£16 to take our child to a party!

[SteppingIntoSpring]

I am currently sat in a children's 4th birthday party with DH having had to pay SIXTEEN POUNDS to stay here with DD3.

We are 15miles from home so would be silly for one to go back. The party is in a farm park but at the indoor play area, the mother hosting the party is mortified as only one of the kids invited (all aged 3 or just 4) wanted their parents to stay. They mum had no idea you had to pay for parents too.

£8 to sit here, not use any facilities other than the loo and buy coffee seems a bit excessive to me. Surely most pre-schoolers want their parents to stay at parties? All the parents are .

AIBU to think that no mention of this charge from the establishment, £16 for entry, £4 for coffee and a gift make for a costly 2hrs on a Sunday morning given the parents have already paid for the party itself.

[monkeysox]

Wtaf that's ridiculous. Yanbu

[cuntycowfacemonkey]

If I was the mum I would have paid for one of you or at least bought you a coffee she's clearly not THAT mortified

[tobysmum77]

I think it is reasonable for you to pay for the sibling. But one parent per child was included when we did this type of party that seems odd to me.

[Throwingshadeagain]

That's seriously outrageous! .

[StopBoasting]

That's really awful. I'd be then then

[Iguessyourestuckwithme]

Why didnt one of you go home/shopping/out for coffee and pick the others up later

[ProcrastinatorGeneral]

The most I've ever had to pay as a parent in a playbarn is £1, £8 is mindboggling!

[Arcadia]

Ridiculous. My Dd went to a party at a very nice private health club the other day and ALL the parents were allowed to use the pool, spa, gym etc. for free whilst the party was going (2 hours!). The parents aren't even members themselves!

[Arcadia]

Parents of the birthday girl I mean!

[SteppingIntoSpring]

Toby her siblings are at church with grandparents. It is just DH and I plus 11 or 12 other parents. They have easily made an whopping £120 on parent entry and coffee alone before anyone buys a breakfast roll etc.

The attitude of the staff it we can go outside, see the animals etc. Erm, no we can't we are inside with our children!!!

[hazelnutlatte]

That's terrible! I went to a party at a farm park recently - one adult per child was included and the host was apologetic that both parents wouldn't be able to come! It was a great party and in the party bag we got a free ticket for another visit!
I think you should name and shame the place as it sounds like a total rip off - the poor party mum, I'm sure she wouldn't have booked if she had known.

[MisForMumNotMaid]

You've paid, you're there now can you make a day of it and enjoy the rest of the farm park afterwards? Could one of you get a hand stamped nip out and get a picnic?

I'd be a bit perplexed at £16 to sit and watch a party 15miles from home too.

[SteppingIntoSpring]

Iguess we are a 30mile round trip from home so that seemed silly. Only 6miles form nearest town but by the time one of us went, paid parking etc and found somewhere open at 10am on a Sunday it seemed daft. Going on holiday tonight so no shopping required.

[tobysmum77]

Oh sorry I thought you'd taken another child with you. That's ridiculous then, we had one adult per child free.....

[Griphook]

You must name the place so no one books it!

[wineandharibo]

Is it Marsh Farm in Essex? Exactly the same happened to me last year. After the party DD was too tired to go and see and the animals anyway!

[Pinkheart5915]

That is terrible. You'd think at least 1 parent per child would be included.
I wonder if the mum knew this was the case when she booked the party there? Strange choice of party venue it she did know in advance.

[SteppingIntoSpring]

No, the £8 is reduced entry for the duration of the party apparently!

Can't find any mention of it on their website. I won't name them but I will tell you I am currently on the Ayrshire coast.

[Kidnapped]

You may as well have a wander about and use the facilities for an hour. And then your DH can do it when you get back.

Or wait until the party is over and then all 3 of you spend a bit of time looking around.

No point sitting there seething.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

They must have a Facebook page or Twitter account. Name and shame! I've never been anywhere that charged parents just to sit there. So basically you've all had to pay admission just to sit at a party? The birthday mum is a bit dim if she didn't realise that everybody is charged admission.

[SteppingIntoSpring]

One parent per child would have been very reasonable but this is bonkers.

[Cocochoco]

The host should have paid for one parent per child

[HermioneWeasley]

I think that place have priced themselves out of the market!