Business meeting in Waitrose cafe

[whoneedswings]

I'm currently sat in Waitrose cafe enjoying my free coffee with my 6 month old (I find it useful to feed him here whilst we're out shopping.) It's very busy so I've plonked myself on a chair on the edge of someone's table. Done this many times, just finding a bit awkward today as these people are discussing private financial matters and conducting some sort of meeting. They don't even have any coffee or food (so I'm not rushing them) just feel maybe it's a bit U to be continuing their business in a very small busy cafe. Or is it me?

Nowadays most cafes have free wifi for their customers.

That's because they recognise that sometimes people use them for work reasons.

I had to spend a day in London having meetings yesterday. One meeting in a cafe, one meeting over tea in a hotel, and I spent some quiet time to myself catching up on emails in another cafe.

Always bought drinks & food. Really don't see the issue here.

As for confidentiality - I could be out with a mate discussing a friend's affair and equally be overheard by someone who knows them. As with any conversation in public, you try to be discreet.

GahBuggerit, I must be very, very odd then as I would not be relaxed at all having my appraisal in a public place where nosey people like me were able to hear every word. The guidance given to people carrying out appraisals in my organisation starts by saying the appraiser should find a suitable place to hold it - private, quiet etc etc - and should not break off the meeting to answer the phone or door. That seems normal and reasonable to me. My appraisals have in fact all been very dull and a complete waste of time, if pleasant enough but if there was something that needed to be raised, how could it possibly be appropriate to do it in a public place?

The op paid for food although loads do sit with just free coffees at my local Booths and no one says anything. Sitting at the end of an already occupied table is also commonplace.
I don't think anyone is in the wrong here.

THE OP BOUGHT FOOD
why do people not read any more?

All my company work from home so when we want to meet up we do so in cafes (especially those with free wi-fi!). We always buy something to eat or drink so don't sit in there for free. It's an good space to catch up. I suppose sometimes we do discuss confidential matters but it wouldn't mean much to anyone outside our organisation.

X post spike :)

Entitled woman gatecrashes already occupied table and wants conversation to be stopped or changed.

There you go. Front pager that.

Gasp - and thats fine, and I wouldnt say you are odd at all. And its fine that your workplace has guidance specific to them, AFAIK there isn't a law that states how appraisals should be held. Some workplaces don't have guidelines, which is fine also as long as the appraiser and appraisee are comfortable with the environment they are in.

Nobody has an issue with people sitting quietly working or having a discreet chat, whether business or otherwise. My issue, such as it is, is with people talking about confidential matters audibly in public.

A few years ago a friend of mine sat on a train opposite a woman who was talking on the phone to a friend about a job she was planning to apply for. She asked her friend if she knew X, who was the consultant handling the recruitment process. 'You know who X is, she used to work at ....' and so on. When she ended her call, my friend leant across and handed her her business card. 'Hello', she said. 'I hear you're interested in the ABC job. I am X and here is my card. Do give me a ring if you are still interested.'

In real life, how many people would really be pleased to have a complete stranger plonk themselves at their table and interrupt a private conversation with a partner or friend?

It's amazing. I discover new levels of rudeness every day on this site.

I'm office based but many of my staff aren't so if I need meeting with them I will often arrange to meet at their nearest costa/starbucks/waitrose/sainsburys.

In fact had a meeting yesterday morning, I arrived brought a cappuccino and a croissant, sat waiting for my colleague. Huge queue forms, mums/childcare with huge buggies, all with at least 2 children. I was sat right near the counter as that's where the 2 seat tables are so could hear each order and not one of the 5/6 women ordered anything other than a small hot drink. They then proceeded to the comfy sofas, too k children out of buggies, gave the children cups and snacks out of their own bags.

My colleague arrived I ordered him a latte and a bacon bap. We sat and talked about what we needed to discuss, nothing private, I ordered another cappuccino (about 30 minutes after ordering my first) and an orange juice for my colleague, we left after another 10/15 minutes. so total stay 45 minutes. I then brought a couple of slices of cake for my dc for after school to take away. and left. total spend near on £15 maybe even £20 including the cakes.

The group of mums were till sat at the sofas without purchasing anymore drinks or food.

I'd say I had more 'right' to be there conducting a meeting than the large group.

The meeting could have already brought 2/3 hot drinks and a sandwich each and just be finishing up the conversation. whereas you have a free hot drink and a paid for snack.

That's brilliant Gasp! 😄 Did she ever get a job with 'X'? Good job she wasn't slating her! 😄

Exactly Gasp. I don't expect people to 'sit in silence' but it would be nice if some people talked only to the people they are with instead of talking at a volume that is audible across half the room.

And yes, on the few occasions that I travel by train, I am astonished by the amount of business conducted there.

If they aren't complaining or preventing you from sitting down I think it's their business whether they think it's appt to discuss such matters or not!

I was all with you as they shouldn't speak about confidential matters until you said "I guess the point is more that the cafe is busy and they're taking away seats from other customers?" but are you not doing the same thing with your free coffee? You are not buying anything either

I wish people would read the OPs posts properly.

SHE PAID FOR FOOD AS WELL AS CLAIMING HER FREE COFFEE.

SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD SIT AT THE END OF THEIR TABLE (NOT IN THE MIDDLE!)

I think it's strange to have a proper meeting in a cafe especially if discussing private or controversial information. Having lunch or coffee whilst chatting generally about work is one thing - doing an appraisal or discussing the nuances of an individual's tax liability (for example) is another!

Jesus people find the weirdest things to get annoyed about don't they

every day there is a new gem!!!!!

I bet they paid too unlike you

It was ages ago, PovertyPain, and I'm afraid I can't remember the outcome. I had the impression at the time that the applicant had not been entirely complimentary about X - more fool her, if so! X does not miss a trick.

Was this in that London? People don't plonk themselves on other people's tables round here, especially not in Waitrose .

Joking aside (and I AM joking), it all sounds fine to me - apart from OP not asking "do you mind if I sit here?" as the table was already partly occupied.

Nothing to get anyone's knickers in a knot about.

She bought food. Not sure how many different ways I can say this.

and she did ask

I don't see any difference between business people buying minimal food/drink and taking over a table for ages and a group of mums with babies buying minimal food/drink and taking over a table for ages.

A cafe near here is quite open that their "2 buggies at a time" rule is to do with not being taken over by an impromptu toddler/baby group as it is fire regs. Ever since the council stopped offering a free let to the toddler group they just take over various cafes.

The only time it's out of order is when they are discussing confidential stuff. I ended up saying something to two social workers last week. Sitting in a cafe two minutes from a school discussing a child with a distinctive name and his (and his mother's) issues is completely out of order.

Just to echo Sidge (although we are wasting our time as people are replying to the OP and not considering that somewhere in the 120 posts on this thread someone else might have made their point already or the OP might have updated/added info ):

THE OP PAID FOR FOOD AS WELL AS CLAIMING A FREE DRINK

THE BUSINESS PEOPLE HAD NO FOOD OR DRINKS ON THE TABLE IN FRONT OF THEM BY THE TIME SHE SAT DOWN SO SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THEIR WAY OR PAYING FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF DRINKS

THE OP ASKED IF SHE COULD SIT DOWN THERE AND THEY SAID YES - THERE WAS NOWHERE ELSE FOR HER TO SIT

THE OP DID NOT JOIN IN THEIR CONVERSATION

Stealth did she Good?