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AIBU?

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Original poster

If a restaurant accepts children ...

66 replies

nappyaddict · 12/01/2011 12:30

Then they should have at least 1 or 2 token highchairs?

I know you can attach them to a chair with a harness and reins which I've done before but you can get highchairs for about 15 pound, they hardly break the bank!

OP posts:
crazygracieuk · 12/01/2011 12:39

I think it's nice when they have them but not a must.

It depends on the size of the restaurant really. High chairs take up space and there might not be enough floor space for highchairs considering that employees and other customers need to be able to walk around and serve people etc.

Also "accepts children" doesn't necessarily mean child-friendly either.

Bramshott · 12/01/2011 12:43

I don't think they can choose NOT to accept them can they?! Maybe the lack of highchairs is a subtle hint!

TattyDevine · 12/01/2011 12:44

They can choose not to accept them. There is an unlicenced fish and chip restaurant in Aldeburgh that does not allow children under 13. It has a sign on the door.

Takeresponsibility · 12/01/2011 12:45

Initially thought that it would nice but I would always phone and check never assume.

Then I thought but how much use would it get - would they clean it properly after some child had been sick or worse - especially if the seat was split. Would they check that it hadn't got wobbly.

Conclusion - I'd rather take my own regardless

TattyDevine · 12/01/2011 12:45

By unlicenced I mean they dont serve liquor, not that that's a reason, if they serve food, they can still allow children. But its not anything to do with that - its due to ambience.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 12/01/2011 13:09

They take up a fair bit of room (which is precious) and are a PITA. They're nice-to-haves rather than essentials.

BusyMissIzzy · 12/01/2011 13:12

You can get the ones that fit onto a normal chair, sort of like a booster with a harness. They don't take up much extra room. I suppose it comes down to how much the restaurant owners want young children in their restaurant, which in turn might depend on whether or not they'd lose custom if they don't have highchairs.

monkeyflippers · 12/01/2011 13:19

I always assume that if they have no high chairs then they don't really want kids in and then I would rather not go there.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 12/01/2011 13:27

Sorted!

NorbertDentressangle · 12/01/2011 13:31

I think the problem is a lot of places don't provide high chairs because:

a) they are PITA to clean and restaurants don't want the responsibility and added effort involved in keeping them clean

b) presumably there some H&S issue as well around the fact that if they provide high chairs then they have a legal obligation to make sure they are safe to use, no broken parts etc

darleneconnor · 12/01/2011 13:31

There is a restaurant here which has a 'no buggies allowed' sign on the door Angry

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 12/01/2011 13:34

Maybe they don't have enough room though, darlene.

You might be conscientious when it comes to parking your buggy in cafes, but lots of other parents aren't and allow their tanks to take up inordinate amounts of space.

I can see where they're coming from.

mayorquimby · 12/01/2011 13:36

Yeah but buggies can take up loads of space. It's ok if you only have one or two people in with buggies, in a lot of smaller cafes and restaurants it would become a real hassle after that.

frgr · 12/01/2011 13:39

I always thought it was nice when they had them, but not something i'd "expect" unless it really went and advertised in its marketing about being "family friendly" / "child friendly" (e.g. children's parties catered for, maybe an outside play area, well developed kids menu, that sort of level).

one of the local places i used to go to coffee at eventually got rid of theirs, they used to have 3 or 4 wooden ones at the window but people struggled to find seats at lunchtime - in the end i went in one day and they were gone, they'd put two new tables there instead. a shame, but never mind.

so, yes, children accepted is not the same as "child friendly/welcoming", and as annoying as it might be i can understand from a practical POV why a restaurant just wouldn't bother. if i am going out to a new place i always call to check in case we needed to take our portable one.

Original poster
nappyaddict · 12/01/2011 13:50

I understand the point about space but you can get those booster ones that are about 10 or 12 pound. We are going to a restaurant tomorrow and because they have no highchairs everyone is having to take their buggies which take up a lot more room than something like this would.

OP posts:
MrsChemist · 12/01/2011 13:53

It's something to do with H&S. My brother used to run a pub. Head office told him he had to let children in, but wouldn't pay for high chairs because they have to be H&S audited and that cost money.

Original poster
nappyaddict · 12/01/2011 13:57

To be fair the only places I've come across that don't have them are very small cafes and chinese, indian, thai places.

OP posts:
Original poster
nappyaddict · 12/01/2011 14:01

Oh and Bramshott they can. There is a chain of pubs round here that only accept children over 14 and they have to be eating a meal with adults.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 12/01/2011 14:03

If places aren't child friendly (and I include providing highchairs there as DS is only 14 months) then I don't eat there. My bigger bug bear is often the crap they have on the kids menus though!!

I know where is child friendly locally so go there instead!

Original poster
nappyaddict · 12/01/2011 14:14

This is the only non-chain restaurant where I live. IME chain restaurants can be hit and miss with regards to serving tasty food so I choose to avoid them. I would rather go somewhere with good, homemade food that I can either order starters and sides for a child or sometimes a smaller portion of an adult meal at a lower price and forfeit children's menu, activity sheets and highchairs.

I wonder if the cost of a H&S audit for highchairs outweighs the potential loss of customers though. This thread has shown that if a restuarant doesn't have high chairs then parents will perceive that they don't want children in there.

In the restaurant we are going to it is quite the opposite. They are really nice and friendly to kids. It's very quiet in the daytime and during the week so you don't have to worry about the kids making a bit of noise and they are very understanding if they do. They have often tried distracting DS with fancy serviette animals.

OP posts:
Callisto · 12/01/2011 14:14

Yuck, public high chairs are generally hideous and grubby. I can't recall ever putting DD in one, she would sit on my lap and eat my food when really little. I certainly wouldn't veto a place because it doesn't have high chairs, and I generally find that 'child friendly' in the UK equates to crap food.

Original poster
nappyaddict · 12/01/2011 15:13

Also if any local pubs/restaurants appear to not have a children's menu always double check. 2 round here don't have printed menus but if you ask they have pizza, chicken or fish goujons, pasta etc that they can do. Others if you ask will do smaller portions for a lower price. You don't ask you don't get :)

OP posts:
meantosay · 12/01/2011 16:02

I agree, if high chairs aren't provided, the restaurant isn't really going after the family market and would prefer not to have crying babies and toddlers on the premises.

activate · 12/01/2011 16:03

No because people under 16 are thought of as children too

so I would never assume

activate · 12/01/2011 16:04

A 'Family' does not need to include an under 2 you know Grin

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