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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No children under 8

192 replies

clairemcnam · 10/04/2019 14:28

I have just tried to book a table at a local Italian restaurant and I was surprised to be told that children under 8 years old are not allowed?

OP posts:
ZeroFuchsGiven · 10/04/2019 14:29

Sounds like my sort of place.

Sirzy · 10/04/2019 14:29

Fair enough.

Young children change the atmosphere in places.

The rule is clear so you can pick if you go or not

LagunaBubbles · 10/04/2019 14:31

Sounds great to me! No risk of young kids being let to run riot then.

adulthumanwolf · 10/04/2019 14:31

There are several places like that around here, usually no children under 12 in the evenings.

I think it's a good thing. There are lots of childcentric places around, and for people who want a nice quiet child free night meal or for people who have booked a babysitter you don't then want to be in a place with children who can be making noise or running about. There are plenty of places like that.

Penners99 · 10/04/2019 14:34

Local cafe has a no under 16 policy, which I like.

teachergirl2011 · 10/04/2019 14:34

Brilliant! Where is it? Would love this!

Original poster
clairemcnam · 10/04/2019 14:34

Okay AIBU.
The children we would be taking would not run around. They would sit and eat and talk to the adults. They make no more noise than an adult. I am surprised at the age range. Surely plenty of 7 year olds know how to sit and just talk?

OP posts:
WaxOnFeckOff · 10/04/2019 14:35

Do they say why? Some health and safety issue?

There is a myth that all Italians love children. We booked a table at our local some years back and felt about as welcome as a shitty stick.

Arrived to signs all over the door about children needing to sit in their seats etc. This is perfectly true and obviously they must have had incidents in the past to prompt the notices but they should deal with those people individually, not tar everyone with the same brush. Then they didn't do half portions of anything so we ended up ordering full main courses for pre school DC - they didn't want to share the same dish and it was meant to be a treat so didn't feel like forcing them to. And then after being specifically requested not to sprinkle parsley on the top of DS1s lasagne, they did it anyway and the sneering look from the waiter made it seem like it was deliberate. Their loss in the end as we eat out a lot and have never been back.

Feb2018mumma · 10/04/2019 14:35

To be honest, I had my first meal out for lunch without my son the other week, I went to a Italian and a huge family sat by us, loads of young children coming up to our table through starter-puddings, I smiled but it's so annoying when you want a break from your baby and end up surrounded by strangers children! I would quite like to go to a 8+ restaurant in future so not unreasonable at all to me!

Waveysnail · 10/04/2019 14:35

Was it for a certain time? Like after 6pm

stucknoue · 10/04/2019 14:36

We have a couple which say no under 12's. It's because people are inconsiderate and let their kids run around and shout. My dd said (loudly like kids do at 5) why aren't the mummy's and daddy's telling their children off, you sit still at the table (pre smartphones too), anyway the manager came over after she had finished her main course and asked her if she wanted a special dessert for being such a great customer and told her he wished the other children were like her! She's autistic and rules are something she does not break!

AnneLovesGilbert · 10/04/2019 14:36

They don’t know how well behaved your DC are though.

UnPocoLoco2 · 10/04/2019 14:36

Please ask if they have a spare table for me. Thanks 😉😀

Doidontimmm · 10/04/2019 14:37

I’d love this! I appreciate a 7 year old may sit nice & not run about but mine chatted incessantly and sitting beside a similar child on the train last week it drove me mad so I can see why! Where is this?

adulthumanwolf · 10/04/2019 14:37

Surely plenty of 7 year olds know how to sit and just talk?

Of course some do, but a hell of a lot don't. I've been out for several ruined meals where there have been kids around 10yo running about the place shouting.

So many places allow and accommodate children, what's wrong with one or two places not doing that? Not everyone wants to be around children when they're having a nice meal out.

Chippychipsforme · 10/04/2019 14:37

Quick, tell some of the posters on the baby in cafe thread!

CupcakeDrama · 10/04/2019 14:38

Sounds great!

Contraceptionismyfriend · 10/04/2019 14:38

As a pregnant woman with a 5 yo and 2 yo this place sounds brilliant.
You say your children behave well. I've spent time with people who bragged about their kids perfect behaviour. They were more annoying than their parents realised.

Sirzy · 10/04/2019 14:38

I think we have got to a position where many people think everything has to be family friendly.

There is nothing wrong with a restaurant or similar not wanting young children there. Sometimes people want to go out for a meal and know it is be child free!

ChocChocButtons · 10/04/2019 14:39

No problem with that. Children don’t bother me in the day but evening their welcome to be barred lol

adulthumanwolf · 10/04/2019 14:40

We went out for dinner last weekend, the table behind us had children sitting nicely throughout the meal as they were glued to an ipad, but that meant we had to listen to some bloody cartoon throughout dinner as they didn't have headphones.

Shoxfordian · 10/04/2019 14:41

Yeah sounds like a relaxing place to have dinner away from all those spirited children running around or making a racket. Yabu

ScreamScreamIceCream · 10/04/2019 14:45

@Sirzy agree.

OP are you surprised because it's an Italian? I suspect they have had too many young children running around under the waiting staff feet which is why they have the ban.

NameChangeJustBecauseICan · 10/04/2019 14:46

There is a need for some child-free restaurants/pub Dining or child-free periods of time. Eating out isn't special anymore due to the large volume of children. Whilst some are well-behaved there are plenty of times when I eat out and children are running around, sending their toy cars under customers' seats,climbing on bar stools etc.
It would just be nice occasionally to not have children around.

claraschu · 10/04/2019 14:48

I would't want to go to a restaurant with this policy. I have never been bothered by other people's kids at a restaurant.