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MNers without children

This board is primarily for MNers without children - others are welcome to post but please be respectful

Original poster

"Adult Only" things you'd pay a premium for. ** CHILDFREE SECTION**

253 replies

SoRainbowRhythms · 27/10/2023 09:19

* If in active, please note this is posted in the childfree section. *

Whether it exists or not, what do you / would you pay more for?

DH and I always pay through the nose to stay in a nice adults only resort when we go away. We won't even entertain staying somewhere with just an adults only section no matter how nice.

I went to London Zoo for Zoo Lates this year and it was adults only with drinks and nice food - worth every penny.

Wishful thinking - I would give my right arm for childfree flights or a truly adults only restaurant.

thread title amended by MNHQ at the OP's request

OP posts:
Girlfrom15YearsAgo · 27/10/2023 12:43

DH and I often do zoo lates and museum lates - such a great idea.

Flights would be rather wonderful too, plus cinemas and theatres. I don't think this is arsey - absolutely happy to recognise that many of these environments are perfect for kids, and/or great for them to learn social skills but a few extraordinary options, as the exception rather than the rule, would ensure that everyone is happy.

We often go to a UK holiday-resport where there is a smallish swimming pool open 8-8. 8-9am is supposed to be adults only and the rest of the time it's open to everyone. Without fail, every single morning at 8am there will be an angry parent demanding access to the pool for their kids and the staff will always turn to the users to ask if we mind. I always say yes, we do mind. I'm there to get excercise - the pool isn't large enough to section off for those doing lengths and it's impossible to do this once there are kids playing and getting in the way. Nothing against the kids - I used to love playing in the water when I was young but it's one hour where the pool is used for another purpose.

PosterBoy · 27/10/2023 12:46

swimming pool, gym, gym changing room

Quiet areas in bigger restaurants would be good - rather than child free, I am happy with 'quiet' as a concept

Normalsizedsalad · 27/10/2023 12:48

I kinda like seeing a well-behaved child at a restaurant or the ballet. If they're never taken, how will they learn how to behave?

They will never learn if parents plop them there with crisps bag and "well they need to be here to learn" without any actual teaching though. I went to theatre since very young age. Most of my peers did either with school or family or friends. We were taught to behave and god forbid you tried to moan for snack in the middle of Carmen. No snacks in theatre. They should ban them actually.

1 performance a week, adult only, no snacks. I would pay

Lottapianos · 27/10/2023 12:54

Shopping malls - one day a month where it's adults only. A weekday would be fine

Pubs - there's a great place we love which does brilliant beer and food, but more often than not it's like a flipping crèche. Kids running around, even crawling on the floor, buggies everywhere 🙄 at least dogs just generally curl up under the table and stay there!

And yes, restaurants and cafes too - if I had a local childfree cafe I would be in at every opportunity

musixa · 27/10/2023 12:55

Zoos, museums and English Heritage/National Trust place - not to avoid a few children with their families, but to avoid large groups (schools, Brownies etc) which often seem to take over a place. I still feel annoyed about the group of Brownies who pushed heedlessly in front of my mum, who was in a wheelchair, when she was trying to look at the animals in a wildlife park.

Possimpible · 27/10/2023 12:56

@Girlfrom15YearsAgo @Normalsizedsalad I mean I think the recurring theme here is it's not the children necessarily, it's the cheeky entitled parents who are the problem... (Obviously NAPALT)

queenofthewild · 27/10/2023 12:57

Most places I've been recently the peace has been shattered by drunk obnoxious adults who don't know how to behave. Had a particularly unpleasant train journey back from London on an overcrowded train so couldn't move away from their shouting and swearing.

And the theatre trip with a row of drunk pensioners singing badly and waving their arms aloft for the full performance.

Some people are just awful. Age doesn't come into it.

Original poster
SoRainbowRhythms · 27/10/2023 12:58

queenofthewild · 27/10/2023 12:57

Most places I've been recently the peace has been shattered by drunk obnoxious adults who don't know how to behave. Had a particularly unpleasant train journey back from London on an overcrowded train so couldn't move away from their shouting and swearing.

And the theatre trip with a row of drunk pensioners singing badly and waving their arms aloft for the full performance.

Some people are just awful. Age doesn't come into it.

But the question was asked in the childfree section, not the obnoxious adults section.

OP posts:
Laurdo · 27/10/2023 12:59

I'd love a late night softplay with a bar!

Mulhollandmagoo · 27/10/2023 13:01

I think restaurants and pubs fully child free would be amazing! I have a 4yo, and we don't really go out to eat with her, but when me and my husband get some very rare and much needed child free time, going to a nice place to eat and having to listen to other peoples children when they should definitely be home in bed is soul destroying!

Like others, we have tried really hard, we went to a cocktail bar type restaurant, which we assumed would be ok a few towns along from us last year, and there was a big group in there with quite a few kids who were bored senseless and running around, shouting the works.

Also...I'd love it if children weren't allowed in supermarkets between certain times, that would make life easier 😂

Latenightreader · 27/10/2023 13:05

I’d rather like an adults only version of soft play - giant climbing frames and nets, long slides big trampolines or bouncy castles, ball pits with no risk of a horrible surprise (dummy, soggy muslin) lurking at the bottom…

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 27/10/2023 13:06

Also...I'd love it if children weren't allowed in supermarkets between certain times, that would make life easier 😂

I'd love it if the 'NO RIDING SCOOTERS IN THIS SHOP' notices were enforced; having approached the age where I 'have falls' and don't just fall over.

Original poster
SoRainbowRhythms · 27/10/2023 13:07

Latenightreader · 27/10/2023 13:05

I’d rather like an adults only version of soft play - giant climbing frames and nets, long slides big trampolines or bouncy castles, ball pits with no risk of a horrible surprise (dummy, soggy muslin) lurking at the bottom…

Ballie Ballerson is an adult only ball pit place and mega fun!

OP posts:
hattie43 · 27/10/2023 13:09

Flights

Normalsizedsalad · 27/10/2023 13:10

Noisy adults can be dealt with much better than problem child/parents situation for businesses. Throwing out drunks will not lead to "omg they hate kids, boycott them, discrimination my kids were just being kids" reviews followed by bunch of 1*reviews everywhere. It has happened

Normalsizedsalad · 27/10/2023 13:11

Latenightreader · 27/10/2023 13:05

I’d rather like an adults only version of soft play - giant climbing frames and nets, long slides big trampolines or bouncy castles, ball pits with no risk of a horrible surprise (dummy, soggy muslin) lurking at the bottom…

5* idea

queenofthewild · 27/10/2023 13:12

Sorry. Meant to add that my child free days out had been ruined by awful adults.

So in my utopia I'd quite like adult only venues to require a valid adulting license, which can be revoked for uncivilised childlike behaviour.

Adult only ikea trips should definitely be a thing.

VeridicalVagabond · 27/10/2023 13:13

Oh supermarkets please please, just half an hour so I can shop quickly without having to slalom between all the people who inexplicably treat going to the supermarket as a whole-family outing.

muddyford · 27/10/2023 13:14

Pubs.

Galaxies · 27/10/2023 13:31

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 27/10/2023 13:06

Also...I'd love it if children weren't allowed in supermarkets between certain times, that would make life easier 😂

I'd love it if the 'NO RIDING SCOOTERS IN THIS SHOP' notices were enforced; having approached the age where I 'have falls' and don't just fall over.

The other week I went to a 24 hour supermarket at 11.30pm on a Wednesday night thinking it'd be quiet, no kids misbehaving, no parents screaming at them or threatening what would happen when dad got home, no scooters, just quick and quiet shopping. Nope. Two boys about 6 and 8 on scooters, mum screaming at them, dad dawdling behind on his phone until the mum started shouting at him as well. A little girl about 4 quietly sobbing interspersed with asking for stuff and being told no and the sobbing getting a bit louder. A child I never actually saw screaming bloody murder and then laughing as the noise echoed and being occasionally told 'shh'.

So a childfree, scooterfree, noisefree couple of hours a day in a supermarket would be great.

Normalsizedsalad · 27/10/2023 13:36

So a childfree, scooterfree, noisefree couple of hours a day in a supermarket would be great.

It could be combined into the shopping quoet hour for peolle with sensory issues. Like make it proper quiet and not overwhelming. Afaik so far it's just dimmed lights and dimmed music

Kittensat36 · 27/10/2023 13:47

Possimpible · 27/10/2023 12:56

@Girlfrom15YearsAgo @Normalsizedsalad I mean I think the recurring theme here is it's not the children necessarily, it's the cheeky entitled parents who are the problem... (Obviously NAPALT)

Oh yes, I remember one holiday where the kid was alright, bobbing around the pool in her rubber ring.

It was her DF that got on every one's tits. He would call her every 10 seconds. NATTER-LAY. NATTER-LAY. She was less than a foot from him.

Daffodilwoman · 27/10/2023 13:53

Tea rooms.
The last time I went to my local one there was a toddler screaming and screaming.
Its up stairs. You can’t swing a cat and it does not cater in any shape or form for babies and young children.
Also there are plenty of nearby places which are much more suitable for children.

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 27/10/2023 14:01

Definitely Childfree times at the national trust. It is getting increasingly difficult to enjoy some properties without being hit by a football or taken out at the knees by a child on an Easter egg/pumpkin trail racing around the house, or riding their bike round the outdoor seating.

It is starting to be almost exclusionary. It is all about the kids now.

Normalsizedsalad · 27/10/2023 14:04

Kittensat36 · 27/10/2023 13:47

Oh yes, I remember one holiday where the kid was alright, bobbing around the pool in her rubber ring.

It was her DF that got on every one's tits. He would call her every 10 seconds. NATTER-LAY. NATTER-LAY. She was less than a foot from him.

Show quote history

It's like vuvuzela. The issue is the entitled owner. Take away vuvuzela and they get much quieter plus no vuvuzela noise.

If that makes sense 🙈