To be annoyed my DM was refused access with pram?

[EmeraldA129]

We have a local cafe we go to fairly regularly. Normally myself, my DM & DD who is 4 months & in a pram. We almost always have lunch, juice, coffee & often cake too.

Sometimes my DM comes to look after DD for a few hours & will almost certainly go to the same cafe, sometimes for a full lunch though sometimes just a cake & coffee.

I’ve given them 5* reviews for being so welcoming & friendly. We like the team, we like the food & there are a number of tables that can have a pram sitting next to them without causing hassle to the cafe or other customers.

on Sunday my DM went with my DD & although there were tables available the man that works there (we think owner/ manager) said ‘no, sorry, it’s fine to come in with that when it’s quiet, not when we are busy’. My DM asked if he was being serious, he said yes & showed the person behind her to a table that was free. Other people were leaving & trying to offer their table to my DM, but the man said no, it wasn’t suitable.

we’ve had lunch there many times before DD was born, but have been in at least 10 times since she was born. Previously I’ve always felt like a valued customer but now it feels like they’ve been willing to let us give them custom when they need the extra takings.

My DM won’t be going back & I really don’t want to either. Also want to leave them a new 1* review to balance out my previously glowing one.

This happened 5 days ago so it is clearly really bothering me that I’m posting about it now.

AIBU to be annoyed?

A 4 month old doesn’t need entertaining in some Kiz Zone - I would also avoid the cafe and leave a review.

They can not pick and choose when to value customers.

@NotQuiteNorma that sounds like the man that shouted at me on the bus as my baby was crying He said I should stay at home!

Not relevant. She’s not a group of ‘bored new mums’, she’s an older lady. Singular. Take your agenda somewhere else.

It's a four month old baby

I'd leave a review mentioning it because it's useful for other families when planning outings.

That is not great, if there was genuinely physical space for the pram folded, hr should have accommodated you. he lost several customers. I think the damage is done so find another place.

It’s a grandmother with a four month old baby. Nothing you’ve complained about is relevant.

That's terrible, I would definitely leave the review. Outrageous when you are regulars!

this sounds like a good idea! Thank you ☺️

There's a local cafe to me that doesn't allow prams inside ever due to health and safety/fire hazard
I think if it bothers you then simply don't go back again

Yeah, me too, but my opinion has totally changed of the place since I left them a glowing review

This happened to me and a couple of friends years ago, we never went again and weren’t surprised when it closed down a few months later. The owner who’d previously left the day to day running to a manager decided there were too many Mums not realising we were the bread and butter.

It’s the pram for babies before they can sit up on their own, so she wouldn’t have been able to collapse it as my DD can’t sit up for a long period yet, but they didn’t ask that either. DM was really surprised!

I guess that’s my thought though. They are entitled to this view, but then it means they are not very family friendly and don’t value my family’s custom.

Really?! We’ve been out a fair amount & on lots of busses, this is the first time this has happened!

It sounds like there wasn't space for the pram but also cant be sure the owners would have refused you and I wonder if he was being awkward

Delete the 5 star review and leave a 1 star.

Banning buggies is ridiculous if there is space

The cafe isn’t massive, but is laid out with all tables around the walls & a large open space in the middle. The open space is as wide as a transit if not wider, it’s because of this that so many tables can easily accommodate a pram.

it’s a noordi, just a regular pram I think.

Hardly the only consideration, what about the staff moving round, other customers, access to the loo/kitchen

Without a diagram with cafe and pram to scale how can anyone judge for sure

Have you contacted the place to tell them what you put in your OP? That’d be my first step, if that one staff member is an issue then they can’t stop it and apologise if they don’t no.

Years ago I was told to get off a bus with my baby in a pram, only happened once but apparently it's a thing

Do you say the same about disabled people?

Because a pram is going to block a fire exit when there is a fire?

Read that posters comment again, they said ‘ as long as it’s not blocking a fire exit’

You should definitely leave a 1 star review and for all the people asking if your DM offered to fold up the pram…..I have never seen anyone do this IRL. Cafes around here wouldn’t have enough trade if they were this rude and unwelcoming to Mum’s with buggies!!