'SOFT PLAY WORKER SAID 'WE DON'T CATER FOR CHILDREN LIKE THAT'

[Jenz9]

I recently went to a soft play area in St Albans (Am I allowed to name it?). I paid just under £12.00 to get in and then with minutes spent another £15.00 on food for my husband and older daughter. When it came I asked for a spare plate for my youngest child as she has milk and soya allergies and I had some safe food for her I had brought from home.
As I sat down a loud bossy worker came over in a very loud voice telling me she could not eat food that had not been purchased there. I explained about her having allergies and she said that it didn't matter and she couldn't eat it unless it had been bought it. when I asked again what I could feed her as she had to eat she replied she didn't know but couldn't eat the food I had brought. I asked again what to do and she just kept repeating we could not eat at the premises.

I had to take my daughter outside whilst my husband and daughter ate at the table (I didn't go fully outside due to wet and rain but fed her by the door where it was muddy and people kept knocking us as they came in. When my husband enquired further what they provided for children with allergies as nothing was on the menu with allergy information she said 'WE DO NOT CATER FOR CHILDREN LIKE THAT AND DO NOT PERTAIN TO'. when asked what we should do she said. Her final suggestion was that we eat before we come out.

Surely all soft play should be about inclusion and involvement?
I am writing to the manager and will let you know how I get on.

[FunLovinBunster]

Take to Twitter and complain OP. I shall RT..

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Don't forget to write a review for MN Local

[melonribena]

Hop along, I see what you're saying, and a dry jacket potato is something she could eat.

I think a compromise is in order, for example, you could order a jacket potato but be allowed to bring your own spread / dairy free cheese to add to it.

I do a similar thing by bringing some bits for my ds but ordering him some fresh fruit/side order of veg/chips!

I would love it if every food serving place could list allergens and also have one dish that is free from the major allergens.

Children with allergies just want to eat like everyone else

[needthemoney]

I wonder what this person would have said if you'd explained what you were planning to do before doing it? I have a child with an allergy and I always made a point of saying, I have a few things for my child to eat that I know are safe, do you mind if he eats them alongside the stuff I'm purchasing? I would usually be buying other stuff as well and I have never had a refusal. I never assumed it was OK because I wanted to have a relaxing experience and not be waiting for someone to pounce and say I couldn't eat unpurchased food!

I am not saying that you were in the wrong - the member of staff sounds awful in the way that she spoke to you and she might have been the sort of person who would have refused even if you'd asked. But as a rule, I would always ask first before purchasing my main meal items - then at least you have the option of refusing to give them any more of your money IYSWIM??

[5amisnotmorning]

FYI most shop bought bread has soya in it.

DD has dairy and soya intolerance and so whilst wouldn't have the kind of reaction the OP's child may have, would be vey uncomfortable for a few nights.

We always ask and to be honest the only foods we can really have when out are potatoes, chips and beans. I can't feed her that everyday!

[Marcipex]

Vue cinema were great with DS who is dairy intolerant, he just takes his own sweets/treats in.

[Jenz9]

Phone ran out of charge. Will definately not go back but I was really upset by the staff worker that spoke to us. Really loud and unpleasant. I did say when I asked for the plate that it was for my youngest with allergies. She just said ok and gave me the plate. The staff worker that told us not to eat never offered to look at menu to find something suitable or showed any interest in what the allergies were and how they could accomodate them. I have eaten at places before and spoken to staff before but have never had a staff worker so rude. We all go there to enjoy ourselves afterall.

[brighteyedbusytailed]

that is bad, hopefully there own rudeness will be their undoing.

[Jenz9]

Re the bread issue, I make my own due to her allergy. Nearly all contain soya. It was actually home made bread and goats cheese I had brought in.

[DownstairsMixUp]

I can't believe people are trying to stick up for the soft play and telling the op her daughter should make do with a jacket potato or a bloody carrot stick ffs! I would complain to the paper and write a review on trip advisor/facebook and MN local. Horrendous!

[IamInvisible]

I would definitely say this is discrimination and they are in breach of the Equalities Act by not making reasonable adjustments so your DD, and other people with food allergies can eat.

The only allergic condition that is excluded as an impairment for the terms of the Act is hay fever. It's all in <a class="break-all" href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130703133823/odi.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wor/new/ea-guide.pdf" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">here

[WhereIsMyHat]

So e of the replies on here just show the complete and utter ignorance some people still have regarding allergies, bloody shocking.

I think you need to complain, nothing will change otherwise.

[Jenz9]

One good thing is that my oldest is four in a couple of months and I was going to do some soft play type party for her and her friends. This place will definately not be getting my business for the party. I will actually feel good handing the money to a different company which I suppose will take the sting out of the cost for me

[2tiredtocare]

Have you tried big space in Harpenden, that's a nice one

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I had this in a cafe when DD was a year old.

She has multiple allergies so i gave her some baby crisps while my friend and I ate cafe food.we were told off even after I explained.

I never went back there. And that was 6 years ago..they have lost a lot of money from me..I go to cafes often.

[HairyGrotter]

St Albans has soft play? Christ, I've lived here years and never knew that! Hate the places, mind haha

Not great service overall!

[Jenz9]

Haven't trig big space but thanks for tip as I will give it a go.

[Jenz9]

I actually wonder if Dr couldn't give u something like an allergy bracelet or cert or something so at least places would know u aren't lying when u tell them your child has allergies.

[Jenz9]

I agree with where is my hat. Allergies are not easy. You certainly don't save any money by not buying their food. I have to spend a lot more on food because my daughter reacts to cheaper alternatives. It also takes a lot more time with all the home baking and your child knows they aren't getting the same all the time. Mine does already and she is only 2.

[Pixel]

We were at our local soft play once (years ago, mine are too old now) and I was chatting to one of the staff. I mentioned that we had been invited to a party there the following week and since my son was on a gluten free diet asked if it would be ok to bring food for him. The reply was "oh we can do gluten free food for him if you like, just let us know beforehand. We can do a whole gluten free party if you want one".

Just to prove that not all soft play places are run by idiots!

I understand only too well why they don't want people turning up with lots of their own food, but in that case they should at least try and cater for allergies. Apart from anything else they are losing custom.

[MrsMook]

DS has allergies and intolerances to milk egg and soya and it is very restrictive. Soya is particularly awkward as it is unpredictable what it turn up in. The suggestions that some posters have made of charging to eat your own food is unfair as preparing allergy free food is already more expensive. To make a sandwich Ive had to buy a very specific loaf of bread costing considerably more than the wholemeal loaf I previously bought, then use another expensive dairy free spread. At a soft play, you have already paid for entry, so the business is still making money from the visit. Other people in the party are still buying refreshments. DS'Sstaple diet for eating out is fish fingers chips and peas/ beans, which gets very tedious if there's been a flurry of eating out. It also means places get more money from me as I have to buy a hot meal rather than cheaper snacks like sandwiches.

It's so hard to know what is safe, we once thought we were ok ordering a roast dinner, no gravy in a pub. When it turned up there was gravy on the food. When we sent it back (politely) explaining that gravy can contain the tripple whammy of DS's allergens, they said that the meat had been cooked in gravy, something we would have been oblivious to until DS became ill. The staff were great and changed the order and very quickly got us a safe option of food.

Places that neither provide a range of food, nor accommodate reasonable alternatives don't deserve return trade. Would it be reasonable to lock up or charge for disabled toilets and deny access?

[MrsMook]

Our local soft play is good at gluten free. Doesn't help our issues much, but it's good to see some progress and effort.

[whatever5]

I think that it was stupid of them to be so unhelpful as obviously they will have lost a customer. You should have asked if it was okay to bring your own food in advance though.