To take a 3 year old to the Ritz at 17:30?

[PreschoolattheRitz]

We've been invited by grandparents at the end of April.

Afternoon tea isn’t fine dining, they have a children’s option so they obviously welcome children. You’re the parent though it’s up to you what’s best for your family!

Tea at the Ritz is a grown up affair. you see to my mind it’s something your great granny might do with you and you’d remember.

The Ritz cater for children at afternoon tea.

Oh god, absolutely not!
I saved up to take my boyfriend for afternoon tea at fortnum and Mason, I'd have been furious if it had been ruined by a toddler, I've no idea when I can afford a treat like that again.

The Ritz are used to kids at afternoon tea. We brought my 4 year old goddaughter and my 3 year old step daughter. Both were good as gold but I wouldn't do 5:30. Why not ask them to pull the reservation forward to 3? That would make more sense.

I agree with previous poster - sandwich and cakes at 5.30 is a family affair and your 3 year old will be fine I would have thought. I mean he eats dinner usually around then I presume, and has to sit for 30/40 minutes then and doesn’t get bored. And you could take him into Green Park for a run about before maybe

Small children don’t ruin tea parties.

even if we were allowed and even if you could i realy dont think a 3 year old would sit still long enough and theyre not going to allow a child to run around

@JinglingHellsBells

If this was for tea in the main afternoon tea area, I wonder if they would admit a toddler?

They are quite strict.

Years ago a contact of mine was refused entry to the hotel for wearing a kind of trainer- very, very posh designer ones.

I was denied entry to the bar late evening as I was wearing jeans, and my boss was denied for not having a tie. They lent him a tie. I had an overnight bag with me in which was the work skirt I had only recently changed OUT of, so they allowed me to nip to the loo and change into that.

Once we were sitting at a table my lower half atire made all the difference of course!

Small children don’t ruin tea parties.

That depends on the child, their behaviour and your perspective.

Tired, grump, generally not feeling the tea party vibe and being whiney and bored despite efforts to support and entertain. May well ruin OP and others tea party.

Child who never sits still, just isn't in their nature, won't be entertained by sit still activities. Probably going to ruin everyone's tea party.

The other adults ignoring child after the first 5 minutes, carrying out adult only conversation, not including child and OP having to entertain and engage solely with child to prevent unwanted behaviour- going to ruin tea party for OP (and husband) but probably not other diners.

It'll be fine you only get 2 hours max or something like that per sitting.

They allow children and if your DC plays up then like any other restaurant you would take them outside to calm down etc.

Make sure you know where the nearest park is in case you do need leave midway through.

And of course there is dress code so make sure you get in in the first place.

has to sit for 30/40 minutes then and doesn’t get bored

Afternoon tea at the Ritz is 3 courses and 90 minutes.

just ttell them its not appropriate maybe theyd like to take someon else instead?

it is nice by the way best tea ive had

I thought they had a family room which is a bit lower grade (same price though)

To be honest it's the lack of consultation that would piss me off. They expect everyone to work to their idea of a nice day out without even considering how it affects everyone else.

Yeah some kids would be fine. Some wouldnt. And some you'd only find out when you got there how it was going to pan out...

But the point is the op wasn't even asked what they thought as the child's parents.

My parents and in laws have had lovely days/lunches/adventures together. Every time we work out something mutually enjoyable. Not too far to walk for my elderly dad. Not too near nap time for mini me etc.

Hope the fall out isn't too bad op. But maybe declining and explaining why will make them think before doing something like this again?

I wouldn't take him because of the stress of requiring him to adhere to Ritz standards, even if he was an otherwise well-behaved child with good table manners. I would hate to be the person who ruined someone else's special occasion.

However, I would not use disruption to a routine and an unsettled night as an argument against going.

Make sure you know where the nearest park is in case you do need leave midway through.

Green Park is literally next door.

@BungleandGeorge

Afternoon tea isn’t fine dining, they have a children’s option so they obviously welcome children. You’re the parent though it’s up to you what’s best for your family!

The only reason they have a children’s option is so they can rake in another £35. It’s most definitely not because they want them there.

Why would OP be consulted? In the immortal MN phrase, it’s an invitation, not a summons. An invitation has been made to tea at the Ritz, OP feels it would be more pain than pleasure so she politely declines it. Job done.

I didn't even know restaurant/hotel were open/ allowed to serve food inside at the moment. I would put it on hold until after pandemic under more control.

The Ritz is currently being refurbished whilst closed to the public so I'd be surprised if it would be open again in April, even if there is a relaxation of current restrictions. I took my daughter to dinner at a nice restaurant in the City at around 3 years old and she was fine but nowhere near as posh as the Ritz!

See, on a good day my child could charm the entire room, sit quietly, engage in conversation and be the epitome of beautifully behaved.

The problem is you can never gauge if that’s the mood they’d be in. It’s like fucking Russian roulette and you might end up with the child who finds farting at top volume hilarious and sitting under the table pretending to be a hippo. And whinging. So so loudly.

NOT a risk I’d be willing to take. And lockdown has made it so much worse. I feared a cuppa at the garden centre before Christmas.

Tell them that it's a lovely idea and DH would love to come but sadly it would completely disrupt DS's routine (Ritz grandparents will be big fans of routine) and he's trying hard with toilet training but not quite there yet. Invite them to your local Nando's for lunch and a walk on the common the next day for a catch-up with you and DS.

Overthinking. In reality it’s effectively a cafe full of middle class people feigning to be posh. Think of it as a cafe and that is the right frame of mind. Just go.