No children under 8

[clairemcnam]

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?

Sounds great. They clearly don't want the mess and noise accompanying (some) small children. They are just setting out what their offering is, which is fair enough

As a mum if preschoolers, I think that's fine, there are plenty of family friendly restaurants to go do, when I finally get out without my kids, I think I'd quite like to go to a place like this

Thats fair enough, even if you know your child will behave, some will not.

Not like its a cafe or anything

Sounds great, not every restaurant has to cater for families. Having small children is such a small part of your life (looking back) but while you have hem they are all consuming. Most people don't have small children, that's easy to forget when you have them and mostly surrounded by other people who do. I admit I'm not keen on young children, wasn't before I had them, loved mine and didn't mind other people's while I had them and have reverted to not wanting particularly to be around them now mine are grown up. I would imagine there is a good market out there for non-child friendly restaurants.

Excellent, I'd go.
That said, of course some small children behave really well, the toddler on the table next to us at Mother's Day Lunch was lovely, and I said so to his Mum.

Even the best behaved children can change the dynamic of somewhere though. Most people feel more conscious of what they are saying when they know there are children in the next table

Loud parenting annoys me loads. Just don't wanna hear it when I'm having an adult night out.

Nothing wrong with this at all.

Child free, dog free etc. Not a problem as long as they're clear about it when advertising.

I much prefer a restaurant meal without kids around (and I have two).

Can I book?!

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!

^
This with bells on

Some kids are a nightmare in restaurants/pubs so I can understand it but it does spoil it for people with kids who don't run riot.
There's a great pub near us with a small park opposite-kids now have to leave by 7pm and all board games are behind the bar and you have to pay a deposit. It was later and the games were freely available but sadly people ruined it. I am hoping it will change for summer evenings but I think sadly it won't.

Sounds like a great place. There needs to be more adult only venues, events and restaurants.

We have a 3 yo, take him outoadsand he sits really well. I'd definately book a table at this Italian!!

I've no issue with an age restriction. By 8, most children should be capable of sitting patiently, being appropriately occupied and being at an appropriate volume after several years experience in school.

Saying that, my 6yo has a better disposition for eating out than the 8yo who can get sulky. We are mindful of "family friendly" chain establishments and avoid quiet places with prolonged waiting around. If he is in a PITA mood then he will be taken out. He hasn't been allowed to be a public nuisence to others because too many times in my childfree days, I'd get home from work after a day of dealing with other peoples' children and the last thing I needed was an evening of enduring more badly behaved other peoples' children and not being able to deal with them. When they got to the free-range toddler mode, we tried to avoid anything more lengthy than cafeteria style cafes with minimal waiting in order to avoid pushing our luck on behaviour.

Sadly it is the families with well behaved children that do miss out as they get herded in with the nuisences and get to endure other children getting away with much looser boundaries. I can't begrudge establishments for setting their own boundaries.

Ive never heard of that with a restaurant, but I guess they want a certain atmosphere.

It does annoy me when parents refuse to control their DC who make noise and won't sit down.

Not a restaurant, but yesterday 2 brothers where kicking a football in Tesco on the freezers and their parent didn't bat an eyelid.

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. A couple of places near me don't allow kids at night.

However, I have to say that groups of slightly tipsy adults can be far worse!

It is annoying when you have a child who does behave nicely in a restaurant but sadly as ever the minority of lazy parents spoil it.

OP if your child is 7 and you are so sure they'll behave well, can't you just say they're 8? I doubt they're going to ask for ID.

Some restaurants like this let children eat there at lunchtime but not evening. I notice some hotels do it too. Offer high tea for children, but no young children allowed in the dining room for evening service

My children have always behaved well when out to eat but I hate when dh and I go out without the dc and other people’s children are loud and fidgety. It’s not the children that annoy me as much as the parents. They sit and say nothing.

Thing is, some people say their children are well behaved and think they're marvellous, then you go out with them and realise they're seeing their own children through rose tinted glasses. As many people do of course.

I know someone who loves to say how her child is wonderful because his bum does not leave his seat. But then you go out with him and the pub table becomes dominated by having to play top trumps with a 5 year old when you want to be having a nice pint and chilling out.

And honest, the kids would be so well behaved.

Unfortunately that’s what an awful lot of people think about their children, with the reality being somewhat different. Even if your children are beautifully mannered, you can’t really expect the restaurant to make an exception to their policy. ‘Well-behaved children only’ sounds snooty and is difficult to police. A lower age limit is simple and causes less embarrassment for the venue.

I'm not sure that this is legal, it's certainly open to legal challenge. Age, like race, gender, disability sexual orientation is a protected characteristic. www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/discrimination-in-the-provision-of-goods-and-services/discrimination-in-the-provision-of-goods-and-services1/goods-and-services-what-are-the-different-types-of-discrimination/what-doesn-t-count-as-unlawful-discrimination-in-goods-and-services/age-discrimination-when-discrimination-is-allowed-in-the-provision-of-goods-or-services/

I think it's a good idea and reasonable to say no under 8s.

I have a 5 and 7yo. On a good day they are fine for an hour or so. Other times they are a bit boisterous, loud, get restless and squabble over whatever toys or drawing they have. My 7yo is definitely not able to sit at an adult meal without doing drawing or similar to entertain herself, but she has ASD so I'm not sure how normal her behaviour is. We adjust our plans accordingly and only go to family friendly places at a time of day that works for the kids.

Can I book a table there?

missymayhemsmum

Oh you are hilarious. So can I go and join the under 5 dance class? Or go on a saga holiday even though I'm not over 50 yet? Because that's age discrimination according to you.