The state people leave cafes in is disgusting

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

I'm not exactly the 'I take my own mop and bucket everywhere' type but short of some dire emergency requiring a quick getaway I couldn't walk out of a cafe leaving it in this state. Surely it is done thing to make at least a token effort to clean and clear up after yourself?

Short of a life and death emergency there’s no need to leave a cafe like that

That's not very nice. I always clean up after my toddler when we eat out. I am often "told off" in my local (very friendly) cafe and told to leave it, but I couldn't. I hate it when other parents I am with don't tidy up. My NCT group was dreadful for it, made me cringe with embarrassment. It doesn't take more than a minute to scoop up the bits with a baby wipe!

I don't mind clearing up after children, especially the younger ones. But it never fails to amaze me how adults seem to miss their mouth regularly! The most annoying thing though is serviettes, wet wipes, tissues and packets crumpled up and shoved in cups and glasses. I get that it's usually someone's way of tidying the table up, but I have to fish them out of the cup/glass that's often got the remnants of whatever drink left in it too. Much easier and cleaner if it's just left on the table really.

When I was cabin crew, one entitled woman and her family left such a mess on a short Geneva flight. Crisps crushed into the floor, ripped up papers, used tissues and wet wipes and a dirty nappy stuffed into the seat pocket!

She kind of sneered at me and said “oops, we have left soooo much mess for you to clean up!” I replied with “it’s the cleaners who you have to apologise to” which she seemed to take umbrage with and made a complaint to customer services that I was rude to her.

Totally agree. I lost major respect for two people in my NCT group who left a floor like that in a cafe during the early weaning phase where everything goes on the floor! Myself and another of the group had a quick clean when they left because we were embarrassed! I think you have to at least make a token effort to pick up the big pieces.

I’m heavily pregnant and have a toddler who will easily make a mess like this. I will always tidy up afterwards - including being on my hands and knees on the floor picking up stuff. But without fail I’ll be told to stop by the staff and whoever else is around. I always end up feeling a bit stupid for making the effort this thread makes me feel better and I’m going to keep doing it!

I could never leave a mess like that! I used to tidy up as much as I could when my children were younger, and now that they're a little older I make sure they help clear up if they make any mess.

My Mum runs a cafe and is regularly shocked by the mess left by some people- and it's not always those with children! She never expects people to leave the table spotless but really appreciates it if they at least try to pick bits up from the floor etc.

Having worked as a waitress for a good 3 years, albeit a long time ago, lots of people leave mess like that.

Also have you seen a cinema floor when the lights go on? Popcorn and wrappers everywhere.

I really don’t like the attitude of thinking it’s the staff’s job to clean up. It’s lazy. And disrespectful. Almost feels deliberate.

Dirty beggars

Can't stand dirty slobs

I spent some weeks one University vacation working at a cafe in London Zoo. The boss told me that the humans were the filthiest beasts in the place and she was not wrong.

I suspect some people assume that it's the staff's job to clear up The assumption being that that's what they're paid for

YANBU. Obviously toddlers make a mess and parents are tired and stressed, but it's picking up a bit of food! DP and I do our best to clean up after DD. We also apologise to the staff and leave a bigger tip than normal for them having to deal with what's left.

I used to work in a cafe and then a pub and you see that all the time. What always Annoyed Me was when youve been really busy, just getting tidied back up and people would come in and without fail sit at the one table you have yet to get around to clearing.

Every. Damn. Time.

I just don't get it?

Vile creatures walking away even leaving food on the floor. It's grim takes 30 seconds to pick up wipe down and pop in bin.

Ugh

Many years ago I was a waitress and the state people, always mums with toddlers, left the place was disgusting. It takes 2 minutes to get a baby wipe and pick your childs mess up, put it into a pile on a plate/table and clean up. Some of these responses are clearly from these mucky types. Toddler has a tantrum... Tough shit, clean up after them!

Makes you wonder what type of skip they live in or do they just leave it for "staff" to clean up after them? Either way it's disgusting and they are setting a very poor example to their children.

'Toddler has a tantrum... Tough shit, clean up after them!'

Well said

Have some manners and respect.

Branleuse

Don't be such an entitled slob, it's such a grim attitude to have. Clean up after yourself and your children, have some respect for yourself. How disgusting.

@justfivemorepeas

Yes! People always seem to pick the table you haven't had chance to clear and reset and then point out it's dirty, decline to move and then roll eyes at each other while you clear and reset around them. Or sit at the one table with a reserved sign on it, trash it, then moan when asked to move. Meh!

The general public are increasingly entitled. They also expect waiting staff to clean up after them as well as fawning over them.

I’m also amazed by chain cafes and restaurants advertising for waiting staff to “put a smile on customer’s faces” and “brighten up customer’s days!”

I don’t know about you but I just want staff to be friendly, helpful and polite. I don’t need deferential service or for staff to do emotional labour trying to empathise with me or validate my self-esteem!

YANBU
Dirty slobs.
All the rubbish could have been put in that bag in seconds. As for the food on the floor - fgs, show some respect & pick it up.

This is all too common in cafes. What is wrong with people?

By all means scoop up the disposable waste,but crawling about under tables. no.calm down
I know someone who’s intolerable to eat out with,as they fuss and click about tidying up. Tutting and tsking about mess.its not relaxing.theyll progress to scraping plates,balancing crockery piles,stuffing napkins into dishes,trying to wipe table. Staff never look impressed and it’s a nightmare to carry all the haphazardly piled plates

NOBODY is ENTITLED to treat public, albeit private, spaces disrespectfully and leave a shitstorm behind them just because they have paid for some coffee and cake. I've worked in so many cafés where parents leave an absolute tip behind them. It takes 30 seconds to make a bit of effort and make people's working lives - who are on a minimum wage usually - a little bit less gross!

Gosh. That’s not nice. And the OP’s picture looks like Waitrose so it’s hardly as if anyone else would be leaving their table in a state.

As a waitress, things I don’t mind:

• leaving a couple of wrappers
• pots in general
• napkins shoved in cups to get them out the way
• a few crumbs

Things I do mind:

• tables like in the picture
• people who upend the sugar/salt all over the table
• people who have taken a wedge of napkins, not used them, and have instead littered the table with wipes
• large chunks of food all over the place. At least put it on the plates/tray!
• people who bring me their tray whilst I’m serving someone else, either at the counter or at a table, meaning service is disrupted. I generally put the tray straight back down on their table until someone is able to clear it.
• people who sit down at a table where the previous occupants literally just left, then moan that there are pots on it.