Today I experiencing the coffee shop dilemma which is always discussed on here

[sharonthewaspandthewineywall]

Went to costa. In the queue on my own. Looking around, several free tables, other parties join queue and one member grabs table. As I'd paid for my drink the one vacant table I was banking on was swiped by someone who's friend was at the back of the queue.
Man I was pissed off. And the first thing I thought of was this place!

Oh MsHighwater that did make me laugh. This is such a first world problem, isn't it?

You're preventing yourself from being able to consume what you've bought, because you don't have the common sense to ensure you have somewhere to consume it...it's that simple.

You can get as annoyed as you like with those who have the intelligence to ensure they have a table before they buy, but surely you can laugh about it, no?

Next time you want a Maccy Dees and the place is busy, try asking someone sitting alone at a table if they wouldn't mind keeping the other seat free without having to trust their carrier bag honesty?

G'wan I'm sure it will be uplifting

When I am on my own in a coffee shop I put my cardigan (I usually wear one under my coat) & scarf on the chair of the table I want to sit at; and put my magazine on the table.

So then no-one nicks my table and I always get a place to sit.

I will never forget though, I was at one coffee shop where a young family were seated - and this very elderly lady who clearly had dementia plonked herself down among them and proceeded to have her cup of tea with them.
There were 2 spare tables in the café!

It was quite funny, luckily the family were nice enough to tolerate the lady.

Latara on a scale of 1 to 'Absolutely never', how many cardigans have you had stolen by big time criminals who hang around coffee shops in the hope they can add to their woolly haul?

Ok will remember to move cardigans if I find them unattended. Thanks for tip.

As a sole person, it's never been a problem. I put something on a spare table or just walk to the next door cafe which is less busy. As a sole person you can improvised and do what you want. It aint rocket sience

This is actually a question over which I have had my mind changed by the wisdom of mumsnet (though not my actions!)

I used to think it was logical and sensible to have one person in the queue and the rest finding a table.

The I read the following argument:
Take a busy café like costa - at peak times you might be queuing for 15 minutes. If all tables have got baggers on them it means each table is only being recycled about every 40-45 minutes instead of every 25-30 minutes. This makes a huge difference to the number of tables available. So if nobody bagged tables then it is likely that there would always be tables coming available because people would naturally be finishing as other wanted to sit, rather than waiting to start as others wanted to sit.

BUT

1. I think this would necessitate a waiting area because a) large parties couldn't all fit in the queue and b) some people can't stand that long. And a waiting pen would be ridiculous!

2. It is the social and accepted norm to bag tables. So I'm not going to be a martyr and stop doing it when everyone else still does it.

In summary - I agree entirely that table bagging being wrong but feel that café culture in this country is founded on the principle and that it can't be changed.

Exactly bambini, much easier to improvise/ wait with a tray/ switch and ask for takeaway if on own. My pet hate is the people who sit on all the big comfy seats for what seems like ages nursing one drink, if any, and a laptop or just hanging out. But it is up to the cafe starbucks to sort that out really.

We always save the table, its the only practical option as there are 5 of us (3 young/youngish dc, partner with not v obvious disability). We would hurry and leave if people were waiting.

Worra, I am grateful for every day in which I have nothing more weighty to concern myself with, it's true. All the same as a person to whom the interests of other people matter a bit (as opposed to not giving a shit about anyone but me and mine), it's one thing that I do because it's the right thing to do. I rarely go to cafes alone now but, on principle, I will not bag a table, because it is rude, selfish and is only made to seem necessary by the rudeness of other people.

On a similar principle, I don't abandon my shopping trolley in the parking space, either.

And good on ya MsHighwater, this country needs more people like you

Actually I think its rude to be so judgmental and martyrish.

But Worra still gets to enjoy her coffee and a comfy seat whilst you fume indignantly juggling your coffee and muffin whilst getting in everyone's way.

I don't live in the UK so i'm a bit lost with all this queuing. Where are the waiters in these cafes and why aren't they taking your order (after you've found a seat you like)?

Dutch

aaww, what a lovely image you have in mind!

but no, no waiters.
have you seen "You've Got Mail"? Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan both walk into the same Starbucks (first 5 mins of film) and order a coffee. that's the one.

you queue up, like in McDonald's or on a ferry or whatever, then go and sit down. if you can
It's a cold, hard, dog eat dog world

i'll shuffle back into my bubble of naivete then!

I too have never encountered this problem in real life.

The times have I have been alone with my food/drink and nowhere to sit I have asked someone with a spare seat at their table if I could have it.

I am 38 and have traveled the world, alone for much of it and this has never ever been a problem.

Only on MN.

worra I have never had a cardigan or a coat stolen yet, maybe if I had a really expensive designer coat it would get stolen but I don't.

and I go to cafes in the local criminals' favourite area of town.

However I will have to watch out for heycarrot obviously! :)

One queues and the other gets a table, I've never seen anything else.

Also, if I have lots of bags I dump them down at a table first, how else can I collect my order?

Ah but Still the debate is what do you do if you're at a café alone.

Personally I save a table first after having problems when I haven't done so. I put my coat or cardigan & scarf down & maybe my magazine or other shopping too. Any real valuables I keep with me.
Some people are worrying that their coats will get stolen but I think unless you wear a really expensive coat it doesn't happen.

Still nab a table first.

Glad there was no drama. There never is. Just a MN's problem.

I always sit at a table whilst my friends or family queue. I have fibomialgia and spinal problems. If I'm in a coffee shop its because i need to sit down and i can't stand up.
If someone came and said i was rude for not queuing you'd certainly hear from my family or

This only pisses me off when i am with ds, who is in a buggy and would scream the place down if i left him at a table whilst i queued.

After the last thread like this, i decided to take the bold move and become a bagger, and, as suggested, put my coat on a chair.

Someone moved it, and sat down at my bagged table. Arse.