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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at my seat in restaurant?

216 replies

inkyspells · 15/01/2026 08:21

So last night me and partner went for a Indian meal for a belated birthday celebration.
Heard lots of good reviews but because there was just the two of us they put us on the two table (which was bang in the middle and people either side,no room to move etc )
I felt so uncomfortable the whole meal.
Felt like the other people watching us eating,couldn’t talk etc
I asked to move but they said “2 people is these tables “
Anyway il add a photo with arrow showing our table
abiu ? Or are these tables ridiculous
Bear in mind we have 2 curry’s ,2 cocktails ,2 rice ,a nan all on there and literally couldn’t move.

To be annoyed at my seat in restaurant?
OP posts:
Irememberwhenitwasallfieldsroundhere · 15/01/2026 12:58

I wouldn't have accepted that table, I'd have asked to move and if they said no, I'd have left.

Isobel201 · 15/01/2026 12:59

that is absurdly tight, I wouldn't have got through that gap. I know they're trying to fit in as many people as possible, but not to the extent you can't get in and out.

anotherside · 15/01/2026 13:01

Should have just left. I always follow the waiter to the suggested table but if I don’t like it I’ll just ask for somewhere else. If they say no then you can make a choice based on that.

EdgyLimeShark · 15/01/2026 13:05

Ooh yeah that’s awful. I’d of left.

Faceonthewrongfoot · 15/01/2026 13:05

Many years ago my boyfriend at the time booked us a Valentine's meal in a chain restaurant, and that was exactly how they had arranged their tables. Basically as many 'tables for 2' as they could cram in, virtually no gap between them. It felt like you were having a meal with the people either side of you. You couldn't have a conversation without both sides hearing all of it. One and only time I've ever eaten out on Valentine's day! It's just greedy and doesn't focus on the customer at all.

400rider · 15/01/2026 13:06

This isn’t respecting your privacy.
I went into Waterstones in Coventry for coffee. Identical set up! I felt uncomfortable even then because the students next to me were trying to discreetly have a row!

My husband would have made us leave, and I would have been glad with a takeaway

wishingonastar101 · 15/01/2026 13:08

you would literally be rubbing your butt through someones jalfrezi everytime you needed the loo!

GreyBeeplus3 · 15/01/2026 13:09

Well Inkyspells,
Next time you'll not be making that mistake ever again
Having done it this time

Idontjetwashthefucker · 15/01/2026 13:11

Fuck that shit, once I'm seated I'm not moving to let people in or to go to the toilet, not happening. If a customer needs to move to accommodate another, then the tables are too close

Sidebeforeself · 15/01/2026 13:12

But why the hell fid you sit there?! You can see it’s cramped even when empty. I cant understand why you went ahead with your meal, dropped £100 , and only complain about it on here afterwards! The more customers who refuse to dit there, the more they will realise they are losing money and need a different set up

Lisavanderpumpsdog · 15/01/2026 13:12

No it's shit. We had a similar situation at a place we'd been keen to try recently, although not quite as bad as we could still get in/out of our own table but the sound from all the other tables was so bad and overpowering that I couldn't wait to get out. We'd already ordered before the other people arrived, if I'd seen how it was before we sat down I wouldn't have stayed.
It's such a shame because the food was nice but I simply can not enjoy a meal like that so won't be going back.

Original poster
inkyspells · 15/01/2026 13:16

We only stayed because we had to leave our bank details on booking ..so if we had of left we would of been charged £20 as a no show fee
I did ask for another table but they said no
My partner was looking at me thinking I was going to cause a scene so I just sat down

OP posts:
TheDenimPoet · 15/01/2026 13:17

I hate sitting like that with the people I'm actually dining with - i.e. stuck in the middle without an easy way out.. never mind people I don't even know! That's absolutely bizarre.

snowmichael · 15/01/2026 13:19

Seems reasonable to seat two people at a table for two

Sidebeforeself · 15/01/2026 13:19

inkyspells · 15/01/2026 13:16

We only stayed because we had to leave our bank details on booking ..so if we had of left we would of been charged £20 as a no show fee
I did ask for another table but they said no
My partner was looking at me thinking I was going to cause a scene so I just sat down

You can’t be charged as a no show when you’ve turned up. You don’t need to cause a seen. You can be polite and smiley and explain the problem.

VioletandMauve · 15/01/2026 13:22

snowmichael · 15/01/2026 13:19

Seems reasonable to seat two people at a table for two

That wasn’t the issue 🙄 - the issue was because the 2 seater tables were packed in so close to each other

IrishAnge · 15/01/2026 13:27

Hmmm.... Not comfortable at all! As many others have posted, I would have left and gone somewhere else....

Dollyfloss · 15/01/2026 13:29

How did you go to the toilet??? That’s mad!🤣🤣🤣

KarmenPQZ · 15/01/2026 13:33

If all the tables were full the. It is what it is and that’s the ambiance you’re paying for. If there were three tables at the other side all empty then they were being unreasonable sitting you all together.

Waitfortheguinness · 15/01/2026 13:36

I remember years ago for valentines night we went to a local Thai restaurant. Obviously places are reasonably full but our table, pre booked, was stuck virtually on the end of another table..I mean literally with about 2-3 inches space.
we felt as if we had joined complete strangers for their meal. They looked as awkward as we felt. Anyway whilst ordering we noticed another table leaving and asked to have theirs, staff were a bit put out as it meant relaying it etc but we said this table wasn’t appropriate. As we moved the people we were imposed upon whispered a thankyou…so everyone was happy in the end.
sometimes I do wonder if restaurants actually think sometimes - although I understand needing to max the earrings…….

Brefugee · 15/01/2026 13:38

many years ago i used to subscribe to a travel/gourmet magazine. One of the columnists once said that to ensure good service every time, the first thing to do is ask not to have the table they allocate you and to pick another one.

You are immediately marked down as a bit fussy and any good restaurant will want that to be your last complaint.

Wheresthebeach · 15/01/2026 13:43

Looks like typical set up for London restaurants.

Minniliscious · 15/01/2026 13:49

We went to a Marco Pierre White restaurant and they seated us exactly like this! We were on a Groupon voucher so all the voucher people got the crap seats.

I ended up knocking a large glass of wine over the lady next to me!

housethatbuiltme · 15/01/2026 13:50

I think YABU about being watched and unable to talk, no one cares enough to watch or listen to you even if they are sat right next to you.

I think YANBU about the size of the table for that sort of meal, it would be fine size wise as a single plated meal and drink but if its the type of food that comes in lots of little plates/bowls then it needs space for those to be placed.

Curious how do you get into the bench seat? Seems it would be better as 2 tables of 4 with a entry gap than 4 tables of 2 with like 15cm between them.

eastegg · 15/01/2026 13:51

Some things about Covid were good.

It’s an absolute pisstake and I’m quite annoyed that you didn’t put your foot down.

Hiw many times did you all have to stand up to let people in and out? You’ve said you did it to let the table on the right out, but then presumably you did it again after new people came in? And then toilet visits? Absolutely awful to make their customers feel so uncomfortable about needing the toilet.

I think I’d have had a coughing fit to demonstrate how shit the set up is. Somebody needed to take a stand.