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

As long as you don't spread out with your laptops and make one cup of coffee last you 3 hours, while shooting dirty looks at any one who dares to share your table. I'd love to see you

Obviously I am going to the wrong places as I am a single parent and when out with DS/DS and nephews or alone I have never had any problem finding a couple of seats for us.

I have had problems when out with the whole family getting a table for the 8 of us (or a couple of tables for us to split) hence making sure we have seats before ordering.

Sirzy, once children are in a seat, do they never get up and move around?

Once my children are seated and occupied (with the colouring books/toys I provide), no, they don't get up and run around. DH occupies them, they sit quietly with something to do and I am never gone more than 10 minutes.

In a queue, with my 2yo in reins or in a pushchair, I would not be able to carry any food.

I was a single parent and it is perfectly easy to sit them down and find a seat. I only went in cafes where I could see them from the queue. They didn't move from the seat - I told them to keep in the seat, giving them something to do helps. Even when I wasn't a single parent I was often in my own. Anyone who queues with a buggy, DCs, shopping bags is mad! How can you then carry a tray safely? ( they are also a pain to everyone else and if I am on my own I would much, much prefer they bagged a table!)

I think it's similar to sticking your towel on a sunlonger and claiming it as your own for the rest of the day.

Entirely different.

It is similar to sitting your DCs on sun loungers and then just popping off to get them a cold drink.

You will be back in a few mins.

I have never seen people claiming a table at the start of the day to come back at tea time!

To my mind it's the same. Some people are happy to nab seats/beds and leave others in discomfort. It's all selfish behaviour.

If you want to talk about sun beds I should start a new thread - it is nowhere like the same thing.

How is it the same?

It's not the same.

I think its the same as organising a charity marathon.

If my family and I are around a pool on sunloungers we get off them to go to the loo, go swimming etc. if one person gets off to have a swim I don't expect a random person to take it over! If we all abandoned them and have left the site then someone could remove our towels and use them.

sue52 - don't ever complain about tired, irritable children making a noise in a queue or moan or get angry when one pushes into you causing you to trip up carrying something. It is just common sense, not selfish at all. It's nothing like putting a towel on a sun bed and disappearing. Explain how it is the same?

yabu, always get a table first then food, silly not to! Customer is always right :)

I really dislike someone trying to take the high moral ground of ' we all queue' when everyone in the queue is thinking ' why on earth can't they get the DCs , bags and buggies out of the way, get organised and then queue alone'.

Jeez, is this still going on? I thought I caught a whiff of burning martyr.

As long as it's not burning child GWenlock. Those self service queues are highly dangerous remember

I don't know why I get drawn in! These threads start every so often and I doubt whether anyone will change their mind. I shall continue to get a table first, unless I am alone when I will take pot luck.

I do think it depends what context this is in. I personally get the partner and arch to sit on a table while i fetch the food and i think thats reasonable however i dont like it when in places like mcdonalds someone comes in and buys one cup of coffee that lasts 5 hours so they can use the free wifi or people who just sit ages and ages chatting (no problem with people doing that if the restraunt is not busy, but when you can see others are looking for seats it pees me off)

Modi, the situations you describe are totally different.

Making 1 coffee last 5 hours in a busy restaurant so you can use the free wifi is rude and inconsiderate.

Getting a table, and then ordering food is common sense.

You can easily get rid of the first, you just say 'are these seats taken?' and then sit down- they will soon go! (guaranteed if you have DCs)

Oh for the love of god is this still rumbling on.
The table hoggers keep insisting that only their way is common sense, maybe they think if they say it enough times they'll convert everyone else. Be careful what you wish for...

I really wish everyone would do it janey! Anything rather than adults making their whole family clutter up a queue and be in danger from hot drinks.