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AIBU?

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Original poster

Child only area in restaurant- discriminatory?

311 replies

Buyalot · 12/10/2025 14:28

I’ve returned from a carvery lunch with DH and DD (14 months).

On arrival, despite there being a lot of seats spare in every area, we were told we had to be seated in the dedicated children’s area - an
absolute racket with soft play etc.

AIBU to find this ridiculous?

OP posts:
Topseyt123 · 12/10/2025 16:09

Sounds like a great idea to me. I don't see how it could be considered discrimination.

Frankenpug23 · 12/10/2025 16:08

Sounds good to me!

PrincessHoneysuckle · 12/10/2025 16:07

Probably because your child is so young and more likely to disturb other diners.We recently went to a carvery with ds 11 and said we want to sit away from the soft play and thankfully they sat us at the other end of the pub.

rainbowstardrops · 12/10/2025 16:05

wishitwasntme123 · 12/10/2025 15:59

Why not?

Having a disability and asking for consideration to sit X is perfectly ok

Show quote history

Because the OP said that people with children were sat in a specific area.
If the OP then states that they’d rather sit in a different part of the restaurant with their quieter child then I presume that would be accommodated.
The crux of the OP was regarding noisy toddlers/children being close to the play area.
Jeez. Why does everyone need to find the tiniest loophole and create an issue out of it?

Simplygreen · 12/10/2025 15:59

This sounds great to me and I have an 18 month old! Don’t have to worry about him disrupting anyone else’s meal when he decides he doesn’t want to sit nicely in the highchair. Perhaps your child hasn’t got to that stage yet!

wishitwasntme123 · 12/10/2025 15:59

rainbowstardrops · 12/10/2025 15:58

So presumably, you wouldn’t choose to dine in a place like this then.

Show quote history

Why not?

Having a disability and asking for consideration to sit X is perfectly ok

wishitwasntme123 · 12/10/2025 15:58

I think it's because of servicing alcohol.

Its annoying if your child isn't mobile but at 14 months they are usually mobile

rainbowstardrops · 12/10/2025 15:58

craigth162 · 12/10/2025 15:49

I wouldn't like this. My 5 year old is autistic so wouldn't like the noise plus he's physically disabled so can't use the soft play. Why should he be made to sit in there when he can't access it?

So presumably, you wouldn’t choose to dine in a place like this then.

ACR7 · 12/10/2025 15:57

I have a 16month old and I love this. I’d feel much more relaxed in there amongst the carnage with her not disturbing anyone if she has abit of an outburst. It’s a great idea

Original poster
Buyalot · 12/10/2025 15:56

Appreciate the mix of views! It was a nice roast, just the policy striked me as odd.

OP posts:
AmIthatSpringy · 12/10/2025 15:55

Sounds great. My kind of carvery.

UnlimitedBacon · 12/10/2025 15:55

Discriminatory? 😂

pestowithwalnuts · 12/10/2025 15:54

A carvery near me has been doing this for a few years.
It a great idea. It ensured grown up can eat without having to listen to screaming kids.

AutumnnotFall · 12/10/2025 15:52

I wish more places had this when dc1 was little! It was a bloody nightmare, because dc got easily over stimulated. When we did sit in areas miles away deep into the cafe, as not to disturb anybody, eg IKEA, a single woman sat next to us (millions of tables empty, but no she sat right there). It would have been fine if she was looking for company, but nope she glared at us the whole time, I couldn't relax if dc so much as made a noise. In hindsight we should have just picked up our meals and moved! We never got a meal in peace as dc1 was not an easy going baby/toddler, and required a lot more effort if people were near(now we know dc is AuADHD). Another time a group of young adults sat next to us, and kept looking over, trying to have a posh silent meal in Ikea while they chuckled, next to kids. Why do people do this?!

Restaurants/cafes like the one you went to OP are great!

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/10/2025 15:52

craigth162 · 12/10/2025 15:49

I wouldn't like this. My 5 year old is autistic so wouldn't like the noise plus he's physically disabled so can't use the soft play. Why should he be made to sit in there when he can't access it?

It’d make sense for you to not not eat there then, just like you wouldn’t take him to a regular soft play for lunch?

TheFoodLife · 12/10/2025 15:51

craigth162 · 12/10/2025 15:49

I wouldn't like this. My 5 year old is autistic so wouldn't like the noise plus he's physically disabled so can't use the soft play. Why should he be made to sit in there when he can't access it?

I don’t think he’d be made to sit in there, because you wouldn't choose to eat there at all, as it’s not your kind of set up. Fair enough.

Tiredofwhataboutery · 12/10/2025 15:50

I do get why you are peeved at 14 mo DS could have been easily distracted, till good turned up, in the high chair with some colouring and chat. I wouldn’t of taken him into soft play as it’s not great for little ones as they are germ pits and they often get bowled over by older children.

that said I do understand why the restaurant does this as they’ve calculated they lose less by segregating families than others due to noise.

Vote with your feet and go somewhere you feel more comfortable. I think 3-6 are probably peak want a table next to soft play so they can run in and out years. So you may find it changes over time.

Zempy · 12/10/2025 15:50

Not at all discriminatory. Great idea.

craigth162 · 12/10/2025 15:49

I wouldn't like this. My 5 year old is autistic so wouldn't like the noise plus he's physically disabled so can't use the soft play. Why should he be made to sit in there when he can't access it?

WaffleParty · 12/10/2025 15:49

What a great idea! I wish all restaurants did this.

Hankunamatata · 12/10/2025 15:49

No.
I dont want to eat with small children. I want some quiet to eat.

80smonster · 12/10/2025 15:47

Yeah children are an absolute racket, that was the point.

ThisBadTimeIsTakingForever · 12/10/2025 15:45

There’s a place like this near us.

We always say ‘nowhere near the kids bit’ because we want to eat in peace, not listen to screaming kids and have feral toddlers coming up to our table sticking their hands in our drinks (which has happened!).

I would also have loved this when DC were small, it would have been great to know they weren’t annoying adults who wanted a quiet meal.

Vaxtable · 12/10/2025 15:44

YABU. Sounds a great idea to me and I wish more restaurants would do it. Why should I be subjected to an absolute racket?

Whaleandsnail6 · 12/10/2025 15:44

I don't think its discrimination to have an area where children are not allowed to sit in a carvery place. I actually think its a really good idea to have an adults only area and it would encourage me to eat there since I don't have young kids anymore

I think this is a "vote with your feet" situation if you aren't happy with the set up