Cafe staff laid back about freeloaders

A snapshot sting at three Auckland eateries has revealed a laid-back attitude towards customers using their tables when they aren't buying anything.

However, it was a windy, overcast Auckland afternoon yesterday and staff from Cafe Bliss and Sierra Cafe on Ponsonby Rd and Andiamo in Herne Bay all said if they had been busier they might have tried to "move on" the Herald reporter, who sat for 20 minutes, eating a sandwich bought elsewhere at each spot.

Andrew Bell, owner of Andiamo, was more concerned about whether one of his staff had come to the table with an offer for drinks.

He has no rule about moving people on, having never had to do it, but said it would depend on the time of day, how busy the restaurant was and what people were eating.

"The seats out there are premium. People want to sit outside so we obviously have to look after our customers and if they're spending they're going to be our priority.

"We're pretty relaxed about it ... we don't make muffins. I'll say to them you're more than welcome to go to the bakery next door."

Sometimes people sat down with fish and chips, but that was rare and he had never had to ask someone to leave over it. Mr Bell pays the council $22 per year for each of the 18 chairs outside the restaurant.

A staff member at Sierra Cafe said people came into the cafe with food and drinks bought elsewhere "at least once a day".

A sign in the store advised people that only food and drinks bought there could be consumed there, and if people were sitting outside staff would politely inform them that if they bought something it would be appreciated.

Usually, customers went inside to order something.

Angela Henderson from Cafe Bliss said if a person sat down outside, they would be offered coffee, as was the case yesterday. "If there's nobody there we'll let them sit there but if it's busy we'll ask them to move on so we can seat our customers."