To want a coffee shop with a no children policy

I think banning other humans is quite unpleasant and I’d rather be around someone else’s screaming child than around many entitled adults. Especially as the place would probably be packed to the ceiling with dogs.

Could you go to a library? Ours has comfy chairs and you can eat/drink in the none reading part

YANBU. One of the reasons I don’t eat out any more. Yes, toddlers scream. Mine did it once in a cafe. He was picked up and removed by me and told exactly why, leaving our drinks and food behind. Funnily enough, he never did it again.

I'd rather ban the many people watching reels or sports out loud on phones tbh, dreadful these days, oh and on trains too!

I would prefer a cafe like yours- usually kids = infections/viruses as well. I wouldn’t want little timmy running around rubbing bogies everywhere

I get it toddlers scream, kids shout and yes it’s annoying. I too would like a child free space and a phone on silent only place.

Those of us that don’t want to always accommodate children are seen as the worst of humanity. Reality is we’re tired of being subjected to other people’s parenting or lack of.

I’m sure most of us that like child free spaces would be happy to be around them if they weren’t disrupting everyone else.

If your kid is running about, making a nuisance of themselves, parent them don’t expect everyone else to tolerate it because they’re just children.

You can probably find them within children near offices etc. In a residential area, they probably rely on parents with young kids for business during the week

Yes please. With sofas and books as well 😁

I’d pay the OP €10 for an americano if there was a no children policy.

I’d pay premium prices anywhere to be child free.

I'd be up for a no phones, tablets or other noisy devices cafe. I find it so sad when these are used as calming techniques, children miss out on so much with their eyes fixed on a screen. It's also annoying to hear lots of loud half conversations, or the volume of multiple short video clips being watched.

At different times I'd also be keen on a no dogs cafe.

Children-wise, generally I like children that are either well-parented or well-behaved, but agree if the child is screaming then take them out or try at least to calm them.

I'd also put a ban on those loud people who are always bragging about how wonderful they think they are, except they just seem rather annoying.

Also, giggly groups of students.

Also smelly people, good or bad, some people just smell really strongly.

Maybe I should just have a cup of tea at home...

Our library has free tea and coffee so op could go to hers if that's the same? They also don't mind the teenagers studying taking in a sandwich so she could buy a cake and eat it. However, libraries have lots of things going on, including storytime and craft for toddlers and no one is shushing anyone. Well unless it's a reference library I suppose.

Find a local 5 star hotel. Usually they have lobbies with cafe’s available. Less screaming kids. Ultimately a calmer/ more serene and elegant setting

Maybe you shouldn't go out in public.

I bet the parents wish it was a No Children café too and they can tie their kids to a post outside.

My local small one doesn't allow kids! It's not explicit - but they refuse to sell anything that isn't coffee or water. So no orange juice, 'babyccino' or anything like that. Their cakes all contain alcohol or nuts as well, so typically not things suitable for children. No space for prams and no high-chairs either.

I'm quite a fan - whilst it doesn't say 'children aren't welcome' it's pretty evident when you walk in. 😃

Edit - and just to say to those who clearly think any shop operating such a policy would fail...mine definitely isn't! There's usually a queue before it even opens on a Sunday 😉

Open one then. Mose realise if they alienate a whole group oh people they probably won’t last long.

I mean most libraries are not even quiet these days. Most are there to serve their community so often have toddler events. You might be thinking about a reading room.

People with laptops hogging tables annoys me. I was on holiday last week and tried to get lunch in 3 cafes one day and couldn’t get a table. Most didn’t even look like they were eating they just had empty coffee cups on the tables.

Perhaps a pub that also serves coffee? I doubt most parents would take their children to a pub in the morning.

Libraries are noisy places these days.

You have obviously not been in a library in years as they are now a fecking noisy place to be. Noise is positively encouraged at times. I know why (footfall = staying open) but it's certainly not a quiet relaxing space anymore 😟

We had one. It used to be a normal cafe but changed to be a “quiet space”, no children, no animals, no phone calls. They changed all their marketing to be about how peaceful it was.

It lasted four months and then changed back. Then three months after that, it closed entirely, probably because people with children, dogs etc didn’t feel overly welcome back, or had made plans to go elsewhere.

I have two children, thankfully none have ever been hugely noisy and I’d remove them if they were being so, but the cafes in town have definitely benefited from their existence. They’ve made a killing from us on maternity leave, and after, meeting other mums, going out for lunch, etc. it’s a big financial hole that isn’t easily filled by the type of people who want to sit with a hot drink and a book or whatever - the spend per customer is much lower even if they opt for cake too.

Ours even tried a “one drink, one hour” type policy but that left everyone a bit uncomfortable, the staff don’t want to be hounding people to reorder, regardless of how nicely they dress it up.

The owner is lovely and has been really transparent but it’s not an easy business model.

I don't think a child-free cafe would be viable but I certainly would like it if cafe owners, pub managers etc started kicking out noisy customers or kids running around. Ask them nicely once to be quieter then boot them out if they won't. Same with cinemas, theatres etc.

I brought up two boys with autism. On the first day back to school after the holidays I would take myself to Costa for a peaceful cup of coffee. Only to be surrounded by other people’s toddlers!

We all realise that a no children coffee shop is probably not viable but imagining it is fabulous. I’d expand it to all conversations must be in sign language so that I could really get the peace I craved 🤣

I eventually joined a health club that had an adults only lounge.

There you go OP, a nice little project for you: a child free coffee shop! What shall we say, 0-3s are not permitted? What about teens, people in large mobility scooters who take a load of space, people who talk/ laugh loudly?