£16 to take our child to a party!

[SteppingIntoSpring]

I am currently sat in a children's 4th birthday party with DH having had to pay SIXTEEN POUNDS to stay here with DD3.

We are 15miles from home so would be silly for one to go back. The party is in a farm park but at the indoor play area, the mother hosting the party is mortified as only one of the kids invited (all aged 3 or just 4) wanted their parents to stay. They mum had no idea you had to pay for parents too.

£8 to sit here, not use any facilities other than the loo and buy coffee seems a bit excessive to me. Surely most pre-schoolers want their parents to stay at parties? All the parents are .

AIBU to think that no mention of this charge from the establishment, £16 for entry, £4 for coffee and a gift make for a costly 2hrs on a Sunday morning given the parents have already paid for the party itself.

[FranHastings]

It's very short sighted to piss off the parent alike this. That's at least 10 families who will probably never go back, plus word of mouth could mean up to 40+ hear about it!

[Iggi999]

How would they know if you stay on after the party? (I know where you are!) there is a lot to see if it's not raining. Definitely worth speaking to a manager if such a thing is available - though really it should be the party bookers to complain.

[Aeroflotgirl]

My goodness, that farm is having a laugh, and totally unacceptable. I would complain to the management. I hosted a farm party for ds, at a local children's farm in January for his 4th birthday, and I paid £8 weekday, per child, for walk round the farm and free animal feed, animal handling session, food in the cafe, and an adult accompanying a child all for that price. The party organiser said that its madatory for an adult to stay with the child as they are so young, and the fee included that. Plus a few parents had younger children, which I did not pay for.

It was fantastic, yes do name and shame the farm, and put a review on Trip Advisor.

[Aeroflotgirl]

The price that the host mum paid per head, should have included an adult to stay, especially being so young. Ridiculous!

[freshprincess]

I've never had to pay to attend a child's party at any venue. That is piss taking at the extreme.
Pretty short sighted policy, that's 12 parents who won't go there again.

[Brightnorthernlights]

Did you mean to say only one of the invited children wanted their parents to stay? If that's the case it's not too bad? If you meant the reverse, I could see why the mum hosting would be a bit embarrassed!

[AugustaFinkNottle]

Are there any pubs or cafés nearby? If not, I'd be seriously tempted to open one, with a large sign near to the entry to the farm venue.

[HungryHorace]

That's outrageous! I'd be mortified if I were the party child's parent.

I'm on the way to a farm park party right now (in the NW) and it's one parent free per invited child and £2 per extra adult. You do apparently have to pay £5 to stay on after the party, but we won't be doing that anyway.

[AugustaFinkNottle]

Ask to speak to the manager, and tell them you'll be spreading the word at local schools and nurseries.

[ShutUpSirius]

Oh my goodness. I am in Ayrshire too. I think I know and I would be livid.

[StopBoasting]

If it's where I think it is (H's?) I can't find any mention of parents paying extra to attend kids parties. I think it's much to expensive.

The parents of the birthday child messed up as it's clear that you only get one free adult place per 8 children. I'd write something on trip advisor.

[MattDillonsPants]

Why are people so weird about naming places which they're unhappy with?

[MrTiddlestheFatCat]

Our local farm park offers one free adult per child for parties. Everyone else pays entry. About £7/8 I think.

For normal entries, adults have to pay the same entry price, and this has been standard to all the parks I've been to. With it being a bit more than a soft play, there's usually activities adults go on and I quite enjoy seeing the animals. I don't begrudge paying it, as otherwise the children's price would probably be higher anyway.

[ShutUpSirius]

If it's here... This is what I found. But it's for groups. No mention of in on the party page

[EweAreHere]

Name and shame if you're not going out to explore the farm and facilities, especially if it's a party for young children. Who would expect just the parents of the birthday child to monitor a herd of small people without other grown ups in a place like that?

[StopBoasting]

ShutUpSirius. That's where I think it is too. It's a bit steep isn't it.

[BearsAndAngels]

I'd write to the manager next week pointing out the situation and the fact that they will have potentially lost 20 more 'party' customers as no one else will want to book now after that costly experience and they should urgently review that policy.

I'd be really surprised if they don't refund you and offer some incentive to return.

[SteppingIntoSpring]

Yes ladies that's the place. I ment only one happy to stay without parents, sorry typed in my ripped off rage induced state .
Will not be back on principle. Couldn't stay on iggi, there were more staff than people when we left, staff really rude too. Other than the girl in the coffee shop, she was lovely.

[SteppingIntoSpring]

Heads of Ayr farm park!

[dementedpixie]

I'm guessing Heads of Ayr farm park

[dementedpixie]

Xpost!

[MrTiddlestheFatCat]

Lots of outrage on this thread I thought it was fairly standard policy for adults to pay entry at these places too. God, all this 'threatening not to return unless given a refund' is really silly imo. Reminds me of the kind of people who used to shout in my face when I worked at a soft play, because they thought they were entitled to do so because they were the customer and I was just a member of staff...wouldn't dream of doing this myself

[miniHovis]

I know exactly where you are if your on the Ayrshire coast, that's a bloody rip off! It's not much dearer to pay for the whole day

[dementedpixie]

I have never ever had to pay to be with my child at a soft play place so not normal where I live

[SteppingIntoSpring]

MrTiddle, I was not rude, we paid but feel it is excessive and no mention on the party info page.