to think it is unacceptable to sit in Starbucks, at peak time, nursing a coffee for hours

[thatsawrap]

Met a friend in Starbucks today for a coffee. Stood in queue for 10 mins waiting to be served. Put my order in and then waited another 5 mins or so for drink to be made up. The shop was heaving. Counted 14 tables. Friend and I stood with drinks thinking eventually someone would leave so we could sit down with our drinks.

5 mins passed, then 10 mins and then 25 mins... Not one seat became free. Mainly officer workers sitting, with empty coffee cup, working on laptops or having meetings.

We ended up standing in the shop drinking our coffee. Would have left and tried to find somewhere to sit outside but it was pouring down. Loads of people who'd ordered drinks and food ended up standing with us waiting for a seat.

AIBU to think its bloody rude to hog tables when you've finished your drink and you can see other people waiting. I'd be embarrassed if I was nursing an empty cup while others with food and drink waited to sit down. I'd at least order another bloody drink.

Why did you order your coffee in a coffee shop that was clearly full?

WHy not ask if you can sit in the empty seats at the table?

That is what people do round here.

Why didn't you sit down?

YABU, if there was a table with just one person and a laptop then I would have asked them if the other chairs were free and sat down. I wouldn't have asked them if they minded just in case they said yes!

YABU as Starbucks encourage people to use them as a place to have meetings, groups or a lounge about. You could always have asked to share a table too.

I can't imagine arranging a business meeting in Starbucks. First off how can you guarantee you'd get a free table? How unprofessional if you arranged a meeting, all your colleagues turned up and then you ended up hanging around waiting...

And secondly, is it wise to have a work conversation with strangers listening? Not very professional either, especially if you are discussing confidential work, talking about people you work with...

Why not have your meeting at work, or pay for a conference facility rather than do it on the cheap.

Last time I went to Starbucks I bought a filter coffee and didn't even nurse it for minutes - it was horrible coffee. I went home and made my own.

To answer your question though, YABU if it's Starbucks' policy not to mind. I worked in a cafe once and we didn't only serve drinks over the lunchtime period, which seemed to make sense to everyone.

YABU.

What does piss me off about Starbucks though is that they never seem to have any staff to clear the tables. At peak time there are always table covered in cups and plates for hours. Grim.

Actually I hate the Starbucks policy of serving coffee in a cheap, white mug - if I go out for a coffee I want to be served with a nice china cup and saucer .

Because thatsawrap we have a limited number of meeting rooms at work and there is a ban on booking external facilities. With 1 or 2 others Starbucks works fine when I need to get out of the office and away from the "have you got a minutes...."

YABU, the point of Starbucks is that you can sit there for ages without being hassled.

as some others have said, if there is one person at a table, then go sit there too.

I bet that although there were no tables with nobody sitting there, there were loads of spare chairs at many of the tables.

hardhat - sod off with your "shitty nappies and boob juice", what are you doing on Mumsnet if this is your attitude?

I can't believe her post is going (almost) unchallenged.

What am I doing on mumsnet? Well i am a mum myself i just happen to think there is more to being a parent than discussing bowel movements and feeding methods which, from my experience of partaking in these meetings and overhearing several thousand, is how they tend to go.

I like mumsnet so i shall continue using it :)

YABU for going to Starbucks in the first place.

hardhat, I think you have some issues .

I have many issues which would you care to address? :)

When i'm at work i'm not in mum mode so tend not to be overly sympathetic to NCT mums trying to barge me off a table during my lunch break :)

Awrigh', awrigh' you two, break it up or I'll send the bovva boys rand!

If you have a problem with people staying at a table longer than you you would like, take it up with the staff rather than getting angry with the customers. The staff obviously didn't have a problem with them staying.

Awite mum

It's ok, she's made me laugh already :)

Agree with Evenless. No good getting pissed off with the customers. Complain to the staff if you've bought something to eat in, and then they can't provide space for you. They'll soon introduce a policy if they realise its losing them business

Hardhat, I think the point is that you're being incredibly rude about new mothers. No doubt your own topics of conversation are incredibly scintillating at all times, but that's no reason to be so nasty about other mothers and what you imagine they talk about.