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!

Maybe adapt to being a mother and find child friendly places . In beets interests of you and your baby .

Oh FFS. I could understand if this was your first child, because, tbh, I never checked if places were child friendly when I first had DS. I just assumed everywhere was because I was in my own little bubble. I took DS somewhere unsuitable once and had to deal with that and then realised how daft I had been and always check now. It's a mistake you only make once. How have you had three and only just realised that not everywhere is child friendly?

I want to go there now.

@toddlermom

Maybe go to Wetherspoons next time eh? Instead of going somewhere pretentious and overpriced?

YABU. Your 5 week old is a child. 'No children allowed' includes yours.

"I came on to say I visited two no-child establishments with a breastfeeding newborn, who were quite happy to agree that policy did not apply to tiny babies.
Considering your point though Sleepyblueocean I realise I sound entitled."

I think it is fine to ask if an exception is made. It is people turning into discrimination who are being ridiculous.

"Thrown out" is very emotive (as I'm sure you realised).

This is hilarious, there's nothing to vent about.
You sound like you were being a bit belligerent - they said no children, you said but it's just a sleeping baby!
I would have thought the kind of restaurant it is would make it worthy of a quick check.
You're at fault here OP. If they were rude to you then fair enough you should call up and have a word but I suspect you perhaps argued a little so they had to be firm.

As for the poster who said children should be welcome in all restaurants - give me a break!

And as for posters saying they don't check websites as though this somehow makes it less on the OP - it's like going somewhere with a dress code you didn't check, in inappropriate clothing and kicking off because they won't let you in. It's still your fault for not checking when they've made it clear on their website. What else are they supposed to do to get their rules across?

No children.. a baby is a child..
what’s the line between a five week old, 3 month old, 6month old or year old baby? Mines is 7months n he unlike a new born can be silenced with a sausage to chew on.. as a new born you’d have needed ear plugs for your starter.

It does work at the other end of the age spectrum too.. try booking a trip for nursing home residents, we tend to wind up at Morrison’s cafe or spoons. Nanas ok while she can behave and look after herself, once she starts screaming n causing issues she’s fecked for a posh lunch too.

I reckon you knew and were just trying to pull a fast one in the hope that the staff wouldn't want to potentially cause a scene and just let you stay with the baby.

I am a staunch meat eater buy my God, their vegetarian dishes sound delicious!

*but

Our baby is now 9 months, when we dined out with her in the evening (when she was newborn) we always called ahead to check that it was ok to bring her along, I think that’s common sense.

Glad you've agreed YABU toddlermom, but honestly, was there any need for the Daily Mail Sadface tone of your title and post wanting to vent at and name and shame the restaurant on Social Media for having the temerity of applying their no child policy on you and yours? That's what made you sound entitled and selfish, they didn't throw you out as you so emotively put it they asked you to leave and explained why.

* Obviously wouldn't have brought her if I knew!!*

I don’t think there’s any “obviously” about it. I suspect you would have rocked up with baby nonetheless

Children banned from restaurants, one of those ‘only in the U.K.’ moments.

I know it's unpleasant to be asked to leave because of your baby/child but establishments have rules. My partner and I went into a pub once on a Sunday at 2pm to avoid pouring rain, with our daughter who was around 2 months at the time, and they asked us to leave. Unpleasant but we did just that and we never complained.

Children banned from restaurants, one of those ‘only in the U.K.’ moments.

Yup my thought too!

Plus the so-called clear policy that someone posted is anything but.

@makingmammaries
What is that supposed to mean? I’ve eaten in restaurants all over the world which were child free. It’s sometimes why I chose to eat there!

In what way is it unclear Mistigri? It clearly states the times when children are allowed.

That policy really is clear. It tells you the different sitting times, so you just look for the time you are going. It then tells you the age of children allowed, or no children allowed. If you can’t follow it then that says more about your reading skills than it does about the policy.

Are children adults when they reach 11 for this restaurant?

Why we like restaurants in France, children are brought up to behave and ladies (usually well dressed females) bring their little dogs who sit under the table and don’t make a sound

Age discrimination is illegal. I would like to see a test case on this

So …. should the lovely newborn be entitled to a vote in the upcoming election? Might shake things up a bit, I suppose.

It's not discrimination. It's their policy.

I went for a job interview recently and was advised that the dress code didn't allow for facial piercings. So ….. I didn't take the job as I like my piercings. Discrimination? Nope. Their right to determine their workplace policies. It's just life