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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

thinking people should monopolise tables in self service restaurants when they haven't got any food

266 replies

workshy · 05/06/2012 21:13

been out to Chester zoo today and had a fantastic time however we went to eat in one of the self service cafes, had to queue up for food for 15 minutes and then when we went to find a table there were none.

There were however lots of tables with one or 2 people sat on them with no food -when I asked if we could share there table we we told that the seats were taken by people who were still queuing for food and it would have taken us 10 minutes max to eat a bowl of pasta each

we were eventually shouted over by a very nice man who told us that they would be finished in a minute and he gave us his table

now I'm guilty of doing this in the past but now see the error of my ways -no issue with people sitting down to feed a baby while they wait for their partner, or people who are infirm sitting down to wait but these were people that just could be arsed

so AIBU to think that people shouldn't nick tables until they are actually ready to use them?

OP posts:
tyler80 · 05/06/2012 21:53

I wouldn't eat anywhere where the queue was long enough that someone else would have been able to sit down, finish eating and depart whilst I was still queuing. With that in mind we always adopt the one person grabs a table approach.

Noqontrol · 05/06/2012 21:58

If the place is quite big there's usually a fairly rapid turnover of tables becoming free. As long as people don't linger!

YouOldSlag · 05/06/2012 21:58

YABU.

It's general form- kids and DH bagsy table. DH stops kids being a nuisance by giving them colouring etc, then I come over with the food on a tray.

If there's more food than I can carry I go back up for the 2nd tray.
However, if us 4 were using a 6 seater table, I would make it clear that we can share our table to poor nomads with trays of food.

You can't really expect an entire family or group of people to queue on the off chance they may or may not be able to eat their meal. You would really complain if a load of kids and pushchairs were taking up room in the queue.

Noqontrol · 05/06/2012 22:00

I have a Dh and 2 small kids though. It works ok.

trixie123 · 05/06/2012 22:05

tricky one because it seems like the logical thing to do but it really isn't fair on the people who don't have a person to save the table for them. I have actually taken a table once in that situation. I had a tray of food, was on my own but there were no free places that weren't being saved so I picked a table and sat down. The person on it protested but I just said sorry, I have paid for this food, I am going to sit and eat it and I will probably be gone before your party arrive (which I was). Not a lot they could do really.

exoticfruits · 05/06/2012 22:12

There is no way I am getting food before I get a table. I also hate people cluttering up the queue- it doesn't need more than 2 people at the very most to carry the trays.

exoticfruits · 05/06/2012 22:14

If I am on my own and can't do it there is always space for one on an occupied table.

Noqontrol · 05/06/2012 22:16

I used to monopolise tables years ago, until I went to a cafe in brighton where the staff wouldn't let you do that. I did feel a bit edgy that I wasn't going to get a seat, (being the serial table grabber that i was at the time) but it was fine, we just squashed up with some other people. Since that day I found that it does work and i ceased to monopolise tables Grin

Dancergirl · 05/06/2012 22:20

Get lunch at 12 noon on the dot. No problems with tables then!

MsHighwater · 05/06/2012 22:22

YANBU. It is wrong and rude to occupy a table in a self-service eatery before you have bought your food. Only someone who physically cannot stand in the queue is justified in doing this. It is nothing more or less than queue jumping. If you wouldn't jump the queue elsewhere, don't do it in a cafe.

As you discovered, OP, you can't bag a table if you are on your own (or with young children). The other members of a large party can wait out of the way until those of their party who are queueing are at the till if necessary (though I don't think it is generally necessary). Only then is it acceptable to take a table. If everyone did this, everyone would get a table with the minimum of waiting.

chugginalong · 05/06/2012 22:24

YABU but not as U as Chester Zoo - It's the fault of the money grabbing theme parks/zoos who don't offer sufficient space to house their patrons, who having already half bankrupted themselves on a ridiculously priced entry are stuck in a endless queues buying their crappy food at exorbitant prices.

exoticfruits · 05/06/2012 22:25

M&S in Bath have now got it right- to stop this argument. You queue for a table, sit down and then one person queues for the food. If you are on your own you can do it because your table is taken and no one else is shown to it. It works a treat.

exoticfruits · 05/06/2012 22:27

They only did it because of the arguments - it got a result. Others could and should do the same.

5madthings · 05/06/2012 22:28

mshighwater wait 'out of the way' where exactly, there generally isnt anywhere to wait out of the way, thats part of the problem, esp when you have a few children! its far easier to get all the children to sit down and wait nicely at a table than have them stand somewhere or accompany me in the queue.

2rebecca · 05/06/2012 22:31

I think getting a table before you get your food before you sit down is just sensible if there is more than 1 of you. In served restaurants you get a table before you get your food so you know there is actually somewhere for you to eat. Why should self service restaurants be different? Why would you want to queue up to eat and then have nowhere to sit? I'd go elsewhere if there wasn't a table for me to eat at. Wandering round with hot food hoping you'll find a table somewhere sounds nuts to me.
Fine if there is just 1 or 2 of you, then I'll just squish on the end of a table.

exoticfruits · 05/06/2012 22:34

Exactly 2rebecca.

BrianButterfield · 05/06/2012 23:03

This is one of those arguments that only happens on MN - I have never, ever seen people queue without having a table to go to. Busy self-service place = people walk in, scan room, if it looks full, they leave! They don't start queueing.

Buntingbunny · 05/06/2012 23:06

In theory YANBU, but there are never enough tables, so everyone else does it.

Why venues don't provide more seating is a mystery.

Our local show ground is an absolute pain.
They've loads and loads of space, would it really be the end of the world to go to B&Q and buy a few more plastic chairs!

YouOldSlag · 05/06/2012 23:37

The other members of a large party can wait out of the way until those of their party who are queueing are at the till if necessary (though I don't think it is generally necessary). Only then is it acceptable to take a table. If everyone did this, everyone would get a table with the minimum of waiting.

Where do the other members wait? (as 5madthngs pointed out) Do you really think a family or group of people would not be a nuisance standing around neither in the queue nor at a table, waiting for one member of the party to bring a tray of food for them and then for the above-mentioned nomadic group to attempt to procure seating?

Do you really want me, my DH, my 2yp and my 5yo and our pushchair in the queue for one tray of food?

lunamoon · 06/06/2012 00:36

If I had bought food or a drink I wouldn't ask if I can sit down I jwould just do it.
If anyone questioned my occupying a seat I would just tell them "Yes I am sat here."
Then they can choose to move as I am sitting there first.
I am thinking more along the lines of those extra comfy sofas which seem to attract sole occupants.
Same applies to towels left on sunbeds. No sunbeds means I would remove any towels without occupants.

MarySA · 06/06/2012 00:43

I'm afraid I do this if I am with somebody else. Because what is the point of getting your food and finding there is nowhere to sit.

exoticfruits · 06/06/2012 07:22

It is a silly argument that crops up every so often on MN. I have no intention of changing my behaviour - seat then food - if no seats I go somewhere else. When the DCs were little I sat them down and went and queued. My pet hate is people with small DCs in a queue who are in danger of being scalded.

agedknees · 06/06/2012 08:10

If you read the replies of the people who bag a table before getting their food, you will notice the tendency to say I, ME, a lot. Says a lot for this type of person.

YANBU. Stay unselfish. No one is asking large groups to queue, just wait for a table when they have their food. It is called waiting your turn.

Sirzy · 06/06/2012 08:20

So where exactly do they wait?

I was in a cafe last week 5 adults and 3 children under 4. 2 queuing for food so what do you suggest the others do when waiting?

As it happens they sat at a table and occupied the children with colouring and toys - children out of harms way and not causing problems for anyone else.

exoticfruits · 06/06/2012 08:22

The mind boggles at where they wait. Hopefully someone in management says 'for goodness sake go and sit down!'