To want a coffee shop with a no children policy

YANBU.
My child is an adult and I can't bare snotty nosed toddlers running around in coffee shops.
I just want to drink my tea in peace.

I went for a day out to a new local outlet centre, and left after 90 minutes because I couldn't bear the noise of screaming children everywhere. I would have given mine a warning at that age then removed them if it carried on... but then I didn't inflict adult activities onto them and expect them to enjoy it. Gentle parenting my arse, it's pure laziness where parents are too absorbed in their phones.

Ban phones, that's the answer.

Yeah, they’ve only been around since the 1650s. Positive newcomers to the high street!

There’s a lovely pub near us that’s proudly ‘dog friendly, child free’. Not surprisingly, it’s very popular.

Perhaps if people parented better the subject wouldn't come up in the first place.

I don't mean in the case of SEN etc where I acknowledge things are often more complicated. I'm talking about parents who are perfectly capable of conveying to their children that screaming and running around in an environment like a cafe is not allowed, and fail to do so because they'd rather sit talking and/or on their phones.

Noise cancelling headphones.
I have misophonia and hate any repetitive sounds - eating and breathing I can hear included, sniffing is the worst. Toddlers screaming are the least of my worries in a coffee shop.

Thank you so much for this post

You do know there are hotels that are adult only? Are hotels not a “normal commercial space”?

No one has ever gone to Gail’s wanting a coffee in silence!

They’re unashamedly high volume, minimum comfort.

Don't worry, we're heading for a world with a no children policy.

YABU.
Young children and babies are noisy, even good ones 😁
What about the parents or grandparents who want to enjoy a coffee in a coffee shop?

Ok, but if we go down that road, where does it stop? We’d have to ban people who are naturally loud or chatty, dogs (even assistance dogs), people with disabilities who might not realise they’re being noisy, teenagers who swear, groups of mates having fun… the list could go on forever. If it feels overwhelming, sometimes the best option is just to invite a friend over for a coffee at home instead — that’s what I do when I’m not up to facing the public.

Not sure in what universe you think its ok to ban children from a normal commercial space. Chill out.

A London chain I think. There isn’t one where I live. I’ve been to the one in Paddington, it was OK.

YANBU. Some parents just don't parent their DC. I went for a breakfast with a friend, to a new cafe. There was a table full of mums. There were only 2 small kids, but they were ignored by the mothers while they chatted. They ran around the cafe, they jumped on chairs and tables. They touched and banged all the cutlery and condiments. They banged metal cars along the front of the metal counter.

The mothers didn't stop them, the staff didn't stop them. We mentioned it to the manager when we left and said that we wouldn't be back. Other people did the same and several people sat down, then left without ordering when they realised what was going on.

My DD always sat with me at the table, and was given stuff to entertain her. No way would she be running around disturbing staff and other people. She always had headphones if on a screen after a meal as I would not inflict noise on other people.

Child free person here! An old one too … I don’t know if I’m imagining it but I definitely hear more screaming children than I used to. I have a sensitive hearing condition so I notice! I also notice so many people - adults and kids alike - seem to talk very loud in public places. Having said that, I like a mix of people (and dogs) in a cafe. As I’m usually alone it’s nice! And the odd scream and squeal so what it’s life and humans! I don’t know of course but I don’t think every single screaming child has special needs, and I don’t get why those are just left to it and stuff everyone else.

Am I missing something? What's Gails? Why have I never heard of it ?

Do they not sell tea???

The woman I support would definitely be thinking that! She would LOVE a quiet coffee shop.

The man behind me in the queue at Gails yesterday was doom scrolling through TikTok with his phone on full volume. Adults can be worse than kids sometimes. By contrast all the kids I saw in there were behaving very nicely!

However did we cope without the coffee shop?

When I had some childfree time when DS was a baby, I used to go to upstairs coffee shops or anything that was tricky for pushchairs.

Now I self select. I'm lucky to live near a few cafes and some are more child "friendly" than others. I avoid those.

But to quote Dragons Den is there a market in the gap?

@INeedAnotherName @Abra1t @OutsideLookingOut I was being half hopeful, half sarcastic. Libraries in movies are always deathly silent with the judgemental SHHs. OP should open a new one and make it like it was the 90s x

And a dog free one would be nice whilst we are at it.