to be annoyed that none of the nice restaurants in Cornwall allow children?

[worldgonecrazy]

Actually I'm more annoyed with whichever parents/children from hell combination made them come up with the policy.

Do any Cornish mumsnetters know of any nice/fine dining restaurants that allow young children at lunch time? DD is 2 years old.

Have you tried Pescadou, at the Old Customs House in Padstow? We went there a few years ago with our DS

So long as I wasn't on the window table london, that sounds fine by me!

Hmm, catgirl - but at home they only sit at a table for the duration of them eating their dinner, I don't expect them to meekly sit there for half an hour before and half an hour (or more) afterwards while everyone finishes up and has a big chat. But then maybe you're talking more about older children - mine are two.

Why is it assumed that children allowed in a restaurant automatically means mayhem, children running screaming everywhere, food flying? We go out a couple times a month for Sunday lunch at one of the nicer places in our town, the place often has several tables with small children at them, and there's none of this going on. It's natural family life, people have children, they get to go out and eat with their families. I'm not at all surprised to hear that they are allowed in restaurants in Spain, they are much more family oriented there.

If people need to not have any children in their sight, then go out for dinner. Once you're past 7pm, 8 at the latest, the roiling masses of feral children are usually gone by then.

The ones I know do sit for the duration, but they are not mine so maybe I am only seeing them on "good" days lottie

Mine is only a baby so maybe I will feel differently when he is older, (and I am sure he will have some mortifying tantrums at some really great moments - he's a child) but I was always expected to sit for as long as the adults did and to behave. I certainly wasn't allowed to wander off at any age

This is a new thing re. Padstow. We used to holiday there as children before it became trendy and you could eat anywhere in those days. The whole pretentious air about it puts me off going back now, which is a shame, so god knows how the locals who have always lived there feel

I'd love to still have DD when she was 1-4 years old. She'd sit happily in a restaurant, eat loads and try lots of different things and we'd almost NEVER have a child's meal (mostly they were the "chicken nuggest and chips" meals - but they were often delighted to do a half portion of an adult meal for her instead). I remember sitting in France and her gettings tuck into a bowl of "moules/frites" and being more excited by the mussels than the chips.

Now, she's a LOT fussier, changes her mind all the time (even after ordering), is not so easily distracted by the pencils and a colouring in sheet from mum's handbag, gets bored with the ninDS, and has "ants in her pants" too (won't sit still). DH and I have not dared bring her out to a decent restaurant for a while now. (I mainly blame BIL who insisted on bringing his 2 DC's for family meals from very young - who had NO concept of sitting still, eating what was offered and do the whole "running around the restaurant" with plenty of shouting thing - at least DD's fidgitiness means she hops around the seats at our table but she has never been a run-arounder).

I am looking forward to the time when I can insist that we want to have a family celebration by having an ADULTS dinner in the EVENING. And also getting DD to start being less fussy about food so we can start having nice family lunches or early-bird dinners out again (not necessarily posh - just me not cooking and decent food).

Report back to me in a couple of years then catgirl :) Actually, it might be because we have twins in a way - we are always on a 1:1 adult: totally irrational toddler ratio. If one or both of them decides they want to get down it's honestly better for everyone concerned if they're allowed to go and look at something (supervised; often we'd carry them or hold their hand) or to go outside to run around. My girls are pretty well behaved in general, but they ARE toddlers, and I think it's asking too much to expect them to sit quietly.

I agree lottie. Ds is 2.4 and we eat out a lot, on the occasions where it is taking a while for the meal to arrive and he is getting a bit bored then a quick walk is much better than his staying sat at the table getting louder and louder!

I will :) - I may be a shattered nervous wreck by then

But am hoping chasing a toddler might shif baby weight

They lied to me about the breast feding doing it :)

*shift

and *feeding

Thank you to everyone for the suggestions, I just spoke to a very nice man at No. 6 and he said it would not be a problem to take DD.

I agree that some restaurants should be child free as it is nice for people to be able to relax without children around for a few hours. Even well-behaved children can be an annoyance sometimes, particularly to non-parents. I do not agree that everything should be made "family friendly". It should be at the restaurants discretion whether to allow children or not.

Going completely off topic:

catgirl my baby weight fell off when I stopped breastfeeding.

Mine too :)

ooh - I will hold out hope for that!!

Glad they will take your DD - Hope you have a lovely holiday and meal

But I do think there is a general expectation that fine dining restaurants will be child free, especially in this country.

Probably because there is not an expectation that children will be well behaved, or at least taken out if noisy. (looks at post currently running where nearly everyone advises OP just to ignore people upset by her 2 yo kid kicking off with a tantrum).

You can't charge people lots of money for a "gastronomic experience" if it sounds like a McDonalds soft play area.

Also, until they get into their teens IMO kids can't tell the difference between McDonalds and Michelin (probably prefer McD....)

Whatmeworry my 2 year old will not be kicking off with a tantrum so there won't be anything for people to get upset about.

What thread are you talking about when you say "looks at post currently running where nearly everyone advises OP just to ignore people upset by her 2 yo kid kicking off with a tantrum" because I don't think it's this one?

Try the fowey hall for family friendly.

We're staying in Fowey this weekend, for the first time. Have you been there? Any good? Am hoping so because I'm bloody desperate I need a break.

Not stayed there but staff very friendly and food was ok but for me too expensive!

If you get a chance try Sams on the main street or Sams on the beach at polkerris. Highly recommended by all my friends too

St Ives has recenly opened a Pizza Express

Personally I hate going out for a very nice meal and finding people there with children, I appreciate the fact that some restaurants are adult only, especially in the evening.

There are a million wonderful nice places to eat with kids in Cornwall, if you can bring yourself to dine somewhere without that all important star......

OP, Cornwall is a big county.

I live near Lands End which is about 80 miles from the border with England (Devon) so you need to be a bit more specific.

Apologies if you have already said where but ICBA to read the lot! :)