Is this a bit discriminatory or am I being silly?

[WheelieBinPrincess]

This is such a first world problem, if I sound like a twat I wholeheartedly apologise in advance. I probably will sound like a twat but there’s the disclaimer. I know there are people in the world without electricity, let alone access to wanky art installations.

Got tickets to this interactive Van Gough exhibition thing in London on Friday. I don’t know what it involves, big starry night inspired instillations I guess, whatever. Anyway I booked two tickets when I was pregnant and then realised I’d have an eight week old baby when it came around, but thought oh that’ll be nice I’ll take him along, no problems. Luckily he actually loves being out and about and only kicks off when we are home to be honest so no drama there.

Anyway we are meeting a family friend to go to this exhibition on Friday, I live the other side of London but directly after this thing the baby and I are getting on a train to travel to another part of the country to see my parents. So I won’t be using the carrier (baby actually hates that anyway)

So I was just reading the FAQ’s. It says while the event is suitable for children of all ages, there’s no changing family available, and while it is accessible for wheelchairs, it is not accessible for prams and they won’t be permitted.

Which basically would mean we can’t fucking go. I honestly am not someone who hangs around and lingers looking at art for ages either so no changing facilities isn’t really a huge deal, it’s the fact that I can’t even go in with the baby.

I have emailed them but they just quoted the FAQ at me. I asked about a cloakroom (not to leave the baby in, I’ll carry him) but they’ve just not got back to me and I don’t think they have one, going by the FAQs.

Now I don’t want to spark a bit debate about wheelchairs vs pushchairs. I realise it’s entirely my choice to not only have a child but to push a buggy around and a disabled person does not have the same choices about using a wheelchair. For what it’s worth I always get off the bus for a wheelchair user, and I’m not a dick about it.

The event is in a huge space as well, I’m not saying I’d think it was okay to push the buggy around the John Soane’s. But if a space is accessible to a wheelchair am I right in thinking it’s also accessible for a buggy?! And if so, why can’t I take my buggy in there? Is it like a way of saying babies will ruin the ambiance? But surely small children in general would be capable of doing that?

Also when I booked the tickets it was over if those ‘location revealed at a later date’ hyped up wanky things so I had no way of checking.

I guess I’ll just have to push for a refund but it just seems a bit shit!

It's worth persisting with the carrier, try different slings etc, because life in London is SO much easier that way.

I hope you enjoy the exhibition.

Different babies like different slings (ds loved a baby born, dd not so much- more modern ones are more ergonomic)). Renting from sling library is a great idea though, be far easier Full stop with no pram.

@BudgeSquare

Ok thanks, the point is definitely a lot clearer now and you’re right in terms of the actual galleries providing the facilities.

I genuinely forgot about the baby when I booked this but then just thought it’d be fine. I’d leave him with DH for the morning if he was able to get day off but he can’t.

I have taken all 3 of my babies to all sorts of exhibitions so many times I can’t remember. I have always taken a carrier just because the pram blocks the cards/exhibits for others to read. I’d put the pram in the cloakroom or leave at reception if they let me and just walked round with baby. It can get crowded in there and a wheelchair is absolutely necessary where as a pushchair is not. So I get it’s annoying but there are ways round it, it’s not discriminatory.

@WheelieBinPrincess yw, i am typing while walking and didn't phrase it well.

I have been taking my kids to exhibitions since they were born (the oldest is now 11) as well as growing up here myself so I can tell you that you will always have a far better time with babies/children at some types of events.

Pretty much all of the major galleries are very child friendly and also great at answering questions in advance. Big flashy things like this that come in for a few weeks won't give a toss.

You can take a baby just not a buggy or a pram. A sling is the answer. It’s not they’d fault you’re going away so have to take a buggy.

Why don’t you leave buggy outside, padlocked to something if you’re that bothered about going?

If you think that’s discrimination, listen to this…. I move phoned you a letting agents enquiring about a house and they were going through everything, until I mentioned I was pregnant. Tone changed and they said children aren’t allowed to live there!!! 😳😮😮

[quote WheelieBinPrincess]@thevassal I’ll be taking my own instant coffee in a travel cup, definitely [/quote]
You know instant coffee is illegal in Shoreditch? The hipster police will turn up, quiz you on the best grind for a V60 and if you get the answer wrong, you'll be sent off to an Aberdeen Steak House in the West End as punishment and never allowed in east London ever again.

once phoned a letting agent

Haven't read the whole thread but I went a few weeks ago and there was a mum, alone, with a 3 month old in a sling. They seemed to love the projected art as they were so chilled out on her knee.

I’ve been to this exhibition. There’s an area near the entrance where you can leave buggies. Lots of people did so, including us. If there’s any chance your babe will tolerate the carrier then that’s your answer.

It’s a really good exhibition, so do go if you can!

I’ve been to this, and whilst it is a large space, there were a lot of people there, with it getting quite congested at points. The initial set of stairs going up to the exhibition space is really quite steep - even folding a Bugaboo and lugging it up will be difficult. I don’t believe they have a cloakroom. There’s a second large space where people are sitting on deck chairs and benches - this part was really busy as it’s basically lingering around, watching a display at your leisure.

Oh and yes we changed baby on the floor in the toilets with our portable changing mat.

@TableFlowerss that is shocking!! The bastards!! Utter crap too.

I think I envisioned something like the Bodyworks exhibition, which was in the O2. Huge space and could drive a bus between the exhibits. I fainted at a displayed rabbit that was entirely made up of bright red fissures and they wouldn’t let me back in or give me a refund. In my defence I was incredibly hungover.

I don’t think these things through 😂

I was under the impression it was a huge airy space…

There was another Van Gogh immersive experience thing in Kensington Gardens over the summer that has just closed. It was pram and wheelchair accessible. That doesn't help you much but I wonder if maybe you had see photos of that and got them mixed up?

Oh that’s fab hearing from people that have been- and that they do have space to leave a buggy.

@chesirecat99 yes, i think I might have

I feel for you, it's a total PITA but no, it's not at all discriminatory.
I would leave your bags and the buggy at a luggage point, just as suggested by lots of others here, and use your carrier for the exhibition. Go, it'll be great. Once you have the organisation sorted you'll have a nice time treating your friend.

[quote WheelieBinPrincess]**@Justcannotbearsed* and @thevassal* I had no idea about the Stasher thing and that is really useful to know! Thank you![/quote]
I've used Stasher. It was brilliant. In my case it was just a newsagent where they put my huge backpack in their little stockroom while I wandered around Brighton for the day!

It's a really easy site to use, as well,

Try this website and store the buggy some place close?
stasher.com/

Also when I booked the tickets it was over if those ‘location revealed at a later date’ hyped up wanky things so I had no way of checking.

When you booked it was there any way of telling what the pram situation would be then? Because if not then I definitely think you should be able to get a refund.

@SickAndTiredAgain no, I don’t think they ever had a venue at that point. I think all the secrecy is because they then have to find somewhere to put on the exhibition.

[quote BudgeSquare]@thevassal

That's told you OP! Yabu miserable for spending your own money on something you find interesting. I hope you don't have the audacity to go out and eat while you're there, you know you could have had toast at home for free?

You evidently don't understand the point.

There is a current wave of weird touring exhibitions that have nothing to do with London or art.

It's a relevant point because pretty much all of the galleries in London are baby/child friendly.
This is because they value building ing term relationships with families who live here.

This doesn't. That's why they don't bother to provide facilities or engage with visitors' questions.[/quote]
I think it's a little bit of a stretch to suggest that this exhibition doesn't have anything to do with art.

I’d get a sling. All babauesnink ow hate those baby Bjorn slings. But love either a proper sling or a ring sling

[quote BudgeSquare]@thevassal

That's told you OP! Yabu miserable for spending your own money on something you find interesting. I hope you don't have the audacity to go out and eat while you're there, you know you could have had toast at home for free?

You evidently don't understand the point.

There is a current wave of weird touring exhibitions that have nothing to do with London or art.

It's a relevant point because pretty much all of the galleries in London are baby/child friendly.
This is because they value building ing term relationships with families who live here.

This doesn't. That's why they don't bother to provide facilities or engage with visitors' questions.[/quote]
Yeah that didn't come across in your post at all. Basically because you hardly mentioned any of it, nd the focus was on what you deemed is "rubbish" and "not real art." Even in this post you refer to them as "weird"and "having nothing to do with art."

You can't complain people didn't understand what you meant by "the point" when you didn't make said point in your original post.

If the venue details and faq weren't available at the time of booking, YANBU.

Discrimination, not sure.