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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

£16 to take our child to a party!

117 replies

SteppingIntoSpring · 03/04/2016 11:25

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 Confused.

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.

OP posts:
MrsMushrooms · 04/04/2016 23:12

£8 to sit in Heads of Ayr!? That's insane! YANBU

happyelf · 04/04/2016 23:37

My dd attended a party here in Feb. DH definitely didn't pay. Believe me he'd still be going on about it! We don't use the farm park despite it being 10 minutes from my front door as it's just so disgustingly expensive. Ok as a once a year treat.....possibly.

Agree with a pp who said to use Kudz Play in Prestwick for parties instead. We had youngest dds party here at Christmas and it's the easiest party we've ever done. Lovely management and staff who can't do enough for you.

pinkcan · 04/04/2016 23:49

Disgraceful. You should be allowed to stay with a 3/4yo at a party for free. I don't even think "x adults per y party children" is ok. No fucking way would I have left a preschooler at a party in a place like that.

Hamstar19 · 05/04/2016 08:18

For my DD's 6 birthday we went to to a local zoo. Adults have to pay, but I didn't expect parents ofchildren this young to want to leave them at a party, so we found out who had annual passes and made sure the rest had a ticket, no a adult was out of pocket both parents could stay I they wanted to. One child did come without parents.
It was made very clear to us the situation with adult entry.

3/4 is way too young to be unacompanied at a party especially at a place like a farm park. And as the parent of the birthday child either pay for parents or don't choose that venue until they are older.

Lymmmummy · 05/04/2016 17:24

I think this is ridiculous and should have been flagged at the time of the offer and perhaps the host should have asked or taken responsibility by paying for parents if she had failed to ask

But are you also saying the vast majority of parents of 3 and 4 year olds were happy to drop and go - that seems even worse - yes there is the odd 4 year old mature enough to do this but they are generally in the minority and I can't imagine a 3 year old happy to be left - sorry if this is not what you are saying but if it is I find this even more strange

Spandexpants007 · 05/04/2016 22:08

What a rip off! I have 4 kids and never once paid to attend a party. That would really add to the cost immensely. Gift and card £8 plus £8 entrance. So £16 for one adult and party offering.

Spandexpants007 · 05/04/2016 22:11

That sort of grabby inflexible attitude would put me off visiting.

Chinesealan · 05/04/2016 22:27

Group booking page says 1 free adult per 5 small children. Party organiser should have asked which parents were staying (and you'd expect a lot as the children were 4) and then paid for these adults. You can't expect parents to leave 4 year olds alone at a party.

Spandexpants007 · 05/04/2016 22:35

1 free adult per 5 children is a pathetic ratio. One free adult to two children would be better. It's only for a couple of hours and they paid for drinks.

How odd for an adult to pay to attend a child's party!

Temporaryanonymity · 05/04/2016 22:37

Well if you've got to pay you'd better whip your shoes off and get your arse in the ball pool. Get full value and a work out jumping around the soft play.

I'm sure there'll be complaints about fully ground adults running around the equipment. As soon as you are asked to vacate you can ask for your refund, politely.

Spandexpants007 · 05/04/2016 22:42

You got zero return on your cash.

totalrecall1 · 05/04/2016 22:45

Wow that is ridiculous. And I don't think its the fault of the host. I have 3 DC's and have done numerous types of party and never had to pay for adults accompanying their child. Unbelievable

AliceInUnderpants · 05/04/2016 22:58

We've always loved Heads of Ayr, but this is actually really putting me off Hmm Those prices have sneaked up over the past few years.

WhatchaMaCalllit · 06/04/2016 07:51

If you left the venue saying nothing, post it on Trip Advisor or phone them up and explain your issues with being charged. They are unlikely to see (or pay attention to a post on MN).

Aeroflotgirl · 06/04/2016 07:57

Over the years, I have noticed some small friendly children's farms have become more commecialised for their own good. We paid £40 for 4 for a farm with play areas and climbing walls. We went to a new similar farm yesterday with play facilities and paid £25 for 4, I hope they don't start declining and ramping up their prices.

AliceInUnderpants · 06/04/2016 09:18

As an aside, we visited Murton Farm (East coast Scotland) the other day with an organisation and were very surprised to see how cheap the entry prices would have been. The guide we had was extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and despite challenging weather (pissed it down the whole time Wink) we had a great time.

LucieLucie · 06/04/2016 23:43

Extortion!
Take it to Trip Advisor.

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