Wow! Restaurant has a BAN on babies and children!!! Post Reply

[Mum2Monkey]

Totally agree with you - until the Home House incident, it never even crossed my mind that there would be restaurants that wouldn't accept children..... Although, I went into Camden coffee house (is that what it is called - by the railway bridge in Balham) not long after it had opened. I went with my newborn and another mum and her newborn. Although we were served, despite our babies sleeping the whole 30 mins we were there, we were asked not to come back if we had our buggies with us (not sure if they meant our babies too!!) as they wanted to create an environment for people to work and read newspapers etc and we didn't fit the sort of establishment they were trying to create. I basically told them that I wouldn't be coming back if that's the way they treated customers and that they wouldn't do very well in Balham if they didn't welcome mothers ..... Although clearly I was wrong. However I still boycott Camden Coffee and have noticed you rarely (if ever) see children in there and so I guess they are still actively discouraging them.....

[papinian]

Mum2Monkey: Fair enough re buggies. They can take up a lot of room. I don't mind if places decide that they don't want them.

One point that I note, and indeed that I have noted before on this website, is that it's the "independent" establishments that treat parents and children badly. My experience is that large multiples/chains - often described as soulless or impersonal - are much friendlier.

[nellie65]

Thanks Papinian!!! Was starting to think I was in minority. If this had happened in Italy there would have been huge outcry and place probably picketed. Like you I have taken my daughter to the top places in Europe and never ever had that attitude - also at the Lanesborough Hotel in London my baby was treated like a Princess and they even gave her a free teddy bear, but the maitre de was Italian!!
Horrified by Soho House my friend just spent fortune on a baby shower TheRe - so are they happy to take your money before they are born but not after.

[Jen66]

Hmmm
In two minds about this.

You only have to read this site or walk in our area to see just how many 'baby friendly' cafes are going under right now.

If I were to open a café or restaurant I would do everything I could to make sure it wasn't hijacked by the mummy and buggy brigade as they are poison for business. They spend little money, hog tables and space and - most importantly - put the customers who WILL spend money off going in.

If I see a café full of babies and toddlers I walk on by.

I can also see that a Wapping based restaurant relies heavily on its city based clients. A bawling baby could see off many a loyal customer - customers buying alcohol (because that's where the money is.)
Yes, the mother was a regular, yes the baby was asleep but it would have woken up and it would have cried. And I think the type of mother who thinks she has the right to take her baby anywhere anytime is actually not the sort who will instantly leave the premises when the child starts making a noise - she'll think it's her right to stay.

I get the mother's upset but I totally get the restaurant's standpoint too. She should have arranged child care or gone to a more baby friendly environment where it wouldn't have mattered.

[claphamama]

I am Italian and I found some of the comments on the different cultures quite interesting. Yes, in Italy there isn't such a thing as children not allowed in restaurants. I went to a beautiful Michelin star restaurant in Rome once for dinner at 9 pm and a 2 year old screaming the place down almost ruined our night. I was shocked somebody could take a toddler out that late and in such a restaurant. The poor thing probably just wanted to sleep!
And just some food for thoughts...have you ever tried breastfeeding in public in Italy? Or changing a nappy? I doubt it as most toilets don't have changing facilities...
I think it's very civilized that in the same city you have the option to dine with kids or not. Yes, the policy should be clear upfront and I do find a bit crazy that a sleeping newborn counts as a child but at the end if you start making exceptions to the rules it's hard to keep control.

[supergirl]

I second Claphamama. I think London is the most child friendly capital because of all the things that you can do for kids and with kids in toe ie. child friendly matinees at the ROH, ENO, etc. But if you dont want to be surrounded by kids and/or babies you can too!
I love my kids, they re used to go to a lot of restaurants too but when i am out without them be it lunch or dinner or a week end away i book places which have a no children policy. As the previous poster said this make it for very civilised city!

I am sorry your friend was upset. Complain to the manager that you should have been told at the time of booking but dont dwell on it and go somewhere else next time. We have plenty to choose from how lucky is that?

[papinian]

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/m ... 48171.html

McDonalds branch attempted to ban teenagers. I thought teenagers were a core demographic for suburban McDonalds but there you go. Of course, it being the U.K. the McDonalds staff couldn't even manage to spell the wording on the sign correctly. I'm sure the teenagers were glad to hear that they wouldn't be "severed" after 7 p.m., especially given the level of knife crime in south London.

[Fergie1]

I have children and I agree with the restaurants terms.

If their trade is made up with business people having meeting during lunch time, then why jeopardise it with screaming children?

it is also a bonus that there is a place people can go without having to put up with badly educated children that ruin their meal because parents can't be bothered to teach them table manners. Im glad I know this place exists !

[elizad]

For what its worth they have details on the child policy on their website… Unless they have just put it up in response to the threat it does seem quite clear…thats not to say they couldn't have dealt with situation better..

http://www.smithsrestaurants.com/smiths ... carte.html

[peppa]

So the restaurant did actually accommodate you, despite going against their policy - and you still slated them on 'nappyvalleynet'! I'll bet they won't be letting any more babies in then...

[papinian]

But if you dont want to be surrounded by kids and/or babies you can too!

And if you don't want to be surrounded by old people - often a bit racist (20% UKIP support among over 65+) and a bit smelly (still living in personal hygiene standards of 1960s) - is it okay for them to be banned?

If their trade is made up with business people having meeting during lunch time, then why jeopardise it with screaming children?

it is also a bonus that there is a place people can go without having to put up with badly educated children that ruin their meal because parents can't be bothered to teach them table manners. Im glad I know this place exists !

I've no issue with parents and children being asked to leave if children are not behaving or screaming. However, lots of children are perfectly well-behaved. The sorts of arguments that are being used here in favour of establishments that ban children are the same ones that have kept women banned from establishments on the basis that "men prefer a place they can relax without women".

[dkm]

IThere are plenty of places for everyone to go to suit their own personal tastes.

I for one as a parent am very appreciative that there are family friendly establishments that are relaxing as a parent to go to knowing your children aren't going to get tutted at but also understand there are plenty of people out there men and women who for whatever reasons (including me) sometimes want to have a more grown up / not have to watch what their saying/ relaxing meal. Not everybody has to love children all the time!!I

I'm sure the ones wanting children to be allowed everywhere all the time are the same ones that would complain about childless adults having a coffee in a childrens softplay area (yes I know why would you) ..... Sittiing in playgrounds /blocking views in children's theatres etc. I do notice the further you go out of London the more family friendly restaurants become but - London is a big city accommodating a huge diverse group of people all using it for different reasons and some of them wanting to enjoy a child free social life and why shouldn't they

[supergirl]

@ Papinian:
I will give you the benefit of the doubt. But your comments to me are shocking.
Re-read my post and apologise.
For all the victims of discrimination and racism what you ve just said is inacceptable.

[papinian]

@ Papinian:
I will give you the benefit of the doubt. But your comments to me are shocking.
Re-read my post and apologise.
For all the victims of discrimination and racism what you ve just said is inacceptable.

Sorry that you are shocked. What would you like me to apologise for?

[Scottov]

@ Papinian:
I will give you the benefit of the doubt. But your comments to me are shocking.
Re-read my post and apologise.
For all the victims of discrimination and racism what you ve just said is inacceptable.

Sorry that you are shocked. What would you like me to apologise for?

<comment removed by moderator>

This business has done nothing wrong, and is fully entitled to enact legal policies about how they conduct their business without your notional approval. Equating the perfectly reasonable choice to elect to not be a family restaurant with banning people for their social and political views is asinine and pedantic.

I also note that this is in wapping, how many localised sites will this complaint be posted on?