Oliver Bennett, from Oxford, wants to know what is the most irritating behaviour by waiters.

Over-effusiveness. Reading out the grossly poetic menu when you have it before you as though you cannot read for yourself. Repeatedly filling your glass before it is empty, and without being asked. Repeated injunctions to “enjoy your meal”. PH

Fred Buck, Hartlepool: “When they give you the bill.”

Anthony Roberts, Shoreham-by-Sea: “It is the waiter who refuses to have his eye caught when you want to pay the bill or order your meal.”

Miranda Spatchurst, Utopia: “The sort who advance on you with a pepper mill the size of a road drill and try to pollute every item of food with a black cloud.”

George Smith, Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire: “Spreading a napkin across your thighs and topping up your wineglass, whether you want more or not.”

John Walker, Staines: “A waiter who continually moves the condiments back to their original position.”

John Orchard, Stoke Poges: “Ignoring the customers.”

Readers are invited to send their responses to this week’s question by November 17. A selection will be printed in a fortnight.

If an elderly gentleman begins to snore, at a concert, should you wake him up?

Philippa Russell, Birmingham

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