AIBU?
To think this is rude and selfish?
SylHellais · 05/05/2021 22:33
We went to a visitor attraction today with a cafe/restaurant on site. All the six tables (large round picnic type tables which would seat 6) were full, but three of them were occupied by one person at each table who had no drink or food but were just sitting there reading or looking at phones. There were other tables nearby not served by the cafe where people could sit.
Personally, I think the staff should have moved the non-eating/drinking people on, but they were clearly unwilling to, even when we pointed out that it was lunchtime and there were people occupying the tables who were not eating or drinking. We weren’t rude or confrontational about this, before anyone starts, it was just a polite comment.
All three of them saw us and other people trying to find somewhere to sit but chose to ignore us. The cafe were actually brilliant and did takeaways for us all so it was fine, but it just irritated me that these three men were determined to occupy tables when they didn’t need to.
threeteenstaximum · 05/05/2021 22:37
It doesn't sound like you did anything, except note that potentially those individual people not eating were being unreasonable,
Yup that's annoying... you did well not to ask "are these seats taken?" and plonk yourself in a table under occupied if they didn't say no.
You sound really lovely and really polite.
SylHellais · 05/05/2021 22:41
@threeteenstaximum
Yup that's annoying... you did well not to ask "are these seats taken?" and plonk yourself in a table under occupied if they didn't say no.
You sound really lovely and really polite.
Normally, I might have just asked to sit at the table but with COVID regs, i didn’t think that was a goer.
SylHellais · 05/05/2021 22:47
I should probably add for anyone else who wants to have a go and needs a reason:
- no, there were not waiting for anyone.
- no, they were not eating or drinking and showed no signs of having done so recently, I.e. no cups or plates on the table.
- it was three separate men aged about 40-50 with no signs of disability (though I accept in hindsight they could have had a hidden disability!)
- no, I am not entitled, I just thought it was a bit rude and selfish to occupy tables in an actual cafe at lunchtime if you don’t buy anything to eat or drink there.
threeteenstaximum · 05/05/2021 22:48
@SylHellais
- no, there were not waiting for anyone.
- no, they were not eating or drinking and showed no signs of having done so recently, I.e. no cups or plates on the table.
- it was three separate men aged about 40-50 with no signs of disability (though I accept in hindsight they could have had a hidden disability!)
- no, I am not entitled, I just thought it was a bit rude and selfish to occupy tables in an actual cafe at lunchtime if you don’t buy anything to eat or drink there.
Agree with you
Well done for your patience and nlt wanting to make a scene.
BlackDaffodil · 05/05/2021 22:49
This happened to me once, no seating after I'd paid nearly £45 for hot food etc.. literally every table was occupied by people reading books or on laptops not eating or drinking. Staff wouldn't ask anyone to 'move' either.
I took all the food back to the counter and asked my money back, I got it.
SylHellais · 05/05/2021 22:54
It wasn’t scene-worthy and we got food and sat nearby. I just thought it was a bit odd that firstly three separate men chose to occupy large family-sized tables alone at lunchtime without actually buying anything to eat or drink and secondly that the cafe staff didn’t want to ask them to read their books at the tables opposite instead.
I posted in AIBU because I was genuinely curious to see if someone somehow said it was my fault and I was not wrong. 😂
Dunairbeanat · 05/05/2021 23:23
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memberofthewedding · 06/05/2021 01:24
Ive had this happen a couple of time in the past and have just simply plonked myself uninvited at whatever table had a space. People have done this to me.
My view is that If I paid to eat in a cafe/restaurant and there is an empty space I dont have to ask anyones permission to sit in it. Ive also pointed out to people who have finished their meal and are just sitting that there are others waiting for a space to sit down. If they object because of the covid rules they are at liberty to depart. Usually you will find that if there are two or more of you and you sit at a table occupied by a single (not eating or drinking) that they will leave pretty quickly. It has nothing to do with entitlement. The tables are a facility provided for the people consuming refreshments.
BlackDaffodil · 06/05/2021 02:42
@a8mint
their paying customers
She did blame the Staff, but its not unreasonable to be frustrated at the selfishness of people who have already eaten, and then continue hog the table for hours after, preventing other paying customers the courtesy of same comforts.
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