Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People who 'work' at cafe tables

339 replies

BeagleMum1 · 28/06/2023 10:04

Why do cafe's allow this? I'm sitting in a cafe and over half the tables are being sat at, by a single person on laptop, 'working'. These tables could seat up to 4 people. Some have bought a cafe drink but others are just sitting there without a drink or food.

They are table blocking and at busier times, will prevent other customers who might buy more drinks / food from getting a seat. AIBU?

OP posts:
StarmanBobby · 28/06/2023 13:42

'Only if they pay their way and buy the Cafe's produce. One coffee for 4 or 5 hours of table use, is taking the piss.'

1 - how on EARTH do you know if/when people are doing that? I'd suggest they aren't from my experience of watching people come and go in the time I am there.
2 Why DO you care? Of course they're buyng food and drink from the cafe.
In fact the only people I see NOT doing that tend to be parents with young children bringing their own food and snacks. Not anyone working in there,

kitsuneghost · 28/06/2023 13:43

StarmanBobby · 28/06/2023 13:39

'They always take the 'good' tables too. so even when quiet you are stuck in a centre table.'

Jesus, can you IMAGINE the moaning of someone working took middle table. People sit to the side or out of the way on purpose...

Why would people moan if they took a centre table?
Everyone likes a table in a corner or at least an edge so them sitting in the middle would mean a prime table isn't hogged all day.

flurbubbly · 28/06/2023 13:46

Plenty of people like the bigger tables, and people in groups or with kids who prefer space would moan if the bigger central table was taken up by a single person working.

There's no such thing as one universally accepted prime table.

RudolfsLeftToe · 28/06/2023 13:49

Phos · 28/06/2023 13:18

One of our local cafes encourages this. We pay a flat fee for which we get a table, unlimited tea, coffee and water and a panini for lunch with ice cream for afters.

One of our local cafes encourages this and has a subscription scheme where you pay monthly for your space, one coffee and a discount on subsequent drinks. I think it’s only Monday to Thursday though and if the place is full you just have to wait, you don’t “own” a space iykwim. I’m assuming those not subscribed would be asked to leave / buy more if they were taking the piss…

Bitteralmond · 28/06/2023 14:00

I get your point. However, a full cafe always looks more attractive to passers-by than an empty one, so maybe the proprietors are happy to have bodies in the room, whether or not they are eating and drinking much.

Nomorenonbinary · 28/06/2023 14:00

This is a very weird thing to get worked up about. It's not like they are run by the council.

Badbadbunny · 28/06/2023 14:43

Why are there so many "experts" on how to run a cafe on MN? It's not that long ago that there was a long thread whingeing that cafes had the audacity not to be open for a full 12 hours per day, despite lots of people saying why (such as overheads, staffing, etc).

The fact is the cafe owners/managers can do what they want and allow whoever they want to occupy tables for as long as they're happy with. It's not for random customers to decide how the owner/manager should run it. Yes, they can make suggestions to management, but to just whinge and claim they know best is arrogant and rude.

Same with shops - seen a few threads on her about shops not selling what someone wants, not opening at the right times for them, etc.

If you're such experts, go and buy a cafe/shop and run it how you want, see how you get on.

bladebladebla1 · 29/06/2023 06:52

I own a cafe, if they guy a drink they've as much right to be there as you. Bit of a pointless thing to get annoyed about

Theos · 29/06/2023 06:54

I don’t see how you concentrate with all that noise. Does everyone work in Noisy offices? I’d just stay at home

beethecrackon24995 · 29/06/2023 07:08

I agree with you OP. it would appear from the responses that many posting here do this. Which ever way you dress it up, if it's lunchtime (busy) and you are standing there holding your purchased lunch and unable to get a table as 3 tables are being blocked by laptop users not eating or drinking as they finished theirs ages ago it's bloody annoying and selfish/entitled. Doesn't matter that you go there regularly and block the table. If it was my cafe I'd limit your time and not care if you got the hump and left. I'd prefer it actually 😊

LookingForFreeDoughnuts · 29/06/2023 07:31

I use my local library for working instead of a cafe. I dont see the appeal of cafes for working.

Swrigh1234 · 29/06/2023 08:17

OP, you haven’t explained what your point is? What exactly is your gripe?

Could you not get a table? Did you have nowhere to sit? If there were tables available, what does it matter to you how other tables were being used and who was sitting there? Do you expect the cafe to reduce occupancy rates just to not allow laptops?

Hubblebubble · 29/06/2023 08:30

Because we're paying customers and bring in business, particularly when it would otherwise be a slow time of the day. Clever businesses offer work from here deals which is essentially desk rent with coffee.

Hubblebubble · 29/06/2023 08:31

I've got things I need to do in town today. So I'll be working from Costa until my lunchbreak, when I'll run my errands.

Oblomov23 · 29/06/2023 08:47

I just don't see the issue. It suits everyone. If it doesn't then cafe owner / waitress asks customer "can I get you another coffee" : ie I need you to spend else it's not cost effective for me.

TheWalrusdidbeseech · 29/06/2023 10:09

beethecrackon24995 · 29/06/2023 07:08

I agree with you OP. it would appear from the responses that many posting here do this. Which ever way you dress it up, if it's lunchtime (busy) and you are standing there holding your purchased lunch and unable to get a table as 3 tables are being blocked by laptop users not eating or drinking as they finished theirs ages ago it's bloody annoying and selfish/entitled. Doesn't matter that you go there regularly and block the table. If it was my cafe I'd limit your time and not care if you got the hump and left. I'd prefer it actually 😊

but as we have already asked, is it also "selfish and entitled" to read a book or book a holiday on your laptop?

How do you want it to be organised? For a coffee, you have a 10 mn slot, for a coffee and pastry, 20mn, for a full lunch, you get 30mn. Double the time if you are in a group of 3 people or more?

If you buy your lunch before having a seat, you didn't think things through properly 😂. There's a full thread on that subject.

flurbubbly · 29/06/2023 10:18

beethecrackon24995 · 29/06/2023 07:08

I agree with you OP. it would appear from the responses that many posting here do this. Which ever way you dress it up, if it's lunchtime (busy) and you are standing there holding your purchased lunch and unable to get a table as 3 tables are being blocked by laptop users not eating or drinking as they finished theirs ages ago it's bloody annoying and selfish/entitled. Doesn't matter that you go there regularly and block the table. If it was my cafe I'd limit your time and not care if you got the hump and left. I'd prefer it actually 😊

You'd prefer to have a completely empty cafe and not make any money?

Good job you don't own a business I guess.

beethecrackon24995 · 29/06/2023 10:21

I would actually 😁 and I do (own a business)

Original poster
BeagleMum1 · 29/06/2023 10:24

Swrigh1234 · 29/06/2023 08:17

OP, you haven’t explained what your point is? What exactly is your gripe?

Could you not get a table? Did you have nowhere to sit? If there were tables available, what does it matter to you how other tables were being used and who was sitting there? Do you expect the cafe to reduce occupancy rates just to not allow laptops?

My 'gripe' was observing single people sitting at tables that could seat up to 4 people, working on laptops. Some of whom, were sitting without any drinks or food.

The cafe was filling up as I sat and had my drink and cake and the table blocking was becoming obvious to me. As it got closer to lunchtime, I could imagine people coming in would have struggled to find a table.

I also think there's a element of pretentiousness to it as well. Why not work at home? I think there is something rather performative about it.

OP posts:
Original poster
BeagleMum1 · 29/06/2023 10:26

Why not go sit in a library?

OP posts:
Original poster
BeagleMum1 · 29/06/2023 10:29

Hubblebubble · 29/06/2023 08:31

I've got things I need to do in town today. So I'll be working from Costa until my lunchbreak, when I'll run my errands.

Please find a small table and buy some food and drink.

OP posts:
User19844666884 · 29/06/2023 10:31

So, you had a table, there were still empty tables, but you took a huff because there might be a problem later 😅

A while load of people have already explained why people are not just working from home, but a few more …. They might have already worked from home all week and just want to be around people for a bit. They might want a change of scene. They might have builders in. They might have errands to run later. They might prefer the library but it closed down. They might not be from the area.

I’m curious as to it being “performative”. I had assumed people were just working quietly on the laptop, which is what I have always seen. If these culprits were on loud calls on speaker phone, or standing up at a whiteboard practicing their presentation, then I think you probably have a point!

Throwawayme · 29/06/2023 10:34

I don't really get what business it is of yours. People sitting quietly working isn't a performance. So weird

flurbubbly · 29/06/2023 10:34

beethecrackon24995 · 29/06/2023 10:21

I would actually 😁 and I do (own a business)

No wonder you spend all day on Mumsnet.

Original poster
BeagleMum1 · 29/06/2023 10:37

User19844666884 · 29/06/2023 10:31

So, you had a table, there were still empty tables, but you took a huff because there might be a problem later 😅

A while load of people have already explained why people are not just working from home, but a few more …. They might have already worked from home all week and just want to be around people for a bit. They might want a change of scene. They might have builders in. They might have errands to run later. They might prefer the library but it closed down. They might not be from the area.

I’m curious as to it being “performative”. I had assumed people were just working quietly on the laptop, which is what I have always seen. If these culprits were on loud calls on speaker phone, or standing up at a whiteboard practicing their presentation, then I think you probably have a point!

I have previously experienced job interviews being conducted in cafes!!

If you do, do this, please purchase a fair amount of food & drink from the Cafe and pick a sensible sized table. You are effectively renting a table and should pay your way.

OP posts: