To think that campers in cafes are really, really annoying?

[LinnettdeBelleforte]

By 'campers' I mean people who sit for ages and ages after they have finished their drinks, either talking on the phone or on zoom on their laptops, or just chatting, while other people are wanting to sit down?
I was in a coffee shop today which is quite small and very popular. It's a bit cramped, but beautifully furnished, spotlessly clean, the coffee is great and the staff are lovely, so it's always heaving. I dropped in for a quick one this afternoon to find it heaving, so I said I'd wait for a table. There were four tables of people who were just sitting with empty cups. I waited for ten minutes and was about to give up when finally one couple got up and left. I then grabbed the table, which I shared with two gentlemen who had also been waiting. The woman next to us who had also been camping took the hint after about five minutes and left. I ordered my coffee and drank it over the course of about fifteen minutes. Over that time, one man was sitting on his laptop with an empty mug the whole time, one girl on her phone was the same. People kept coming in and then giving up, I drank up and left. The staff kept looking meaningfully at the campers who just blanked them. If I had been running the place, I would have a notice saying that at busy periods, people are required to vacate the table if they are not ordering.

Read back your own post. Consumed. As in past tense. There is no reason to continue to sit for ages once you've finished your food/drink and decent people wouldn't carry on lounging around in a busy cafe.

I agree with the OP. It is the entitled and non-spending customers who will bring about the end of cafes generally and that would be a shame. Whatever measures the owners want to put in place to prevent that are welcome as far as I'm concerned.

You appear consumed with negativity about paying customers!

You just appear a bit confused? You're not a tenant just because you've shelled out for a coffee. Move!

Well don't worry, I wasn't enjoying my experience standing there with food and drink I'd paid for with no seat.

The comment you responded to has to win for being the most whiny and ridiculous on the whole thread!

Yes, and I would have spoken up if they hadn't moved eventually. However, what is known as a 'speaking glance' can work wonders. I have an epically expressive face which comes in handy in these situations.

I walk into a cafe, check for a seat, then order. No seat available? I leave and go where I can sit down. Unless it's just coffee. I can take that away. There's no need to stand there with food.

She didn't need to stand there, if the CF hadn't been rude about sharing a table. I am so over people like that. If it had been a reasonable sized table I wouldn't even have asked, if the cafe was busy and people were circling.

Your glancing would only make it entertaining for me to piss you off. I'd stay there longer, order another coffee if I had to.

Like the time someone was rudely gesturing because I wasn't leaving my car park fast enough for them. I was sorting out kids and car seats. I plonked myself in the driver seat when I was done and pretended to make a phone call. They drove off in a huff. It was very satisfying.

Oh yeah, sharing a table, no problem with that. Just don't try to make conversation with me if I have my nose in a book. :-)

As I say, in the situation that @washingsomuchwashing was talking about, I would not have asked you. If you were sitting alone at a table for four (or even one for two or three if the place was that crowded) I might have asked if anyone else was sitting there, but then I would have just sat down. That is quite common in department store/bookstore cafes.

Yes, I meant sharing a table. And no, I certainly wouldn't try to chat! That would be cheeky. I want a place to sit, not to make others socialise with me.

It's not done in my area but I think people should do it. I don't think I'd welcome it if I was on a date with my DH or having a catch up with a friend, but fine on my own as I don't need privacy. And I don't want to sit next to kids who can't sit there quietly. But there are ways of dealing with that.

Worst. Café owner. Ever.

That's debateable. It doesn't have to be a case of a cafe owner glaring and making threats. A simple sign banning laptops and table hogging during busy times would suffice.

Indeed. I am thinking of places like Foyles, which have a lot of largeish communal tables (so not the sort of place you would go if you were on a romantic date)

I would say that's a pretty aggressive vibe for a cafe. More so an independent one. People want to feel welcomed and encouraged to make multiple purchases. Unless of course you run the borstal that @LyingWitchInTheWardrobe does. She sprays all customers down with cold water if they linger too long by the pastries also.

The bottom line is, if you don't book a table at a cafe (like I always do or there's no guarantee of a table), it's luck whether you get one or not. No table, oh well, move on with your day. In the scheme of life, this is a pretty minor thing.

I completely agree with you. I've worked remotely for donkeys years (before Digital Nomad was a term) and have spent countless hours working in lovely little cafés with good Wi-Fi.

But I've always been careful to spend a lot, invite people to share my table, and bugger off at peak busy times. It doesn't take much effort to find a balance so everyone wins.

That's because you have manners! You are welcome at my virtual cafe. One or two others on this thread would not be.

One local cafe I love is like a library some mornings - one person per table, laptop and work spread out, often with empty cups... and silence. I go in to take a break from wfh, have a cuppa and a chat with whichever friend can join me. I feel like I'm the problem because I want to talk to my friend!

I occasionally use a cafe for Zoom meetings when I'm on the road, but always buy a coffee and treat, respect my neighbours, and don't take the p*$$.

Why are you @-ing me? I'm not the slightest bit interested in your moronic posts.

I get annoyed with people working on laptops in cafes.
It’s equally annoying when you go to a cafe with three friends and all the tables for four are occupied by one person 🙄

Similarly I fume when people get a table before getting their self service drinks ... So i can be left holding a tray like a lost soul while someone just sits there like a lemon.
And don't get me started on people who mutter and moan under their breath when I say please budge up we need to share your table as there are none empty and the two of you don't need a table for six.

Wankers who hog a good table in the pub with just empty glasses in front of them. Cannot abide it