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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Banned from Starbucks

360 replies

Monicachoux · 15/03/2011 21:44

I am part of a group of new mothers who used to meet a local Birmingham Starbucks for a coffee and chat once a week. The Starbucks is located within a hotel, and both businesses share a lounge area big enough for us, our babies and baby equipment.
We have (after about 6 meets) been told we are not welcome to meet there anymore as the "venue has been booked for corporate seminars and events on the days you meet, and this will be taking place for the next few months".
Starbucks boasts a sign stating "Sit and relax in our lounge area at the back", yet, we are no longer welcome to relax here with our babies anymore... Numbers for our group range from about 4 or 5 mums with their babies up to about 7 or 8 (so we're hardly an army) and each of us consumed drinks and snacks from the coffee shop and hotel when we went there... Are we being unreasonable by expecting to be treated like any other Starbucks customer in spite of (the horror!) having babies? I have to say that I for one was quite shocked when they (very nicely) informed us we couldn't meet there anymore- this is DEFINITELY NOT a baby-friendly establishment

OP posts:
tallulahxhunny · 16/03/2011 11:47

if i seen all those mums and babies in a place i wanted to relax and have a coffee etc i would run as fast as i could, i cant think of anything worse than a place full of screaming children and yapping mums

well done starbucks!!

auntpolly · 16/03/2011 11:50

I will never again hold a paper cup of coffee without feeling like a wanker in a relay race. Probably just as well really.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 16/03/2011 11:54

OMG I love it, a group of 'starbucks mummys' have been banned Grin

Where is the establishment of which you speak ??

YABU btw Wink

montmartre · 16/03/2011 12:03

Wow- there has to be a serious business opportunity here though, doesn't there?

bupcakesandcunting · 16/03/2011 12:04

"you mean the wanky-coffee-with-poncy-names shops then?"

I most certainly do Grin

Parodied wonderfully by Chris Morris and Charlie Brooker with "Zappuchino" in Nathan Barley.

StealthPolarBear · 16/03/2011 12:06

Why are mums with babies less important that business people?

Since when has Starbucks been upmarket?

(Nasty coffee I admit)

StealthPolarBear · 16/03/2011 12:10

Does anyone other than the OP on this thread actually have children of their own.

Because soft play is generally accepted to be hell to be avoided at any costs, Starbucks (or any other cafe not aimed at children) is full of the more deserving...where should these horrifyinh mums with children actually meet?
Oh but it's OK because in 5 years they'll be at school - just wait until then (as someone on this thread actually suggested!) Hmm

StealthPolarBear · 16/03/2011 12:11

(Oh and btw if it has been actually booked then I agree the OP IBU - however if it is still open to the public - just not them - then I am angry about that)

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 16/03/2011 12:13

yes I have 3 children - including a pre-schooler. Soft play may be hell.

But so is a coffee shop being used as a mum's and toddlers venue...............

LessNarkyPuffin · 16/03/2011 12:14

'The Starbucks is located within a hotel, and both businesses share a lounge area big enough for us, our babies and baby equipment'

On the first page of this thread lots of people pointed out that this is a space issue. If the hotel is booked for meetings/conferences it needs the space. When 80+ people are turfed out for a 30 minute coffee break they need to sit down and the booking will include refreshments.

As for 'both businesses share a lounge area', well no actually they don't. The Starbucks is within the hotel, primarily for the service of hotel guests, and hotel guests come first when there is a clash. The hotel will sell this as part of their 'conference facilities'.

SoupDragon · 16/03/2011 12:15

The OP is someone who has registered on Mumsnet and Netmums purely to whinge about this.

thaigreencurry · 16/03/2011 12:15

When ds1 was a baby our antenatal group was told by both a local independent cafe and Cafe Uno that we were not welcome because there there were too many of us and our pushchairs took up too much room. There were about 10 of us and two coffees each meant that the cafes lost out when they turned us away.

Cafe Rouge on the other hand couldn't have been more accommodating they even improved their baby facilities without us asking. The waiter would bring us jugs of water and hold our babies so we could eat. It was lovely that they went out of their way to make us feel welcome, we never expected or asked for anything extra.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 16/03/2011 12:16

I think that the coffee shops were hoping for the well-heeled, well-dressed, well-off mothers with model-beautiful, well behaved children as a clientele. What they've got is not that and they're revising their business model.

There are obviously some mothers and children who manage to have a coffee stop without taking up masses of space, being loud and involving everybody else in their visit. I'd say that there are more slovenly, loud and entitlement-obsessed examples and I'm certainly put off.

montmartre · 16/03/2011 12:16

Why are mums with babies less important that business people?

Because mums with babies are less important than all people SPB! Hmm

Nagoo · 16/03/2011 12:17

I like soft play.

I can ignore my children :)

TheBossofMe · 16/03/2011 12:17

Spb, would you honestly say that a hotel lobby is a good place to meet for a mums group?

montmartre · 16/03/2011 12:20

Oh soupy LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

ROFLMAO

I think Monica will be sticking with Nethuns, don't ya think? Grin

Utterly priceless!

LessNarkyPuffin · 16/03/2011 12:20

If it was an 'ordinary' Starbucks I'd agree that they were out of line. Within a hotel that offers conference facilities it's understandable that they have taken action.

They are a clearly identifiable 'group' which meets regularly which will be why they have been informed.

What is the hotel supposed to do???

SoupDragon · 16/03/2011 12:21

I don't think she'll be sticking with Netmums - I think she's gone AWOL from there too. :D

Lonnie · 16/03/2011 12:21

OP YABU I cant even see how you have been banned.

They are using their premesis for something else they are a business. Either change your meeting date (and imo book the venue) or go elsewhere.

Being banned means you cant ever go there again I dont see how you have been told that.

FOr those wondering I have 4 children yes I do at times take them to a coffee shop but most certainly not to have a coffee meet up with 6-8 other mothers and prams. My idea of a nightmare

montmartre · 16/03/2011 12:23

Shock Are you Huffa?

AbsDuCroissant · 16/03/2011 12:23

I think the OP's being Unreasonable.

If the lounge area is being used for conferences, and has been booked, then it's not available. To anyone. At all. Apart from the people who booked. If they're so concerned about using this starbucks, maybe they could book the lounge area.

For e.g. if you booked an area in a restaurant for a celebration, wouldn't you be mightily miffed if they still allowed other people to use it?

Exactly.

thumbwitch · 16/03/2011 12:25

Thanks for the link Soupy - not very surprisingly there were more "I'm outraged for you, go to the press!" responses but still a good percentage saying pretty much what everyone here is saying.

What do you think the outcome will be? Birmingham area people, look out for the splash across your local newspaper front page and let us know!

SoupDragon · 16/03/2011 12:26

I didn't even read the replies. I felt dirty enough having dug out my very old registration to post.

StealthPolarBear · 16/03/2011 12:26

I love soft play too Blush

I think if they are open to the public (as opposed to hotel guests only, or 'booked' for conferences), they are open to the public. If they aren't, they aren't. I think if they start dictating groups of people who may enter and groups of people who may not then that is wrong. Would they allow a family with a pushchair? Would they allow these same women in with one child each if that child was in a sling?

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