I work in a pub/restaurant/hotel. Today we had an informal booking for 20-40 people for a post-wedding gathering, drinks only. Between 11am and 3pm 45 people arrived and all wanted to order food, contrary to the booking. Not a problem, we'd normally have arranged for an extra staff member to help out for that number but we did our best and served them all.
Food service stops at 3 and doesn't begin again until 6.30 (same staff, split shifts, we haven't the capacity to serve all day) as advertised on menus, outside boards etc. I stated many times to the group that last orders had to be in by 3pm and that we were now running short of many items.
At 3.45 another group of people arrived and enquired about food. I apologised and said that we'd finished serving at 3 and jokily added that we'd been eaten out of house and home. They ordered drinks and headed outside with the rest of the group.
On going out to collect glasses I find that they've put together all of the outside tables and have a spread of sandwiches going on - six or seven plus snacks, coffee etc. I try to point out as politely as I could that they are not permitted to eat 'outside food' in the garden. They argue that we are no longer serving food so what else are they to do?
There's not much I can answer to that except to in my head consider that they've had five hours in which to order food, have been made aware at several points what time service finishes and I know from previous experience that I will be collecting up all of their rubbish when I return from my hour's break. There are plenty of parks and green spaces in which they could eat - the bakery they bought them from has benches and tables outside.
So am I (or rather the hotel, it's the manager's rule) being unreasonable to ask people not to bring in their own food when we are not serving any ourselves? I am a bit narked that they totally ignored me and carried on eating but don't know if it's because it's a bloody stupid request.