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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:
Soupandaroll · 12/10/2025 15:05

If you go somewhere with a soft play it makes sense to seat all families with children in that area (so they are not repeatedly to-ing and fro-ing from the area, running through the restaurant and back to the table etc). It keeps the adult only areas quieter and keeps mess/spillages more contained as well. It’s presumably a compromise to cater for different clientele who want different things.

I do get it though. I wouldn’t like it either. I guess if you don’t want to be seated near the softplay and would like your children to have a calmer/more adult experience, I would avoid places which obviously set their stall out to cater to lots of families with kids by installing a soft play.

Luckyingame · 12/10/2025 15:05

Seems a great idea to me.

Greenwitchart · 12/10/2025 15:04

So, you don't like having to seat with noisy children because it is disruptive but you think other people who came to have a pleasant and peaceful lunch should have to put up with yours?

I have had so many lunches and coffee breaks disrupted by screaming/badly behaved children while their useless parents do nothing that I think what this venue is doing is a great idea....

G5000 · 12/10/2025 14:59

There is a children's area specifically because people do not want to be eating next to other people's young noisy children. But you think they should make an exception for you?

Sixseveneight · 12/10/2025 14:58

How would it be discriminatory?

caringcarer · 12/10/2025 14:55

Not discrimination but helpful. If you don't want to sit near to other families with DC don't go there again.

tillylula · 12/10/2025 14:50

If i went for a family meal with my kids id think it was perfect, and if i went without them and just DH, also perfect because i dont have to be around other peoples irritating children

Enigma54 · 12/10/2025 14:49

ClockworkGoose · 12/10/2025 14:46

Unfortunately not everyone will adore little Sadie and Hugo the way mummy does. Some people will want to eat in an area without children running around everywhere like it’s a playground.

This!

FuzzyWolf · 12/10/2025 14:47

The number of entitled people/parents and those who throw around the word discriminatory without understanding it never fails to amaze me.

TheFoodLife · 12/10/2025 14:47

I guess it’s because there are so many children now that ‘can’t be controlled’. It nothing to do with how they are parented, they’re just ‘uncontrollable’.
So of course diners don’t want to pay to eat with them, unless there’s no choice.

ClockworkGoose · 12/10/2025 14:46

Unfortunately not everyone will adore little Sadie and Hugo the way mummy does. Some people will want to eat in an area without children running around everywhere like it’s a playground.

TypeyMcTypeface · 12/10/2025 14:44

I think it's a 'vote with your feet' situation - don't go back if you don't like it.

I'm childfree and I don't mind sitting near children in restaurants as long as they're not screaming and shouting. I suppose having a dedicated children's area removes any need to feel awkward if they do start making a proper racket.

123ZYX · 12/10/2025 14:43

I can understand wanting to be away from the soft play. When we took DS out for a meal when he was younger, we would teach him to sit quietly with some colouring. We might take him for a short walk outside if he was getting restless. Having to sit next to the soft play would make that harder, because he would wonder why he couldn’t run around, and make my meal less pleasant with children running past and shouting.

Having a separate adult only area is fine, but I wouldn’t go there if the only choice was to sit next to the soft play.

Enigma54 · 12/10/2025 14:43

Fantastic idea!

frenchnoodle · 12/10/2025 14:41

It's highly likely to be a licencing condition that children are only allowed in certain areas of the pub.

Vallmo47 · 12/10/2025 14:39

Wish more places did it.

Problemhooves · 12/10/2025 14:39

Sounds fine to me. It's a carvery so hardly somewhere you go with your children for an ambient setting? Very casual dining is what I would expect there. So I'm not sure why being near the softplay made it so awful for you. Obviously, if you don't like it, you could always not eat there.

PinkyFlamingo · 12/10/2025 14:39

You had a child with you? And you wanted to sit somewhere without children?

EmeraldShamrock000 · 12/10/2025 14:37

It'll become the normal.
When my DC were small there was a local restaurant that was split with a family area, we enjoyed going, just a few toys and colouring area.

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 12/10/2025 14:37

It's becsuse of entitled parents like you.

Sparklesandspandexgallore · 12/10/2025 14:36

Sounds absolutely spot on to me.

QueenClinomania · 12/10/2025 14:36

Sounds like a good idea.

CatsorDogsrule · 12/10/2025 14:36

I initially agreed as being with a 14yr old seems to be taking it a bit far. Then I saw it was 14 months! YABU.

LaurieFairyCake · 12/10/2025 14:36

Don’t worry, at some point your kid will be ‘the racket’

thats why we have those areas, so those without children can eat in peace 😂

thisishowloween · 12/10/2025 14:36

Sounds like an excellent idea to me.

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