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.

Loud talkers/laughers and loud or over active children ie running around other people's tables.

"You're very welcome to join me but I had a pretty vicious curry last night. You might be safer elsewhere." might do the trick.

But yes, love the sound of chatter and background noise. Hate the noise of people on phones, watching videos, playing games on tablets etc. - all without headphones.

When I'm on my own I always go and find a table first, sit at it whilst I consider what I'm having, then leave my book out (no doubt enraging the PP who can't stand seeing people read in public) and my stuff there so I keep it while I go up and order. Doesn't everyone do this?

Kids letting out high pitched shrieks for no reason.
Getting a funny look when I ask for a pot of hot water to go with my pot of tea.
Men who walk in whistling.
Men who make a ‘funny’ comment to the waitress and then look round as if they are Expecting every woman to collapse in to fits of laughter.

All children including my own.
People that sit too close to me.
The baristas whacking the coffee ground container like a hammer to empty it every 2 minutes.
Background music that is too loud.
Sitting too near the toilet with dubious smells and noises.
Sitting too near the front door with freezing cold air and cig smoke being wafted in.
Staff “cleaning” with a giant spray bottle of something toxic and cold water making no difference to the sticky tables.
Staff scraping and banging chairs.
No carpets to absorb the sound.

Thinking about it - I should just stay at home!

I'd have pointed out that there were other tables.

Anything that disturbs the peace and quiet, whoever and whatever it is.

I've been on here for years. How does watching someone quietly reading a book affect you? If they're on their own at a cafe what do you expect them to do? Talk to themselves? Scroll on their phone?

I don't find you interesting either. Hope you ensure you consistently speak at a volume that mean that neither I, or god forbid my child, ever have to overhear your tedious conversations. Ta.

So shoot me, I do it all the time. At least we’re not noisy!

The cake in 80% of these places is so poor, to be honest I'm just delighted these days to get a decent flat white.

Well yes @partypartypartytime, I do! That's the point. I speak at a volume that my table can hear, but no one else can. I have the self awareness to realise no one else is interested in my conversation.

😮weird

I was in a cafe the other day (reading), prime window seat, sunshine, recuperating from long illness so big step out for me. At the side of my smallish table were a couple of bits of crockery from the previous occupant - I was ok with this - far enough away not to care and tidy enough. A lady came from behind, almost tiptoeing, put another dirty cup from a table she wanted to occupy on my table next to the other crockery. I was just, wow, why would anyone think that was ok. Such a delicate state though that unfortunately would have cried if confronted her. I look forward to being well enough to take on rude people again!

Loud pop music
Stale cake
Bad coffee
The smell of sausages, bacon etc. I don't like greasy spoon type cafes.
Dirty tables
Loud people
Slovenly staff who treat you like an inconvenience.
Tables too cramped together.

So according to this thread, parents shouldn't allow their kids to look at a phone/tablet at the table, read at the table, or talk at the table. Kids just shouldn't be allowed to exist at all, should they?

Wonderful.

Not something that happens regularly but I was sat next to someone having an informal job interview one time which felt really awkward.

Well could you speak louder next time please, because I enjoy listening to other people's conversations in cafes and you're being very inconsiderate by denying me that pleasure.

The only thing worse than performance parenting?

Performance Grandparenting.

Oh, and good choice of name for the example. The entitled ' little Lord Fauntelroy' types that get indulged like this do have names like ' Hugo' .

Went to a cafe today and they'd coated the chocolate cake in dessicated coconut 🤢

Who spoils a chocolate cake by adding dessicated coconut? Dirty animals.

Dogs who are "friendly" and whose owners have not bothered to train them.

Not confused at all. Although you seem to be. I said cafes are full of a diverse range of people................

Other people

Surely people must hear how loud the background music is when they enter the cafe and just leave instead of putting up with it.

😂

Oh my Lord, I'd be well pi$$ed 😂coffee time is my sanctuary.