Child only area in restaurant- discriminatory?

Is that not what I said?

It's far better than having waiting staff dropping plates of food on top of unparented children that bowl straight into their legs in the main restaurant area.

Keeping the mobile trip hazards all in one place makes perfect sense for everybody's safety.

No. Infertility rather put a stop to that but you don’t have to be a parent to know that toddlers of that age, and toddlers generally, tend to be loud, which is perfectly natural as they’re busy working on their speech but perhaps not so enjoyable for other diners.

To be honest don’t choose places with soft play if you don’t want that vibe. It’s not unreasonable.

I doubt they have a designated area for family pets in the restaurant. They're usually quite food driven well behaved so no need.

Why do you think other adults in the restaurant want to put up with your, and other people's, children?
This is the perfect solution.
And it is not legally possible to suffer discrimination because you have children.

Do you have, or have had, one?

My autistic children wouldn’t like the noise or use the play area either. Unfortunately there are lots of things that their disability means they can’t do but it doesn’t exempt them from following a business’s legal policy.

It’s also quite likely that the child free area was the bar area and the venue’s licence doesn’t allow anyone under a certain age in it.

Trouble is you don't know whose DC will behave beautifully and whose will be a nightmare. It would be far worse if they came and moved you because your DC were the ones people didn't want to sit next to

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.

That is not the ratio for children of that age so no, not buying it. I haven’t encountered many 14 month olds who are quiet amongst friends and family either. 14 month olds are definitely not known for being quiet even if a rare exception applies.

The carvery round here seats all children in the family section, which happens to be furthest away from the carvery area purely down to the number of people who letting their children run around near the serving area. It's dangerous when people have hot plates of food, and in this one the tea and coffee machines are near the serving area as well.

Ever heard of lunch?

So there’s an adults only section at a venue that serves alcohol. Sounds like something that should be encouraged to me…

What kind of question is that?

Have you never been out for a pub lunch before? Afternoon Sunday carvery?

I agree with this actually. These places cater to parents who can’t parent. Best choosing a place where it’s normal for families to actually eat together.

No. That’s fine. You’ve got kids so go into an area that caters for them. 👍

I'm sorry your DS wouldn't be able to access the soft play & with his autism might find the noise overwhelming, I just wouldn't go there in your situation.

But as far as the pub knows, he might be as noisy as any other child & they want to give their adult diners a quiet 'adult only' space, so you'd have to choose the childrens area or don't go there.

eith children with SEN and/or physical disabilities we are always going to be more restricted, but that doesn't mean venues can't make these kind of decisions to keep the vast majority of customers happy or meet licensing regulations

I k ow it's not ideal or easy 🤗🌷

That’s because you work in child care where children have to shout to be heard as there are 8 of them to 1 adult.

I hate to break it to you OP but if you've got a 14 month old with you, you are the racket you're trying to avoid. You weren't discriminated against (on what grounds do you feel you were?) but you did choose to eat in a carvery with a soft play area. I think that's where you might have gone wrong.

Yes. I would definitely go to another restaurant where my children weren’t treated as family pets rather than fellow human beings.

How is it a “family meal” if your children are in a soft play area rather than at the table taking part in the “family meal”?

Where do you find this apparent plethora of quiet 14 months old? I’ve worked in childcare and I can’t say that I’ve encountered many of them.

we were told we had to be seated in the dedicated children’s area - an
absolute racket with soft play etc.

Presumably if the venue didn't have this area, the racket-makers would be seated in the main body of the kirk, creating an absolute racket for everyone else.

Do you think you'd appreciate this set up if you didn't have a child?

This is fab. Hope more places offer it. That said I’m unlikely to go anywhere with a dedicated children’s “play” area.