Do I pay for all their coffees and drinks?

[Argentinasnargentina]

Dd’s birthday party this weekend. It’s at a soft play/activity type place. It’s three hours long and will include lunch provided by the establishment-pizzas, cheeseburgers, sweets, fruit platter, water and juices, cupcakes etc.
There are ten children coming with parents, the place has a cafe/coffee bar selling drinks & snacks.
As we’re hosting, what do I do? I feel
a bit uncomfortable with parents coming and having to buy their own coffee and cold drinks but the other option to have it open and we pay the bill at the end scares me a bit!
The party with all food included and an entertainer coming has cost a lot and the lunch will be plentiful

Not sure what to do?

I would expect to pay my own coffee, yes.

Yep, just their first one. We're in NI and seems common practice at soft play type parties.

I've always bought my own food/snacks at this kind of thing and, other than with the party meal provided I usually get my child drinks too.

This is what we’ve done too.

And we would only ask parents, not any siblings who happen to be tagging along.

I’ve only been offered a drink once at a soft play party. I thought the parents were very generous and it certainly wasn’t expected or the norm. Don’t worry about it.

I am more concerned about your lack of drinks for the children. I would expect drinks available for kids at all times, not just with the meal. I wouldn’t expect you to provide drinks for the parents though

If you can afford it, it would be a nice gesture. I've been to parties where the parents' drinks have been paid for, and some where they haven't and as long as the kids have a good time, the parents would be happy either way I'm sure :)

It is easy. Parents will pay for themselves.

Three hours?! You need to pay for their future counselling, never mind coffee.

IME usually there’s a tab or the first round is ordered together and purchased by hosts.

if you’re worried about people over ordering you could give everyone a ticket for “one coffee” when they arrive.

I bring a bottle of vodka in my handbag. 3 hours of torture made a bit easier.

I’ve also brought my own. Wouldn’t expect them to pay for my drink if my kids are getting fed and entertained!

the difference will be money. Those with more may be more likely to buy them for parents. Those with less or on a budget will be less likely.

don’t stretch yourself. And don’t do a tab! Just in case

Three hours is crazy long.

Take bottles of water for the children they will be asking for water way before the food time. Write their names in marker pen on the bottles.

Parents buy their own tea/coffee, that's fairly standard.

Pre order jugs of cold drinks for the table.

Let anyone who wants a coffee order and pay for themselves.

That won't come as a shock to tour guests honestly. It's fine. X

Why are the parents staying for three (sodding) hours? Can’t they drop and bugger off?

There's only 10 kids...why dont you just do a round 5 mins after everyone has arrived and buy parents the drink of their choice. Then youve made the effort but afterwards they can buy their own if they want more so there's no tab to go crazy.

I’ve never been to a soft play party where the host has offered to buy hot drinks. It’s always been up to parents to buy if they want them.

I used to own a play centre and the majority of parents paid for their own drinks. It was actually a pain for us when people wanted to open a tab and stopped allowing it after a while.

Surely they buy their own. Attended tons of these when my son was young. Never once seen this or had my coffee paid for!

To add...at a party like this i wouldnt expect drinks for children to be provided before food and have bought cartons of juice pre meal in similar circumstances before. I never thought anything negative towards the hosts for having to do that but I did regret not bringing a bottle of water with me!

I’ve been to about a million soft play parties and I always expect to buy my own coffee. You are are hosting my kid, not me. I think I’ve been to one where when I went to pay there was a tab, and one where the dad came round and did a coffee round about 15 mins in. Every other time, I’ve bought one if I want one. It’s very much the norm and completely fine IMO.

Don't worry, it's not remotely awkward. If you are hosting the party then you should cover the costs of food and drink for the kids, but if the parents want anything they should be more than happy to sort themselves out. I would never expect the host to pay for my coffee and pastry just because I decided to hang around rather than drop and run.

I always bought my own a when drinks were offered it was usually tea or coffee and I don’t drink either, so I always expected to buy my own

We had a party like this for DS and we had an open tab. Most parents only had one drink so it wasn’t too bad.

Totally normal to buy your own. If they want a drink they’ll bring a water bottle. If you can provide your own buy a box of Dash water or something.