Would it be an abuse of mumsnet local to say how crap a place is?

You HAVE told your local newspaper haven't you?

They will be VERY interested!

I think it's a good idea actually Squonk.
I have seen a few suspect postings on our local site which to my cynical eye have obviously been posted by the proprietors of venues

• you know, this sort of thing: , ''you are assured of the warmest welcome and finest fare at this idyllic spot where hosts Malc and Doreen will endeavour to serve a wide range of your little darling's favourite cuisine. Mmm, those Twizzlers are so tasty...''' etc etc.

Might be good to be able to redress the balance!

UD - the HQ is in Watford, next to the station - dh's previous office was next door - tis indeed Reeds Crescent.

Oh I do hope members of the Govt. don't hear about wetherspoons idea of regulating drinks for parents, They'll have it as a Bill in parliament like a shot, it's just the sort of nannying they love.

that's awful!

having said that the 3/4 wetherspoons we've been in with dd have been fine. cheap, ok food and friendly to dd, free activity pack.....never even noticed that there were specific rules...we've always sat where there is a space....dd always gets her "free" drink before we order her meal in our local one

No, they are 'family-friendly' aparently. We do go there I must admit because our local staff are nice (although food is not great) and it's cheap, there's always space and it's open when we want to feed DCs (ie unlike a lot of other pubs which only start to cook at about 7).

But so far they had:

1. a ridiculous admissions policy for children - ie a child couldn't be served after 5pm and had to be out by 6pm which doesn't work if you are at work during the day. They changed that finally.

1. No adult with a child in tow can have more than 2 drinks. Which indicates to me, not a care for the child's welfare, but a desire to get children out of there asap.

And now this, squonk! I think they need to dump some 'policies' and let local staff do their jobs as they think fit.

aaargh don't get me started. went into a wetherspoons with my 4 week old DD, the family area was packed so we went and sat in the non-smoking area instead (this was pre-ban). manageress with a face like a cat's arse came over and said that children weren't allowed in the section i was in and i'd have to sit in the family area...when i explained there was no room she told me to go and sit in the smoking area instead which apparently was licenced for children!! figure that one out...i told her i was not going to expose a newborn to a smoky atmosphere, that she was being ridiculous and that i wasn't budging. she did leave me alone after that...

Squonk that's outrageous

If they don't want children in there they don't have to let them in. Letting them in but treating them like shit is not the way to go.

It's very simple - you either put a big sign saying NO CHILDREN on the door, as some pubs do, or you make it clear that families are welcome and you welcome them. Not tolerate - welcome.

no exactly Humph, I have never been back with or without children and I have badmouthed them to others and won't use them in any other location. So they are driving customers away in effect.

When this 2drink limit" thing came in I wondered how on earth they policed it. What if you have a childfree friend with you and send them to get the drinks?

It totally undermines the established relationship between client and service. If I go into a pub to buy drinks and food I do not expect the person behind the till - usually a callow youth of about 21 - to lecture me on my purchases and "refuse" to serve me. I pay. You provide. That is how it works, matey.

Horrible, horrible company.
Had a similar experience to FMV.
We didn't stay to eat.
And have never been back.

They clearly don't want children in their properties.
But I wouldn't go there on a night out with DH or friends either.

Their rules are like something from a caravanning clubhouse in the 1970's.
As are most of their clientèle.

wetherspoons have an alcoholic drink limit for people with chidlren too. i think they just don't want families in their pubs.

Probably a call-centre in Bangalore.

notice this bit
"Our Customer Service team is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on 01923 477774."

I wish I could listen in !

funny, one link says "Central Park, Reeds Crescent" and the other "Reeds Crescent, Central Park"

I used to work for a certain pub chain, I had my hours cut by 2/3 because I took time off when my ds was sick. Not very family friendly as they make out to be. I am barred by the terms in my ACAS agreement to say who they are though.

www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/feedback/other/index.php#section-header

Address
FAO: Customer Services
Wetherspoon House
Central Park
Reeds Crescent
Watford
WD24 4QL
Telephone Fax
01923 477777 01923 219810

What a big pile of bollocks. I loathe Weatherspoons generally, and this is just another reason why. I will fume angrily on your behalf

Complain definitely, and I can't see that warning people on MN Local would be a bad thing. I'd like to know enough to avoid the 'family unfriendly' as well as know the good ones.