that people who grab tables at self service restaurants without getting food dirst

[Windsock]

are nobs
owners of small kids etcetc ussual conditions apply
it REALLY annoys me.
this messes up the flow of traffic and one person sits there hogging a space where 4 people could get in eat AND have left byt he time their person arrives

Excellent, I disappear for the night and exotic and others take up my argument. Kind of proves I'm not the lone selfish cunt after all.

That said I've probably devoted enough of my life to this non issue now. I'm off out for lunch today, I'm going to bag a table, I've never noticed any hostile looks out in the real world, but should I see any I will let you know!

Sirzy, if it's a sit down and read the menu on the table sort of place then the debate is irrelevant anyway, because everybody is supposed to sit down and read the menu, then either go and order or have their order taken.

If it's a pitch up to the counter and peer at the list of burgers or bits of chicken over the heads of the staff sort of place, or a food court in a shopping centre which is surrounded by those sort of different food counters, then that's a 'get your food first and then find a table' place and I thought that's what we were debating.

I didnt take invalid as an unacceptable term tbh. Slightly archaic, but surely it just means someone not 100% well doesn't it? Or am I missing something?

But one person wouldn't dither over several orders, surely everyone sorts out what they want first before the person joins the queue?

Felicity just do what I do if you get evils - ignore

So people would seriously suggest that 8 people including 3 young children join a queue? Why? Where is any logic in that system?

Do people seriously not make sure they have somewhere to eat before ordering?

It is much easier for a lone person to find one seat than a family to find 8 together!

I'll join you at your table Felicity, if you don't mind, I'm a table grabber too

IMO, its the most sensible thing to do, if I'm on my own obviously I don't do it but its easier to find a space for one.

I really don't care about the establishments turnover, if I'm with others & we want to sit together to have lunch or coffee then we'll always get a table first, unless the place has signs saying not to do so (like M&S often does).

Agree also on 'invalid', bad tem to use.

Sirzy says it all - the voice of common sense!

Well back from lunch. Table and high hair both grabbed while my sister and I took turns to go to the counter (mains and desserts). Didn't notice any hostile looks, did notice everyone else doing the same thing. Conclusion- this is only a problem in a few peoples heads.

Hooray round of applause you grabbed that table and highchair - wooh!!!

Whose hair did you grab in the mad crush btw?

Conclusion- this is only a problem in a few peoples heads.

Agree Felicity. Only on Mumsnet have I ever heard of people insisting you should queue before food and before knowing if you can sit down or not. In 42 years and having lived in many areas of the country, I have never seen people take their families up to queues and then gamble on whether they may or may not have somewhere to sit.

I think it must be a minority because I have honestly never met anyone who does this. It was a shock to read that it is apparently not the done thing to park kids and DH at a table for ten minutes and go and fetch food.*

*according to a small minority who have a list of insults at the ready for dissenters.

Quite youoldslag! I couldn't agree more.

And Emmie, there is no need to be so rude. It was a lovely independent city farm cafe and while busy it wasn't an agressive atmosphere at all and I didn't see anyone standing forlornly with a tray of food either.

Rude?? You were the one who mentioned hair grabbing!

Anyway, MNers all around the world unite- lets start bagging the tables first... That'll REALLY piss them all off

Piss who off Emmie? I thought everybody did it anyway til I came on here.

Oh I notice now, you were mocking my typing? And I'm the entitled rude cow?

You keep saying we would be upset if you got a table first? That couldn't be further from the truth, I'd far rather you got you and your family organised, much better than standing in the way with full trays and no seats.

You see it's not about a desire to queue jump. Just a desire to be able to sit comfortably when I eat the meal I've paid for, if I have to wait 10 minutes for a table before I order, so be it.

Rude cow am I pmsl - your calm and gentle lunch hasnt left you in a contented mood!

I'm with the grabbers :)

Exactly Felicity. "table hoggers" are not queue jumping. I will wait ages for a table, and wouldn't be at all annoyed if others were already seated. BUT I won't order food unless I KNOW me and my 2yo, 6yo and DH can sit together and eat as a family. It's illogical not to.

I actually think it's far ruder to take all your kids, pushchairs, prams, and/or every member of your family or group to stand and fuss in the queue.

Me too- I'm gonna get them by the hair lol

There is only so many times we can keep turning the same insult round on each other Emmie. And seeing as it originated from your side of the argument, perhaps you could show better grace in your defeat?

You'd love to paint 'us' as rude, arrogant, entitled, discontented.... When the only truth is that we saw a situation, applied common sense and had a nice lunch. We are saying, please join us and do the same, or not (but stop whinging), it doesn't really matter a jot.

Defeat? Is it a battle? And here was me thinking you were just passing the time cos you're bored

Anyway, you're determined to have the last table word felicity so be my guest

Cheers