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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU about not allowing outside food in restaurant?

312 replies

Gnomesrule · 03/01/2019 17:54

I own a restaurant with play area. We do not allow people to bring their own food. Many reasons including allergies, food poisoning etc and also there is a restaurant so we cater for all food requirements. We do have parties and allow people to bring birthday cakes only, but they are cut and wrapped by us and not eaten on the premises.

We have more and more people bringing their own food especially for unofficial parties etc. Many even leave the wrappers for us to clear, plus mash it into the carpets etc. We recently even had a parent cracking peanuts who was shocked when we told them that it wasn’t allowed (we don’t sell food containing nuts).

Would you find it an unreasonable request to be asked not to eat outside food in a place that has a restaurant?

Also if you held an unofficial party would you find it unreasonable to be charged to have your cake cut and wrapped for you?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 03/01/2019 17:56

A lot of places have signs up to say no food allowed if not bought on the premises. I don't think it's right to charge to cut a cake

Original poster
Gnomesrule · 03/01/2019 17:58

Signs are up but people ignore them

OP posts:
BBCONEANDTWO · 03/01/2019 17:59

It's not unreasonable to demand that people don't eat food not purchased in the premises to be eaten. I'm surprised that people even do this - I'd never dream of it.

Regarding the cake - why would you cut the cake for someone who didn't purchase it from you? Unless they was a big event and everyone had eaten and paid for their meal and brought the cake - cutting it yes free - but wrapping it - tell them to bring their own napkins or just wrap it in kitchen paper for them.

greendale17 · 03/01/2019 17:59

Depends what food it is? A jar of baby food or packet of Pom bears? Don’t see a problem.

Pack of sausage rolls and packs of cakes? That is being cheeky

PristineCondition · 03/01/2019 17:59

If fine for no outside food but charging to cut a cake is shite.

AornisHades · 03/01/2019 18:01

I wouldn't expect to have the cake wrapped for an unofficial party and doing it even for a charge sounds like you aren't taking your own rule seriously.
It's normal not to be able to take food in to places that sell food, surely?

Pringlecat · 03/01/2019 18:01

I don't think it's unreasonable to ban outside food.

I do think it's slightly stupid to allow cake on site but then to not let anyone eat it. Either ban cake altogether or charge for cutting and serving - otherwise, I'm really not sure what you're adding.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 03/01/2019 18:02

Oh this gives me rage. Absolutely not unreasonable to say no to outside food and to enforce that.

I’ve paid “cake-age” in plenty of places where the cake has been cut and served. I guess it depends what else you’re charging and whether you can absorb the cost of the napkins, labour etc. Definitely not unreasonable though if you decide you can’t.

user1484247439 · 03/01/2019 18:02

I think it's standard practice, if I went to a play area with a cafe / restaurant I wouldn't even need to see a sign or be told no outside food, I'd take it as a given. I think anyone who brings food in is being very cheeky as long as there is a good variety on offer. My DD has a milk allergy but I can usually always find an option for her so unless someone has a child with multiply allergies, in which case I'd expect them phone ahead to speak to you there's no reason that I can see to allow it. As for the unofficial parties 100% charge to cut their cakes!

MargueritaPink · 03/01/2019 18:02

Of course it isn't unreasonable to ban brought in food. It's really cheeky to bring their own and use your premises.

If you are providing crockery and cutlery for use with the brought in cake it is reasonable to charge for that. It won't put itself on the table and dishwasher. BYOB restaurants charge corkage.

Pfingstrose · 03/01/2019 18:05

Your business, your rules.

What's the set up? Is the play area just for paying restaurant goers or can you pay to use the play area separately?

Sockwomble · 03/01/2019 18:07

I think it depends upon the food. We used to sometimes give ds a snack like fruit or raisins whilst we were waiting for something we had ordered because his learning difficulties meant he didn't understand waiting.

Allthewaves · 03/01/2019 18:07

Out local play centre goes around asking people to leave or to bin the food

DerelictWreck · 03/01/2019 18:09

I completely agree re food but

You can't charge for cake if people can't eat it there! What costs are you covering if people aren't using crockery etc?

PositivelyPERF · 03/01/2019 18:09

I agree with you, OP. I think if you let any food in, then you’re going to have people saying, “it’s only crisps, it’s only a drink, etc”. I’ve often sat in a cafe, with friends, having nothing but a coffee, because there’s nothing that I can eat. No one has ever starved to death because they can’t bring their own food in.

PattiStanger · 03/01/2019 18:09

No restaurant allows you to take your own food do they? I'm surprised you even need to ask if YBU, it's totally standard practice.

I'm not sure about the cake, I wouldn't do it but if cake-age is a thing then I suppose you could do that.

Original poster
Gnomesrule · 03/01/2019 18:09

Cakes are for kids parties, blow out candles etc. We have tried the option of supplying a cake but most parents want to bring their own. For this reason we cut and wrap the cake so that it’s taken on the way out.

Re charging, we don’t do this atm but for unofficial parties, blowing out candles (has to be done in a specific area due to fire alarms etc) and cutting / wrapping cake means a member of staff being taken away for time, plus cost of napkins etc. Any suggestions on a better way to deal with this would be welcome ie not allowing birthday cakes unless at an official party?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 03/01/2019 18:09

Some people are just rude.

Ds has a lot of issues with food so if going somewhere that didn’t have something he would eat I would contact them in advance to check if I could take something (and if not we would just go elsewhere) but I certainly wouldn’t expect!

Sockwomble · 03/01/2019 18:10

If it is a soft play place then we wouldn't have taken our own food in.

Sausagefingers9 · 03/01/2019 18:10

If you offer a good range of food then yanbu.
Must admit I have taken food in to a play area that asks you not to, but only because they offered a bad range of food that my kids hated.

ToastyFingers · 03/01/2019 18:10

I'd never ever bring my own food to a restaurant but I wouldnt be pleased at being told I could bring a cake, not being able to eat it and then being charged for the pleasure.

Original poster
Gnomesrule · 03/01/2019 18:11

@Pfingstrose play and restaurant are package

OP posts:
barbiegrl · 03/01/2019 18:13

I used to take food with me when attending such things but only because my son has very severe food allergies. If I was not able to bring his food then we wouldn't attend.

GhostSauce · 03/01/2019 18:14

A little tub or jar of baby food is fine of course. Nothing else.

Lazypuppy · 03/01/2019 18:15

We take birthday cakes in and just ask for a knife. I'm perfectly capable of cutting a cake! And then we eat it