to have created a scene in Chez Gerard

Isn't it the same as most things - the chains could not care less but the smaller independents are so much better and friendlier. T'ton has so many lovely independent cafe and restaurants and the cafe at the market in HHill - you can't get in there for tripping over the buggies! Try Pet Aub - they have been known to cook "off menu" for my v v fussy DD in the lunchtime rush.

Ok, so if there is an issue with prams then what about wheelchairs? Are they going to ask people to fold up their wheelchairs and put them in the corner cos they are a health hazard?

I have to agree with Minim - although it sounds like the manager was a bit strong-handed, there may be any number of reasons for their policy. There is also the danger of hot drinks and food etc being knocked off plates etc.
On the flip side - I used to work as a waitress in a family-friendly restaurant when I was at university and it was an absolute nightmare as parents don't watch their kids and we were running around with plates of hot food, steak knives etc - not fun trying to dodge kids. I understand your point about your lo being small and not about to cause a fuss, but then where do they draw the line? - The point about the high chair may well have been just to provide some place for the child that would not be in the way IYSWIM

What a load of bollocks. The manager just sounds like a jobsworth and an arse. Ive never even heard of Chez Gerard, but it sounds like something off a soap opera.

Is in not conceivable that the restaurant management have their hands somewhat tied by health and safety guidelines relating to fire escape routes, licensing restrictions, Disability Discrimination Act access issues, Gangway widths for carrying hot plates etc, storage restrictions on site and many other customers who would be keen to see this new business become a little more of an adult haunt... I have two small children but am glad of somewhere to hideaway with friends without the kids around... rare though it may be! There are other places that are able to accept buggies so there are plenty of options.

Brasserie Chez Gerard has brought something new to our suburban high street recently and is probably struggling to strike a happy balance between the needs of all of its exisiting and new customers... some of whom like me are pleased not to have to stay in the City to enjoy Chez Gerard...

Having worked in similar businesses I am aware of some of the Nanny State issues that are imposed on restaurants...

Give them a chance and accept that it is not a Charlie Chalks Fun Factory that has been created... for which we are probably all grateful! And remember this poor guy probably had no intention of upsetting anyone but was trying to be fair and honest... As you said, if you had folded the buggy there would have been no issues...

Confrontations by Mums in circumstances like this do the Mum population no favours... So maybe we can all be a little less damning of someone doing thier job and probably not being greatly rewarded for it!

margoandjerry have you contacted Chez Gerard, it could be the best form of revenge upon the jerk of a manager ?

Sounds like this guy was just lookin for an excuse to be rude to someone.
My mum once rang up an optician on my behalf to tell them i hadnt receieved my contact lenses. The guy on the other end was REALLY rude. He accused her of trying to get free contact lenses and that they get a lot of people pretending not to have received their lenses. You get the picture!
ANyway my mum rang up the next day to complain and found out that the man was just working out his redundancy, but they were really apologetic and said the matter was being dealt with. I wonder where he is now.....

I'd make a fuss.
First I'd ask to see the piece of paper where that's written. I would be sarcastic about his inability to produce it, in a voice just slightly louder than necessary.

I'd ask for the number of head office (whilst standing in the entrance), and ring them up whilst the manager waited.
Make sure you have the name of the manager.

I'd ask for customer relations, and see if it really is "company policy". I'd bet money it ain't.
You want to speak to Mary Anne on
0207 881 8882

Also big firms care a lot about their image, and MN has a lot of readers these days...

Feel free to point her at this thread.
I'm sure we can keep it bumped and visible for a good while ;)

Maybe he said it cause they might get alot of noisy children in and had complaints?

I have got the wagamama cook book, I just havent got round to going there yet. I like Raphaels as well,butwithout the kids, its a bit of a tight squeeze with a pushchair.

Another vote for Cafe Rouge in Bath powder 28 - also Waggamama's on corner of George St and Broad St and Marmaris on Grand Parade and Il Bottellino's !!

Cafe Rouge in Bath are really good if you have kids, they give the kids balloons etc and the staff always remember you.

I'm not so keen on children being in resturants but it sounds like the manager was just being an ass. If the baby was asleep and the place wasn't busy then he should have just let you sit down and eat there. Its not like you had a hypo toddler running about causing havoc.

ha! thought you must live where I do (clocked it in your opening post!)

I haven't been there yet (but will be doing so soon) - got the verdict this morning from another mum who told me they had a child's menu and were reasonably child friendly but she felt they were doing it because they have to (because around here, you need to be really) rather than because they wanted to be.

Also, if you haven't been to the Italian further down the road (beginning with S), apparently they are usually far more child friendly (mine are older now so can't comment on the buggy friendliness!).

My husband and I and 4 month old baby got chucked out of a W@th@rsp@@ns pub as they "weren't licensed to allow children". We could easily walked out and gone elsewhere, but my husband had already bought our drinks inside and taken them outside onto the terrace, and had already started drinking when the manager ordered us to leave. We asked for our money back but he refused. I think it was a bit off that they took the money for the drinks but refused to give us our money back when they realised we had a baby. This was in the early afternoon, by the way, and the pub was nearly empty!

oh it was 'all bar one' btw

I got thrown out of a chain bar once because I walked in with a sleeping 2 month old in a sling around me .. they had a 'no children allowed' policy

What a crap experience, I'd still be fuming too. They may as well have told you straight we don't want Mums and kids in here.
I've just got back from Turkey and the different attitude towards children is mindblowing, they actually like them!!!!!

If CG want to discourage the family element, they shouldn't advertise children's menu + play pack!

I agree about the cafe Titchy - many swear by it. Red Peppers and Bar Estilo in Esher also v welcoming to children and babies.

Our Cafe Uno do this, very unfamilyfriendly. Cafe Rouge on the other hand have always been most accommodating, when ds was tiny you did not even have to ask for a warm jug of water to warm the bottle they would just bring it out and would take your food and reheat it if they could see you were busy with baby, one of the waiters even walked around with ds to give me chance to finish my meal.

Duet - yes that's the one I was referring too! The caff just by the car park much friendslier and better value! Saw Max Clifford in there too dontcha know!

Not unreasonable at all - makes me mad when restaurants do this. Make as big a fuss as you have the time and effort to. At least get the idiot FOH manager in trouble with any luck.

Oh great they are coming to Farnham......I was looking forward to it. Now I can hardly wait [insert sarcasm]