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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are restaurant customers with children less appreciated than those without?

127 replies

BloggingAboutTediousThings · 16/04/2013 18:19

I mad a very horrible experience today at a Brighton Pier restaurant today. I heard so many good things about their food and my friend's daughter loves fish and chips. The restaurant was huge but had only a few tables occupied. We wanted to sit at the window to enjoy the view and the waitress placed us at a table four four with our three children. No problem as my friend's DC sit next to her on the bench and I had the highchair next to me chair. We therefore didn't use more space than somebody with four persons.

Right away we noticed the couple next to us on a table for four complaining about the children. We take our children regularly for lunch to restaurants, they are quiet and well-behaved.

We just sat down, got the children undressed and were ready to order food when a waiter came over and asked the people next to us if they would like to go to another table but their simply replied 'No we were here first.'

The waiter went away, spoke to a colleague and we were asked to leave.

I couldn't believe it. It's a children's friendly restaurant, there were a few families with small children. I was so angry and just said of course, it is your loss not ours.

What would you have done? Shall I send an email to the manager?

OP posts:
wibblyjelly · 16/04/2013 18:21

I would definitely complain!

Original poster
BloggingAboutTediousThings · 16/04/2013 18:22

Sorry for spelling mistakes. Tipping from my mobile.

OP posts:
Lj8893 · 16/04/2013 18:25

That is disgusting!!!!
Complain and if you don't get any response write to the papers!

QuintessentialOHara · 16/04/2013 18:25

They actually asked you to leave the restaurant?

Review on Trip Advisor?

Theicingontop · 16/04/2013 18:26

That seems very very odd. Did the couple next to you flag down the waiter to complain, or were they just complaining loudly in a tutty manner? Did they ask you if you'd like to move tables first?

I would make a complaint. You were treated rudely and unfairly.

Yonihadtoask · 16/04/2013 18:27

The restaurant actually asked you to leave?

I would write a strong letter. And yes to Trip Advisor.

Theicingontop · 16/04/2013 18:27

Yes, I'd copy and paste this post and submit it to trip advisor. Disgusting behaviour for a 'family friendly' restaurant. It's not as though the children were running amok.

malteserzz · 16/04/2013 18:28

Seems very odd ! What exactly did they say to you ?

cantspel · 16/04/2013 18:28

why did you undress the children? or did you just mean take their coats off?

msrisotto · 16/04/2013 18:28

Did they say why they were asking you to leave? I just can't get my head around someone complaining if the children really were quiet and well behaved.

YoniMitchell · 16/04/2013 18:28

It's odd that you were asked to leave a restaurant simply on the basis of the couple on the next table being unhappy at children being seated next to them.

Did something happen to prompt the complaint from the next table?

exoticfruits · 16/04/2013 18:29

From the title I was expecting to say YABU, but clearly you were not. If the couple didn't like it they should have moved. I would write and complain.

Original poster
BloggingAboutTediousThings · 16/04/2013 18:30

Yes they actually asked us to leave. All their tables for 5 people were occupied. This was true as they seem to focus on tables for four people and their bigger tables were already occupied. I am still mad. This never happened to me in my whole life, we both go out with our children at least twice a week for lunch/dinner even to restaurants that are less 'children friendly' and usually the staff always comments on how well-behaved the children are. So it's really not like we have screaming little brats.

OP posts:
Fairylea · 16/04/2013 18:30

Really ???? That's awful!

Asking you to leave just because you have children?

Definitely definitely complain and even consider contacting the local press.

Yonihadtoask · 16/04/2013 18:31

I hope you went to another restaurant and gave them your custom and your £££.

Blimey.

IndridCold · 16/04/2013 18:31

Outrageous! If your children were running around causing chaos I could understand it, but from a place that claims to welcome families it is inexplicable.

We were sent upstairs to the family room in a pub recently because we had a child with us (at lunchtime with 14 year old DS who towers over both of us and looks at least 17 Confused).

Just got back from France, they are so much more civilised re DCs over there...

Original poster
BloggingAboutTediousThings · 16/04/2013 18:31

Cantspel

Sorry, I meant undress with taking off coats, hats etc. was a cold and windy day so we had to wrap them up warm.

OP posts:
YoniMitchell · 16/04/2013 18:32

Did they say why they were asking you to leave though? I'm still struggling to understand why they'd do so just because another couple were miffed at having to sit next to a table with kids (who had just got there).

dreamingbohemian · 16/04/2013 18:33

I'm sorry but as a former waitress this doesn't make any sense at all. Why would they ask you to leave for no reason at all? What reason did they give?

If you were crowding the other table and perhaps being a bit noisy, then they should normally, very apologetically, ask if you minded moving to another table. It makes no sense to ask you to leave the restaurant entirely if there were lots of other tables open.

catsmother · 16/04/2013 18:34

That's appalling - assuming your children weren't shrieking and screaming or throwing food about (probably not, as you didn't get the chance to order!) then I have no idea what the couple next door could have objected to. If they're younger kids, and just babbling away then the couple should have moved if they were really that put out by normal childish chatter. This whole "we were here first" thing is arrogant and ridiculous - if you go to a child friendly restaurant then you, errmm, accept there may be children there.

You certainly shouldn't have been asked to leave. Any decent manager at a child friendly restaurant should have explained to the "we were here first" couple that you were equally welcome customers and that if they wanted to sit somewhere "quieter" (if that was the issue) then they were welcome to move - and, if they didn't want to do that, well, tough!

Definitely complain.

Original poster
BloggingAboutTediousThings · 16/04/2013 18:34

Of course we went to another restaurant. We would have nearly spent £60 there with two starters, main course, drinks etc. so it really really is their loss. But still it was very embarrassing. The guy laughed and made silly comments. I really wanted to say to his GF what a real catch he must be.

OP posts:
YoniMitchell · 16/04/2013 18:35

But what did they say when they asked you to leave? What reason did they give?

dreamingbohemian · 16/04/2013 18:36

sorry x-post

Then the other table should have had to move. Or they should have pushed two tables together for you. It's not rocket science, jeez. Definitely complain.

QuintessentialOHara · 16/04/2013 18:37

You need to name and shame!

Cherriesarelovely · 16/04/2013 18:38

That is awful. You have no reason to feel embarrassed. What horrible people. Yes, I would most definitely complain and would tell everyone about it too.

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