How long should you linger when you’ve finished your coffee

[EachandEveryone]

I’m in Hampstead wanting to sit outside. I’m sweating due to chemo. It’s a popular spot but two tables are sat with nothing as their tables have been cleared it’s been 20 mins. The young staff have been out and said it’s against their policy to ask them if they want to
order anything else.

im not going anywhere as i like their coffee.

Can you take your coffee and join them?

Sorry you're not well 💐

I’d say I’m having a hot flush and sit down with them.

They are French I canny speak it😀

it’s so rude. I have a table finally next to them. I came to enjoy the coffee and people watch, I think the staff are probably rule with a rod of iron.

No, not talking to them. Sit down at their table if there's room, most people don't mind.

They are only just getting the bill now. My question is why couldn’t they give them the bill earlier?

Glad you got a seat, enjoy your coffee.

Blimey. Just get there earlier. Tables taken are just a fact of life!

You are partially paying for the opportunity to have a sit and a talk. An hour after finishing, I'd say you should think about ordering something else or moving on. In a busy cafe/ restaurant, it's nice to be aware of others and free up a table but it's not impolite not to.

It depends on how busy is - if it's as busy as I imagine it was (many times I've been to that area for coffee at weekends) then five minutes lingering is fine. Anymore and they're taking the piss.

I imagine most cafes would lose regular customers quite quickly if they had a policy of clearing tables and handing out the bill quickly to get you out the door. I don’t think they were rude to stay a while after they had finished.

45 minutes in the middle of Hampstead? With nothing on the table.

as if getting there earlier would make a difference they are open from breakfast.

When a cafe wants to get rid of customers, they give them the bill and ask how they would like to pay.
They didn’t and actually told you it’s not their policy to ask people to get moving.

Your annoyance should be directed towards the cafe.

the people sat at the table talking probably didn’t realise either people are waiting nor how long they’ve been chatting away. Esp if they are tourists!!

If the cafe are fine with it I don’t see the problem. Hampstead or not.

Do you pay later at the café* *or do you pay when you order @EachandEveryone?

It’s down a cobbled path the customers queue outside to get a table this afternoon was nearly closing time so a family went before me then it was just me. Not tourists French locals, I would never do it. Even when u book tables at popular restaurants there’s a limited time. Anyway it’s done now.

So it’s not the tourists fault then. How can they get up and go if the cafe haven’t given them their bill?

Well most people ask for it?