To not move in cafe

[InspMorse]

Cafe has only 6 other people in it, loads of free tables (Just counted 11 free tables) for 2/4 people.

I am on my own sitting at the only 'sofa table' drinking tea & MNetting. I am sitting on a 2 seat sofa & have a table and another 2 seat sofa facing me.

Family with children (around 6/7) have just come in and the mother declared loudly (loud enough for me to here) how selfish it is to hog a table for 4 when a person is on their own. She is now sitting with her family at one of the free tables but keeps looking over

They want me to move! AIBU to stay on the comfy sofa (for another 2 hours) and ignore the death stares?

Why shouldn't the OP get to sit on the nice, comfy sofas? Should she not sit there just in case someone else wants it? You can bet the next person to come in would have sat there anyway.

And there were plenty of spare tables.

Rhubarb what nonsence...Why should OP walk into an almost empty cafe and NOT sit on the sofa seats, on the off chance someone else may come in and want it.

Id start gathering all my things up as if Im looking to leave, check my watch, shake my head dramatically as is Im a very silly billy and then sit my arse right back down on the sofa and get another coffee

How rude she is! Ignore her ignorant behaviour OP. Hope you enjoyed your coffee!

I wouldn't have the nerve to sit in a café for that long using their facilities when I'd finished my coffee. I also would not take the nicest seat for 4 - the sofas and table - if I was on my own. YABVVVU

She's being rude and entitled, and for that reason I wouldn't move. Normally, though, I don't take up large areas if it's just me.

Yes this woman is plainly just after the sofa, ignore her. Mind you, maybe she doesn't have one at home so thinks they're a but if a novelty!

Leave just as she does, saying, "Ooh, those sofas are so comfy "

rhubarb and glitter - so only large groups are allowed to use the comfy sofas? Oh do bore off.

OP enjoy your downtime and ignore rude entitled idiots who think they trump you by dint of being in a group.

If there's loads of spare tables you can sit anywhere

Why is a party of 4 entitled to the sofa over a table

This may be the worst 'single people are less important than others' thread I've seen.

I would have been very chirpy and said 'oh you can share with me if you can't manage to sit at a table'

Remain

Just because some people wouldnt take a sofa doesnt mean that the OP shouldnt. Unless there is a sign saying that the sofa table is reserved for parties of 4 or more (say) then the OP can sit where the hell she likes!

Sounds like our local Costa that now only has 1 sofa and its a right scrum to get to it first when the people sitting on it move!

She sounds like the "my kids trump the whole world" type of person.

We go to a big Sainsburys cafe and there are quite a few booths but they are always already taken, sometimes by just 1 person and I hate it. But only because I have a toddler and baby with me and it means I have a bit more privacy to bf and I can also "trap" the toddler in!

However, I also know that everyone is entitled to sit where they want and pre-dc I always opted for booths for my DP and I. Never on my own though tbh.

I would say in your case though that as there are large enough tables available they are BU.

If she wanted a sofa she could come and sit on the one opposite you. Up to you then if you want to move or stay.

I wouldn't be making pa remarks, I'd just walk over and plonk my arse down on the sofa.

Phone the cafe and tell them you'll give a fiver tip to whoever brings you some cake and coffee. 😈😁

Of course the sofas are desirable - and I'm brazen enough, that if I saw you sitting there, and it was just me (you said 2 seater settees right? I'm just judging space :) ) then I would happily take my coffee and book over and sit diagonally opposite you.

I may do this if I had one child with me, but I wouldn't encroach on 'you' settee (unless the place was packed)

I have a weird set of rules in my head around this - but basically, if there's adequate space that we can both get on with our coffee without nudging each other, I think it's fair game to join a sofa seating area/end of a long table.

Adding a whole family of 4 is completely over this line, and would require you to have an area with 3 seater settees and ideally at least one armchair before I felt comfortable sharing the table.

HotelEuphoria

I didn't say I thought the OP should move, I just agreed with the woman when she said that it's rude for 1 person to take up a larger seating area.

If I walked into a café alone and there were lots of tables available, I would automatically take a 1 or 2 seater, I wouldn't take up more room because I personally think it's rude.

I realise I am in the minority on this thread but hey ho

I would wait until she looks over, make eye contact and exaggeratedly shift positions to take up as much space a possible.

Yanbu, get extra cake and do a few head tilts or hair flicks. Enjoy the comfy sofa and lounge to your content.

Enjoy your sofa! Why should you have a more uncomfortable seat just because you are on your own when there is plenty of other seating?!

Make like you're going to leave then when she jumps up to grab the sofa, sit back down again and order more tea.

I never really like the sofas. They are always quite low down and I struggle to cut my cake on the low table. Plus they can be a bit grubby.

How does she know you aren't waiting for friends? Maybe we should join you?

I wouldn't move. You were there first and sat where you wanted to sit. I could understand it if there weren't enough seats, but she's just jealous. The coffee shop may also be grateful that her brats aren't climbing all over their sofa :))

How unfair to suggest that people by themselves should never get to sit on the comfy sofa.