Poll: Okay to ban noisy kids from some places?

Is it OK to ban children from establishments?

  • Yes

    Votes: 263 91.0%

  • No

    Votes: 26 9.0%
  • Total voters
    289
  • Poll closed .

Avenged7Fold

Avenged7Fold

Avenged7Fold

Soldato
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-38339579

So this mother of a toddler who runs a restaurant is getting abused by mumsnetters and the like due to her ban on toddlers. She has been called a disgrace to motherhood and has had some nasty interactions from local mothers who are not pleased with the move.

Its not hard to imagine why she did it. Kids can be noisy and not every parent cba to control them at all times. We have all seen parents whose standards are far lower than others. Go into a busy cafe during a weekend or at around 4pm on a weekday and it isn't a rare sight to see young ones running around, disturbing other people by accident and making it that extras bit harder for servers who have to sometimes dodge these pumped-up-on-sugar, mini people.

Other diners may complain or the place may get a reputation at certain hours of the day causing customers to avoid the place.

There has been a number of times where i have seen altercations happen because people confront the parents asking them to keep them under control. No one likes being told what to do, especially when it comes to something personal like parenting, so unsurprising that conflicts break out and this ban will prevent that from happening at the expense of losing young family customers to restaurants who are willing to accept toddlers.

What does GD think?

(poll please)

I personally think you should be able to do this at your restaurant/pubs peril. There is no malice in differentiating parents with young children from other people, it serves a purpose. Its not quite the same as denying people service because you don't agree with a political view of theirs or something, it is for the benefit of other customers. At the same time, I will say that i appreciate that keeping your kid in line can be exhausting at times and when your hungry and tired with a plate of food you just paid for in front of you, you cant help but sort yourself out quick before trudging on with the parenting. I obviously don't enjoy noisy kids but would not ban them in my own restaurant (if i owned one) but i think restaurant owners should be able to.

I can see this thread evolving to 'in my day if we miss behaved i would get a xxx' and a moan about deadbeat ********* parents. This isn't what the thread is about, so lets save it for another thread. This thread is purely on whether cafe/restaurants should be able to turn away people bringing young children or not.
 
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I support her. Nothing worse than trying to enjoy a pleasant meal and you either have a screaming baby or hyper toddler running around.
 
I don't see the problem with it personally (I am a dad btw). We have a local cafe that has the same policy, some people just don't want to be around kids when they go for a meal/coffee etc, surely that's their choice?
 
Her business, her decision.

Personally, i dislike kids running around shouting when i'm in a restaurant.

The bit about buggies blocking tables could have been used instead of a straight ban.

Pretty sure buggies blocking tables and impeding movement could also be used as a potential fire escape hazard
 
Yes, why should I have to listen to somebody elses brat scream blue murder while im trying to eat/drink in peace whilst the stupid parent just sits there ignoring it?
 
TBH i see this as an opportunity for places to cater to certain crowds. At family restaurants where people are generally more tolerable because they know what to expect, you dont have to be so on edge when your kid is in a stroppy mood, neither do you have to worry about a bunch of rude and rowdy teenagers wanting to grab lunch at places like that(cause why would they want to go to a kids restaurant) throwing staries at each other like little Frankie Boyles.
 
Brizzles said:
Her business, her decision.
Click to expand...

What he said. I'm a parent and can more than empathise that people might want to eat without screaming brats in their ear holes. Lucky so-and-so's getting the choice :D

I liked the bit about the mumsnet thread having to be closed. I can just imagine a bunch of outraged mares kicking off.
 
I think it's ok for her to do this. Many older people in particular have done the kid thing. They've brought up kids and seen them fly the nest. Now they want a quiet time enjoying drinks and food without the stress of screaming kids. There's plenty of places they are welcome.
 
Standard issue with some parents thinking that having children gives you the right to do what you like at the expense of others. Some parents won't give a **** if their kids are being noisy and will use the argument of "kids being kids" and other parents with well behaved kids will argue that their children aren't little ***** and they should be allowed in.

Personally I think it should be up to the restaurant owner. I have been in enough restaurants where the kids ruin you enjoyment of the meal to understand how putting up with that every day would make you murderous.
 
Her restaurant, her choice. Plenty of other places to eat if you've got sprogs in tow. If you look at the full story, the place is quite small and with ten tables, she was genuinely worried that staff were going to drop hot water onto a kid as they were clambering about over buggies and prams. Probably issues with H&S and fire regulations if the mothers were parking buggies and blocking the aisles.

Fact is, mothers today can be some of the most selfish people when out and about. Most are happy to inconvenience others in a big way, rather than take a small bit of hassle themselves. They'll block your drive for an hour rather than walk 20 seconds further, take twice as many seats as they need, and generally use their kids as an excuse not to show any consideration for others. I'm not surprised that mothers have been verbally assaulting and intimidating this woman because she's decided not to deal with other people's crotch-fruit. Boo-hoo, you'll have to find somewhere else to let your ill-behaved kids run wild.
 
As a parent, banning kids I can see as being a royal pain in the backside, what if lots follow in her footsteps, going out with kids becomes very difficult. At the same time, we can't ban people on skin colour, gender or sexuality but it seems age is ok? Lets ban anyone over 70 because there's a high chance they'll smell of lavender and pee...

But, I also support the fact that it's her business and she should be able to serve who ever she so chooses too.

Kids can be a little loud at time but we always keep ours under control, I'd never let them annoy anyone else but as already mentioned here, as long as some parents can hear their kids they don't care what they are doing! :(
 
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