To be irritated at this tea shop?

[MrsNextDoor]

In my city there is a very nice tea shop....it's quirky and it's the kind of place people have celebrations...so Birthday teas and Hen Parties. It's quite expensive and my DD who is about to turn 11 asked if she could have an afternoon tea there for her friends...6 in total.

I just called them to enquire if it would be bookable....6 girls aged 11 and me...I specified that I would like to allow the girls to sit alone and order their drinks...the afternoon tea is set...so they wouldn't have to choose from the menu....the response was "Well no...we don't usually allow unacompanied children"

well they wouldn't be would they! I'd be there...just on another table nearby.

He then ummed and aaahed and said "Oh I actually don't think we've got any available tables that day anyway."

Yeah right.

So irritating! Or AIBU to think they'd allow this? Maybe I am? I mean I know the girls in question are all impeccably behaved...but HE doesn't I suppose..still....I'd be right there IN the cafe!! AIBU to be annoyed??

Ring back & make the booking again don't mention sitting separately this time

Then on the day just sit apart from girls' table. Simples.

Sorry didn't read earlier post OP Pizza Express sounds perfect better food and more relaxed

Yes, OP I would just ring back/get friend to ring back booking a table. Don't mention what it is for-if pushed say a few friends are meeting there-and don't mention sitting apart.
Someone at work was organising a hen and wanted to book into a VIP part of a bar. They weren't out for a massive 'L sign and plastic penis' type event, just emanated guaranteed seats. They were refused as no hen parties allowed. I rang for her, booked it just for a group, no problem.

Comfort yes...finger sandwiches etc sounds nice but they're always starving in general and will need dough balls and pizza/ice cream,

I can understand your annoyance if you know the girls concerned and know they would be well behaved. But he doesn't know that and I can sort of understand his caution.

Like chaletdays parents we once had a meal out disrupted in similar circumstances. In our case we had gone for a Chinese meal. There was a group of about six 10 or 11 year old girls and the parents of one of them. However, the girls were sat at one table together and the parents at another some distance away. The geography of the restaurant was such that there was the main space and then a sort of large alcove. The little girls had a table in the alcove and we had the one other table in there. I am guessing the parents elected not to have that table themselves either because the girls wanted to sit away from them or because they wanted the peace and quiet of not being sat next to them. OK the girls weren't too bad but we had to put up with their noisy excited chatter all through the meal and eventually their getting up and down from the table as they got tired and bored.

Given that most of the tea rooms I go in are populated by individuals who appear to be startled by the sound of someone dropping their napkin on the floor

That sounds like me. Pizza Express is a much better choice.

I recently went to a 10th birthday party that was in a tearoom like this. We adults had our own table next to the girls and although they were all well behaved there was quite a bit of spillage, going to the loo in groups and noise. Not sure I would have been delighted had I not been one of the party to be honest.
Hope your DD enjoys her birthday OP

Thanks Hopping. I'm sure she'll be fine...the pizza might be second choice but it does seem a bit more suitable.