We stopped for a cup of tea in Waitrose’s cafe in Bury St. Edmunds this morning. It’s a decent-sized cafe with quite a few tables and chairs. However, tables for four placed around the edges of the room were already taken by one person sitting at each table. Nobody sat at tables in the middle of the room. We stood at the back of the queue and waited to order our drinks. When anybody left their seat at a table around the edge, it was immediately taken by the next person waiting in the queue.
Sam and I sat in the middle of the room and came up with some theories as to why nobody wanted to sit in the middle:
- Feeling too exposed as though everyone else is looking at them?
- Their backs are against the wall and so they don’t have to worry about being attacked from behind?
- So that they can stare at the ones in the middle whilst they sit with smug expressions around the edges?
Would I have chosen a table around the edge if one had been available? Yes, I would have. It’s strange… I know I’m not going to be attacked sitting in a cafe in Bury St. Edmunds, but you do feel more exposed if you sit in the middle. A psychologist would have an explanation for all this, I’m sure. Vlad the Impaler has long gone, and I don’t have to look over my shoulder in case he’s coming, but I would automatically have nabbed a table around the edge, preferably in one corner.
I’ve noticed this phenomenon in other places too. We went into another cafe last week where our granddaughter works at weekends, and it was just the same – every table around the edge had been taken.
Do you go for a table around the edge of a room in a cafe/restaurant, or are you happy to sit in the middle?
Stevie Turner 
I think i also would have taken seat in one of the edges. 😉 In this village here it’s not only the place in the edges. Most of the etablissements are located in basements. Only this etablissements are best visited. No one wants to be seen by anyone. Lol xx Michael
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Basements? I wonder why?
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Reblogged this on https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks Michael for the re-blog.
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I think it’s the walk to the middle, passing other people, that makes sitting on the outside a first choice.
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Back to the wall or in a cosy booth. I am paranoid about sitting on a larger table, especially if by myself – sure that a family of four would turn up the minute I sat down. My characters in my novels always seem to head for the quiet corners, probably because they usually have a good reason to keep a low profile. I hate not being able to see what’s going on.
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I am the same regarding sitting on a larger table if I’m on my own. I have a character in one of my novels who always makes for the same table in the corner of a cafe, and is aghast when she sees somebody else sitting there!
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It’s lovely to see so much artwork in this Waitrose cafe….and maybe people sit towards the edge so that they can see the art on the other wall more clearly. I would do that:)
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Thanks for your comment, but unfortunately that’s not the cafe we went to, but just a free photo from Pexel to show tables and chairs.
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I am laughing. I thought it was an amazing Waitrose cafe….we can live in hope:)
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Lol. The Waitrose cafe is quite stark in comparison.
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Having seen a few Waitrose cafes…I. must say is why I was surprised:)
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A booth, preferably. Which are almost always around the perimeter. My wife hates sitting in the middle.
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The majority of us do, I think.
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Interesting observations, Stevie. I’m more of a sit-at-the-edge-of-the-room type of guy too.
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I’ll sit wherever tther’s a space Stevie, but I try not to occupy a table for 4 unless therre are a minimum of 3 of us there.My pet hate is solo artists at a table for 4 when there are smaller tables available.
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Yes, that is annoying.
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Here’s why I enjoy reading your blog so much: interesting topic of course, but you managed to get a Vlad the Impaler reference into a piece about where to sit when enjoying a cup of coffee and for that I say “bravo!”
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Lol, it’s why people sit with their backs to a wall.
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I think a person does feel more exposed sitting in the middle of a restaurant, but I would sit in the middle if it was the only option.
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I can’t remember the last time I went out to eat. Seriously …
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We don’t eat out much either, but this was just for a cup of tea. Food that is cooked by somebody else often doesn’t sit well in my stomach. I’m one of life’s allergic gals…
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Yeah, I like having control of my food, but I also don’t like paying the 300-500% mark-up.
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I have never thought about this, but I do look for window seats in any place that has them, so I can look at the view or people-watch. If not, I don’t really care where I sit, as long as it is not the table next to the toilet door. 🙂
I never sit with a stranger at a table. Too many nutters in this country to have to chance tolerating one.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes, to be able to gaze out of the window means that we do not have to look at anybody else in the cafe. We Brits are terribly reserved, lol.
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Yeah, tables around the edges feel more private, and if there is a window you can watch both the people outside and in the centre of the room. Double people watching.
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Lol! Thanks for commenting.
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Interesting. I have no problem sitting at a table in the middle, nor do I have a problem sharing a table with strangers if there is nowhere else to sit. I’ve met the nicest people that way. To be honest I just grab whatever table is available and never think about where it is situated.
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In the UK nobody would think of sharing a table with a stranger unless that absolutely had to! Thanks for your comment, Darlene.
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