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?

@Furiosa - your personal attack on @Grompf (who concisely articulates a valid viewpoint) is rude and inappropriate)and doubtless will be deleted

Perhaps you put the waitress in a tough spot by asking her straight out if you could use the toilets without buying anything, since it is against their policy and she could get into trouble. Next time, maybe, say, "We'll order after we visit the ladies--" and then order something small to go or nothing, your choice. But the onus would not be on her.

Because there was only one set of customers at the time. No power cuts or parades. Just a quiet restaurant and a girl that needed a wee. Everyone knows the likelihood of paying customers or staff being disadvantaged by the girl using the loo is slim to none

Just because it was quiet at that precise moment doesn't mean that there isnt a large party booked due in soon. Or that they haven't just got the place cleaned up from being made a mess off during the lunch time rush.

And quiet times are when staffing is reduced. People are on their own or doing jobs they have been asked to do like cleaning ordering prepping etc

If op had turned out to be someone who made a right mess then she may well have been unable to go deal with it due to being on their own.

So when customers walk out because there was no one to hand then a menu or book in with because they were cleaning the.toilet for the fifth time.that day then yes that's a paying customer being disadvantaged.

I can imagine they have multiple requests for use of their toilets given the proximity to the park- would imagine it's a several times a day occurrence. Personally I would have bought a drink, if they had a pop top it gives your DD a drink for the park too. I get you see this as personal- but if you were the fourth person to ask that day and e policy is customers only, it's not personal.

The “just walk in - what’s she going to do?” people are the worst. “Fuck everyone else: I am very important.”

That’s how you get banned from local businesses.

Should’ve just said ‘look my 4 year old daughter is going to polish herself in your carpet if you don’t let her use your toilet’ very loudly. That would’ve got you in. Or just pushed past her and gone to the toilet. What’s she going to do? ‘Touch me and I’m calling the police.’ that's really one of the most bizarre escalations of a situation ever!

And if you've 'pushed past' is that not you touching her first so she should by your logic calling police?!

As someone who suffers from IBS, I have had a few occasions where I have literally had to run into a pub/chain/restaurant to use the facilities. I do so, then when I come out I express surprise that my 'friends' seem to have left without me....or oops, forgot my purse, cant eat now, soz...

Lol at the pushing past suggestions! Not the best example to set for my DD.

Pizza hut WBU. I used to work outdoors (sales role) 12 hr shifts and often would go into local co-ops etc to ask to use a toilet. They rarely had a public toilet but a staff member was always happy to escort me to the staff one.

So I am appalled the waitress let your DD use the toilets.

They're doing you a huge favour at significant risk to themselves - what would happen if a non-staff-member slipped or tripped or seriously banged their head on a low beam and then sued the shop? You might not consider doing that (even if you were left with life-changing injuries), but many would. They would be 100% liable, but their insurance would instantly refuse to pay out on the basis that a member of the public shouldn't have been in the staff-only section.

Your reason for needing the toilet (12-hour shifts) is a perfectly reasonable one, but, as a PP pointed out, EVERYBODY has a valid reason for using a toilet - whether owing to young or old age, disability, medical conditions, pregnant, weak pelvic floor, whatever. Simply 'needing a wee or a poo' is a completely acceptable reason for wanting to use a toilet, and one that affects every single one of us.

Why are they unreasonable for denying you the use of their private facilities just because you/your employer doesn't make provision for your guaranteed personal needs throughout the day? Would you ask them for a free meal deal if you hadn't planned ahead for your need to eat by bringing food with you, or the money to buy some - and then call them unreasonable if they said no?

Would you gladly accommodate a regular stream of people asking if they could each sit in your parked car for 20 minutes to eat their takeaway fish and chips (or something else equally potentially messy) out of the rain?

I'd echo what PP have said - this is chiefly the fault of councils closing down essential public facilities. Instead of making private businesses make up the shortfall, surely it would be much better if we all frequently went to the local council offices and demanded to use their toilets or did it on their doorstep. That might make them take note.

Should’ve just said ‘look my 4 year old daughter is going to polish herself in your carpet if you don’t let her use your toilet’ very loudly. That would’ve got you in. Or just pushed past her and gone to the toilet. What’s she going to do?

I believe this is known as abuse in the workplace of those in public-facing jobs and is looked on very seriously, frequently resulting in their restraining you and then calling the police.

Why not go to your GP's surgery whilst you're at it and threaten to start slashing their chairs if they don't give you an immediate appointment?

However did a question about using a toilet that you aren't technically entitled to use turn into an urge for people to use intimidation, bullying, terror and the threat of violence and dirty protest (with your chosen victim likely a teenager or very young adult on NMW) in order to get your own entitled way?

If they were gonna get that much future custom from you, you’d have thought nothing of getting a quick drink in there with your DD after the wee.

I'd have probably tried to buy a soft drink in return for using the loo.