OKAYDEN! AWWW THEY LICCLE BASTA*DS DEY ARE! WE WERE YOUNG ONCE MIIINNND!"

You need to read the above in a Welsh accent. Thank me later. I'm going to burn in hell. I know.

😂

Snobs who think they are better than everyone else. Their sneery faces could curdle the milk.

This thread is great, the mischievous part of me is delighting in the knowledge that I am ruining someone's cafe session when I:

• talk to my child about something educational
• talk to my child about something inane
• let my child run around
• ignore my child while he sits quietly
• let my child talk to the staff

The ironic thing is that I got on MN too early and very regularly glance around when talking to my kids, usually to see if someone is rolling their eyes in annoyance at me though, not Because I think you're impressed.

I agree with so many of these replies which is why, whenever possible, I choose the ‘poshest’ most expensive place I can find. 😊. Not kidding.

PS - as expensive as I can afford, I should have added.

I think I'll stick to the cheaper coffee shops so I can enjoy my coffee without some bored person judging everything I do.

Baby & Toddler groups. Especially when you can't get to half the tables or the loo because they've circled the wagons Bugaboos to set up camp.

Once tried to go to a costa while my car was having an MOT, saw the place was overrun with a mums group and left for the peace & quiet in McDonald's instead. (Maccy D's was also cleaner and has better tea).

Children running riot
children screaming and parents ignoring them
music on phones
the elderly who skip the queue, take all the seats whilst you are getting served then have no where to sit. and yes they may be frail in some cases but not when they are carrying 10 bags of shopping!

Constant checking in and coming over by wait staff/manager/anyone and everyone. I hate it when I’ve met up with a friend/partner too and want to connect with that person and then there’s just constant intrusions.

Haven't rtft so apologies if it's been said but what would ruin it for me is some fucker coming and parking themselves at my table and talking to me.

Just people in general. I think I'd rather have kids running around than being among adults 😂

Screaming and crying kids. If sitting outside - smokers.

Dirty cutlery.

Unkempt toilets.

Having to listen to other customers saying to the barista: "Can I get...".

Screeching kids running about.

If I’ve psyched myself up to have cake then the slice needs to be good and large (enough to take half home). And if the coffee is unpleasant, or worse, they just get it from a press-the-button machine I’m extremely disappointed!!

1. Dog lovers sharing their dog stories
2. Mobile users in cafes or on trains talking their personal business...seriously, shut the fuck up, might be interesting to you but your boring the fuck out of the other 200 crammed into the capsule!
3. Waiting staff not knowing WTF is on the menu when you have a query.
4. Waiting 20 minutes for a coffe.
5. Staff sweeping around me whilst I dine, now whine
6. Just going out in general to go in somewhere else that is not my fresh and cosy home. Off piste now
7. Christmas crap being on shelves in August so we can all plan the 'perfect Christmas' and have to endure family members talking about who wants what for over 3 months.
8. Easter eggs being on shelves on Boxing Day, give us a break ffs!
9. People who do lists and numbers them lol

Children literally screaming either because they in meltdown or tantrum mode. I do feel for the parents but I can't stand it . It triggers my PTSD.

People, reminds me why I prefer to relax without having to witness them in the wild...