A woman asked two older men to leave her table at a busy pub in the UK, and the internet has decided she was entirely within her rights. The story comes from the popular subreddit Am I the Asshole, where a 23-year-old poster named u/Puzzleheaded_Sir_640 described an uncomfortable encounter that left her wondering whether she had crossed a line.
Here is how it unfolded.
Booth Choice at the Pub
The woman and her friend, both in their twenties, had not seen each other in two to three weeks because of full-time jobs. They went to a Wetherspoons pub — a chain of establishments in the UK — to catch up. The pub was crowded, but a few tables remained open when they arrived.
They chose a booth-type table that could seat four people. Their plan was simple: if a larger group needed the space, they would move or share. The two women placed their orders for food and drinks before settling in.
Then came the two older men. The poster estimated they were in their seventies or eighties. One put his coat on the chair opposite her, and the other slid into the booth beside her. One of them remarked, “Boy, it’s so busy today.”
The Coats and the Coat
The women noticed that another table had just opened up behind them. They were already seated, with food and drinks ordered, and they wanted a quiet evening together. The man beside the poster said his friend and he were also getting food.
Eventually, his friend pulled up his coat and said, “Come on, it’s clear they don’t want us here.” The two men left, and the women finished their meal.
The post drew 2,400 upvotes as of publication. Commenters largely agreed that the woman had done nothing wrong.
What the Internet Said
“It’s basic politeness to ask before joining someone’s table,” one commenter wrote. Another noted that sharing tables is normal when a pub is genuinely full, but the men should have asked first.
Many commenters distinguished between communal seating, which is common at some UK pubs, and taking a booth that was already occupied by another group without asking. They argued that the men chose to sit directly beside the women rather than picking an empty table, which made the situation uncomfortable.
The OP later explained that she was going through personal difficulties and wanted a quiet evening with her friend. She also said the booth was right-angled, which made her feel confined when one of the men sat down next to her.
She added that she later found a section of seating blocked from view from their booth. That area had plenty of open seats, meaning the men could have easily sat elsewhere.
Comparing the Situations
| Situation | Key Detail | Commenter View |
|---|---|---|
| Communal seating | Shared tables are common in some UK pubs | Normal when a pub is full |
| Occupied booth | Already seated women, food ordered | Should have asked first |
| Empty table nearby | Plenty of open seats | Men chose an uncomfortable arrangement |
The distinction matters. In a pub with communal tables, sharing is part of the social atmosphere. But that does not mean anyone can take a table where a group has already settled.
The men saw an open spot and claimed it without checking whether anyone else was using it. The women had already settled in, ordered food, and wanted a quiet evening. The men’s response — moving only after one of them recognized the discomfort — suggests they understood the situation better than they acted.
The Verdict From the Internet
The subreddit’s consensus is clear: the woman was not rude. Asking before joining someone’s table is basic politeness, and the men should have shown it.
The women got their quiet evening, and the internet has spoken. It said the woman was in the right.
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