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

I was simply clarifying felicity as there was a distinct lack of common sense being applied! When I asked what singletons do of they find themselves completely unable to sit down after buying their food, someone said that they should have used their 'common sense' and gone elsewhere if it was busy. Yet these are the same people who tell us you bag a table first... So how on earth do you apply 'common sense' if the queuing person doesn't know how many tables will be bagged since she enters the cafe. Telepathy maybe- but nothing to do with common sense.

Anyway- exotic has now established that of course, in the event of someone having bought their food and not having a table, a table bagger would politely give up their seat. Obviously although the majority of people have got their table first, they can't all have a companion just about to pay at the till - some will have just joined the queue, hence they would move.

So- no one left standing to eat their meal. Sorted.

(though I'm sure you'll be back to have the last word or three )

Exactly Vivien. If it was waitress service, you would be sitting at a table with no food, waiting for your meal but not having paid for it or eaten it. Would you then move if someone else came in off the street and saw you were not eating yet? No.

Good post Felicity, well put. The Queue Hoggers are now inventing obscure conditions in order to get angry about nothing whilst their arguments die on their arse.

Food is not always ready immediately so there will often be an element of waiting whether self service, or waitress.

Often with self service if you are ordering something that needs heating up, they ask where you are sitting so they can bring it over. Do you say "we intend to wander about looking for seats and haven't sat down yet" or do you point to your table and say "we are sitting over there".

It's just mad not to get seated first and I don't know anybody who doesn't do it. It's nothing to do with being selfish and everything to do with being practical.

Thanks youold

What should I do? I have two small DC, one in buggy and a walker but neither has sense to be abandoned at a table. So if we are out I must buy food and then get a table. So hoggers mean I can't sit and feed them. Alternately they have the joy of my own personal crazy when I plonk myself at the table they shouldn't be at anyway.

Oh ffs, wish I'd never got in to this..

Maria, honestly? In your shoes? I'd only be going to quiet restaurants as I have no idea how I would manage. Perhaps ask the staff if you are stuck? Surely to goodness some kind soul would get up and give you their table, or hurry themselves along to finish eating for you (I would).

But this could go on forever like this...

Imagine, I have 14 children and my husband has gone to work 200 miles away and I'm locked out of the house. I must feed them all as 7 of them have a swimming competition in two hours times and 2 of them are dairy intolerant. Oh and one has a doctors appointment in 30 minutes but the restaurant is really busy, how would I be accommodated?

There's your answer Maria- just bugger off somewhere else with your walked and 2 kids. How dare you feel entitled to get a meal and a table!

(all expressed with great warmth and consideration of course cos the table hoggers are all nice and fluffy )

walker

I think I'm pretty normal actually and most mothers have been in this position. I'm not suggesting my leg fell off as I was served or something similarly lacking in feasibility which you appear to be indicating

So you suggest that if someone has a couple of kids they don't go anywhere that might be busy? And if they do they beg staff or other diners for assistance? Nope. Not planning either of those and shouldn't need to if people are vaguely mannerly.

Yes Janey because I am a monster. A selfish rude entitled monster.

In your world what should she do? Would you reccomend she joins a massive queue in her circumstance? in a quiet restaurant it obviously doesn't make a difference

when out on my own or in a small group I wouldn't bother with the hassle of a really really full restaurant this is not a double standard

A queue may not be big when someone enters, but the cafe could still fill up because as you keep telling us, people come in and get the table first

I am a single mother yet have still managed to ever be in a postion where we couldn't get a seat? Perhaps I am going to the wrong places but surely its just sensible to plan ahead. If I know we are going to be getting food/drink when out then I avoid busy times, we will go for lunch at 11.30 rather than waiting til everywhere fills up at 12.

Threads like this seem like some people like to play the martyr rather than applying a little bit of thought as to the best way to work things for them.

Anyway Maria - you're absolutely right- just sit at their table and get the kids to behave in a way that might make them regret it

Thank you Sirzy, your answer was loads better than mine and makes more sense.

You work around it.

Janey, where are these deserted restaurants that suddenly have a flood of people rushing in behind single mothers. It's another invented scenario.

So you suggest that if someone has a couple of kids they don't go anywhere that might be busy?

You are attributing a lot of problems as being the fault of queue hoggers, when really I don't go anywhere busy when alone with 2 kids as it's too stressy. My personal choice.

It's not because people have chosen to sit before queuing, it's because lots of people have chosen to eat there. It will be busy whether people are in the queue or sitting down. It's not busy because of table hoggers, it's busy because it's popular!

Don't start blaming table hoggers for everything!

If you grab a table first, you are selfish but if you queue first, you are a martyr. As for me, these days, I grab a table due to my disability so not sure which category I'd place myself in. In the old days of good health, I'd flit between table hogging and standing in the queue giving evils to the table hoggers depending on my mood at the time.