sitting in costa coffee

[IveGotToGoToMeDads]

Went to costa coffee ordered drinks, sandwiches & cake. Myself & partner said we will eat in rather than take away. Place was full most seats were taken apart from a four seater table where some woman was sat. I asked if the seats on her table were taken and she said we can not sit on her table as she is with her DS.
In the end a chinese couple offered their seats and we eventually got a seat.
AIBU expecting a seat on womans table for me and my partner as no one was sat in them?

I don't know why you keep bleating on about "essential experiences" - what do you deem, "essential"?

You don't have to "impose" yourself either. You can ask, "do you mind if I sit here?", you can keep your distance from the other person and you can respect their privacy by not engaging them in conversation.

How the hell are they not "public places"??? They get their business from, oh, the public!!??

The only thing anyone left to say now is that when they attend a cafe they demand the staff shoo all the other customers out and lock the doors just in case someone had the temerity to breathe within 50ft of them. Once served with their required refreshments then the staff have to fuck off too.

That does not mean it's not a public place though!!

And I guess people also have to abide by what the airline staff, the train conductors, the bus drivers tell them to do too.

That's not how you distinguish what is and what is not a public space. A public place is anywhere that is open to the public!

Costa is not a private place or public.
It is a cafe. You go there and buy a drink. No seat? Poor you.

CAFES BY THEIR VERY NATURE ARE PUBLIC SPACES!!!

How in the name of all that's holy would any food establishment operate without the support of members of the public??

FFS!! I despair!!

And whether you like it or not, a vacant seat is fair game. No one customer is any more entitled than another!

No, they are private businesses. They are not public spaces at all. They do not owe anyone a seat.
The empty seat opposite me is not a public space. I have said on this thread that I am ND have MH issues... so if I am sat alone and needing my space, I NEED my space. Don't be a cock and insist in sitting with me.

OMG listen to yourself! Who do you think uses them? They are privately owned businesses but frequented by the public!!

Do you think you have to have a membership? Be vetted? Join a club?

(bangs head off brick wall)

They’re private businesses that allow the public in based on their rules (e.g.paying for your meal and obeying the rules).

I have a card that I put on the table that says I need space.
BTW, my local Costa knows me, and has done for years. The have been fab with my issues, and will prob tell entitled folk like you bugger off if there was a conflict.

Which begs the question why are you putting yourself in a position where you might be upset by someone else who has also paid to attend the space?

Pretty much everywhere in the UK is owned by someone or some organisation all whom have rules.

Because I am allowed to go out and enjoy the space too.
You are implying that I should stay at home so I don't get triggered. No.
I spent YEARS at home because of people thinking like you. Never again.

I wasn't suggesting that you shouldn't go out at all. I was wondering if it puts you in such a bad place why you do it, you've now answered that.

Still it's nice to know you feel free to try and insult me and suggest I am the problem. Truely that came from your mind not mine you chose to read things that were never there nor even inferred.

They wouldn't have any customers if they didn't allow the public in!

Excuse me - how am I "entitled" precisely?

All I have done is correct your assertion that Costas aren't private spaces?

You don't need to worry about me anyway - I wouldn't darken the door of a Costa so I am most unlikely to encounter you lol!

At my favourite restaurant in Brussels there’s usually a queue. It moves fast as you get in and are placed at tables with others, depending on how many you are. You don’t need to strike up a conversation with the others. The place is busy and cheerful. It’s the same in the UK in museum cafes, or maybe I’m thick skinned and don’t notice or hear the disapproval.

There is a scale.

Utilitarian place like a lunch canteen at the busiest time? Share.
Leisurely place like ice cream shop? Nope.

And, as every system it has exceptions. Ice cream shop in heavy rain? Share.

Sandwich in Costa is somewhere in the middle. Ok to ask, but accept no as an answer.

I was on my own in Costa. I couldn't save a seat and queue. I sat on a big table for about 8 people on my own as there were no other seats. Lots of other people joined me on the table. It's not rude to do this at all. I would not expect anyone to stand just so I could have a table to myself. I expect this to happen. If there were lots of other seats available and someone came and sat by me I would find that uncomfortable.

I wonder if there was something in your tone that disinclined the customer from sharing with you. Your description of 'a... table where some woman was sat' sounds pretty dismissive of her. Most people would describe a stranger in this situation as a lady or another customer. Yes it's only words but words matter and they are revealing.

Reform voter goes to Costa

Me three.

Whenever I read threads like this I always think that most of what people are saying is a load of bullshit. I’ll always look for a spare table but am definitely in the camp that it’s fine to share if required. In Disney World last year, we shared a couple of times and are now FB friends with a family from Washington who we met in Epcot 🤷‍♀️

I would bet that most of the people grandly saying that they’d say ‘no’ to people wouldn’t in real life. You might be miffed but I bet you’d still let them.

It doesn’t take a lot to be nice and remember the following:

• No-one is listening into your conversation. I’m far more interested in my life than yours 🤷‍♀️
• If they do try to engage with you more than you’d like, it’s OK to just say you’d like some quiet time.

The Police!! How did I miss that one?? People on here are batshit crazy sometimes all the time.