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?

Did you ask if you could sit at their table?

I've overheard someone getting a verbal warning in Costa Coffee before; I'm not entirely sure what the company was and what they did, but it was due to non-attendance for their shifts (they never let their employers know).

Most M&S cafés have signs up saying not to get a table until you have your drink etc, so you can't bagsy a table and then get food. So the onus is on people to share if needs be. I normally plonk a child or parent at a suitable table then queue.

OP YABU. Gatecrash someone else's table then moan about what they are discussing? Rude!

Where I work we often head out to the cafe for small meetings or supervision because of lack of space and as a charity we can't afford to be hiring rooms. Sometimes, gasp, we finish our drink and they are cleared away ... then we get another!!

I hope you asked if they minded because I would have minded very much!

We don't all work in offices, I just had a meeting in a bar in London, Flexible working means that meetings take place in loads of different places, its really the same as meeting for a chat.

I avoid Starbucks and Costa as they are normally too loud.
Wetherspoons are ideal as no music. I have used Waitrose cafes too.

I agree with others in that maybe they had finished and the table cleared before you got there? or maybe they work for Waitrose and used the space? Or maybe they hadn't got around to ordering, either way as long as the staff are not bothered then let them crack on with it?

Where I am Starbucks is frequently used for business meetings. I had a client who used to regularly meet me at Starbucks. I knew quite a few people who work from home and they wouldn't be comfortable meeting a potential client (a complete stranger) in their home on their own.

Cactus, the op has said she asked and they didn't mind. It may have been mentioned before. BTW you might want to cancel the cheque.

It'd have to be Waitrose. It wouldn't be Asda or Tescos.

A cafe is a public space. Any empty seat in a packed cafe is fair game.

Want a private meeting? Don't hold it in a supermarket cafe.

at offices being where you work. Most offices are hot desk, meeting rooms have to be booked 3 month ahead , or you may be "agile working" and actually have no desk or office at all. I've lost count of the short meetings I've had in cafes last year. I do always buy a coffee though.

Sorry but I think it's perfectly ok to share tables in a busy daytime cafe (you don't buy the table as well as your drink) on the proviso that:
(a) you act properly British and basically act like the other people aren't there at all, especially don't let your eyes meet after the initial 'do you mind if I sit here?' To which the only acceptable answer is 'of course' or 'I'm sorry that seat is taken' (though secret ear-wiggling is definitely allowed )
(b) you don't try and join in the conversation
(c) you don't help yourself to a piece of their kit Kat
(d) you don't allow your toddler to smear their snack all over the other people's clothes, papers etc.
A lot of cafes wouldn't keep going if all the customers would only buy there if there was a spare table.

Its fine to hold your meeting in a cafe. Just don't think your meeting takes priority over any one else who also wants to use the cafe.

highalert At no point did the people having the meeting ask for privacy or for OP to move or to not sit with them.

OP felt uncomfortable and wanted the table to change their conversation in her honour.

Lol at demanding
scintillating conversation while drinking a free coffee! DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM????

thebogqueen I'm still laughing at that!

Could they be Waitrose staff observing how the cafe is managed ?

OP felt uncomfortable and wanted the table to change their conversation in her honour

Where did you get that from? OP has been perfectly polite in posing her conundrum. She asked if she could sit (although many people clearly haven't actually read the thread, so have missed this point . . . . . over and over again). OP didn't want the other table occupants to change their conversation in her honour at all - she has simply posed the question, very nicely, if it is wise for business people to conduct their business in a supermarket café.

I was in a pub the other week and there were two blokes at a table interviewing a woman for a job as a manager - most entertaining for me. She was great really experienced and told them she'd been offered anither job on the Friday but was holding out for this one. The blokes seemed to really like her.

Then I had to nip to the loo and when I came back they were all gone and DP was a bit rubbish and hadn't heard the outcome.

I did wonder for five minutes whether it was quite professional to interview someone in a pub. The set up was like two men behind a desk and her sitting on the chair opposite, quite formal.
Then I thought sod it, this is brilliant.

Could they be Waitrose staff observing how the cafe is managed

Shouldn't they then be in disguise (or at least, pretend to be in cognito)? False moustaches, or red carnations in lapels and carrying the free Waitrose newspaper?

Forgot to say, this wasn't a job at the pub and the two blokes didn't work there - it was to manage an entirely unrelated business.

Their conversation is really none of your business.

Their conversation is really none of your business Au contraire I want to know exactly what they said.

Yabu

i think what were all basically saying is...........we really need a sketch of the seating arrangements.....

YANVVU. Get a grip. And you joined them! Grow up and life in the real world. Oh and my business meeting in Costa was fine. Who were you listening to them anyway?

Sorry everyone been a busy day! Wow! Taken on a life of its own this discussion, and I think some of you were reading a different thread. Thanks to those of you who actually read my posts anyway I'm not going to re-start the bun fight (just to confirm I had bought food and asked permission to sit down in pretty much the only spare chair in the cafe.)

For those who are curious it turned out not to be a 'business' business meeting (they had papers all over table which had given me that idea. The gentleman was a client and the lady some sort of financial advisor. They were discussing his late mothers financial matters, shares, savings etc. I pulled my chair as far away as possible whilst still being able to reach my coffee and kept my nose in my phone or looking at my son, but it was hard not to hear. Although he was very polite to me I do think the poor chap was a bit embarrassed, maybe they should of chosen a less busy cafe they were obviously in there for the long haul, I only stayed about 20 mins.