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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To save a table for my friends at the pub?

46 replies

Cuppaand2biscuits · 30/10/2016 20:55

Last night we went to a children's Halloween party at a local pub. I had arranged to meet several friends there so I made sure I got there early to claim us a table. While waiting for my friends to arrive several people tried to sit down with us and I asked them not to because I was waiting for my friends to join me.
People were not at all.happy with me and even one of the friends I saved a seat for said it was selfish as it should be first come first served.
AIBU?

OP posts:

llangennith · 30/10/2016 21:12

Normal to save a table. YANBU.

icelollycraving · 30/10/2016 21:17

I think for 15 mins that's ok but I probably would have got a round of drinks around the table.

SerendipityPhenomenon · 30/10/2016 21:18

This is essentially no different from reserving a table in a busy restaurant: of necessity it will be empty till you get there, but no-one would ever suggest it was the wrong thing to do.

Lelloteddy · 30/10/2016 21:20

For that type of event YABU.

Starlight2345 · 30/10/2016 21:24

YANBU...

I went to soft play last week..3 friends meeting with children.. I was second...First got table and saved table for all of us..

I would of put my coats on other seats though.

EweAreHere · 30/10/2016 21:26

You were not being unreasonable. No different than going to a pub for a quiz night and saving a table for your team. Everyone is doing the same thing.

TattyDevine · 30/10/2016 21:31

I think if your friends were in the queue that's fine, and in real life most people would agree, generally. You shouldn't lose your seat if you go to the loo, it's barely any different, apart from lack of coats/half empty glasses/vape sticks etc

Original poster

Cuppaand2biscuits · 30/10/2016 21:31

I didn't have any coats as it's really mild and I knew pub would get busy and hot.
I didn't buy a round as we're fairly rural so.people would be driving but you never know which half of the couple is drinking and which half is driving!
I'm surprised at how many people would just sit down without even asking if the seats were taken. As if I'd go along to that sort of thing by myself with 2 kids.

OP posts:

RufusTheSpartacusReindeer · 30/10/2016 21:35

I dont think you were being unreasonable

2kids2dogsnosense · 30/10/2016 21:41

YABU - you should at least get a round in and put them in front of the seats.

BarInSpace · 30/10/2016 21:43

YABU. If you wanted a group table you should have all arrived early at the same time and gone in together.

usual · 30/10/2016 21:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WeAllHaveWings · 30/10/2016 21:49

Depends on how busy it was, if there were no other seats then its first come first served. Your friends should have got there earlier.

ilovesooty · 30/10/2016 21:51

It's not beyond the bounds of credibility that you could have gone alone with your two children.

xvxvxvxvxvxvxvxv · 30/10/2016 21:55

Did your friend you saved a seat for and told you it was selfish refuse to sit down then?

user1477282676 · 30/10/2016 22:06

It was fine to do that imo.

Original poster

Cuppaand2biscuits · 30/10/2016 22:06

No she bloody didn't! I said I was feeling a bit shakey after having to ask people not to sit down and that I was ready for a glass of wine. Then my friend said it was selfish of me.

OP posts:

HeddaGarbled · 30/10/2016 22:15

Who on earth organises a children's Halloween party in a pub, let alone a pub with inadequate seating for the numbers? It sounds like hell. I don't blame you for getting there early to bag a table but I also don't blame other people for being annoyed that they couldn't get a seat. No one was being unreasonable except the organisers.

user1477282676 · 30/10/2016 22:18

I agree...a pub is no place for a children's Halloween party. It's just the owners trying to make a fast buck out of the celebration.

OliviaStabler · 30/10/2016 22:22

YANBU

SerendipityPhenomenon · 31/10/2016 08:30

Saving 1 or 2 seats is fine but it's pretty ridiculous for any more, especially when the place is busy

But how could that possibly work? By definition groups meeting in a restaurant or pub virtually never arrive all at the same time. So Person A from a group of four arrives but is only allowed to save two seats. Then Person B from a group of six arrives and saves two more seats at the same table. Then Person C from the first group arrives and saves two more seats. Then Person D from a group of eight arrives and saves the last two. What on earth would be the point? How are they going to interact with all their friends?

We don't question reserved tables in busy restaurants. Why is it any different if someone reserves a table by turning up and taking it, especially when their friends are outside in the queue?

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