to be unsure about coffee shop etiquette?

[Kalypso]

If two people enter a coffee shop, is it ever acceptable for the first person to sit at a free table while their friend orders, even if there are already people queuing who don't necessarily have a friend there to save them a table?

Depending on the size of the queue, I think it may be acceptable to claim a table beforehand when there are clearly enough tables for everybody, but what if table space happens to be very limited? Am I being unreasonable to think this is queue-jumping?

I always do this if I'm with a friend or DH - and pretty much everyone else does it, I think. I don't know - I've never really noticed. I thought that was just how it's done!?

I don't really see the problem with getting a table first - if I buy a drink, I need a chair and table, so it doesn't really matter what order that happens in, does it?

But then, if somewhere is really busy and overcrowded, and there are only a couple of tables, I tend to leave it anyway

If we are somewhere and its clearly empty we do this, but not if it is really busy.

I think you go with whatever the norm is in the cafe you are in. If you walk in and people are queueing and sitting in turn, then yes of course you'd do that. However, if people are walking in - one goes to order and one sits down then you're hardly going to sit there and wait your turn while everyone else helps themselves to tables? Just so you can feel good about your impeccable manners? The word 'martyr' springs to mind?

We have a lot to learn from our European pals, I can't see the French giving a flying one about queueing etiquette!

I dont mind if the person they're waiting for is actually in the coffee shop in the process of ordering. Was in Pret the other day and there was a woman (sans food) saving 7 seats for the rest of her family who ''would be along in a minute". Was told quite firmly by a couple of suits that unfortunately that's not how Pret works.

Bagged that's just rude

"If two people enter a coffee shop, is it ever acceptable for the first person to sit at a free table while their friend orders, even if there are already people queuing who don't necessarily have a friend there to save them a table?"

No. It is downright bloody rude and this is why a lot of coffee/food shops have taken to displaying signs asking cuntstomers not to sit until food is paid for.

Also, idiots who take up a table for four when there is ONE of them. And look at you like you just shat on their granola if you ask if you can use one of the other three available seats.

And people who linger over the last swig of cold coffee when there are people looking for somewhere to sit.

And people in general. Make me fucking blood boil they do.

I go to have coffee with a friend for social reasons, we go for a chat and therefore will aways make sure that we get a table first. If I go on my own then I go because I want the coffee so I will take pot luck in the queue and join someone else on their own if I need to, but I have always found a table.
If on my own or with a friend we would go elsewhere anyway if it was crowded.
It really isn't an issue and I shall carry on doing it, despite notices.

I agree that you can't save them for people 'who will be along in a minute', they need to be in the queue.

They don't even need to be in the queue. They need to have purchased their scronf, IMO.

Imagine if you will; you walk into a coffee shop and are third in the queue. Then old Doris comes in, her mate Cybil with her. Doris joins the queue and is seventh in the queue. Cybil plonks her arse at table. You get your coffee and cake but can find nowhere to sit. Doris gets her coffee and cake and gets to sit and drink before you, even though you paid first. Not fair.

There are more people in life who need a lesson in basic manners, I reckon. And I will show 'em good.

If you are on your own and no seat then you just say 'excuse me' and sit next to Doris, if there is no room you sit next to someone else, a singleton is easy and quiet to place.

I don't go into coffee shops alone. What do you think I am? A sad case?

Do you never go shopping alone?
I love to have coffeee on my own and watch the world go by, a real sad case
I also go with friends for a chat and the coffee is just an excuse to sit down. If you never go alone and always with someone else then do the common sense thing and find a table. It doesn't take 2 people to get a couple of drinks and it clutters up the queue.

I often think that free wireless is the root of coffee shop evil as often (maybe this is just a London problem- I don't know) you get some person taking up at table for 4 with their mobile office. They sit there all day working on their novel/ start up/ plan for world domination with one small Americano.

I just sometimes wonder (now that I-phones are ubiquitous) whether the free wifi actually reduces income for the coffee ship by reducing table turnover.

Totally agree with bupcakes.

I don't do it because I think it is technically unfair, but having said that I can understand why people do it when they have children with them because children needed to get seated asap otherwise they wander around ime!

"I often think that free wireless is the root of coffee shop evil as often (maybe this is just a London problem- I don't know) you get some person taking up at table for 4 with their mobile office. They sit there all day working on their novel/ start up/ plan for world domination with one small Americano."

This is very true. One man took up a table with two sofas in the Selfridge's Starbucks in Brum the other week. He bought one espresso and took up the whole god damn table with his lappy/newspapers/articles of importance. He sat there for an HOUR. With ONE drink, just so he could cadge the free wi-fi. If I worked there, I would have moved him on. Bloody tosser.

Breathe in through nose, out through mouth. In through nose, out through mouth...

I thought we were queueing for coffee?

Jeremy Vine did this not so long ag I think?

It's not queue jumping IMO. In a resturant/cafe with table service you get a table before you order your food. Plus, everyone does it, so by not doing it, you'd be cutting you're nose off to spite your face IYSWIM.

So if there are 4 of you out, all 4 of you should stand in the queue?

Yes.

bupcakesandcunting - you watching him for a full hour. That's a little scary.

Not gonna happen, sorry.

i think it's horrible. tis queue jumping.

what about the poor pg woman with toddler, pushchair and tray full of food with nowhere to sit, but loads of grabbers looking away while they wait for their friends to bring food.

It seems there are two schools of thought here!

My instinct tells me it is rude and unfair. However, as people have pointed out, it?s often impractical to wait in the queue if there are several in your party or you have a buggy or young child (due to lack of space and all the hot drinks being carried around). Where should you wait instead? In many chain coffee shops, there's nowhere to discreetly wait without getting in everybody's way.

Also, let's say you did wait in the queue. What if you've just paid significantly more to 'drink in' only to discover all the tables are gone because everybody else has gone ahead and nabbed a table before buying? Infuriating. So, the question is, if you can?t beat them, do you join them?