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

[nellie65]

Well, just went to meet a friend at Smith's Restaurant in Wapping. She has a seven week old baby. Found her at reception desk looking very upset. Woman!!! in charge had taken one look at sleeping baby and told her 'We don't allow babies, or children in here!!' We had a booking for three of us.
I said 'Why?' she said it is 'company policy.'
Then went on to add 'We have a lot business meetings in here' Jesus is this the fifties!!
So yes you have a lot of business meetings with men who no doubt have wives at home looking after their children!
My friend pointed out she could understand if it was because toddlers etc can run about being noisy but her baby is seven weeks old, only wakes to be fed, and if she had cried my friend was quite prepared to go outside with her.
I was furious about the whole thing - the woman said the policy was on website, it is in tiny, tiny writing.
I said 'I'm going to post this on 'Nappy Valley' - at which point woman went off to see if she could find a 'quiet table out of the way' if it had been just me and my friend we would have left. Upshot, we all had a lovely meal, baby didn't wake once, or cry.......This is 2014!!! what a terrible, terrible way to treat mothers - why don't you just make it a Men's Club.

[dkm]

I think restaurants should have the liberty to decide what their children/baby policy is. There are plenty of restaurants that are accommodating but people without children/or parents on a child free date also appreciate a child free atmosphere sometimes as well. The beauty of living in a big city is that there are of options to suit everyone.

[Goldhawk]

It's quite clear on their website that they don't accept children
They should mention it when people book by phone though

[lindylindylindy]

'I'm going to post this on Nappy Valley' brilliant!

[snowpea]

Restaurants have a right to make these policies - not an issue.

Before and after children I quite like to go somewhere where they (children) are not! Equally enjoy those that welcome them.

[nellie65]

So on that basis - loads of other places to go to - do u also agree that breast feeding in coffee shops and restaurants as there are "plenty of Places that do allow" it.
Not that my friend was breast feeding she was bottle feeding.

[nellie65]

Sorry meant to say breast feeding Should be banned

[nellie65]

Now that looks bad -meant to say do you also agree that restaurants Should be allowed to ban breast feeding on basis that "plenty of other places that do"

[nannypj]

I'm a nanny who loves her job and work children dearly but the idea of child free places to eat and drink sound like heaven.

[nellie65]

Wow glad I'm half Italian and don't share the English view towards children not being welcome in some restaurants - my eight year daughter has gone to them since a baby and is beautifully behaved in them as a result. Respect that some places might prefer to be child free at night but lunchtime really!

[Pud1]

I think that the restaurant is being perfectly reasonable. Not everyone has children and there are plenty of people who would prefer a meal in an adult, child free zone. There are plenty of alternatives for young families.

[nellie65]

It wasnt a young family out for the day - it was a meeting with colleagues

[lindylindylindy]

As it's unusual for restaurants to be adults only, they should make this clearer with people who call to book for lunches or make it very clear on their website

Of course there's a time and a place to be away from children, but I share your sentiments Nellie...

[Mum2Monkey]

My friend had her hen party at Home House - when she booked it, they said my six week old baby would be welcome. I trapsed into town with a newborn, got there at 5pm and was told we couldn't come in as children are only welcome until 5pm ..... Given the booking was from 5pm, I have no idea why they said kids were welcome. I said I'd been travelling in for almost an hour and that my baby would sleep and I'd leave when baby woke up but they said it was "unsettling' for other customers to have a sleeping baby there. They wouldn't even let me pop in for a couple of mins to say hi to my friend and when I suggested I'd like to sit in the lobby to breastfeed my baby before making the hour journey home they were clearly unhappy - just ushered me out and I found a nearby Starbucks. Well, that's one private members club that I won't be joining!!!!!!!! I do sort of understand a no children rule
If it is very clearly publicised (although in this day and age it seems rather odd to have such a rule) , but I really do feel places should be sensible and if you have a sleeping baby and are willing to leave if they wake / make noise.

[papinian]

A good rule of thumb is that the more "English" an establishment the less welcome children are. Also, unless you're a fan of "school dinner"-type food, the more "English" an establishment the more likely it is that the food will be rubbish.

I have been in a Michelin starred restaurant in France on a Sunday where the 10/11 year old grandchildren of the owner were helping out (in a fun rather than a child slavery type of way). I have dined in a leading Paris restaurant to see in New Year's Eve (expensive) with lots of families and children.

If I had more time and money I would do a proper study on cultural splits among the English middle class, in particular that between those who want to spend 24/7 with their children and those who want as little contact with their children as possible. Such a big divide.