Who was in the wrong - bakery or me?

[Doijb]

I take my kids to a bakery after swimming. Most of the time they choose sausage rolls or similar. There is a tiny table with two chairs. I plop one of my kids on my lap and we eat our treat. I prefer this as otherwise the flakes would go everywhere.

Anyway, after going every week to this place for a year one of the staff members tells me we’re not really a sit down food place. I inquire about the chairs and she said it’s more for people who wait.

I just found this odd. My kids are brilliantly behaved and I make sure not loud. My oldest will wipe down the table with a serviette.

Who is being weird?

You are being weird OP I am afraid. Odd thread.

Unless she was rude about it I don’t get what the issue is. You misunderstood that it was a sit in place and she informed you that it wasn’t. Don’t understand what is odd about that

As others have said there are implications linked to sit in places and they obviously have chosen to be takeaway only

Remember the uproar about 'pasty tax' 😂

The table makes it look like it’s for sitting in. Takeaways usually just have a row of chairs for waiting people.

I think they made a slight mistake by putting a table there if they didn’t want people to eat in.
chairs would be acceptable for people to wait, if they had mobility issues or similar.
Perhaps they need a sign.

I’m not a rude arsehole. Obviously I would get one of the kids out of their seats if a disabled person or
elderly person came in. Never happened though.

Just find a bench to eat the food on. They politely told you that the table isn't for eating your purchases at. Whilst you are there it can't be used for its intended purpose. It sounds like it isn't big enough for people to hang about in and they don't want you to sit there.

I think you are weird for starting a thread about it, as the whole thing was a misunderstanding that has now been resolved. Though I do think they should remove the table if it’s just for waiting, and perhaps line the chairs up waiting room style. A table does suggest eating and they will keep having to having to use a broom to chase away diners or Victorian ladies who sporadically settle to write letters!

I don't think either you or the bakery were in the wrong, @Doijb - you saw the table and chairs and assumed you could eat your sausage rolls at them, and the bakery politely told you that they were just there for people waiting, not for people to 'eat in'. You were considerate in the way you used the table (cleaning it with a napkin, being prepared to move if someone elderly needed it).

The bakery would have been in the wrong if they had been rude or angry, and you would be in the wrong if you insisted on carrying on using the table to eat your sausage rolls.

And you are 100% in the wrong, because now I want a sausage roll, and there aren't any in the house!😉😪

That's a good point; the table shouldn't be there if the chairs are just for waiting.

OP listen to them and to the posters on here. Shops have to charge more if you eat on the premises - you are benefiting from the takeaway price and being a pain.

No one is being weird, it’s just a misunderstanding about the purpose of the table.

No one is being weird. You thought it was seating you could use but apparently it's for waiting customers. The staff member told you. Probably time to find somewhere else if you want to sit in and eat.

Or simply remove the table.

We have seating and a table in our local Chinese takeaway, I wouldn't eat there - so I think you're in the wrong

You have mistaken the use of the table and chairs. The prices are 'take-away' and you are expected to do this. The bakery has indulged you for 12 mths but has now explained that they do not do 'eat-in' - not only would prices be higher, but regulations are different if people are eating in the bakery. Say, 'thank you for explaining', and take your treats outside - find a bench or something.

That table is taking up valuable space that could have accommodated one or even two chairs for weary waiting customers. What were they thinking?

What are the customers waiting for, though? It doesn't take long to serve baked goods.

No-one eats in a bakery . Especially when it's just got 2 chairs and a table. It's obviously for when it's busy and some people may not be able to stand for long .
Go to a cafe if you want to sit in and eat

Why would people who are waiting need a table? If it was just chairs then yes I'd assume they were for people waiting but put a table there and I'd think that it was for people to you know use the table.

I have seen tables. People waiting put bags on them etc. But it's odd. Bakery maybe would be advised to remove the table?

We eat in our local bakery, they bring our food over on a plate and we have drinks although I confess they have four chairs and a table so probably totally different.

It's a VAT thing that's why they ask if you're eating in or taking it away.

But you'd just put a small bag on your lap or a bigger one on the floor. Surely a table indicates you can put food on it?

I mean… who asks if they are allowed to sit down when they are in a place selling food and there is a table and chairs??

Not all disabilities are visible. Would you be able to tell if a person was being treated for cancer.