Thrown out of restaurant for bringing newborn baby

[toddlermom]

Hi all,

Just need to vent and wondering if I should complain and if so who to. We went to one of my (ex) favourite London restaurants (Amaya) last night (wearing 5 week old baby in cloth sling, as I often do).

Walked in, got to our table, I took off my jacket and went to sit down but the waitress stopped me and said I couldn't sit down and had to leave the restaurant as she could now see (that I had taken off jacket) that I had a baby and 'children aren't allowed in the restaurant". I said it was a baby - who was asleep - and unlikely to wakeup - and she said it didn't matter, they don't let any children in the restaurant.

The manager came over, said the same thing, they were really, really rude and unfriendly. Didn't say sorry or sympathise, empathise in any way.

They don't have any social media presence so I can't even tweet them and vent on social. I could write a letter to the owner? Or is there anything else I should do? Or AIBU and just not go there again? Any advice welcome!! Thank you!

Did you know beforehand that they don’t allow children?

Did you know about the no children rule before you went?

I doubt there’s much you can do it they don’t allow children tbh

There's not much you can do really. They have rules.

If it’s their policy and they are clear about it in websites etc, I think the only thing you can complain about is the way you were spoken to. Not all restaurants / pubs welcome children.

I think you were in the wrong here

Well they don’t allow children so I’m not sure what you’re going to complain about?

The child policy is clearly stated on their website in the FAQs.

Their website is quite clear

Do you consider a baby not to be a child, OP? If you think an exception should be made for you and your baby where do you suggest the cut-off is? Should awake babies be allowed, crying babies, babies who were asleep but then wake up and start to cry?

Why should they say sorry, the rule is clear NO CHILDREN and that includes yours.

From the booking section of their website

“Amaya, Chutney Mary & Veeraswamy:
Lunch: Monday to Friday: Children above the age of 4 are allowed;
Lunch: Saturday & Sunday: Children of all ages welcome.
Dinner: Monday to Sunday: Children aged 6 to 10 are welcome for reservations at 6pm & 6.30pm only and must vacate by 8.30pm.

Pukka Bar at Chutney Mary – children of all ages are welcome at all times.
We regret that we are unable to accommodate prams and push chairs in any of our restaurants.
In the interest of other diners, if children are noisy or running around, we will have to stop service and ask the family to leave.”

So they do say

But they don't allow children.
That includes your child.

I work somewhere that under 18s are legally not allowed inside. Full stop. For some reason people seem to think that babies and toddlers are exempt from this and if I had a pound for everytime I heard "but it's just a baby!!!" I wouldn't have to work.

Just don't go again if it bothers you that much.

A no children policy includes babies. What are you going to complain about?

There is a very clear policy if when children are allowed and what ages on their website
If you breached that then yes, yabu

We have a no child policy where I work and that does include babies.

They shouldn’t have been rude about it no. But if they have a no children policy why do you think you should have been allowed to stay?

YABU. A baby is a child, and likely to make a lot more noise than an older one, so of course the rule applies.

The rule is no children, so don’t take your children.

I’ve just looked at the website. It took all of 30 seconds to see what their children policy is. No-one should have been rude to you. But you were very unreasonable to expect to be an exception.

The policy is up on their website

You weren't 'thrown out', you were asked to leave.

'No children' includes babies too. Even yours.

A 2 second d google reveals their policies on children....

I think they have a point if they dont allow children. I never knew places were avle to do this until we moved to the edge of london and found a nice country style pub near us. I was pregnant at the time and thought we'd go there often until we saw the sign "no children.!"

Ive also been chucked out of a normal pub (group of mums drinking mainly coffee in the restaursnt section) at 9 With a newborn baby in my sling and was similarly surprised! But if thats their rules...