I do the same Renton  

Normally the plates and stuff are lifted before we leave the table ...but I always push my chair in 

agree 100% seen some very messy tables in morrisons sainsbury and Debenhams cafes -

I just can't walk away and have the attitude,

"Clean my mess - I made it - you clean it"

Feels so wrong - is it a British thing?

With a 4 yr old l always do clean up duty tbh

Not in restaurants, no.  I will stack plates for the waitress/waiter and put any spilled food etc on the plates.  If it's a place with trays like McDonalds etc then yes, I will take the tray to the bins and make sure my kids do the same.

I never leave stuff on the table of a self-clear restaurant/cafe/McDonalds, and I try to make things as easy as possible for waiting staff to clear in restaurants.

Its rude leaving an overly messy table 

p.s.  ... Sainty eats at McDon-alds  nah nah nah nah nah *runs*

I bloomin' don't  !!!

 Oh yeah?

Bet you secretly go down Tesco's and check the bargain bin too  

I checked the Sainsbury's "sell by" section just yesterday LOL

And that's another one - like vultures around the cheap section

You can see people's hesitance

It's just not the thing to do - scrabbling over cheap stuff !!!

Nowt wrong with a bargain  I've bought stacks of out of date food from these peeps before: http://www.approvedfood.co.uk/brands

Can't even pass a skip without having a quick glance   

Anything other than a can is a no-no for me

I'd clear in a Maccy D's but if anything other than coffee cups were left on the table by the time I left a restaurant I'd not be impressed with the service.. and no, I'd not try to clear the table.... what next?  Do the dishes?

There are some people in this world that have to. That remark is condescending.

Nuff said Sprout. 

Sainty... you been schooled!!!  

My thoughts exactly Kaffers

Me too Joe ... except that mine is in Waitrose

Reading my previous comment you'll see it's something I do myself

My point is only that's its uncomfortable and something we would all rather not do ... it's a British thing I think

I have an almost unique ability to eat a meal in any restaurant leaving the table as if no one had eaten a meal there.

It is never a problem for someone who always eats takeaway.

I was under the impression that all restaurant tables were self cleaning. I mean, each time I revisit the same restaurant the table is the very same as when I last visited.