Or was Pizza Hut?

[Scarlett555]

Took my DD (4) to the park after school. She suddenly announces she's desperate for a wee - no toilets in the park and it's a 15 minute walk home.

Park is packed with kids from her school and near a busy road with lots of cars going past - no opportunity for a quick wee behind a bush.

There is a Pizza Hut near the park and so I take her in there and ask nicely if we could use the toilet.

The waitress states toilets are for customers only.

I explain it's for my DD, she's only 4 and isn't going to make it home.

Waitress repeats toilets are for customers only and we would have to stay and buy a meal if we use the toilets.

Restaurant was practically empty, only one table occupied.

We left and of course DD wet herself on the way home, poor thing was really embarrassed.

WIBU to think a big chain like Pizza Hut could let a 4 year old use the toilet?

That’s a bit shit for your DD, but - being blunt - her access to a toilet is your problem, not Pizza Hut’s. The waitress was just doing her job.

Just walk in and use it. I do that all the time in pubs and places when there are no public toilets. Unless there is a clear sign from the place saying not to. If they stop you on the way out just offer to buy a drink or put something in the charity box. At least then you have already used the toilet!

Blimey, harsh. I’d let a 4 year old use the toilet in almost any circumstances!

Waitress was being a bit of a dick. Surely she could have used her discretion in a situation like this. Especially as you asked

That’s horrible of Pizza Hut. The waitress was being obtuse. Any normal person would let the little girl use the toilet.

It’s unfair to be cross at the waitress if she was executing company policy.

Yanbu I would've just used the loo anyway.

Waitress greeted us at the door with menus so we couldn't just sneak in. If it was busier we probably could have got away with it.

her access to a toilet is your problem, not Pizza Hut’s.

Of course, I don't think OP is suggesting otherwise, but most people can exercise basic human decency.

The waitress was just doing her job.

Nah, the waitress was being a terrible person. The company would not want her to say no in this situation- no benefits and a substantial down side.

All of the fast food restaurant chains did away with the customers only policy a couple of years ago after an incident made the news as a possible case of racial bias.

She really should have made an exception.

I think that’s ridiculous. As if she’d get a bollocking for exercising her discretion on a four year old needing a wee. Tweet about it OP.

If you’re someone who thinks it’s fine to use a business premises’ toilet when you don’t intend to buy anything, you’re rude and entitled. The businesses pay for the facilities, and it’s up to them whether you can use them. But it seems you’re never more than 6 foot away from a CF.

we would have to stay and buy a meal if we use the toilets

What was she going to do if you walked out afterwards? Detain you and force you to eat?

If the waitress wanted to be helpful she could have suggested you buy a fruit shoot or something small, thus obeying the rules of you being a ‘paying customer’ but helping the child. Clearly she doesn’t understand. I’d be emailing them as I’m a moaning faced cow, or even better posting it on social media that they don’t care about child welfare and telling them what happened.

donquixotedelamancha

Then they shouldn’t tell her to say no. Easy peasy. If they tell her it’s company policy that nobody can use the toilet unless they buy a meal and then have a go at her for telling people just that, they’re twats, aren’t they? Not the waitress’ fault.

Given the proximity of the Pizza Hut to the park I wonder if it’s a common occurrence?

The cafe nearest to our park operates a strict “customers only” policy after their facilities were very much abused by a string of people wanting to use them for free.

Where I work we only have staff toilets but will always let small children use them! Drunk adults not so much even tho they probably have less bladder control

Rude and entitled

Would have been a shame if your DD had wee’d on the floor of the restaurant instead.

Wasnt there any other shops or bathrooms available? I can understand your anger but its not Pizza huts fault as most restaurants wont allow someone to just use their facilities.

They are business not public services- I suggest you speak to the council about having toilets available in the park

It's just made me never want to go back to that Pizza Hut. And as we live nearby they could potentially have had lots of custom from us.

I wouldn't usually use a venue's toilets without being a customer but naively thought Pizza Hut wouldn't mind as it's a big chain.

I wouldn't usually use a venue's toilets without being a customer but naively thought Pizza Hut wouldn't mind as it's a big chain.

What difference does that make? Really? Why didn’t you just buy a drink?

The waitress probably doesn't feel she had the right to decide and was just doing what she's been told. If there's a park right next to the place they probably get asked a lot and don't want it to become known that they will allow children to use their toilet whenever they like, which is fair enough.

They’re @pizzahutuk on Twitter, just saying.

I used to work in a pizza hut when I was 17 and the managers were really strict on the 'only for customer use' line. We used to get in loads of trouble if we didn't turn people away. If I thought I could get away with it (manager not around) I would let people use it but a lot of the time the manager would lurk behind the bar watching everything we did.

YANBU to think it makes no difference when the restaurant is empty but I would also say the waitress is also NBU if she was just following orders and would have got in trouble otherwise.

Why didnt you just not be so tight and buy a snack or drink? Basically YOU let your child wet herself...