Eating Own Food In A Cafe

[ichkeria]

Eating my own sandwich (with a locally purchased drink) in a local Tesco cafe today I was "told off" by the (presumably manager) as there is a sign up saying only food purchased on the premises etc. etc.
It later transpired that the lady who serves me at the till every day had obviously "shopped me" which I was a bit disappointed to discover as I go in there quite a lot for a drink (and eat nothing).

Are they being a little petty? I understand that they don't want to lose money but (aside from the point that it's rarely a choice between one's own food and theirs anyway for most people in practice) the cafe was practically empty.

Anyway tomorrow I will get my revenge by paying for my 70p milk shake with a £20 note :-)

[ichkeria]

"Put it this way if you had a cafe, and people bought their own stuff in there to eat and drink, you'd soon moan! "

Absolutely lover of spikey, but (and I know essentially it doesn't really change anything) but this isn't some little cafe somewhere it's a national franchise within Tesco. Mass catering that sort of thing.

[hc4361]

What difference does that make?

You go down with food poisoning after imbibing your 70p milkshake with your own snap - who gets the blame?
Who is clearing up your crumbs, waste food?

[ichkeria]

Er, I get the blame if it's my sandwiches...

[doctordb]

To sum up,

Milkshake is for children and regularly eating in tesco is sad.

[EcclesCake]

You also say everyday which implies you visit every day.

I now understand you mean every time you visit, I think that is what you mean anyway.

Put this one to bed, you are in the wrong, you know you are in the wrong and there isn't much of an argument to be had under those circumstances.

[sherrardk]

Still don't understand why you took a sandwich with you though.

[joko]

ichkeria - you sound ridiculous and petty - and a bit daft if you really think that this doesn't affect the cafe

[wildwood]

ichkeria "Er, I get the blame if it's my sandwiches..."

You don't think things through, do you? If you were to choke there eating your own sandwich your brief will still try to blame the cafe. Whatever, the bad press will certainly affect the patronage.

[bunkmoreland]

very odd choice of rebellion outing of yourself!

[wolf63]

Just as a matter of interest ichkeria - what does your wife think?


I can't say that I have ever considered eating my own food in any time of cafe. It would not be cost effective for any place to allow patrons to do so - they pay for all the heat, seats, staff etc but only sell drinks.

[aelmpvw]

re my post at 19.46 ... the landlord asked me to leave

[emmie]

you can't eat your own food there, nor in pub, restaurant, why do people think they can..

[emmie]

they won't care what you pay with, as long as you pay, sounds very petty i must say. I asked one couple to leave the pub i once worked in, for bringing in fish and chips, i ask you.

[aelmpvw]

it was a joke!

[mikey4444]

Never heard such nonsense ichkeria....of course they are in the right.

Why do some people ask such daft questions on AB ?

[888sally888]

I don't think this is acceptable behaviour taking your own food into a cafe at all.

[bednobs]

oh dear, i sometimes go with my colleagues to costa for lunch. It's too expensive for me so i take my salad or sandwich and eat it there (with a cuppa that i buy from costa) It's in waitrose, and sometmes i take a magazine from the supermarket in there too, read it and then leave it there.

[joko]

but you know that's wrong though don't you bednobs?

and presumably you wouldn't come on here all shocked with indignant outrage, threatening petty inconsequential revenges, because they told you to leave would you?



i personally don't particularly care if people eat their own food, but its the surprise, and the belief that its perfectly ok that i cant understand ... if you are going to do it, do it, but don't think that you have the 'right'.

[bednobs]

yes, i do know it's wrong at that they would be within their rights to ask me to stop (or, in fact, charge me for the mag!)

[ichkeria]

"f you were to choke there eating your own sandwich your brief will still try to blame the cafe"

My brief?? Please!! I don't go in for that sort of thing at all I'm afraid.

Anyway, just to conclude with an amusing story.
A few years ago I was with a couple of friends in the cafe of a large and very expensive hotel in our town. We'd ordered coffee and the waiter brought us nibbles as is apparently the way in such places. For reasons which are not relevant and too dull to explain, we happened to have with us a large (and it has to be said rather smelly) cheese purchased from a local farm. My friend, a regular in the cafe and a bit of a practical joker, decided to open the cheese and, to my alarm, suggested eating a bit. Reluctantly I agreed, but as soon as we'd started I noticed the waiter approaching our table. Fearing the worst and preparing to disown my mate (that's what friends are for!) I then heard the waiter asking us if we would like a knife.
We of course said yes.

Now that is class :-)