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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that my local cafe is a bit of a joke

76 replies

FlowersAndShit · 20/03/2016 08:43

I've been wanting to go to my local cafe for months - but whenever I walk past it's always full of huns and 4x4 pushchairs. It's a small place with about 10 tables, it's closed every Tuesday and now and again they will close it for private functions.

I just want to try their amazing looking cake and have a coffee with my mum, but I have to book a table, even at non peak times. Their Facebook page is full of comments from friends of the owner asking for the owner to 'save me a table hun' and 'save me a slice of that galaxy cake hun' so that ordinary customers rarely get a look in.

AIBU?

OP posts:
NoahVale · 20/03/2016 08:44

get there earlier

OTheHugeManatee · 20/03/2016 08:45

Get the cake takeaway?

PotteringAlong · 20/03/2016 08:45

Book a table then

NoahVale · 20/03/2016 08:45

full of huns with 4 by 4 pushchairs

slightly derogatory terms there op.

just get there earlier than the other customers.

PotteringAlong · 20/03/2016 08:46

And if it's doing so well that you have to book a table even and non-peak times then it's definitely not a joke; it's doing something very very well.

SaucyJack · 20/03/2016 08:47

What it is that's really bothering you about the situation that has stopped you from simply booking a table?

GloGirl · 20/03/2016 08:47

The hun's that go there all the time will bring in more money than you who just wants to try a piece of cake one time

Get one for a takeout. .

PoppieD · 20/03/2016 08:47

Sorry but this title cheered me up on a rubbish day! 'Hun' has totally different meaning up here in Scotland (daft football related!) agree get there earlier!

NewNameNotTheSame · 20/03/2016 08:47

Add them on Facebook and ask them to save you a seat? Confused sounds awful, Clique Cafe, no ta.

Newes · 20/03/2016 08:49

Just book a table. We have a cafe like that, it's very popular and booking is more or less essential most days of the week. They also seem to close at short notice but it's one person plus a relative running it so that can be affected by illness etc. Think she makes a fair amount from catering for outside customers (it's a gluten free cafe) so fair enough if the cafe bit takes a back seat as the food is divine, if you can get in to eat it.

PetShopGirl · 20/03/2016 08:51

It feels like you're cutting off your nose to spite your face a bit here. Just book a table and try the cake. Hopefully, and as is so often the case with cake, it won't be as good as it looks and you can forget all about it and move on.

BlueMoonRising · 20/03/2016 08:52

Any business would be daft to not look after their regular customers in favour of someone that hasn't been a customer at all. And you can book a table, so you can go there should you want to.

YABU.

Newes · 20/03/2016 08:56

I also love ours a little bit for the passive aggressive posts she will put on FB if she has an awkward customer. The Huns rally round and soothe her. Grin

curren · 20/03/2016 09:00

So cafe looks after regular customers.

You don't want to book a table but getting eh annoyed other people get their first.

They have a successful business. The word being business. They aren't there to fair and make sure everyone has a fair shot at the tables. They won't turn people away because they have already been in that week.

OohMavis · 20/03/2016 09:06

I've never heard of booking tables within a cafe Confused

How busy are they?!

chillycurtains · 20/03/2016 09:07

Probably not the only cafe around. Why not just find a better one?

Original poster
FlowersAndShit · 20/03/2016 09:08

Getting there earlier won't make a difference. I don't know anyone who plans a trip to a local cafe for coffee and cake in advance - I just can't be bothered unless i'm booking a meal.

The regular customers are just friends and family of the owner, local customers don't get much of a look in. I think they need to expand their premises to cater to a wider pool of people, which will get them more custom from different people.

OP posts:
SanityClause · 20/03/2016 09:08

Sounds like there's room for another cafe, nearby.

A business opportunity, perhaps?

ctjoy103 · 20/03/2016 09:09

I think they need to expand their premises to cater to a wider pool of people, which will get them more custom from different people.

Have you offered them your suggestion?

curren · 20/03/2016 09:11

They don't need to expand their customer base because it's full.

If the regulars stop going so regularly other people will fill their place as it's known as somewhere that busy and popular.

These friend will be spending money and clearly do plan to go.

You know who are their personal friends so know the owners personally. Is this the issue. You don't like them.

If you want to go down where that is hard to get into, you have to plan. I like one hotel in London. If we plan far in advance to go we can get in. If it's a last minute decision they are usually and I have to stay somewhere else.

I don't begrudge them have a successful business.

I can believe you expect them to turn people away, who go a lot, just in case someone else turns up.

ArgyMargy · 20/03/2016 09:12

Book a table for coffee & cake? How odd. I don't think this is a great business model - how long do you let customers stay with a coffee before rebooking that table? Sounds bonkers.

ArgyMargy · 20/03/2016 09:12

I'd be tempted to book a table then stay for 3 hours with my coffee & cake...

MrsWooster · 20/03/2016 09:13

Why would you want to go to a cliquey (quiche?) cafe? Bake a cake at home and eat it on a table outside your house with your nice friends...

Penfold007 · 20/03/2016 09:19

Your local cafe is frequented by nomadic herdsmen? How exotic

MardyGrave · 20/03/2016 09:21

This is one of the most self indulgent whinges I've heard in some time.

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