Was I BU to leave the pub after being told off by the manager?

[EmptyTheFrickingBins]

I had booked a table for a group of seven people to celebrate a Ruby wedding anniversary. On arrival to the pub we found the table with our reservation and sat down to wait for the rest of party - this was at 4:30 which was our booked time.

Three other guests were already seated at the table and there was no indication that any other table had been reserved for us.

My parents - who are both elderly and disabled - arrived and I returned to the table with them where we asked the other guests if they'd be happy to share-- there would have been room and we couldn't move because the only free tables were for four or under. This was at 4:45 and we had been waiting for them to finish.

They reacted in a very angry way and stormed off from the table and must have informed the staff on the way out.

I just want to be clear - at no point where we rude or demanding.

We were viewing the menu when a manager in a pink top came over to the table and told us rudely that we shouldn't have asked the other guests to move (again - at no point did we do this), that another table had been reserved for us and we should have spoken to the staff - again none of this was indicated, and only the one table had our name on it!

I felt extremely embarrassed by the interaction - we sat at the table in good faith as it had the reserved sign on with our name.

The woman's attitude was awful and spoiled the night - we ended up leaving because we no longer felt welcome - everyone was looking at us as she told us off!

no way you should have done that, that’s not how things work. Staff were probably really annoyed about the stupidity. They would never seat you there anyway without clearing the table first, it may have been your time slot but the staff members would have told the people sitting there that they only had until 4.30. Then they would have to clean the table which is not something you can do properly with people sitting there. If you had made yourself known then they would have reminded the customers at the table of the time and got the table ready for you.

Very true. Doesn’t seem like they give good standards of service does it

It's my local pub too, have been there multiple times and have spent loads in there since it opened.

I have reserved tables in there before and have been told by the staff just to find the sign and sit down.

The table was big enough for everyone to use - it had ten seats! We simply wanted to use one end, leaving a gap between us and them. They were sitting closer to the table beside them than they were us!

We did not rush them, speak to them apart from asking if they'd mind sharing, or harass them in any other way. To be honest I wasn't even facing them because I was sorting cards and gifts out.

My parents were the one who picked it. Sorry I didn't book the Ritz but that's where they wanted to go.

I don't know how to explain this any more clearly.

There were no more tables big enough to fit us all.

Or maybe I've been at work and away from my phone?

I don’t understand that you were a party of ten, the table was set for ten but had three people already eating at it and you insist you were just going to “sit down the other end” out of their way?
How was that ever going to work?!

I don't know how to explain this any more clearly, that's why you should have approached the staff. It's their problem to solve.

Then that's the pub's issue to sort it out? They may have politely asked the other guests to move tables as that one was reserved which would have avoided all the confusion and annoyance

We DID NOT ask anyone to move - we all could have fit comfortably on the table.

I'm not a rude person, never have been and I have plenty of customer service experience.

But you WERE rude, simply in plonking your family down at the table before they'd left and without checking the score with staff.

Someone doesn't have to say "Oi luv, What you playing at? Shift your fat arse up so Gran can sit down" to be rude. You can be rude just by ignorant actions. And your family were. I don't know how you aren't seeing that.

We DID NOT ask anyone to move - we all could have fit comfortably on the table
Again; how?

Smallest child is only two and could have sat quite comfortably on my knee. Other child at the end which would have left a gap.

however it’s regulars that generally keep pubs going so that people like the op can turn up once in a blue moon to celebrate their special occasions. Lots of pubs have closed in recent years

I don't think OP was being wildly unreasonable. The people weren't eating and were sat at a table reserved for someone else after the time it was reserved for while the people who's table it was booked for were waiting for it. When we've been out to eat before we've been sat a table but told its reserved and need to be off by 8pm etc. The ppl already there could have gone and sat at the bar.

I wouldn't sweat it OP. You could have asked a staff member to get them to move but it's done now I wouldnt give it any more thought

What is actually wrong with you that you can't see how wrong you were?
Maybe they were ordering desert? Waiting to order after meal drinks?
You should have gone to staff for another table. The name on the table means nothing.
What if they had the same name!

Very bad manners & etiquette on your part I'm afraid. Speak to the staff first always.

It doesn't matter whether it was a reservation at the Hungry Horse, Wetherspoons or The Ivy. Your behaviour was ridiculous and you must realise that. You should have approached the manager (in the pink shirt) and told her you had arrived for your meal. No need to boot the other diners off the table. That was her job, she could have offered them coffee and liqueurs or dessert elsewhere in the restaurant.

I'm not a rude person, never have been and I have plenty of customer service experience

You may not generally be a rude person but in this case, you DID act rudely. You asked for opinions and people have given them. Noone is perfect and it doesnt reflect on your entire character as a person but it was rude on this occasion.

The question is whether the OP was unreasonable to leave after the manager had publicly told them off. I agree that speaking to a member of staff would have been wise. It does seem most likely that it was their table, as no other large table was visible ("tables for four"). If the previous customers were hanging around, they should have been moved on by 4.30. However, publicly castigating a customer for sitting at a table with their name on it, at the time stated on it, is not acceptable. A quiet word to clarify both sides of the story would have been appropriate. It seems the hangers on had left, so what was to be gained by humiliating the booked customer? The OP should not have spoken to the customers (even if they just asked to share), but the staff already should have, or should have seen the party arriving and taken the initiative to address the issue. So the OP did not follow correct procedures, but I think was harshly treated, and, for that reason, I fully understand why they walked out.

And yet you're Still arguing the Toss that you're behaviour wasn't wrong.

Why didn't you ask the staff where you were going to sit and let them move people around?

Imagine if every customer did this instead of waited to be seated there would be mayhem!

It would come across as very impatient and pushy op.

How do you know this?

Exactly this.