Queue jumping in cafés

[JoanThursday1972]

I was in a queue buying coffee to take out today. It was practically full and in front of me was a man by himself buying a sandwich and tea to stay in, and one available table only.

Two women came in behind me, one swanned off and took the only spare table whilst her friend bought the drinks.

Basically they'd pushed in. I think it's extremely rude. I didn't see what happened as I got my takeaway coffee and left. I do hope he challenged them though.

But if there is a queue, no tables, as soon as one becomes free, those nearer the end have someone pounce on it, the people in front of them have nowhere to sit and eat and drink as a table is occupied by people in the queue! Maddens me! If it’s a busy place, grab a table once being served so that this who get served in front of you have chance to get one too

Well, I think the cafe owners and managers should take the initiative to make all of this simple for their customers and take away the stress of competing for tables. As mentioned earlier - they have a little reserved flag on a stand with a number on. You go in, pick up your flag and menu. You get a table, make a not of your number, decide what to order and go to the counter to order it. All of this angst solved by some common sense planning.

Put a coat over the seat. That's what I do

It already is simple for the majority tbf..

I wnt to a cafe alone yesterday

It was busy. I bagged a table first. Chucked coat on chair. Bag too

Ordered coffee

Sat down

Simples!

It's ridiculous, OP, but it seems that saving a table is what some cafés expect customers to do now.

I tried to take my 4-year old to a local café recently. The queue to order took ten full minutes, and when we got to the front I was asked "Do you have a table?" They refused to take my order when I said I didn't, "because it's really busy"!!

How the fuck am I supposed to "have a table"? A four year old can't and won't sit at one alone (for one thing, the counter isn't even in sight of most of the seating areas). And I've been standing in the queue for ten minutes.

Is the café suggesting I need to leave something (phone/wallet/jacket) to "save" a table? What if someone ignores it and sits down anyway? What of it gets stolen? I bet they aren't going to take any responsibility if my stuff gets nicked, are they?

I love it when I can take my dog in somewhere, far too places allow doggies but I always find it such a nicer environment. But yes, I completely agree, if you don’t like dogs and they are allowed in certain places - go somewhere else!

Put your coat or bag on a spare chair or table!!!

It’s hardly queue jumping.. grabbing a table isn’t the same as walking to the front of the queue to order

This is such a stupid thing to complain about. What if you come in with as family kids and all or with your granny? According to you they should wait together?! That man should of left a coat on the table or something. Its not your table until you get it.

I travel the world alone. I immediately find a table, put my coat/ jumper down on the chair, glasses on the table, and some other personal thing from my bag on the table. Get my coffee/ drink/ snack
Never been a problem

If you go on your own and put coat in the chair and someone removes it, do you challenge them? Especially if they're already eating at the table?

So Bloody rude
That’s happened to us more than once, if spare chairs at the table that’s been taken, we just go and sit there, say don’t mind if we join you, as we have our drinks, nine times out of ten they don’t say anything, or move
if they do protest we say sorry, but we have a drink already you don’t so it’s our table …
people need to speak up.

I go to coffee shops alone 2/3 days a week. I try to avoid lunch times as it’s always rammed between 11:30 and 1:30. But if I have to go when it’s busy, I order my coffee and sandwich/cake and then I if I can join you, there is nowhere else to sit as I sit dow at a table with someone waiting for their coffee. Some say ‘I’m waiting for a friend” and reply ‘that’s ok, my food and coffee are ready and I cannot balance my tray and eat/drink while standing there is plenty of room for 3/4.

If they say they need some privacy, I then say find another table or it’s fine, I don’t know you and I love a nice bit of gossip and then be mention social media under my breath but loud enough for them to hear!

To be fair most people are fine, carry on their conversations or they chat to me too.

l’m a complete introvert but if I need food I I will sit at a table!!

I always thought that was how it works. Sit down first to look at menu then go to till or bar to order. Or go to a cafe with table service. If I'm there for a sit down I'm not going to stand in a queue and hope for the best when I get served. No one would

I work in a large supermarket cafe … trying to manage this when little tables are left is horrendous! Get sworn at, even spat at once!!! So stressful!!

Why would you even go in and queue if there is no tables free?

According to OP it's highly unlikely that people come into cafes in groups 🤷‍♀️

We are a family of 6, i didnt realise we should not eat out

I think you are allowed to eat out but if you go to a café be prepared to be glared at for either all of you queuing up or some of you taking a seat while the others order. You literally can't win. Unless you all come in separately and sit spread out across the venue so as not to inconvenience someone else.

I suppose this all goes to show that people who behave "politely" (as in the case of the guy I saw earlier in the week) are disadvantaged through their "politeness".

Oh no, according to the OP you’re allowed to eat out but only at prebooked restaurants. ‘Multigenerational’ families don’t or shouldn’t use coffee shops apparently 😆

I can’t honesty get over people finding out common sense rude. Do they really think standing in a queue, blocking the counter, with an elderly companion or a toddler is the ‘right’ thing to do? They’re all absolutely bonkers. Fortunately, they’re also in the minority.

You call it politeness but the rest of us call it insanity

Did you miss the quotes around "politeness" by any chance?