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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:
TigerLilyTail · 01/02/2022 14:10

I feel like this is going to be another one of those threads where there is a fairly simple and obvious solution but it will get dragged out as long as possible. Or maybe I'm just cynical.

ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 01/02/2022 14:10

It's not £25 per adult to stay and supervise kids under 8 on a climbing wall. You've made a mistake. Or the host has.

itwasntaparty · 01/02/2022 14:11

No chance. You have to pay the £25, pay for a present, probably parking too. Poor kid isnt going to have many at his party.

WitchWithoutChips · 01/02/2022 14:11

@arachnidpearl

Ok so I've rung the venue.

I am not allowed to be a supervising adult on account of being pregnant, I am not allowed in the vicinity of the climbing wall at all, just the cafe etc. But, all children under 8 must be supervised 1-1 and to enter the climbing area all adults must have a ticket (which is £25!)

So I cannot take DS anyway, the only option I've got is if I can get a grandparent or my sister to take him. But I will have to pay £25 for them to do so!

I queried the cost for adults on account of it being a party and they said they offer the option where the party bookers can pay for the supervising adults... or not. So I assume these parents have decided not!!

That is absolutely ridiculous.
LaChanticleer · 01/02/2022 14:12

Sounds like the parents of the birthday child are trying to recoup the cost of the party from the parents of children invited ... (or am I overly suspicious?)

PatchworkElmer · 01/02/2022 14:12

Having read your update- it’s an outrageous charge but I think if I could afford it, I’d pay as I wouldn’t want my DC to be disappointed. That is a LOT of money though.

TigerLilyTail · 01/02/2022 14:13

@TigerLilyTail

I feel like this is going to be another one of those threads where there is a fairly simple and obvious solution but it will get dragged out as long as possible. Or maybe I'm just cynical.
🤦‍♀️

I apologise. I need a screen break!

PatchworkElmer · 01/02/2022 14:14

Really the host parents should’ve halved the number of children their DC could invite, and paid for adults too. They’re to blame for this.

smittenkittennn · 01/02/2022 14:14

Well that's an easy out. No way this place will stay open long with those ridiculous policies or perhaps the policy is meant to dissuade young kids as they don't want it to be young kids only "serious" climbers? Bonkers

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 01/02/2022 14:15

So I take it you're not going? What a shame the crazy policies are going to affect the birthday kid's party.

itwasntaparty · 01/02/2022 14:15

It's lunchtime and I'm bored...I've just looked at our local place, it.s £22.99 per kid for the party package, first ten adults are free and then £2.50 for any other adults that want to stay. No 121 supervision for under 8s.

20week · 01/02/2022 14:16

Ridiculous. Party child parents should pay all the costs, if they couldn't afford the £25 for supervising adults another venue should of been chosen. Completely wrong to pass the cost onto other parents.

Vloggamamma · 01/02/2022 14:16

@arachnidpearl

Ok so I've rung the venue.

I am not allowed to be a supervising adult on account of being pregnant, I am not allowed in the vicinity of the climbing wall at all, just the cafe etc. But, all children under 8 must be supervised 1-1 and to enter the climbing area all adults must have a ticket (which is £25!)

So I cannot take DS anyway, the only option I've got is if I can get a grandparent or my sister to take him. But I will have to pay £25 for them to do so!

I queried the cost for adults on account of it being a party and they said they offer the option where the party bookers can pay for the supervising adults... or not. So I assume these parents have decided not!!

There’s your out then and you could always give your child the £25 instead to get himself a treat to make up for it. Rather that than pay for other parents bad organising. Maybe next time they can choose an age appropriate activity or cough up !
MajorCarolDanvers · 01/02/2022 14:16

@arachnidpearl

Ok so I've rung the venue.

I am not allowed to be a supervising adult on account of being pregnant, I am not allowed in the vicinity of the climbing wall at all, just the cafe etc. But, all children under 8 must be supervised 1-1 and to enter the climbing area all adults must have a ticket (which is £25!)

So I cannot take DS anyway, the only option I've got is if I can get a grandparent or my sister to take him. But I will have to pay £25 for them to do so!

I queried the cost for adults on account of it being a party and they said they offer the option where the party bookers can pay for the supervising adults... or not. So I assume these parents have decided not!!

That's your get out then.

You won't be the only person backing out but you'll have the best excuse - your pregnancy.

Opus17 · 01/02/2022 14:16

That's absolutely ridiculous from the venue and cheeky from the parents!

I'd be pulling out and saying why

lalaloopyhead · 01/02/2022 14:17

Totally bonkers - they can't have booked a party package surely, as per locations like PP link all supervision would be included....would probably mean all children in smaller area and having to wait their turn etc but so be it. This arrangment sounds like just a normal booking.

I assume it must be a costly mistake made by the parents but they should at the very least fess up to this and offer to subsidise the cost of the adult tickets if they can't afford to cover it all.

HairyScaryMonster · 01/02/2022 14:18

But why can't the parents of the birthday child supervise? Do they need 1-1 supervision?

EricScrantona · 01/02/2022 14:18

Honestly, I think you should name the venue so we all know not to go there. Some poor 8 year old is probably going to have to cancel his party or have no one turn up. What a ridiculous policy. Do they not have staff there?

Glittertwins · 01/02/2022 14:19

Well there is your get off jail card!
Very silly of the hosts not to check the age requirements up front and downright ridiculous of the venue in charging that amount when they demand supervision (and by a non pregnant woman!)

IncompleteSenten · 01/02/2022 14:20

That is absolutely ridiculous of the venue

Calennig · 01/02/2022 14:20

o I cannot take DS anyway, the only option I've got is if I can get a grandparent or my sister to take him. But I will have to pay £25 for them to do so!

I queried the cost for adults on account of it being a party and they said they offer the option where the party bookers can pay for the supervising adults... or not. So I assume these parents have decided not!!

That's awful - the parents really should have mentioned it with invite and venue isn't going to get a lot of party custom.

TheOrigRights · 01/02/2022 14:21

You might as well cough up, it'll be the first and only party your child will attend there, as their [cough] business model is appalling!

Starlightstarbright1 · 01/02/2022 14:22

Gosh.. Yes you have a get out clause now.

I doubt you will be the only one to drop out..

unless you live in an affluent area £25 is a huge amount... This should also have been upfront.

Vloggamamma · 01/02/2022 14:25

@EricScrantona

Honestly, I think you should name the venue so we all know not to go there. Some poor 8 year old is probably going to have to cancel his party or have no one turn up. What a ridiculous policy. Do they not have staff there?
I agree , name and shame and we could all email them telling them how ridiculous it is and that they should check their competition.
Dixiechickonhols · 01/02/2022 14:28

Thanks for updating OP. I’d tell party mum you have spoken to venue and they said can’t supervise as you are pg so your son can’t go.
It sounds like bad planning on parents part not realising the attendees were all 7 requiring 1-1 paid supervision. Would have been best done next year when he was 9 and everyone else 8.
We had similar with a swimming party - me and a few dads had to step in to supervise as birthday mum wouldn’t get in pool (she knew all guests were still 7 and needed in water adult supervision) I wouldn’t have paid £25 though!