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

Dear God. Have we moved into superior parenting as well as martyrdom? Use the tongue in your head to say "excuse me, could you move those, I'd like to sit there" and there will be no problem. Assert yourself. Don't complain just because the rest of the world has more gumption than you do.

If you were queiueng say for seats in a cinema would you expect your partner and a group of friends to be allowed in before they pay just because you were in a queue with the intention of paying? In my mind it's the same thing.

It's interesting that you think that's the same thing.

It isn't.

It's a cinema and the other is a restaurant.

The key difference is that cinemas can generally be relied upon to not sell more tickets than they have seats for.

That's different.

I would have no issue though with one parent going to get sweets and drinks and the other going in to get the children settled. That again is common sense.

GWenlockMaryLacey- your gumption is my rude and entitled. I don't think we are ever going to agree so I'm off to listen to the Archers. I'm sure the residents of Ambridge would never table hog.

If Ambridge is your moral standard then frankly, we're all doomed.

Felicity- You haven't been listening recently, it's getting rather racy at the moment.

I've yet to see anyone consuming their food standing up- so I think we can safety assume that anyone who buys food makes damn sure they get a table

Why would anyone buy food and not ensure they get to sit down to eat it... Tis common sense.

WhenI worked in a cafe I certainly wouldn't have moved people from a seat - I would have found an empty seat for them.
I am often on my own- there is always an empty seat on a table with another lone person- it isn't a problem. If I go with someone we want a seat together so there is no way I am going to get food or drink without the table. If it looks too busy I go somewhere else anyway.

Talking about the Archers- I'm positive that most characters would take the common sense approach of seat first.

exoticfruits- I could never imagine Jill Archer taking a seat before someone who had been queueing longer for it. The very idea!

The only cafe I know where it is a nightmare is the M and S cafe and I always feel it is more the cafe's fault and they should organise the seating better. Sometimes if there is an person on their own, generally an old lady they ask to sit at our table. I would never be brave enough to ask to sit at some strangers table though.

sue52- The person queuing without knowing if they can sit is the daft one, not the one finding a table then ordering food.

It's no good being a martyr and giving dirty looks to the seated. Get seated yourself, then go and get your food. It seems to be the majority getting seats first and a few angry martyrs not joining the herd and feeling righteous. Get yourself a bloody seat, leave your friend/family there and go and fetch a bit of food otherwise you will end up annoyed at the bloody world every time you eat out.

Incidentally, is IS bad form if a single diner hogs a six seater and refuses to share, or if people put bags on spare extra seats to avoid sharers. It is also bad form to spread your laptop and work out over a four seater and nurse a coffee and a biscuit all afternoon.

It is NOT bad form to seat your family/party before taking 5 or 10 minutes fetching their food.

I think that if you have read all this and still want to be a martyr - on your own head be it! There is no need. What I would like to say, but am too polite, is 'for goodness sake madam - would you park your buggy, your DCs and your bags and then queue alone and do us all a favour!'

I dont know where the idea of martyrdom is coming from; the day I'll think martyrdom has anything to do with it is the day I see someone eating their meal standing up. And as i said, as that hasn't happened yet, I think we can safely assume people who have bought a meal do get to eat it at a table..

And walking round with your tray, huffing and puffing loudly and giving the hairy eyeball to anyone with a seat isn't martyrdom? You've all said you do it do open your mouths and speak fgs.

"you've all said you do it" ??
You must be on another thread i think.....

I am so going to watch people glaring at me while I queue with the DC's when we next go to a Cafe. Yes, they are a huge PITA in the queue but they'd be a bigger PITA at a table on their own, ie; they'd be off out the door and we'd never eat.

I don't think anyone would glare at you if you're on your own with 2 kids meglet. They would be able to see you were doing your best.

They won't mind you being in the queue with you, as long as you allow others the privilege of doing what suits them best too. In my case it will be to have the seat.

You said just now you'd be biting your tongue but wanting to tell them to do everyone a favour and get out of the queue!! Hardly live and let live eh....

The reason you haven't seen people standing around with nowhere to sit.

Is that the vast majority get a seat first.

Because its the common sense way to behave.

Why would you pay for a tray full of food and then have nowhere to sit! Sit down decide what to eat buy! Smart really surely? If restaurant is full go elsewhere.There can that be teh end of this becasue no one is going to change

Erm... If nobody is standing around eating a meal then all it proves is that everyone with a meal has got a table!

Very true Janey, now you put it so clearly.

Therefore there is no problem. People can continue as they are, the majority can continue getting seats first and people like you could save your energy and stop judging us, because, despite your lack of forethought you have still got a seat.

Fab. The end.