To take a 3 year old to the Ritz at 17:30?

It depends on the 3 year old. My DS, yes, my DD, no way!

It depends on the child. I would - but my children are very well behaved.

What for? A sort of late afternoon tea? Probably ok if your child will sit and behave and just chug through the cakes.

However you have to acknowledge that it's an expensive treat for many people that they won't want spoiled by a young child running round or making a lot of noise. If he gets out of hand you need to be prepared to take him out.

For tea? If the child is well behaved and can sit for the duration (c. 90 minutes?), I don’t see why not? If they’re likely to run around/make a lot of noise etc, then that would be frowned upon, but if there are several adults and the child is good in restaurants etc, then I don’t see it would be a problem.

Depends on likely behaviour. It could be quite boring for the child tbh.

Pinning their hopes on it being open by then?

Very much depends on the child. Dd, absolutely. Ds? Probably not!

Depends on the child...I would take my Dd but not a hope in hell would I take my DS 🤣

I wouldn't have put mine in that situation, despite them being pretty good kids. It's fairly expensive and I wouldn't have been able to enjoy it fully trying to manage their behaviour. I'd rather have got a baby sitter. I'd also have been pissed off if another child had been anything but excellently behaved. And screens are strongly discouraged!

Dd2 yes, dd1 hell no!

Bathtime is 18:30, lights out at 19:00 generally does that mean they're likely to be tired and grumpy? 5.30 is witching hour here.

Very much depends on the child. My own would have been doing laps of the restaurant and being a pain in the arse at that age. My god daughter would sit there colouring and chatting for an hour or more and wouldn’t dream of playing up or leaving the table.

If I were paying through the teeth for tea at the Ritz and a 3 year old ruined it, I'd be fucking fizzing.

Who discourages the screens? The ritz itself?

Yes

Which April?
she'll be soooo much older by the time the Ritz reopens

I've just asked DH. His response:

It's a fucking mental idea.

If it’s witching hour then why would you even consider it? Nope.

Don't. You can't wear jeans so imagine a 3 year old (unless you can guarantee it being seen and not heard) would go down like a lead balloon.

I'm prey sure the ritz would ban screens. They have a very strict dress code.
I wouldn't dream of taking ds and he's great in restaurants because it would ruin a lovely expirence.