not to share my table at outdoor cafe

[ShirleyEyeRosebud]

Went to my favourite cafe with my lovely dog for a relaxing Sunday morning brunch fry up.
All the tables were occupied, so we stood feeling a bit self-conscious waiting for about 20 minutes for a table to become free. In the meantime, a kind couple did ask if I wanted to share their table, but I didn’t want to disturb their relaxing morning so I said thanks for the offer but it’s ok.
So, eventually a table became free so I left my bag there to reserve it and went inside the cafe with the hound to order. When I was queuing up to order a woman asked if I had finished with my table so I said no I have just arrived. She then said are there many of you (obviously not) or can we share your table?
I said Sorry I have been waiting for a table and I would rather have it to myself.

AIBU?

Very entitled of you to think you have the right to join paying customers at their table. You don't.

Of course they do! What mad rule book are you using? 😀

The polar opinions here are interesting! I think if I were on the other end of this, asking to share the table of others, if someone expressed discomfort I would simply ask another. In this case, the OP has said lots of the 6 seaters were taken by couples so plenty of other options and no need to cause anyone discomfort. Problem solved.

Lol, you won't. Only a fool would do that if you'd been told the seats had been taken. You may find yourself being exited forcefully through your childish behaviour, if you found they were actually taken. Unless you like living life on the edge. Personally I have more of a sense of self preservation.

Exited forcefully. That's highly unlikely considering that they'd be quietly and calmly sitting at a table as you're supposed to do so and you would apparently be in hysterics and perhaps trying to haul someone off a seat that they're entitled to sit in. I can guess who's much more likely to be evicted and it isn't the calm quiet person.

if the cafe want all their seats used they shouldn’t put out only tables of 6, when clearly most parties are not 6 people.

That makes zero sense. It's the opposite!

The cafe do want the seats used, by people sharing their large picnic tables!

Ha ha, the opposite is true. I’ve been to three cafes today alone! 😁. I’m known among my friends for cafe visiting. I’ve had breakfast by myself at one, coffee and cake mid morning with two friends at another and lunch with a friend at a third. I must go to cafes at least 6x a week. I admit 3x a day is unusual.

I think all you’d need to do is tell the owner if they didn’t make the newcomers leave your table you wouldn’t be paying the bill and you’ll be leaving the shittest tripadvisor review every informing everyone the establishment operate a forced table sharing policy. Believe me the owner will know that most people will be put off by the thought of that so I’d assume service would be refused.

Because withholding money that you rightfully owe them over perfectly reasonable use of a cafe and blackmail are such endearing traits and definitely won't earn you the owner's contempt and personal a ban.

YABU.

Would you join people in a restaurant for an evening meal as well?

Well, that's not the same is it? In a restaurant which takes bookings, you'll be allocated a table that meets the requirements of your party. Unlikely to be spare seats, and as it's a booking system, you can't just rock up anyway.

If it was a casual place with no booking, then of course I'd join a table with spare seats.

It's not a forced sharing policy, it's an unspoken norm that in busy places, sharing of space is normal. Just go and ask the staff if the person who has already paid for food and has nowhere to sit should stand for another 20 min with hot drinks on a tray whilst you while away your solo time at a bench table! Both customers have paid, there's a table for six, it's not rocket science.

Politeness then dictates that if another table becomes free soon after, the sharer get up and move, saying 'I'll just move over there, thanks'. I go in cafes all the time, I see this behaviour all the time, no-one has ever said 'no you can't sit there' to another customer that I've seen, ever.

Honestly, how do people on here cope with everyday life!

You have no sense of danger do you. I hope you teach your children to be more careful.

It's absolutely standard in many outdoor café situations at galleries, art galleries, stately homes and the like and indoors as well in some.

Honestly, how do people on here cope with everyday life!

I know! And you are exactly right. It's unspoken rules, people understand when they might share, and when not to. And as you say, moving when a table becomes free.

@AnarchoTyrannosaurus

Are you enjoying winding people up? 😀

Honestly, how do people on here cope with everyday life!

Judging by this thread they either tantrum until they get what they want, vomit all over everything like a deranged turkey vulture or resort to blackmail and extortion.

In that situation the bill’s prepaid before you sit down. I’d laugh at a review based on not being prepared to share a table.

Well you say that, but I witnessed someone do exactly this in Kent. Needless to say the people who were at the table were not pleased. Reader. It turned ugly. I'm surprised the seat stealer got away without serious injury tbh. It was interesting viewing though.

Maybe a little bit 😂

You've lost me now. I have no idea what you're on about. "Sense of danger" about sharing an outdoor picnic table?

Good grief - oh and you'd best avoid ever going to cafés like Le Pain Quotidien- they have refectory benches - you'd have to hog a table for as many as 12 people.

To test out the theory, go into a restaurant, ask for a table for six and then say 'oh it's only for me, I don't like sharing' and see what they say.

Perhaps don't go to Wagamamas though with their long benches.

Doesn't sound like my sort of place. I might end up sitting next to you.

You wouldn't do that though would you. You'd say, it's just me, and they'd sit you at a table, which may be big or may be small.

Maybe a little bit 😂

😂😂😂😂

Well you say that, but I witnessed someone do exactly this in Kent. Needless to say the people who were at the table were not pleased. Reader. It turned ugly. I'm surprised the seat stealer got away without serious injury tbh. It was interesting viewing though.

Well if I ever find myself in Kent with a bunch of entitled Neanderthals then I'll worry about it, but that's what the police are for. Until then I'm sitting at the table even if you insist upon doing your best Regan impression.

Some people really don’t get out much. Never had to share a table with strangers when out. There is life outside your little villages/suburbia you know! Try it some time; it might broaden your precious little minds!

You go and sit in a seat on a table. Any table that's bagged in the queue. Chances are you'll have drunk your tea/eaten your food before they get served.