Do I pay for all their coffees and drinks?

For my son’s birthday I paid the first round of coffees and then I let them buy whatever they wanted!

There's one soft play centre near us where the party package includes a hot drink token - one per child attendee. Every other time I've been to one parents pay for their own drinks, and for their kids if they want something other than the squash or water the venue put out.

What is often welcomed though, is if a couple of extra pizzas or whatever are put out for parents.

Interesting thread as every soft play party I have been to has included a tab for the parents to get drinks.

ETA - I don’t expect a drink, but just saying that every party has included a drink but also a platter of some sort for the parents too (usually pastries).

It’s common for people to sort themselves. However 3 hours is a verrrrry long party!! Maybe give them one drinks token each and that’s that.

Nothing wrong with people buying their own but at our school the hosting parents have provided 9 out of 10 times

I can't even begin to count how many kids parties I have been to over the years. Never would I expect adults to be provided with drinks in a place where drinks are for sale.
In a hired hall, yes, but never at soft play.

Its very normal for parents to buy their own at these type of parties, that’s if they stay. They might drop and run for 3 hours peace!

You absolutely do not need to buy the drinks for the parents. That would be utterly rediculous. Yes provide squash and water, but that’s it.

I used to offer to buy as people arrived then left it at that.

If you can afford it and want to do it then do it.

I've never done it.

I've never had drinks paid for me.

You are over thinking this. The party is for the children and not parents.

I've been to alot of soft play style parties over the last 6 years...I think only once or twice (and recently, never before this last year) has my tea/coffee been purchased for me. I always assume I have to get my own. Kids have always been given water or squash though.

Never seen a tab in 10 years of parties

You pay for the children and the parents pay for themselves

I've been to quite a few soft play parties. I've always paid for my own coffee at the bar and never thought anything negative about doing that. It's a party for the kids not for the grown ups.

I've been to so many of these and aways bought my own drink. I would 100% expect this. I would be shocked (and graflteful) if I was offered a drink.

I'm really surprised the venue suggested this was normal unless they're trying to bump up the takings (which is far enough they're a business).

The only time I've been offered one from the host is when its been at a community center or similar and they have access to a kettle, and even then its not always offered, though again completely not expected.

Maybe take a box of biscuits/box of celebrations for parent snack on and they can grab their own drinks if you really want to offer something.

If I went to an 18th/21st/30th/40th birthday party in a ‘hall’ of some description, there would usually be a buffet but you’d buy your own drinks at the bar. I see this as the same thing. No need to buy individual coffees.

No don’t have a tab! Parents can bring a flask easily or buy their own. That’s normal!

I have been to a few parties with a similar scenario and this is what the parents did:

• One party, they had an open tab for drinks
• Another, the parents were asking if you wanted anything to drink and they would get it for you
• Another one, we just got our drinks
• Another, they had just coffee and tea for the parents available for free
• In my DD's party, we had a tea & coffee package and pre-order some drinks (around 15-20 cans) and also had jugs of water

I definitely wouldn’t expect free drinks. I’d possibly ask for some tap water to be available due to current weather though I’d expect lots of people would bring their own water bottles. If they want coffees etc they should get them themselves.

If there’s 10 parents and they all have one £3 coffee every hour that’s going to add up! No one would expect it.

As a parent I would expect child's food and drink to be paid for but would expect to buy my own coffee or snacks. If concerned you could buy the first drink, they buy subsequent drinks

No way would I pay for other adults drinks.

Ive never expected this from other parents and ive never eaten the food or drank the drinks intended for the kids.

I do think as PPs have suggested, asking for a jug of water for the parents is a nice idea and make them fully aware of it.

But the parents can last half a day without a hot drink.
They would be CFs to suggest otherwise but if you offer it then they’ll likely accept, so just don’t offer.

At soft play parties I've never seen an issue with buying my own drink. I wouldn't expect it paid for, I think maybe once the host family have bought them. I always think its nice when it's made clear that once the children have eaten then parents are free to have something (if they want) from the food if its a buffet type spread. The parties are usually over a meal so I end up acting like a ninja trying to steal an egg mayo sandwich if its not clear that parents can have one!

I appreciate these parties are expensive and its nice for my DC to be invited and have the time with their friends. Ones for my DC have always been nearby and convenient. I think if I'd ferried the DC 90 minutes for a 3 hour niche activity on my weekend off I'd probably secretly expect at least a coffee!

This is what I did at when we had a soft play party. Offer a first drink (many said no to be fair) and then if they want more that's on them.

I’ve been to loads of soft play parties. Jugs of juice on the table for the children is usually provided, then more jugs in the party room. It’s usually included in the party package. Adults pay for their own.

Occasionally people ran a tab but I wouldn't expect it.