Eat your own picnic at outdoor table at pub

[4am]

Is this a thing now?

When is it OK to occupy an outdoor table at a pub and consume your own picnic food that you've brought from the supermarket next door?

Family of 5 - 3 adults. If you've bought drinks from the pub, does this make it acceptable? Pub has a menu offering a comprehensive range of meals; starters, mains, puddings, sharer plates & snacks.

Sunny afternoon - pub heaving, table space space.

This has to be the highest level of CF*ckery, surely?

[Momicrone]

That is well cheeky, I'm surprised the pub hasn't said anything

[Tontostitis]

You'd get thrown out if you that it most pubs

[5foot5]

Not on at all when the pub serves food

[StridTheKiller]

Back in the 00s you could bring your own "plated" dinners to eat at some of the pubs in Walkley in Sheffield. Used to really tickle me and I doubt it's allowed any more!

[AuditAngel]

the only time I think it would be acceptable was if the party had ordered food and perhaps there was a fussy toddler you bought food for, or someone with an allergy.

for context, I have previously taken 2 adults and 12 kids for a meal and one child with allergies came with his own food. The restaurant then asked if they had any dessert at all that fell within his allowed foods as they felt he was a bit left out, we found one and we weren’t charged for it.

[A580Hojas]

Of course no one is going to say yanbu.

[Bagpuss2022]

if the pub didn’t serve food probably okay but if they have food then no very cheeky!
it’s like going to a Indian restaurant having a drink but eating your takeaway there instead of ordering the menu as it’s cheaper!

[Pyewhacket]

Most pubs I know will ask you to leave.

[toomuchlaundry]

@A580Hojas some people have said OP is being unreasonable (unless they have clicked the wrong button!)

[SleepingStandingUp]

It's not on but I guess it's on the pub to deal with it. They'd be using the table anyway presumably.

[BaaCake]

Only acceptable if there's an allergy or fussy child involved. Everyone else should eat the pub food.

[mycatisannoying]

Out of order!

[Ifailed]

Not sure what it's got to do with the OP, unless they run the pub?

[tallullabluebella]

I have a sign in my beer garden stating only food and drinks bought on the premesis may be consumed. Doesn't stop people sitting down with food, usually from the chip shop round the corner. We kindly tell them they can't eat it, if they carry on it's back over to remind them that we sell food and they will have to eat their own on the pavement. Most people are ok with it but the worst ones are those that haven't even bought drinks and are treating our tables like a bench on the street.

[Muckymaisonette]

Working in a cafe as a 16 year old a big burley customer ordered for a soft drink then plonked a McDonald’s bag on the table and started eating after I had taken the order.
The cafe owner insisted I ask him to leave as he was frighted he would get thumped if he asked. No worry about me getting thumped.

[OneTC]

There's a pub near us that once they stop serving food they encourage you to get takeaway or deliveroo if you want food. But if you tried that when they were serving their own food they'd rightly kick you out

[ParadiseLaundry]

Does the pub allow food (their own) to be eaten outside? I know some don't. Possibly Wetherspoons?

If not then I guess there's no difference if they are eating their own food or not if they've purchased a drink.

[Mybeautifulfriend22]

Wouldn’t be allowed in the pubs near me.

[user75]

No, it's a terrible way to behave.

[MrsSkylerWhite]

It is cheeky but people have been doing it for donkey’s years.

[Mount2Climb]

Only acceptable if it's food or drink for a child.

[Antarcticant]

@Muckymaisonette

Working in a cafe as a 16 year old a big burley customer ordered for a soft drink then plonked a McDonald’s bag on the table and started eating after I had taken the order.
The cafe owner insisted I ask him to leave as he was frighted he would get thumped if he asked. No worry about me getting thumped.

What happened - did you ask him, and did he make a fuss?

Guessing the owner thought he would be less likely to have scruples about hitting another man

[AdobeWanKenobi]

And yet 7% currently have.

[Sparklingbrook]

Never acceptable and very cheeky.

[AdobeWanKenobi]

@A580Hojas

Of course no one is going to say yanbu.

And yet 7% already have.