Clearing Tables - It's a part of your job - An Explanation

So, this is not a gripe, well perhaps it’s a little one, it’s more of a request, to the owners who employ, the managers who manage and all-importantly, the staff who work in any part (but mainly cafes) of the hospitality industry where tables need to be cleared.

Personally for me, working in the hospitality industry is a joy, I love it, it’s so exciting. Working as a waiter back in the day, where turning tables not only ensured a higher tip pot at the end of the day, but also having the pride of being quick, fast and efficient and providing your customers with not just service, but actual hospitality was such an brilliant and challenging part of the job, and part of what I enjoyed so much.

However, the cafe format prevalent in the UK where we serve from a counter and then deliver the food to the table, or allow the guests to take it themselves, as opposed to Australia for example where they have section waiters, appears to allow staff to get away with ‘standing’ behind the counter and not completing the basic task of clearing tables at a minimum of within two minutes of the customer finishing their food/drink. This is, quite simply, not good enough.

If you work as a section waiter, you know that clearing the tables is a simple principle of your responsibilities and if you fail at this, you fail as a waiter.

If you work as a cafe staff member, you should also know that clearing tables is a simple principle of your responsibilities.

But it breaks my heart to see, so many times, places where this does not happen. For the owners who have invested so much, to the managers who are trying to manage and the service staff who simply, it appears, do not care.

At Kaffeine, our service staff have priorities which are instilled as part of the job description.

Priority one: Serve customers

Priority two: Ensure our display is beautiful, appetizing and clean

Priority three: Clear tables and provide water to guests

Priority four: Restock your section (cutlery,crockery etc)

With up to three service staff working at any one time, we do not have any excuse not to fulfil these priorities and we work very hard to ensure we do not fall behind, even as one of the busiest cafes in the UK. If we ever do, please feel free to tell us.

Cafes are in the Hospitality industry. In this industry, we provide hospitality and we provide service, and it is a lot, lot more than just standing behind a counter having a chat to your mates. So please, put clearing tables at the top of your priorities and not only enjoy working in your industry, have some pride in it.

Peter Dore-Smith
Director
Kaffeine Ltd
66 Great Titchfield st.
15 Eastcastle st.