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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Seats at soft play

55 replies

isitginoclock · 10/12/2022 13:02

I'm at soft play with the children this morning. Sat at a nice table under a heat lamp (it's one of those warehouse-y places.) On my own, having a coffee, catching up on emails, life admin etc etc. kids are of an age where they can take care of themselves, but the tables well located to keep an eye. It's got busy as the mornings gone on and I've just had a group of mums approach me and ask if they can have the table because there's four of them. I said no - but welcome to perch with me or take the chairs elsewhere. I got a really huffy response that they want to have lunch and so do their DCs and there are no other tables. There are comfy chairs over the other side but I don't want to move there - my laptop is out, I'm settled and I've got a good view of the kids. So it was a no.
AIBU not to move? They are currently glaring at me from afar.

OP posts:
Mamai90 · 10/12/2022 14:30

YABU if you're taking up a table with 4 seats and aren't eating and there are single chairs available.

I don't think it was unreasonable for them to ask either. I think its cheeky to hog a whole table. I see I'm in the minority but MN isn't the real world (thankfully!).

Laiste · 10/12/2022 14:30

Could they have all actually sat and eaten food at the table with you also there with your laptop out OP? Realistically.

Laiste · 10/12/2022 14:31

I certainly wouldn't risk my kids eating and drinking inches away from someone else's lap top 😂

Bagpuss2022 · 10/12/2022 14:32

i don’t think your being unreasonable you offered to share but what I can’t fathom is who chooses to eat at those kind of places the kids yeah but a adult meal rather eat a Tesco meal deal in the car

Sparklingbrook · 10/12/2022 14:40

Bagpuss2022 · 10/12/2022 14:32

i don’t think your being unreasonable you offered to share but what I can’t fathom is who chooses to eat at those kind of places the kids yeah but a adult meal rather eat a Tesco meal deal in the car

It's been a while since I went to soft play, I assume nothing's changed, I never ate anything while there either, but the DC loved the beige offerings!

Tiredallofthetime · 10/12/2022 14:44

I see I’m in a minority but I do think it’s rude to sit at a table all morning with coffee when people who have ordered food cannot sit down. I realise that they could have sat with you but I can understand them not wanting to do so with a laptop out.

bloodyfedupnow · 10/12/2022 14:44

If you'd been hogging a table all morning without buying another coffee etc, then you were being unreasonable.

Otherwise, you were reasonable by offering to share.

MilkyYay · 10/12/2022 14:46

At the soft play near me there are signs asking that people who aren't buying food leave the tables free for people to eat, is it like that there? 90% of the time there's space to allow anyone to sit but at busy peaks the tables essentially belong to the cafe & they'll ask that you move to the other seating if you aren't eating

CarefreeMe · 10/12/2022 14:50

YABU if you're taking up a table with 4 seats and aren't eating and there are single chairs available.

I don't think it was unreasonable for them to ask either. I think its cheeky to hog a whole table. I see I'm in the minority but MN isn't the real world (thankfully!).

I agree.

You don’t need 4 seats just to sit there and drink coffee whilst checking your emails.
And OP had been there all morning, so it would have been fair to move when it started getting more crowded.

OP could have sat anywhere, yet the people who are eating need to sit at a table.

Something tells me the heat lamp is the biggest factor here.

Laiste · 10/12/2022 14:58

Our soft play's food was quite good. It's been about 3 years since i was there last (and don't plan to go back) but the food was the only thing which made it bearable for me! 😅

Lovely baguettes and hot choc. If only there had been volume control it would have been quite pleasant in there ...

HunterHearstHelmsley · 10/12/2022 15:06

How many tables are there? I'm betting they didn't ask anyone at other tables to move as they weren't by the heat lamp!

There's a cafe near me with a similar set up - Comfy chairs and separate tables for four. They encourage people to work there but all the plug sockets are by the tables. It always ends up with tables being taken up by one person. Sometimes two strangers either side.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/12/2022 15:13

You’re find and it was cheeky of them to ask

CarefreeMe · 10/12/2022 15:20

How many tables are there? I'm betting they didn't ask anyone at other tables to move as they weren't by the heat lamp!

It says there were no other tables free.

ItsBritneyBitch45 · 10/12/2022 15:54

This is like when one person is sitting at a four person table in Costa. Why the FUCK wouldn’t you just sit elsewhere. Yes you were there first but why can’t you just move to another chair when the people who want to eat clearly can’t sit there because they need a table? I don’t understand

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 10/12/2022 16:00

ItsBritneyBitch45 · 10/12/2022 15:54

This is like when one person is sitting at a four person table in Costa. Why the FUCK wouldn’t you just sit elsewhere. Yes you were there first but why can’t you just move to another chair when the people who want to eat clearly can’t sit there because they need a table? I don’t understand

But the OP said they were welcome to share her table! Why should single customers always be relegated to the crap tables?

Tiredallofthetime · 10/12/2022 16:16

It might just be me but I don’t personally see it as single person not having priority over a group of people, it’s more to do with the group of people having food and the single person (on this occasion) did not.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 10/12/2022 16:47

CarefreeMe · 10/12/2022 15:20

How many tables are there? I'm betting they didn't ask anyone at other tables to move as they weren't by the heat lamp!

It says there were no other tables free.

How many other tables, not how many free tables. The OPs table wasn't free either.

Tandora · 10/12/2022 17:26

Can’t believe people are voting YANBU, YABVU!! , they were a group of people who wanted the table to eat!! The tables are not there to provide you a work space! You are especially U if there were other seats you could have moved to. Unbelievably selfish and anti social behaviour.

ILOVECHEESE79 · 10/12/2022 17:40

I would have moved, as it's just a nice thing to do.
I think it's kind of selfish to monopolise a table when there's groups wanting to eat with their kids.
🤷

harrassedmumto3 · 10/12/2022 17:42

This is Mumsnet and most people will believe you to be in the right, as not all would put themselves out.
However I think you were totally in the wrong. Of course they need a table to be able to eat, and you were only having coffee.

TinySaltLick · 10/12/2022 17:43

I think there is a bit of etiquette here to try and optimise the seating for the betterment of the group, so I would have probably moved if I was still able to work on the comfy seat

If everyone does this every venue improves as a destination

dawnfromgavinandstacey · 10/12/2022 17:52

CarefreeMe · 10/12/2022 14:16

YABU

There’s one of you taking up 4 seats.

They should have just sat at your table after you said not but it wasn’t cheeky of them to ask if you’ll consider moving, seeing as they’ll be chatting and you are trying to work.

Omg. Is this real.

lookersnoopy · 10/12/2022 17:55

@Clymene

Why? She's working

It's bloody soft play not an office rental.

dawnfromgavinandstacey · 10/12/2022 17:56

Of course you'd move if practical but it wasn't. She offered to share.

These places are first come first served. I often used to work from these places. It is what it is.

dawnfromgavinandstacey · 10/12/2022 17:58

Sorry @CarefreeMe I presume you meant they could have all shared.

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