Page 5 | Child only area in restaurant- discriminatory?

Buyalot · 2025-10-12T13:28:44+00:00

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?

FlyMeSomewhere · 12/10/2025 18:16

Charlize43 · 12/10/2025 16:50

It sounds wonderful. I wish they would do this on flights. Put all the kids together at the back of the plane or have a designated 'kids area', screened off (in the hold?).

I had a horrific flight recently as I had a little girl (3-5?) sat next to me who kept singing the same nursery rhyme over and over again (for close to 2 hours) while I was enjoying my white wine and trying to read my book through clenched teeth. I was really worried that I was going to lose it and pull the emergency exit. Her mother who was on the aisle seat had her air pods in and seemed oblivious to the annoyance... such great parenting!

Yes, yes, I knew I was once that age and probably horrific.

We were disciplined at that and certainly as an 80s kid parents weren't dragging us on planes from within months of being born. People try to live like they haven't got a baby or toddler now.

Happyjoe · 12/10/2025 18:16

RubySquid · 12/10/2025 18:09

And if you have a well behaved child who knows how to eat properly at a table you are still punished by being made to sit with everyone else's screaming brats running around??

Doesn't seem to happen in most countries, wonder why theuk

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A 14 month old kid can start crying at the drop of a hat.

FlyMeSomewhere · 12/10/2025 18:13

Differentforgirls · 12/10/2025 16:31

I disagree with this. Not all parents need a soft play area in a restaurant as their children have been brought up to think that a meal is a chance for chatting to each other while eating. We shouldn’t be pandering to parents who want their children away from them while eating.

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No it's respecting those people that deserve the right to have a meal away from other people's kids! Times have changed and many more people are choosing not to have kids and don't want to eat surrounded by other peoples kids.

loveawineloveacrisp · 12/10/2025 18:11

Of course it's not bloody discriminatory FFS.

BigFatBully · 12/10/2025 18:11

Sagaciously · 12/10/2025 18:04

Sounds marvellous. I wish more places did this. We went out for lunch yesterday (to a smart bar type place, really not aimed at families) and there was a table with 3 women and several very noisy kids. After about an hour, one of the women took the kids out. She returned, and I’m still incredulous, having bought them WHISTLES. 🤪

I'd have asked them to keep the noise down. There's no excuse for spoiling others' experiences and even encouraging the racket by buying them whistles. Take them to Alton Towers if you want to let them run riot.

OonaStubbs · 12/10/2025 18:09

People need to be more prepared to challenge bad behaviour by children and shame their parents into removing them from the premises.

RubySquid · 12/10/2025 18:09

outerspacepotato · 12/10/2025 18:02

They had an area for people with kids. You had a kid with you, so you sit in that area.

Adults can eat in peace in their kid free area without kids running around or bothering them.

Win, win. You're being unreasonable.

And if you have a well behaved child who knows how to eat properly at a table you are still punished by being made to sit with everyone else's screaming brats running around??

Doesn't seem to happen in most countries, wonder why theuk

Happyjoe · 12/10/2025 18:07

Sagaciously · 12/10/2025 18:04

Sounds marvellous. I wish more places did this. We went out for lunch yesterday (to a smart bar type place, really not aimed at families) and there was a table with 3 women and several very noisy kids. After about an hour, one of the women took the kids out. She returned, and I’m still incredulous, having bought them WHISTLES. 🤪

Absolutely insane!

Problemhooves · 12/10/2025 18:07

Sagaciously · 12/10/2025 18:04

Sounds marvellous. I wish more places did this. We went out for lunch yesterday (to a smart bar type place, really not aimed at families) and there was a table with 3 women and several very noisy kids. After about an hour, one of the women took the kids out. She returned, and I’m still incredulous, having bought them WHISTLES. 🤪

Oh good lord! That is bonkers. Did she hate everyone in rhe restaurant for some reason 😂? Maybe a disgruntled customer from a previous visit...

Sirzy · 12/10/2025 18:07

Idontpostmuch · 12/10/2025 18:01

My children are grown up but we were never directed to a child area, even when there was one.

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Which is fine if places don’t have that policy. It doesn’t make those that do wrong though.

People can make their own choice if they stay or not.

Sirzy · 12/10/2025 18:05

Idontpostmuch · 12/10/2025 18:00

But she had as much right to choose her seating area. If child had then misbehaved it would have been reasonable to ask them to move, but not giving them any choice to begin with was unfair.

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It’s much harder to move someone when they are settled and eating! What if they refuse?

Sagaciously · 12/10/2025 18:04

Sounds marvellous. I wish more places did this. We went out for lunch yesterday (to a smart bar type place, really not aimed at families) and there was a table with 3 women and several very noisy kids. After about an hour, one of the women took the kids out. She returned, and I’m still incredulous, having bought them WHISTLES. 🤪

Happyjoe · 12/10/2025 18:04

Idontpostmuch · 12/10/2025 18:00

But she had as much right to choose her seating area. If child had then misbehaved it would have been reasonable to ask them to move, but not giving them any choice to begin with was unfair.

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She didn't have to stay if didn't like it and she has no right to demand where to sit, or even eat there. It's a private business, it's their choice.

outerspacepotato · 12/10/2025 18:02

They had an area for people with kids. You had a kid with you, so you sit in that area.

Adults can eat in peace in their kid free area without kids running around or bothering them.

Win, win. You're being unreasonable.

bigsoftcocks · 12/10/2025 18:02

Not odd. This is weird to even question it!

Idontpostmuch · 12/10/2025 18:01

Sirzy · 12/10/2025 17:57

Surely the customer who doesn’t want to be seated near children is also right then?

you can’t please all the people all the time!

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My children are grown up but we were never directed to a child area, even when there was one.

BigFatBully · 12/10/2025 18:00

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/10/2025 17:53

How do you know they don’t market their place at children when is a family friendly restaurant with a children’s play area? She hasn’t said what the place is called.

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It doesn't say "family" restaurant in the original post. It just says "restaurant with a carvery". It tends to be public houses that have the dedicated children's areas. I've not seen any play centres in the children's restaurants I've been in.

The OP remains ambiguous about it...if it was a chain, it would be beneficial for the name of the chain to be made known.

Idontpostmuch · 12/10/2025 18:00

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 12/10/2025 17:57

“Your money is as good as anyone's” - they weren’t refusing her custom!

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But she had as much right to choose her seating area. If child had then misbehaved it would have been reasonable to ask them to move, but not giving them any choice to begin with was unfair.

Happyjoe · 12/10/2025 17:59

HashtagShitShop · 12/10/2025 17:54

So you don't want to be disturbed by other people's children, but they can be disturbed by yours... 🤔

Basically that is it in a nutshell!

Newtt · 12/10/2025 17:59

Buyalot · 12/10/2025 15:56

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

With the best will in the world…

I think you finding the policy odd is odder.

The policy sounds like a great idea that I imagine brings in more custom both from people who do not have younger children with them and would prefer a ‘quieter’ area and also families who know they have a specific area to cater for their needs.

Sounds like a win win to me.

Happyjoe · 12/10/2025 17:58

I've changed tables or, even walked out of restaurants before eating because of other people's screaming children. It didn't always be like this but in all honestly, parenting has gone downhill for a fair few.. Quite a few times I have seen children running around the restaurant and the parents not blink an eye or think it's ok to shout and scream. Sorry you're upset OP, but not everyone wants to eat next to a baby or a child. To me, it's the same as the old days - smoking and non-smoking areas!!

Sirzy · 12/10/2025 17:57

Idontpostmuch · 12/10/2025 17:53

I think that was terrible. Your money is as good as anyone's and the customer should always be right. That never happened to us when we had small children.

Surely the customer who doesn’t want to be seated near children is also right then?

you can’t please all the people all the time!

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 12/10/2025 17:57

Idontpostmuch · 12/10/2025 17:53

I think that was terrible. Your money is as good as anyone's and the customer should always be right. That never happened to us when we had small children.

“Your money is as good as anyone's” - they weren’t refusing her custom!

JH0404 · 12/10/2025 17:56

Livelovebehappy · 12/10/2025 17:19

Chances are that these days 90% of the tables will have at least one autistic child on them. And many claim their child is ‘undiagnosed’ autistic, ie they’ve decided they’re autistic without medical confirmation. So I can see the excuses will rebound loudly round the restaurant should their child’s behaviour be challenged. I think if you have an autistic child who is not high functioning, who is incapable of sitting relatively quietly, you might have to avoid a dining experience at a restaurant or similar and go to somewhere catering mostly for kids, like macdonalds or play centres which incorporate dining. Just because a child is autistic, it doesn’t trump the needs of the many other people eating who just want to eat in relatively peaceful surroundings I’m afraid.

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We have an access pass we can show any venue should they require proof of disability, and a child capable of sitting fairly quietly as long as reasonable adjustments are made. I have never had any problem with taking my child to a restaurant, my child’s needs have always been happily accommodated.

LBFseBrom · 12/10/2025 17:56

It's an excellent idea, especially for those with small children. Nice for the children too.