Drinks for parents at soft play party?

[BluetheBear]

Child will be 2. Soft play party included food and drinks for the children but nothing for adults. They would need to buy their own coffees / cake. The party is not going to be at a mealtime.

Would you be happy paying for your own drink or do you think these should be paid for? The venue told me most people don't pay for drinks for the parents but to me this feels a bit tight. Then again I wouldn't want people ordering multiple coffees at £4 each but I don't think the venue could police this unless we arranged some kind of drinks token??

I went to one the other week though and nothing was provided. I bought my own coffee. And that was fine too. I certainly wouldn’t expect anything to be provided.

Tea and coffee is the norm here but apart from one or two parties we've been offered food. But then it was expected that the adults would hit the party table as soon as the children were finished and hoover up the sandwiches and fruit that the children had ignored in favour of party rings and crisps 😀

*we've never been offered food.

@FlounderingFruitcake I think it's a London thing! We always have beer and fizz as well (and soft drinks, obviously!)

I've always paid for tea and coffee for adults and have usually been bought a drink when I arrive at other parties.
I wouldn't massively judge if you didn't though would probably think you were on a budget.

^^ or not a London thing necessarily but a city thing (where people don't drive)

We had an adults drink tab at ours, it cost us about £50.
At the soft play parties we go to it’s about 30% adult drinks included, 70% not so it’s not expected. But noone took the mick at ours and we were happy to spend the money.
When we move to the village hall parties we will provide adult drinks.

Not sure why need would come into it? It’s just a nice offering that makes spending 1.5 hours of your afternoon in a soft play a bit more pleasant. It is the done thing where we live, hence soft play having an alcohol license but it clearly isn’t everywhere. OP is probably best to take the advice of her local soft play and if most hosts don’t buy coffees then she’ll be fine not to.

Just get some Lidl Prosecco in. The only way I’d be convinced to endure a soft play

Just give them a couple of jugs of lukewarm orange squash to share 🤣🤣🤣😂😂

Its 1.5 hours.

What do all the parents do at soft play usually? Am I the only one just sat with a coffee whilst my child goes off to play.... or am I missing something? Should I be cracking open the wine?

Have to admit that 90% of the parties I book put a tab on for the adults. I actually find it quite mental that they waste that kind of cash and I wouldn't do it for my kids parties but where I live it's def the norm

I’ve never been to a soft play that offers alcohol! For parties parents just bought their own drinks, the food and drink supplies is only for the children.

I’m thinking the same! I’m baffled by those who drink alcohol, it’s not even served at our local soft plays!

Would never expect food/drinks at any children's party tbh but especially not soft play. I'd buy my one there if I wanted one. We provided sandwiches and drinks for adults at the only party we've hosted so far which was for when DD turned 4 but that was mainly because the party DID cross a meal time (lunch time). I felt it would be a bit unfair not to because people would be hungry and usually be eating and drinking in that situation. Party was in a room on a farm opposite the cafe.

The pearl clutching about a glass of fizz at a party is cracking me up tho. How disgraceful

I think that would be fine. If they want a drink they need to buy their own. Not worth adding the extra cost.

It's not a 'London thing' I've never been to a kids party that had alcohol and don't know any soft plays that sell it!

It's hardly Pearl clutching. Have some of you actually been to a party for 90 minutes? It flys by in no time.

I'm not against drinking but it's not the same sort of party you would do in a private hall you hire where you go all out with food and drink. It's not that type of party at all. It's 90 mins so why would you want fizz within that time? I don't get it.

@Comii9 ahhh bless

Oooo Touché

No need to provide anything for the adults. Not even coffee or tea. If you were hosting at home, it might be different.

I'm finding the parents that need/want alcohol to get through 1.5 hours of a toddler soft play quite odd too. Only real lushes would be drinking at a party round here

I'd love a cup of tea but happy to buy my own.

I would set up a tab, but I would also be more that happy to buy my own. If you’re concerned about costs, just let everyone sort themselves out.

I’ve always said that I would pay the coffee tab. No one has ever taken advantage. If you’re worried invite less children. It’s mean not to offer parents something, especially if their children are too young to be left.