'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.

[lljkk]

I don't think people with allergies are a protected group; as such the soft play is a private business & can exclude them if they like.

Obviously a stupid business model, feel free to name & shame in revenge.

I'm sorry your child has such restrictive options, must be a huge pain. But you will have to let businesses know rather than presume, most eateries will have such "only consume food bought on our premises" rules.

[NewtRipley]

Sorry if this has been said;

But she she "and we do not pertain to"?

If so her failed attempt at using officious vocabulary showed her up for the jobsworth she is, didn't it...

[aintnothinbutagstring]

I have a child with a CMP and peanut allergy, it is very restrictive especially when you're out and about, we're going abroad soon - what a logistical nightmare that will be!

Soft play is godawful anyway, I always wonder how they clean the ball pits! At least as the weather improves you can make more use of parks, no one will tell you off there and its free!

[frumpet]

Could she not have had a plate of chips ? or some healthy carrot sticks or god i dont know anything else not made with milk , like a sandwhich ? you could of asked for one with no butter on and not cheese ?
I appreciate it is difficult eating out sometimes with a child with allergies though , and i would have thought if you had obviously bought food for other members of the party then i would have bent the rules to accomodate your DD .

[whatever5]

frumpet -I think that bread often has milk or butter in it so a sandwich wouldn't be safe.

[ThisSummerBetterBeDarnGood]

Its a disgusting way to speak to customers anyway.

[ThisSummerBetterBeDarnGood]

There are ways and means of following Orders.

[Madeyemoodysmum]

Was it willows or Dj jungles adventure. The latter has really gone down hill in the last few yrs! My dd has a nut allergy so I sympathise

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

I thought our local was strict but this is dreadful. DS2's friend has a very, very severe and sensitive nut allergy and they'd far rather take his DM's money for him to play and have her feed him than risk a reaction that a.) is potentially fatal for him and b.) creates a traumatic situation for other patrons and is bad for business.

And to add to NewtRipley 's post - when the woman said " 'WE DO NOT CATER FOR CHILDREN LIKE THAT AND DO NOT PERTAIN TO'. " she made absolutely no sense at all. '… do not pertain to.' really doesn't mean a thing. Silly, pompous woman.

I hope your DD enjoyed herself in spite of this. Pour a ton of shit over them on TripAdvisor and among your local friends and find another soft play place pdq.

[ToddleWaddle]

I think I know which one you mean. Only been a few times but have generally always brought our own snacks for little ones and buy drinks etc for ourselves.
Nothing has ever been said to us. Lots of other people appeared to be doing the same.

[Madeyemoodysmum]

You can get allergy wristbands from eBay Amazon and it's google medi alert children's jewellary.

[mrscog]

I was going to quote the Equality Act too. Can you afford £100 for a solicitors letter to shit them up a bit?

[Mimishimi]

Powertrip, I'd say. Contact the owner..

[Jenz9]

Apparently if I name it they remove the thread but it wasn't Willow farm which although expensive is a really good day out and I have always found the staff at willows really good about all sorts of things, not just allergies.

[ReallyTired]

It is pretty clear which establishment that you mean in St Albans. I feel that your post is unfair. I think that mumsnet should delete the post.

Businesses are only required to make reasonable adaptations. (Ie. wheelchair access, disabled loo etc) I am sure that restaurants are not expected to cater for very food allergy going as that would be impossible. Your child got their two hours soft play that you paid for. I don't think that there is any case to answer for under the disablity act unless there is a strong medical reasons that means that your child cannot cope without food for two hours.

[AllergyMums]

No ones arguing that they should cater for the allergies; just that since they can't, or won't, cater for allergies then those with allergies should be allowed to bring their own food. All the other patrons eat...why not those with allergies?

They've been rude, and actually quite mean to a child. Very bad form.

Anyone who thinks isn't a big deal? Well...from now on, whenever you are out with your child, and other kids are eating and having treats, please tell your child that they have to wait til they get home. Oh...and just for the fun of it? Tell them they can never have chocolate again.

[FryOneFatManic]

"Reasonable Adjustment" would include allowing the OP to feed her daughter with food brought from home, without forcing them outside. So they have no excuse.

[2tiredtocare]

Do you work for them ReallyTired? It's better for the company that the OP canvassed opinion without naming names here than laid straight in to them on trip advisor or similar. So some people who live near St Albans think they know what place is being discussed? And....

[ReallyTired]

Reasonable Adjustment" would include allowing the OP to feed her daughter with food brought from home, without forcing them outside. So they have no excuse.

Having a disablity or an allergy is not carte blanche to break all rules.

Prehaps if the OP had been upfront about her daughter's allergies before buying the food or even paying the entrance fee then she might have had a better response. A business needs to know about a special need before it can make a reasonable adjustment otherwise its being unfair. Sneaking in food and then claiming that a child has an "allergy" is not being upfront or fair the business. The OP did not even discuss the problem with the cafe or give the business a chance to cater for the child's need. She just went ahead and opened her lunch box.

I think you will find that Big Space, Kids Zone or any other soft play has exactly the same rules when it comes to food.

[LaGuardia]

YABU just for going to soft play. Haven't you read the threads on here? No good ever comes out of those horrible places. Bacteria-filled cesspits staffed by the undead.

[KatnipEvergreen]

These businesses depend on customers- they should be trying a bit harder to accommodate them. They will get bad reviews, people won't go, and they will close. Simple as that.

[fairylightsintheloft]

well there is only one SP in St Albans so I know exactly which one you mean.. The café is grotty but its my kids' favourite one unfortunately. Doesn't surprise me that they treated you like that but they are being ridiculous and yes I would get on to the Adevertiser if I were you.

[notso]

I think she was rude although I also think you were rude.
My son has peanut and nut allergy and I always ask first if it is ok for him to eat our food before I order anything, I would never assume places were happy with this.

[Jenz9]

I do not think I was rude. I approached the desk and asked for a plate as my daughter had allergies and I had brought some allergy free food with me. By doing this before I got any food out I was informing the staff who smiled and gave me a plate. They never said anything, it was once I had the food out the woman came over and was very loud telling me I could not. The time to tell me was when I asked for the plate