Is it unreasonable to ask people to speak a little more quietly

[Bluedotspink]

I tried to have a coffee with a friend earlier today and we gave up as the people on the table next to us were so loud. Not shouting just loud ringing carrying voices.

Is it okay to ask them to project their voices a little more quietly or is this just rude

I hate brayers, but they would be WTF at you if you said anything, because they will be oblivious.

Really?

You can but I would think you were very rude and it would ruin my coffee out with my friends.

It’s rude.

Very, very rude. If you can’t deal with reasonable noise it’s better to go somewhere quieter. Take a thermos to the park and meet there instead.

Someone shushed my 4yovat the pantomime in 2013. I'm still mad about it.

That would drive me mad too. I hate being stuck near loud people who are totally oblivious to the effect that their noise has on other people.

Unfortunately, public places are just that - public. Not much you could do about it.

Posted too soon.

Out for coffee? I'd just move tables tbh. It'd spoil the coffee asking

If you can’t deal with reasonable noise it’s better to go somewhere quieter

To be fair to the OP, if it was so loud that the OP and her friend had to give up on their conversation it probably wasn't particularly reasonable.