Re:Sitting on spare seats at an occupied table in a cafe

[Bahhhhhumbug]

Just asking your thoughts really. DD and I were in a small licensed cafe in a local town during the day recently. It is a bit of a 'lovey' type place with lots of showbiz people etc. without outing where I live. The café is quite cramped with lots of little tables seating no more than four people each and that's at a push really.
It is very popular and DD and I got the last available table (the least popular right in front of the door , so draughty) We then observed several couples standing in the doorway yeah thanks for that looking around to establish there were no empty tables and one older couple on being told by the waiter very apologetically that there were no tables and he didn't know how long and would they like to sit at a table outside (fairly decent day) and have a coffee or something till one became available.
But no they decided to stand there in the doorway and gawp round the room assessing how far on everyone was with their meal/drink, including pointing when someone made any sort of move to go to the toilet or whatever. They seemed to be discussing a lady sat in a corner at a table alone reading a paper whilst having her drink /food and the fact she was sat on her own with 'three empty seats' but then decided against it and left.
They came back again five minutes or so later and did the same causing a draught routine again and were again politely told there were still no tables but insisted on waiting again in the doorway. After a few minutes they went over to the lady in the corner and I heard the man say 'Can we sit here , or are you one of these people funny about sharing a table?' They said this as they were pulling the chairs out obviously going for it whatever her response. I think she was too gobsmacked to say anything tbh but didn't seem happy and left soon after.
My DD and I were both a bit and said we would never intrude on someones quiet time in this way unless it was a long table meant for more than one group and even then would sit at far end. Obviously the water/proprietor didn't want them too as he repeatedly told them 'sorry no tables'. So what do you all think ? We felt it was quiet intrusive and that many people go into a café to have a quiet chill on their own or a private conversation with a friend/family member , not to socialise with strangers (they had proceeded to make small talk with her btw , resulting in her closing her book.)

There was a table outside that they could have sat at while waiting.

I wonder whether they would have tried their tactics on a lone young man?

Youre v clear this couple had no rights,but clear on your right to privacy,non intrusion.curious
Family run,is immaterial.they were served as patrons,so they were there legitimately
Youre v preoccupied by your need fir privacy,solo table in a cramped space

I'm not saying she was, Evans, but I have seen it happen plenty of times and I find it annoying. Infact I find the whole bloody politics of cafes annoying so I hardly venture in!

The cafe were at fault here too. They should not allow customers to stand in a door propped ajar allowing a draught to annoy other customers, or people to force themselves on tables where other customers are already eating. Their obligation is to the people who have already paid for their services, not to potential customers.

scottishmummy they were asked to wait by the waiter. They seemingly chose to ignore that request,

Scottishmymummy this couple had not purchased food or been served as customers; they had enquired as to getting a table and been told none was free.

Agreed, Summerbreezing

Having asked the couple to wait, the waiter shouldn't have allowed them to impose on customers who'd already taken their seats.

They were asked wait by the staff they were told that the cafe was full but they ignored that and did what they wanted regardless. Still think they were rude IMO

Cafe took their money as patron,they obviously then going to locate a seat
No i wouldn't stand about waiting if i could share a table,they were legitimately seeking table
Op is acting as if she entitled to privacy in a public domain.she isnt

It doesn't say that they'd handed over any money prior to pushing their way on to the lady's table.

I don't think Bah was that worried about her own privacy, just the draught from the door being wide open while the gawpers deliberated over which personal space to invade.

The gawpers were wrong to ignore the waiter.
The waiter was wrong to let them.

I think the way they went about it was rude but I don't think that asking to share a table is rude at all. I have no more right to be there than anyone else and I don't think two people chatting to each other at the same table is any more of a disturbance to me than people talking at the next table.

If I didn't want to chat to them I would busy myself with my book or.my phone but I'm usually happy to chat form the small part of my life I'm sitting having a bite to eat or a coffee somewhere.

Exactly ilovesooty.

No one is disagreeing with whether they were paying patrons in a public area. It's about their lack of manners in taking seats at a table already occupied.

It wasn't her sole table,despite her preference.couple did nothing wrong

The didn't take their money. They politely explained that there were no tables available. The couple then stood in the doorway, causing a draught, and avidly watching other customers for signs of movement. Then just barged up to a woman eating her meal and forced their company on her.

Table had room to accommodate them,so what

Yes, they did, ScottishMummy. They knowingly entered a "Wait to be Seated" establishment, and ignored the rules. They had not paid any money for anything, they had no right to invade this lady's space. She had already paid her money and was entitled to the table. This appears not to be a "free-for-all" establishment where you sit wherever you find a spot

Yes very clear on that scottishmummy - the couple had no rights to a table in a café where there were no free ones and they had been told by the waiter that there were none. In fact they had no rights at all until they were sat at a table by the waiter but they decided to take the law into their own hands on that one and 'source' their own seats as you put it.

So basically they ignored the owners policy of the door being kept shut between people coming in and out and also the seating arrangements (i.e waiting for the waiter to take you to an empty table ) both against the owners way of doing things.

They had been told there was no table available. This cafe obviously operates on the basis that customers seated at a table are entitled to privacy. They don't accept other customers if a table isn't free. So this customer were rude shits. They ignored cafe policy and just barged in.

The way they secured the table was obviously designed to intimidate.

I doubt they'd have tried it with someone less vulnerable to that forceful approach.

A polite query re sharing a table is one thing, but ignoring the waiter's request and trying to make the woman uncomfortable is another matter.

Precisely, Sooty

yanbu, they were very rude. I've been happy to share my table the few times I've been asked but people have always been very polite about it. I don't see anything wrong with a polite request but forcing yourself on people like they did is intrusive.

I'd like to see them try it in a restaurant on valentines day with a couple having a meal.

There's a big difference between politely asking to share a table in Costa and ignoring the procedures in a waiter service establishment.

They were very rude. Saying that though I have offered to share a table with someone in a cafe but they had already bought there food and there was nowhere to sit.