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Original poster

Paying to attend child's party?

550 replies

arachnidpearl · 01/02/2022 11:15

Would welcome views on this.

My DS has been invited to a child's party on Sunday. It's at an activity place with a climbing wall then food afterwards. Accepted invitation weeks ago, have bought card and gift etc.

We've been sent a message yesterday from birthday child's parent last night which says that all children under 8 must be supervised by an adult each, which is ok with me I don't mind staying (would rather not, but it's not the end of the world) but that in order to stay and supervise we have to buy a full price adults ticket, which costs £25!

Is this usual? It seems a bit of a cheek to me!

OP posts:
2022HereWeCome · 01/02/2022 16:23

Most reputable climbing centres are happy to accept children from 5 or 6 for parties ....

2022HereWeCome · 01/02/2022 16:25

@Rainartist I disagree.

The venue should make it abundantly clear of that children younger than 8 cannot be supervised by the staff and not accept booking for an eighth birthday party. Frankly it's a stupid rule, either they can offer climbing safely or not.

affairsofdragons · 01/02/2022 16:30

Tell the parents your child can no longer attend since they didn't pay for mandatory adult supervisors to attend.

It's their child's party; they should have sorted it.

Bunce1 · 01/02/2022 16:36

I feel like this climbing centre is really trying it on, and the party parents probably made the booking in good faith. I feel sorry for the children.

merrymouse · 01/02/2022 16:38

It’s unusual to be charged £25 just to supervise an activity like this.

ElftonWednesday · 01/02/2022 16:39

They're entitled to have whatever conditions they want

No they aren't HTH.

suzy2b · 01/02/2022 16:40

@Pbbananabagel

Everyone saying this is outrageous of the venue - hold on. OP said this is a local family run business, they probably haven’t got the qualifications or insurance for supervising children under the age of 8 at a party and probably told the parents a certain number of parent supervisors would be required for an 8 year olds birthday party with the idea that other children would be over 8 years. Its not the venue’s fault that the other children are under 8 years old. They have a cap on the number of people they can have in there so if the birthday child’s parents haven’t paid for exclusive use they need every adult in there to be paying. The fault here is 100% on the birthday child’s parents for not checking all the rules prior to booking and inviting the kids.
It is ridicules to pay £25 to watch your own child ,what is the point to go to a party and have to pay, you don't expect to pay when you go to a party, and if you have to pay £2.5 is plenty
Charmatt · 01/02/2022 16:40

With my first, I'd have probably paid it because I wouldn't want to rock the boat or upset feelings. By my second, I was over that and I would have said we'd have to cancel. I would have said I couldn't pay that but you have a valid excuse to say you are pregnant and can't supervise anyway.

RampantIvy · 01/02/2022 16:42

Could you just take your child along for the food afterwards? I think the birthday child is going to be bitterly disappointed when no-one comes because of this cock up.

Clymene · 01/02/2022 16:43

@Bunce1

I feel like this climbing centre is really trying it on, and the party parents probably made the booking in good faith. I feel sorry for the children.
The OP said in her last post that the parents were aware that every child attending would have to have an adult with them who would have to pay £25.
InvalidCrumb · 01/02/2022 16:43

I assume that the party parents, like most people on here, had no idea they'd be charged £25 compulsory charge per kid and drag an adult along too. Because it's batshit.

If they did know they should've changed their plans! But the venue sounds weird so I'd totally believe they didn't make it clear. I've dealt with weird people manning leisure centre bookings before and had some very bizarre information from them!

merrymouse · 01/02/2022 16:44

I would guess that you have to be there to check that their harnesses are secure, but it all sounds a bit odd. If they aren’t really set up for under 8s they shouldn’t be accepting bookings. What do they think you are going to do? Join in with the climbing?

Is it something to do with Covid maybe? They have to limit numbers regardless of whether you are climbing so are trying to recoup costs?

Thirtytimesround · 01/02/2022 16:46

Wow that is ridiculous. Incredibly rudnof th hose parent but also a ridiculous policy of th venue. At the climbing venue near us, adults can either buy a ticket and climb, or enter the arena to supervise for free (but max one adult per child and adult must check in and be given a high vis jacket so there aren’t loads of adults in the kids way). That makes sense to me. Your friends venue sounds v weird.

WutheringHeights66 · 01/02/2022 16:48

Fortunately the OP has a very valid excuse not to attend now. She won't be the only one.

JuergenSchwarzwald · 01/02/2022 16:49

They're entitled to have whatever conditions they want. Young children are probably a liability in such a place and they're entitled not to cater for them if they want. It is not fair to give them negative publicity

If you don't want small children you simply exclude them eg say "parties for 8 year olds upwards only" or similar. You don't impose ridiculous prices/provide completely nonsensical information to potential customers/both the above.

JuergenSchwarzwald · 01/02/2022 16:51

[quote 2022HereWeCome]@Rainartist I disagree.

The venue should make it abundantly clear of that children younger than 8 cannot be supervised by the staff and not accept booking for an eighth birthday party. Frankly it's a stupid rule, either they can offer climbing safely or not.[/quote]
Exactly. There's an argument you shouldn't charge supervising adults anything at all, but nobody would have probably complained too much about £3 or some similar amount.

£25 is profiteering and is way out of line with other pricing I've seen.

Or, the person on reception is talking rubbish, which I still think could be the case. There have been enough threads on here about rubbish customer service and people not knowing how to do their jobs properly.

merrymouse · 01/02/2022 16:54

Young children are probably a liability in such a place and they're entitled not to cater for them if they want.

Climbing is dangerous. If they don’t cater for young children they should make that very clear and not accept bookings.

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 01/02/2022 16:57

I would text the mum saying something like ‘sorry I didn’t realise DD would need my supervision, I was planning to stay and watch but with being 7 months pregnant I can’t be actively involved so unfortunately X will be unable to attend’

This. I'm not sure I'd want to ask my family members to take on the responsibility either.

Lurking9Till5 · 01/02/2022 16:58

Don't name and shame the venue!

They're entitled to have whatever conditions they want.

Then they should be ok with their terms and conditions being made clear to potential customers

Adelais · 01/02/2022 17:05

Surely nobody would book a party at this venue for under 8s with these rules? I wonder if it’s made clear when you book a party?
I don’t understand why they are charging an adult priced ticket if you’re only supervising? It sounds like they expect the parents to climb as well.

Lockdownbear · 01/02/2022 17:09

My guess is the parents haven't made it clear to thr venue the child is just turning 8 and half the friends are only 7.

SunshineCake1 · 01/02/2022 17:15

I suggest she's got her words muddled up and she wants everyone else to pay for her child's party.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 01/02/2022 17:16

I've just checked our local climbing centre. All climbers from age 4 are £15 for normal session. Children at parties are £21 (including food etc) but don't charge for supervising adults who are not climbing. When I went my 2 were old enough to do clips alone (which is tricky bit) so I supervised from cafe! £25 is ridiculous.

nitsandwormsdodger · 01/02/2022 17:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CaveMum · 01/02/2022 17:26

@nitsandwormsdodger you need to read the thread properly. OP has been back and updated to confirm it was not a typo.