To find this completely unacceptable?

[AllAboutTheBuppy]

A family just got up and left this appalling mess for the staff to clear up. Is this normal behaviour?

I wouldn't be asking for a dustpan and brush because my children would not be allowed to make that sort of mess in the first place.

Nor mine! Even when they were small they didn’t throw their lunch all over the place. If they were in the habit I simply wouldn’t have taken them out until they were a bit older. I appreciate some kids are messy but if you know this, you curtail the lunches out until a bit later.

My friend and I once took the kids to MacDonald’s and watched a family at the next table leave a mess like that. We deathstared them all the way out of the door and through the window to their car. They gave not one single fuck. Dirty mingers.

As a hospitality manager I can say that the offer to clear up is what makes all the difference.

If you come to me, full of apologies and ask for a cloth/dustpan and brush then I will say to no worry as we will clear up. Just leave a mess like that without a word....I will remember you, I will keep an eye on you and if you make a mess again I will give you the dust pan and brush with the bill.

My husband and I took our then 6 month old daughter for breakfast in a local pub. As she was just being weaned, she dropped bits of toast, sausage on the floor. Before leaving, I got on my hands and knees and picked up every last drop of spillage (as I do every time we eat out). As we paid, the proprietor very snootily said to the waitress, " You need to get the dustpan and brush and give THEIR table a good clean."
My husband pointed out that I had left it spotless.
I was highly offended by his attitude and we've never returned. I hate being tarred with the same brush as the scallies in the OP's pics.

wouldn't be asking for a dustpan and brush because my children would not be allowed to make that sort of mess in the first place.
Not mine, it’s not impossible to stop kids throwing food about

I always get on the floor with a wet wipe and a nappy bag to collect dd's mess. But I do often think it would be easier to use a long handled dustpan and brush. But leaving that level of mess is just rude.

gidddyasakipper

What is a scallie?

Scallie wags?

Gosh, I'd love some hints and tips about telling my 8 month old not to drop food. Even with a scoop bottomed bib on he manages it. Clearly I'm a terrible parent for not communicating it to him properly.

No it’s not OK.

Don’t get me wrong, mine have dropped their fair share of stuff but we are always down on the floor clearing it up, popping everything stacked on the tray and wet wiping the table after. Try to leave it so staff just have to pick a tray up if possible.

I have asked for a dustpan and brush before as well. Staff are usually really nice about it if they can see you’re making the effort.

Urgh. People in kids with restaurants are the worst.

Colleague just explained that a scallie is a Liverpool term for someone not very nice for those that don’t know!

(They say it also explains being in a pub with a baby for breakfast!)

Oh really @Ohgohome

So going to an establishment that happens to sell alcohol for breakfast with a baby makes me an undesirable. Get a grip!!!

gidddyasakipper

Just had a vote in the office and yes.

Ohgohome Grow up. Going to a pub for breakfast is pretty standard and there’s nothing wrong with it just because they also sell alcohol. 🙄

ohgohome my local upmarket independent eatery serves cocktails with breakfast from 8am. It also has highchairs, an extensive kids menu (complete with virgin mocktails) and colouring books. I don't think that they'd let anyone 'undesirable' near the place

I hate this. It's so disrespectful. People seem to think they are above cleaning up after themselves. I always go and ask for a broom to clear it up. I've never had to clear it up myself but they always thank me for offering!

I also don't understand why people can't clear their tables in places like pret a manger and McDonalds

I worked as a waitress in my student years and my family have always raised a wry smile as I tidy up the table and stack the plates, but my kids have grown up not making a mess when we go out, because they know otherwise we wouldn't be going.
I don't tidy up for gratitude; I do it because it's good manners and I know how hard the work is without something like that to clear up.
I would bet they are also the type of people tapping their feet and tutting because staff have to ask them to wait while they set a table for them, not for a minute realising that if families behaved normally, clearing and setting tables would take far less time!

Manky fuckers.

YANBU.