Walkabout couldn't 'accomodate' us today-am very cross.

[Mirage]

My sister & I plus the dd's were shopping in Derby today & decided to pop into Walkabout for lunch,as there is always something the dd's like on the menu.

It wasn't busy & we sat at the back away from the smokers & started to look at the menu.After about 10 minutes,a member of staff came over and said that he was sorry,but they couldn't accomodate us were we were sitting & would we move to the area at the front (right next to the smnoking area) or outside.

We pointed out that we weren't going to sit in a load of cigarette smoke,or sit outside on a freezing December day,with small children & left.

I can't understand what difference were we sat made-surely if children aren't welcome there should be a notice on the doors to say so? The girls were being as good as gold & very quiet (we have taken them out to eat since birth,so they know that they have to behave).In fact the lady at the next table was saying how lovely they were.

I am just so cross,I have never been made to feel unwelcome when eating out before & there didn't appear to be any good reason for it.I've a good mind to write to their head office & ask for an explanation of their policies.

ok rant over-thank you for listening.

what is walkabout? do they have a bar area?

our walkabout dont allow kids on the premises at all. didnt they say why?

they maybe have to keep children near the front as per their license? i don't know am only guessing. but a lot of bars say no under 14s don't they so maybe this is their compromise.

I have never been in a Walkabout before, but there is one I pass by and it has a sign outside that it is for 18's and over only. Perhaps they all are?

Some places do have licenses allowing children only in specific areas. Still, they should have been clear about it.

liecense laws are laws, if they are caught infringing them with U18s in teh wrong area the licencee is in BIG trouble. The run up to Christmas is exactly when the police are more likly to run sting operations to catch licencees out as well.

TBH walkabout is not the sort of place I would take my children to.
Its just a large aussie drinking chain aimed at young people drinking lots and smoking

This might not excuse their behaviour towards you but I think your choice could have been better

Agreed,it wouldn't be my first choice personally,but it was 12pm on a weeday lunchtime,with mainly pensioners having lunch.I checked on the door & there was nothing about no under 18's,so assumed it wouldn't be a problem.I would NEVER take my children anywhere rowdy-I hate that sort of thing.

I'm going to check with dh,he is a licencee & see what the law is regarding under 18's in premises that serve food.

tbh, Walkabout is the last place I would take children to.

It's a well-known chain of bars for young Aussies/Kiwis who like to get very pissed. I've ventured into one or two and have left fairly quickly (with dh who is a Kiwi)

Even on a Sunday lunchtime it's bad.

But you weren't to know!

Have you eaten there with your children before?

I wasn't aware that there was a law. Surely it counts as private premises and it's down to the manager as to what can and can't be done?

Althugh I do agree it should be made clear whether children are allowed or not.

private premises yes. but their license will have certain restrictions. landlord can't decide they will open til 8am for example.

Hmmm,I may have been a bit niave.I didn't realise what sort of place it was.I don't go out clubbing/drinking ect & it just looked like one of those bland chain places where you can get meals fairly reasonably.There were no groups of drinkers ect,just shoppers & old ladies.

I haven't been to one before,but I have been to somewhere that looked similar,big tables,sofas ect & had no problems there.It obviously wasn't part of the same chain & I must have gotten the 2 confused.I have had a lucky escape by the sound of things.

God,I'm such a bumpkin - I'd no idea it was such a dodgy place.I don't get out much.(smile)

I won't bother complaining-it isn't the sort of place I'd ever go in again.

is it wetherspoons, where children are allowed in certain areas?

aw..we havea walkabout and its always jam packed with all kinds of people(not just aussies) on a weekend, but we have been for nice pub lunches in ours with dd!..on the other hand another opub (baraccuda) that serve meals would not let dd in..they did tell us that tho, they didnt just ask us to move??

our wetherspoons is fab with dd..they have kids menues

It's a pain in the neck isn't it! Don't really know this walkabout place/chain you are talking about though, lol..saying that, doubt there will be many Kiwis and Aussies in Derby....or are there?
We had a more subtle experience when we were in LOndon in the summer...we had walked about a lot, were tired and just wanted a snack, and it was getting late, blablabla...anyways, there was a cafe/bar place, and we sat down, outside, and ms, who would have been the troublemaker if anything was asleep, lol....he was wacked...well...we sat down, and the waitress was serving this other table, and then she went in and then nothing...no one to be seen, after about 15+ minutes we left as it was just ridiculous, and wouln't you know it, as soon as we had got up the waitress came out again...going , of course straight to the other table completely ignoring us...stupid bitch...that really pissed me off...When she came past us, as we were leacving I just made a loud comment to dh about how sad it is that some waitresses feel the need to be rude and stuck up...I know, not very grown up, but hohum...just reassured me that I would ratehr chew my right arm off then moving down to London, lol!