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.

I love the autocorrect and the idea of people jumping in a Queen! Followed by your stand alone autocorrect of

"Queue for fucks sake" .....😂

You hang your jacket over a chair?

I always secure a table before i get my food. Because if theres no free table then i dont want the food and go to another place 🤷🏻‍♀️
I thought that was the normal way of doing it.

Oh my god youre right

oops 😀

@MissEira me too! The amount of people I just have clearly pissed off over the years!

If you are on your own you put your coat on the chair to save it. I would never buy a drink in a busy cafe without getting a table first

I had no idea people weren't doing this. Why would you stand in the queue silently fuming that others are getting the tables. Just save a table!

In my case I don't do it mainly because I don't want to annoy the people in front of me in the queue, but also partly unless the cafe is small I can't see all the tables so I don't want to leave my belongings where I can't see them. Actually, even if I can see all the tables I often wouldn't have anything to leave at a table. If it's warm I have no coat, I don't carry a book with me, and I'm not about to leave my handbag at an empty table. I do almost always have an umbrella and a packet of tissues with me, but not sure how well that would work for saving a table.

What do you use if you aren't wearing a coat/jacket/cardigan?

This is one of the problems that illustrate our worship of the sanctity of queueing. Philosophically you might ask where does the queue really start, is it at the counter or the pursuit of a table if needed... I do think it's a bit unfair to grab them though, especially if like you say there might be a lone person whose order sort of requires a table.

I wouldn't.

Put a coat/bag/other object down.

They didn’t push in at all.

If I was alone with a tray I'd ask to share a table wherever there was room. That makes more sense than multiple people having to sit separately when they came together. Then just move when a table becomes free? I wouldn't think twice on this.

You put your coat on the table. That’s what I do anywhere.

As above poster said about sharing - it makes sense. diff scenario but same principle I suppose. I was at a London restaurant which doesn’t take bookings. It’s only me alone. All the people in front of me are groups of 3+ and I can see there are spaces at the bar and single seats free. So I asked the booking lady if I could squeeze in. The restaurant said of course! Makes perfect sense, I’m a lone diner, I’ll perch on the edge, be in and out in the time it takes 3 people to decide what they are having etc… but to the people in the queue I must have looked like a right bastard. Do what works for you.

I certainly wouldn't be buying a meal if I nowhere to sit. Bag or coat down first.

DH and I were at the top of the queue there was one seat some woman put her coat on a chair to reserve it DH and I sat there anyway - didn't touch her coat just sat next to it and I would do it again

Are you mad? Why would both queue? Obviously one person orders for the table.

That's not queue jumping, that's sensible team tagging. I always get the seats while my companion buys the drinks. Why should we both queue at the counter, total waste of time. You snooze you lose.

I can't imagine anyone all going up together to queue, just makes no sense. Pointless getting food if you have nowhere to ear it.
Secure table, place order, then eat.

I don't see the table reserving if multiple people as queue jumping. If with a friend we do this I see it as smart, not wrong. If alone I'll select a cafe with enough seats or not bother (hate queuing!)

What I see as queue jumping is the staff at the local hospital ordering en masse after me at the cafe, and getting their coffee made first. Not much point my DM scoring a table if I'm standing at the wait point for 45 minutes until EVERY staff member who orders has theirs made first. I just won't ever go back.

If I'm by myself I find a table first and leave my coat on the chair. Otherwise the table would be stolen by a party of two when I was there first.

If I’m by myself, I’ll plonk my coat at a spare table and then queue. Buying your food before securing a table in a busy cafe is madness.

I think if you go on your own best thing is to reserve a table with a coat or similar as others have said

I have an (invisible) health condition that means I can't stand for long so always go and sit while DH queues.

@AviMav in the shopping centre near me there's a pret, soho coffee and a Starbucks and pret and Starbucks ads always rammed!

@MissEira sorry completely unrelated. Is Eira Eye ruh or Ay Ruh? Its beautiful but I never know which one to say

The problem isn't anyone nabbing a table. It's the people who have finished their food and drinks and sit there chatting while they can see there are others with a tray and no vacant tables.

It’s always been ok to do that. And it used to be ok to ask someone if you could sit at their table if there were none available.

Maybe the real issue is that people aren’t as accommodating these days and would act like it was highly inappropriate to allow a stranger to share their table.

You must go to very posh cafés