No shows at birthday party

Unless I desperately needed the money back I'd leave it. I'm presuming the food you ordered for them did get eaten? I hope it wouldn't just have been binned?
The mum did apologise. But the fact she forgot is a bit lame. If it was illness or something then fine, but I'd not invite them to anything else if the mum is that scatty.
If your kid goes to their party, maybe just bring a slightly less expensive gift to recoup a bit of the cost for the no-show?

This

£11 extra for what- vegan nuggets instead of regular?

£11 for special food? What the heck was it?
Just suck it up. Though aren't there places where you give an estimate of kids then pay for the number that show up? I'm sure that's what I used to do.

Anyone else hoping the cheeky fucker parent sees this 😂

Gawd, this is one part of my kids growing up I do not miss!
Some parents are just arseholes who can't be bothered to reply.
One of my kids has their birthday in August. So invites had to go out mid July latest before schools broke up
No end of inconsiderate twats who couldn't even let you know if they could make it, but you still had to put a deposit down on them anyways at most soft play centres.
YANBU (although I used to just suck it up and seethe instead lol, if you can send them a bill I applaud you 😁)

It is so rude, OP. But don't say anything, don't invite them again.

I had the same. People ignoring the invite, not showing up when they had confirmed they would.

Turned out to be the best party of the year. Parents still talking about it. Another is planned, but will they be invited? HELL NO!!! Am i smug? YES!

People need to learn manners. At the end of the day, it'll be their kids crying because the parent thought my child wasn't good enough. Karma is sweet

People are weird these days - yes they are responsible. They said they were attending. They specified dietary requirements.

£51 is a lot OP, people are so selfish. I would probably want to drop it in at some point in the future abiyt the dietary requirements. Even 'oh be careful of X business you have to pay in advance even if no shows/dietary requirements'
Would the play centre not refund for the kids who didn't show? Our local ones there is a minimum charge of 10 children but other than that you pay for what was there on day so if you booked for 20 and only 15 turned up you only pay 15. You would probably still need to pay for the food though which I understand.

Let it go and never invite them again or instead of a large party, take a few good friends on a special outing. Either way your child will have a fab day.

Well, you were expecting to pay £51 either way, so at least it's not cost you any more. Were you able to consume the food they should have had?

Also, do you think the parents knew how much it was costing?

I think it's pretty poor form on their part (although things do get forgotten), but to ask for the money would trump that & then some.

In fact, a similar complaint & request for the money back made it to the national press, so I wouldn't even go there.

I'd be annoyed but let it go. I'd never invite them again though.

God this is so rude. Where are people’s manners?

It’s dreadful manners but you can’t ask for reimbursement that’s utter cringe. Like fuck would I ever invite that family to anything ever again though.

I see where you’re coming from OP. But I think you’ve got to cop this one on the chin, unfortunately.

Do you mean the choice for the parent to confirm they are coming?

What a dumb comment.

When ds was young one of his invitees didn't turn up, they had accepted but no text on the day to let me know he wasn't coming.
I was kind thinking he might have been poorly so sent ds into school on Monday with his party bag.
I found out later his mum had refused to let him go because he had been naughty in the morning. Really pissed me off that and he didn't get another invite

I'd also recommend texting every invitee 2 days b4 to remind them, if you haven't already, to try to weed out any late cancellations in time to get your money back

Unfortunately this is all part of kids parties. I was at one last weekend where two people just didn’t show up and my friend (birthday child’s mum) wasn’t happy. I have had it in the past. Even more annoying when you see the no-showers later and they don’t even acknowledge it, let alone apologise. Just don’t invite them next time!

I would have been annoyed and upset for my child , however I would chalk it up to experience and I wouldn't ask for any money back.

It's crappy from the other parents. Really inconsiderate. They could've at least lied and said one of the kids were sick. But I'd just take it on the chin.

This happened to me minus the extra dietary requirements. I was polite when the parents messaged their late apologies and I wouldn't have asked for money but they wouldn't get invited again either.

No, they're not responsible for your choices.

Ugh I hate this- I have solved it though by always taking 2/3 off automatically when book knowing they’ll be drop outs