Page 5 | Child only area in restaurant- discriminatory?

shhblackbag · 12/10/2025 16:24

ChocolateCinderToffee · 12/10/2025 16:15

Lead me to it! I've lost count of how many pubs I've left saying 'never again!' because the eating area was full of unsupervised children.

Yes, I'd love to know know where it is.

Comeonbabylightmyfire · 12/10/2025 16:25

I can see your point, mine were expected to behave when out for food and a play area would have made this hard (they would have loved it though!). On the other hand most children aren’t taught to behave in restaurants so this is a good idea (although they will never learn that restaurants are for eating and not playing!).

I can’t say that I’ve ever been disturbed by children when I’ve been out for food so might feel differently if I had.

wishitwasntme123 · 12/10/2025 16:26

Cherry8809 · 12/10/2025 16:19

If there were two absolutely identical restaurants (same menu, location, etc) but one had a designated area for children to keep them separate, I would choose that one every single time.

I think some (most) parents are utterly oblivious to how loud and disruptive their little angels can be. Also, it makes perfect sense to keep the kids sat near the soft play, instead of having them barrelling back and forth through the restaurant.

Why do you go out to eat so early

ParmaVioletTea · 12/10/2025 16:26

YABU.

You didn’t want the racket of other people’s children, just as no one wants the racket of your child ….

wishitwasntme123 · 12/10/2025 16:27

ParmaVioletTea · 12/10/2025 16:26

YABU.

You didn’t want the racket of other people’s children, just as no one wants the racket of your child ….

Correct! However those areas also have the noise from machines/play things

AutumnCosy2025 · 12/10/2025 16:30

Soupandaroll · 12/10/2025 15:05

If you go somewhere with a soft play it makes sense to seat all families with children in that area (so they are not repeatedly to-ing and fro-ing from the area, running through the restaurant and back to the table etc). It keeps the adult only areas quieter and keeps mess/spillages more contained as well. It’s presumably a compromise to cater for different clientele who want different things.

I do get it though. I wouldn’t like it either. I guess if you don’t want to be seated near the softplay and would like your children to have a calmer/more adult experience, I would avoid places which obviously set their stall out to cater to lots of families with kids by installing a soft play.

This^^

sometimes I'd take kids there & sit near the noisy soft play so they could have fun, other times I'd go somewhere that doesn't have soft play so we could just have a calm meal.

what I wouldn't do is complain they expected children (& their parents) to sit in a separate area to adult only diners anywhere, but ESPECIALLY in a pub that has a dedicated play area.

CurlewKate · 12/10/2025 16:31

I can see why this might appeal-but I would never, when mine were little, have taken them in the children’s area just us as a family. I might have if I was in a group with several families and lots of children.

Differentforgirls · 12/10/2025 16:31

murasaki · 12/10/2025 14:29

You had a child with you so no. Hopefully everyone else without them could enjoy their meal further away from the soft play.

I disagree with this. Not all parents need a soft play area in a restaurant as their children have been brought up to think that a meal is a chance for chatting to each other while eating. We shouldn’t be pandering to parents who want their children away from them while eating.

DreamyTealGuide · 12/10/2025 16:32

wishitwasntme123 · 12/10/2025 16:26

Why do you go out to eat so early

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what do you mean "early"?

Kids are not vampire, they are out and about at any time of the day and evening

Differentforgirls · 12/10/2025 16:33

Buyalot · 12/10/2025 14:28

I’ve returned from a carvery lunch with DH and DD (14 months).

On arrival, despite there being a lot of seats spare in every area, we were told we had to be seated in the dedicated children’s area - an
absolute racket with soft play etc.

AIBU to find this ridiculous?

No. I think the same.

DreamyTealGuide · 12/10/2025 16:34

Differentforgirls · 12/10/2025 16:31

I disagree with this. Not all parents need a soft play area in a restaurant as their children have been brought up to think that a meal is a chance for chatting to each other while eating. We shouldn’t be pandering to parents who want their children away from them while eating.

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Then you go to another restaurant, how hard can it be.

We are not pandering to parents anything, we just want peace and quiet when we are child-free.

Jamesblonde2 · 12/10/2025 16:34

This is fab. Hope more places offer it. That said I’m unlikely to go anywhere with a dedicated children’s “play” area.

Butchyrestingface · 12/10/2025 16:35

we were told we had to be seated in the dedicated children’s area - an
absolute racket with soft play etc.

Presumably if the venue didn't have this area, the racket-makers would be seated in the main body of the kirk, creating an absolute racket for everyone else.

Do you think you'd appreciate this set up if you didn't have a child?

HoldingTheDoor · 12/10/2025 16:37

ApplebyArrows · 12/10/2025 16:10

Sounds awful. Many 14-month-olds are lovely and quiet! On the other hand can restaurants start having segregated spaces for the noisy adults please?

Where do you find this apparent plethora of quiet 14 months old? I’ve worked in childcare and I can’t say that I’ve encountered many of them.

Differentforgirls · 12/10/2025 16:38

tillylula · 12/10/2025 14:50

If i went for a family meal with my kids id think it was perfect, and if i went without them and just DH, also perfect because i dont have to be around other peoples irritating children

How is it a “family meal” if your children are in a soft play area rather than at the table taking part in the “family meal”?

Differentforgirls · 12/10/2025 16:40

DreamyTealGuide · 12/10/2025 16:34

Then you go to another restaurant, how hard can it be.

We are not pandering to parents anything, we just want peace and quiet when we are child-free.

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Yes. I would definitely go to another restaurant where my children weren’t treated as family pets rather than fellow human beings.

GoldDuster · 12/10/2025 16:41

I hate to break it to you OP but if you've got a 14 month old with you, you are the racket you're trying to avoid. You weren't discriminated against (on what grounds do you feel you were?) but you did choose to eat in a carvery with a soft play area. I think that's where you might have gone wrong.

Differentforgirls · 12/10/2025 16:42

HoldingTheDoor · 12/10/2025 16:37

Where do you find this apparent plethora of quiet 14 months old? I’ve worked in childcare and I can’t say that I’ve encountered many of them.

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That’s because you work in child care where children have to shout to be heard as there are 8 of them to 1 adult.

AutumnCosy2025 · 12/10/2025 16:44

craigth162 · 12/10/2025 15:49

I wouldn't like this. My 5 year old is autistic so wouldn't like the noise plus he's physically disabled so can't use the soft play. Why should he be made to sit in there when he can't access it?

I'm sorry your DS wouldn't be able to access the soft play & with his autism might find the noise overwhelming, I just wouldn't go there in your situation.

But as far as the pub knows, he might be as noisy as any other child & they want to give their adult diners a quiet 'adult only' space, so you'd have to choose the childrens area or don't go there.

eith children with SEN and/or physical disabilities we are always going to be more restricted, but that doesn't mean venues can't make these kind of decisions to keep the vast majority of customers happy or meet licensing regulations

I k ow it's not ideal or easy 🤗🌷

Boomer55 · 12/10/2025 16:44

Buyalot · 12/10/2025 14:28

I’ve returned from a carvery lunch with DH and DD (14 months).

On arrival, despite there being a lot of seats spare in every area, we were told we had to be seated in the dedicated children’s area - an
absolute racket with soft play etc.

AIBU to find this ridiculous?

No. That’s fine. You’ve got kids so go into an area that caters for them. 👍

Differentforgirls · 12/10/2025 16:45

GoldDuster · 12/10/2025 16:41

I hate to break it to you OP but if you've got a 14 month old with you, you are the racket you're trying to avoid. You weren't discriminated against (on what grounds do you feel you were?) but you did choose to eat in a carvery with a soft play area. I think that's where you might have gone wrong.

I agree with this actually. These places cater to parents who can’t parent. Best choosing a place where it’s normal for families to actually eat together.

Cherry8809 · 12/10/2025 16:46

wishitwasntme123 · 12/10/2025 16:26

Why do you go out to eat so early

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What kind of question is that?

Have you never been out for a pub lunch before? Afternoon Sunday carvery?

CryMyEyesViolet · 12/10/2025 16:46

So there’s an adults only section at a venue that serves alcohol. Sounds like something that should be encouraged to me…

Gymnopedie · 12/10/2025 16:46

wishitwasntme123 · 12/10/2025 16:26

Why do you go out to eat so early

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Ever heard of lunch?

ARichtGoodDram · 12/10/2025 16:49

The carvery round here seats all children in the family section, which happens to be furthest away from the carvery area purely down to the number of people who letting their children run around near the serving area. It's dangerous when people have hot plates of food, and in this one the tea and coffee machines are near the serving area as well.