To complain about no highchair rule

[Lofu]

At a garden centre today we went to the cafe for lunch. I have been before pre covid and know the little corner where they keep the highchairs, so went and got one.
Half way through our meals a server came over and told me off for using a high chair. Apparently they are not allowed to use them because of covid.
This is the first place I've heard of such a thing. Would I be unreasonable to email a complaint? I can't decide whether the cafe are well within their right to make whatever rule they like, or whether it is discrimination of children.

YABU. Don't email.

And it's hardly discrimination when your child can sit on your lap.

Well no, it’s not discrimination of children.

I assume it’s because they don’t have the resource to clean them thoroughly between customers so have taken them out or circulation and so can’t guarantee they’re safe. I think you’re being unfair to complain.

Wtf are you going on about @SecretSpAD ? It's so easy eating with a child on your knee!

Ffs I'm sure like all other chairs the high chairs can be cleaned,

How ridiculous!

What did they exactly say to you op? As surely when food was brought to you it was obvious your child was sitting in a high chair?

I’m not sure I’d go down the discrimination route, but I’d not go there again while they had that rule. My child gets filthy when eating, I don’t want her on my lap for that reason and because it’s very difficult to eat my own food when she’s on my lap.

Maybe you were supposed to ask for a highchair rather than help yourself? So they can be sure they’re properly cleaned between uses?

I don’t see why high chairs can’t be cleaned just like chairs? Daft.

Does Covid live on high chairs more than regular chairs? If they don't want people using them they should remove them. Keeping toddlers on your laps during a meal is hardly a practical alternative if yours is anything like mine!

Don't know about complaining, but might be worth asking them to clarify if small children are accepted in their restaurant or not.

They're well within their rights but they should've completely removed the highchairs if they're not allowing customers to use them.

It’s probably because the high chairs are usually placed at the end of a table, taking up room, which makes distancing more difficult. They probably have to completely sterilise them between children, which would be very time consuming. Whereas they would just give it a quick wipe down before. Stop giving people who are trying their best under difficult circumstances a hard time.

Cleaning every crevice of a high chair is next to impossible. The cafe can’t properly sanitize them between children so they should not be used.

Many places don’t have high chairs at all. It is not discrimination not to specifically cater to children.

Yes it’s annoying, and yes the staff member should have handled it better. But they aren’t required to provide a high chair.

I wouldn't say its discrimination but I am fed up with places making up stupid rules and blaming them on covid.

Is it because the fabric straps are hard to clean?

I wouldn't complain but I also wouldn't go back. DS is a bit older now and can sit on a chair with a bit of help and a cushion but until he could I wouldn't have eaten with him anywhere without high chairs - I wouldn't pay to eat a meal while trying to hold a toddler on my lap! But I also don't think they're obliged to provide them, which is why I wouldn't complain, just not go again.

I would be put out but I wouldn’t complain. Just don’t go back.

It's stupid and I wouldn't go to a place with children if they have highchairs but refuse to use them. There's no Covid-related reason to use them other than that people like using Covid as an excuse to be lazy. It's not discrimination though.

Did you clean it before you used it and before you put it back?

I can't decide whether the cafe are well within their right to make whatever rule they like

Why wouldn’t they be? It’s private property, it’s their rules.

it is discrimination of children.

Lol. The law allows for provisions within all forms of “discrimination” provided it is a proportionate means to achieve a legitimate aim. They haven’t broken the law.

If I wanted to go back I'd call & speak to the manager & ask them what their policy is about it.

If I didn't want to go back I wouldn't bother.

Of course they can be cleaned & sanitised between children. The fact they think they can't leads me to wonder what their normal hygiene standards are like.

@DeliciouslyFemale

It’s probably because the high chairs are usually placed at the end of a table, taking up room, which makes distancing more difficult. They probably have to completely sterilise them between children, which would be very time consuming. Whereas they would just give it a quick wipe down before. Stop giving people who are trying their best under difficult circumstances a hard time.

I agree with this. Its a really tough time for this industry at the moment, surely you can understand what is normally done has had to change. I definitely wouldn't complain!

Did you need to ask for one? We took our DD to the pub last weekend and they asked if we needed one whereas pre covid you could just help yourself. I think they are so infrequently cleaned (🤢) that they probably are some sort of health risk.

Complain if you want. It doesn’t mean that they will find your complaint is valid or that anything will change though.

@Mammyloveswine I didn't say it was easy - just that it is an option whe there are no high chairs therefore not discrimination!