Picnic on unoccupied pub benches - AIBU

[Grobagsforever]

Out for a walk with another family. 2 DC each. Proposed stopping to eat our picnic on some pub tables. Pub currently unoccupied e.g it's To Let.

We won't leave a crumb of mess -AIBU? Seems an entirely logical action to me that harms no one...(have previously spent money in pub and will do so again when it reopens).

I'd stop, but be prepared to be moved on by three landowner.

Would it be classed as trespassing? Do you have to pass the boundary of the closed down premises to access the benches?

You probably technically shouldn't but as long as you don't leave any mess I doubt anyone will care.

Wouldn't even give this a second thought!

I'd stop, but be prepared to be moved on by three landowner

How is the "landowner" going to find out? Why would they even care if they did? They're sat on a bench eating sangers. Outrageous! 🤣

As the pub is closed, I'd say it's absolutely fine!

Of course it's fine.

If the pub was open and the benches were empty I would be on the fence because you could buy food inside

With the pub being shut I can't see how it can be a problem as long as you leave it as you found it

If the pub was open and the benches were empty I would be on the fence because you could buy food inside

Nothing on the fence about it. If non customers are taking up benches enjoying their home brought picnic then the pub customers can't use the benches. It is not ok.

In this scenario I can't imagine anyone caring two hoots

The pub is unoccupied - who is going to tell you to move on? What is the actual issue? Did someone say you shouldn't?

It's fine in that situation I think.

Better than coming and plonking yourself down in my garden which is what many walkers do. I've joked about putting a picnic bench out there and charging people.

We are just off a major walking route and it happens probably weekly between Easter and Halloween.

Can people read?!

The pub isn’t currently operating. It’s closed, with a ‘To Let’ Sign up. Which the OP said. And this is on page 1!

OP of course you can sit there, you’re doing nothing wrong. And Trespass is Civil Law anyway - who will enforce it if the pub is vacant?!

As long as the benches aren’t behind a fence or anything I’d go for it, I probably wouldn’t go behind the pub into a proper pub garden though

Has someone suggested YABU?

One of our group was uneasy and took a walk instead, so I wondered if it was me, as I tend to be less rule following than average

Totally fine, you’re not going to wear the bench out!

Depends how easily accessible the benches are - if they’re out the front and completely open, go for it. Having to go round the side or into a fenced garden, I’d feel uneasy about.

It's technically trespassing so I can understand why people might feel uneasy about it.

I wouldn't. It's private property. Many owners of vacant property are very wary of trespassers because of the risk of damage, forced entry, squatters etc.

Some British folk are so uptight.
Just park your arses and get the grub out.

I'm not sure what you are asking but I see no problem in doing that. Your friend is being ridiculous

I'd do it. I'm sure the landowner won't release the hounds

I'm a total wimp about rule-breaking, and even I think this is fine.

Where were the benches? Out the front near the road, or round the side/back in a beer garden?

Where were you planning to eat your picnic, because it doesn't sound like the pub benches were the plan to begin with?

The thing is you don’t know what the current ownership situation is, when we moved to our home it had been unoccupied for some time and clearly locals had been regularly using the garden as a cut through or just wandering around being nosey. For the first month after we moved in we kept seeing people wandering around the garden, they’d look shocked when we went out to ask if they needed help! In reality you weren’t using a public space, it was a private bench on private land and there fore you had no right to be there, I’m with the friend who refused to sit having been on the other side of this sort of thing. If you aren’t viewing the property accompanied by an agent you shouldn’t be there.