Page 15 | Charged for an empty plate?!

sandwichh · 2025-09-09T20:36:40+00:00

I recently went to a greene king pub for a carvery. After plating up my dinner, I asked for a plate for my 10 month old, not to take any extra food but to take it off my plate to give to him. They wanted to charge me for it! Never had this issue before, AIBU?

Mummyto7lovelife · 10/09/2025 21:28

I always took my own plate used a baby wipe and nappy bag to clean up haha shocking I know.

TheQuirkyMaker · 10/09/2025 21:34

Reallyneedsaholiday · 10/09/2025 17:21

At SOME point, they have to draw a line and say that this person can/ can't eat for free. Someone will always be the one who "loses out", wherever they decide that line should be. Some are saying "under 3's" should be the line but is a 3 yr really going to eat any more than a 2 year and 11 month old? The fact is that the majority of the costs incurred by a restaurant is not in the food itself. Its the staffing, the rent, the rates, the cleaning products, the electricity and all the other overheads. The plate used by your baby, takes just as much "cleaning" as the one that you use for yourself. Not to mention that a baby with their own plate, tends to make much more mess (and work) than a baby being fed from an adults plate. You are much less likely to allow them to put their hands in it/ throw it on the floor/ wipe it all over the seats/ tray etc, smash the plate itself; all of which are a "cost" to the business as "staffing time".

I agree. Theoretically you could go to an "all you can eat " buffet and eat until you die and need a forklift for your body to be carried out. When they say "all you can eat" they are expecting people to be reasonable.

CandidHedgehog · 10/09/2025 21:37

curliegirlie · 10/09/2025 21:14

As stated down thread, it’s not so much the quantity, but the potential messiness, plus practicality if the baby is in a high chair rather than on Mum’s lap. A 10 month old is likely to eat more than a couple of mouths full, but probably not enough to justify a full child’s portion (or for the mum to necessarily miss the bits she’s sharing with her little girl).

I don’t know what the options at the carvery were - I probably wouldn’t have objected to paying a token couple of quid for a baby bowl, but not an older child’s plate.

The solution here is clearly to carry around a spare little plate in the changing bag!

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The OP said it was a ‘a few quid’ so it sounds like there was a baby bowl option - she just didn’t think she should pay anything at all.

Original poster

sandwichh · 10/09/2025 21:49

I didn't ask for a plate because he'd be eating a full meal, it's just easier while he's sat in his highchair and is capable of putting his own food in his mouth. From now on yes I'll be taking a spare plate. I always clean up after him as much as I can when eating out!

OP posts:

KitsyWitsy · 10/09/2025 22:05

sandwichh · 10/09/2025 21:49

I didn't ask for a plate because he'd be eating a full meal, it's just easier while he's sat in his highchair and is capable of putting his own food in his mouth. From now on yes I'll be taking a spare plate. I always clean up after him as much as I can when eating out!

So you still think it's okay then... Why do you object so much at paying your way? It was only a few pounds.

You clean up 'as much as possible'. How good of you. I am sure they don't mind doing the rest for zero pence.

SumUp · 10/09/2025 22:08

I would always check first that it’s ok to avoid misunderstandings.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/09/2025 22:13

sandwichh · 10/09/2025 21:49

I didn't ask for a plate because he'd be eating a full meal, it's just easier while he's sat in his highchair and is capable of putting his own food in his mouth. From now on yes I'll be taking a spare plate. I always clean up after him as much as I can when eating out!

I think this illustrates the issue.

If he’s eating from your plate, you’ll be paying more attention to him, possibly feeding him the food. Making sure he doesn’t put his hands in it or throw any on the floor etc

His own plate is “easier” (for you) because you can turn away from him and concentrate on eating your own. Therefore payjng less attention to any mess making. The restaurant might be fine with this, but not for zero pence.

Clearing up “as much as possible” is agreeing that there will be some mess left for staff to clear up.

Kattitude121 · 10/09/2025 22:13

Did you use one of their high chairs? Why not just feed him from your plate if it was such a small amount.

Original poster

sandwichh · 11/09/2025 03:39

By clean up as much as possible I mean I don't carry cleaner with me for the table or a hoover for the floor 🙄

OP posts:

Smurfette63 · 11/09/2025 03:41

Omg I can't believe how nasty some people are being. Its a baby for Christ's sake!

OneChicRoseRobin · 11/09/2025 03:51

Charging for an empty plate feels silly.

Barnbrack · 11/09/2025 04:58

sandwichh · 10/09/2025 13:29

The extra plate was a few quid, it wasn't about the money, it was the fact that I've never had this issue before and I was shocked that it was a thing. I get where people are coming from with sharing it with partners etc but let's be real, one small plate from the carvery isn't going to fill you and your other half up, but a 10 month old who has a few mouthfuls?? There was no extra food I would be getting, and yes I could add extra to my own plate but there's really no limit and there's no stopping anyone eating alone getting too much and leaving some either (and we all do it).
The line will be drawn when my baby starts eating meals, or least once food is his main intake. Next time I will take my own plate, but as I've said it's not something I've come across before so haven't had to do this until now

So they didn't charge for an adult meal just a baby plate? A carvery is all YOU can eat. Surely you can see that without the baby YOU would have eaten less? It's not a how much can you eat challenge. If they'd charged an adult coat I'd understand your annoyance but a baby plate price of a couple of pounds is more than reasonable

Barnbrack · 11/09/2025 05:00

BettyBobble · 10/09/2025 18:43

Fucking hell! How is taking of her plate and placing onto a plate for her DC in any way being a CF. Get a grip FFS

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Why is it ok to go up, out extra on her plate for baby and transfer to baby plate? It's not different to taking baby's plate up for extra. Surely you can see this impacts how much food is put out on the carvery?

Sadworld23 · 11/09/2025 05:29

FourIsNewSix · 09/09/2025 21:49

That depends on how the food is paid for.
If it is per weight/set portion, it is her own food. If it is all-you-can-eat style, she is taking more than she eats, she is taking food for another person.

Yes, it isn't huge quantity, but there must be a line at some age

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So the greedy git who piles their plate up gets charged more than the one who has bird portions?
Doesn't work like that.

If you've got kids you'll know that food from mums plate is far more tasty than your own bowl and a 10m old eats like 10 teaspoons full in total on a very good day for most babies.

I think maybe over 2 they might wanna charge but under 2 no way.
At just3 our DC is still very picky and we generally order an extra portion of our food to share rather than get his own BC he just wastes it. Kids meals are fine from about 5 but I understand that very unpredictable in alot of cases.

Cue 'my kids eat what they're given' brigade btw. Mine doesn't (smiles).

Lyregorse · 11/09/2025 07:03

Devonmaid1844 · 10/09/2025 21:08

In the UK they carve the meat and then give you the plate. You then fill the plate with the veg and extras and add gravy, etc. It's fairly common practice for people to come back with a small mountain on their plate. It's normally just called a roast if they bring it to you pre-portioned.

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Thank you.
Where I am it’s a roast if you sit and order and the food is brought to you. For a carvery you queue and bring the food to the table yourself, but a staff member fills the plate.

CasualDayHasGoneTooFar · 11/09/2025 07:40

Smurfette63 · 11/09/2025 03:41

Omg I can't believe how nasty some people are being. Its a baby for Christ's sake!

Who's being nasty?

People are pointing out op wanted more food for her child, and it should not be free unless the establishment does free children meals.

Again in the simplest of examples, if op normally eats 3 potatoes and wants one for the child, then will she take 3 (and go hungryish) and give child 1, or will she take 4 (1 more than she would have taken for her normal meal) and eat 3 and give 4th to the child. Its not rocket science.

CandidHedgehog · 11/09/2025 07:42

OneChicRoseRobin · 11/09/2025 03:51

Charging for an empty plate feels silly.

https://mashable.com/archive/tripadvisor-review-response#g7Tnd5_UngqW

A breakdown (years ago so prices will have substantially increased) of where the costs are in a cafe / restaurant.

Also, in a carvery, plates are generally used to tell the staff who has paid. A person with a plate gets a full serving of meat. The OP says she only intended to take a little extra food (veggies only) for her child but a lot of people would say that then get meat as well.

It is why the carvery apparently has a ‘baby bowl’ option for a few pounds - it covers either the actual cost or at least makes a contribution to the cost to the restaurant of feeding babies.

Restaurant owner brilliantly shuts down disgruntled TripAdvisor reviewer

https://mashable.com/archive/tripadvisor-review-response#g7Tnd5_UngqW

Everanewbie · 11/09/2025 08:29

@CandidHedgehog I love this. I moan at excessive pricing more than most, but the response to this woman really slaps down people who want something for nothing.

I still think the restaurant were a bit mean spirited here, as I've said. But I can definitely see where they are coming from.

Arlanymor · 11/09/2025 10:00

Worktillate · 10/09/2025 20:21

At 10 months old, my DD would be sat in a high chair with a plate of her own eating a meal. An actual plate of food. A meal I would pay for.

The point isn't that the OP isn't a 6'4" rugby player who would eat a mountain so that makes it okay. By adding food to her plate for the child, she's already taking more than SHE needs. That costs. By adding in the need to 'service' that customer by cleaning up after their plate (and probable mess due to them being 10 months old), that also costs.

We all complain that costs are going up, wages aren't high enough, hospitality businesses are suffering/closing and so on but then justify what is ultimately trying to feed a child for free rather than paying for them a meal because it suits.

No thanks, I'll continue to pay for what I use and support business where I can

Very good response - I think some people don't understand that they need to pay for things they use/consume the dire state of the hospitality sector.

Coffeetime25 · 11/09/2025 10:03

if you put food on the plate then it not an empty plate and it needs washed if child makes a mess it needs cleaned up

OrangeCrushes · 11/09/2025 10:07

I'm sorry, but I have to agree this is going into CF territory. How do you think the carvery makes money? You would certainly have taken more food with the intention of sharing it with your baby. Do you think that they owe you free food because you have a baby?

CandidHedgehog · 11/09/2025 10:11

The thing is, I don’t think the carvery were unreasonable. According to the OP, they have an inexpensive option for young children, plus they appear to have turned a blind eye to the OP feeding her child from her own plate. I’m fairly sure it’s somewhere in the conditions that one payment / plate is for one person.

If they had made a massive public fuss about the OP stealing extra food for her child (which technically she was, particularly as there is a specific paid option for feeding a baby), maybe then I would think they were unreasonable but they didn’t.

FarmGirl78 · 11/09/2025 10:30

The pub are charging a couple of quid to let your child eat with you. Like others have said, this is quite normal with 'baby bowls'. Pay up and don't be a dick.

Please, don't take own plate from own home because you disagree with their policy, that's overstepping by even further. 🤣🤣 It's like someone I once knew who took bread and butter to the pub in her handbag because she disagreed with their charge for bread and butter side to the fish and chips. 🙈

GameWheelsAlarm · 11/09/2025 11:05

@sandwichh just a thought experiment - what do you think the consensus mumsnet response would be if someone posted something like this in AIBU:
some friends are going out for a celebratory meal at an all-you-can-eat carvery where they charge you £24.99 per plate, but as I am on Wegovy I have hardly any appetite and will probably only eat about half a potato and a few morsels of chicken, possibly a few peas. AIBU to swerve the plate price and just take a little dish from home in my handbag, and just take a few bits and bobs from friends plates?

I think such a person would be universally decried as a cheeky fucker. And I don't see any ethical difference between that and doing the same for a small child - in fact it's worse because you were only being expected to pay the small child price not the full adult price.

Reallyneedsaholiday · 11/09/2025 14:10

sandwichh · 10/09/2025 21:49

I didn't ask for a plate because he'd be eating a full meal, it's just easier while he's sat in his highchair and is capable of putting his own food in his mouth. From now on yes I'll be taking a spare plate. I always clean up after him as much as I can when eating out!

So you still feel entitled to their time and expense free of charge? After all the people telling you you are being unreasonable, and you refuse to accept it, so why DID you post?