Buggies not allowed in Restaurants

Kimono-Girl

I don't know if any of you in cork are listening to 96fm at the moment but they are talking about restaurants and pubs refusing buggies/prams due to health and safety, i tried googling it and i cant find anything on it, there are a few places in my locality which have been named as not allowing buggies and as a new mom i'm not sure what my rights are here.

anybody here have any clue what the regulations are? and has anyone here ever encountered this/ how did you handle it?

Nevyn

A lot of places simply do not have the room for a buggy esp one which can not be folded down in thir dinning areas and yes if a pram/buggy is in the way of serving staff or may block a fire exit it can be said to be a health and safety hazzard.

bcirl03

candlelover wrote: »

I don't know if any of you in cork are listening to 96fm at the moment but they are talking about restaurants and pubs refusing buggies/prams due to health and safety, i tried googling it and i cant find anything on it, there are a few places in my locality which have been named as not allowing buggies and as a new mom i'm not sure what my rights are here.

anybody here have any clue what the regulations are? and has anyone here ever encountered this/ how did you handle it?

Name and shame.....

Cabaal

bcirl03 wrote: »

Name and shame.....

I don't see why, affectingly the premises have limited space and buggy's take up room so allowing them creates a danger to people in the premises.

I'd also imagine that initially you might have got irresponsible parents affectingly ruining it for everyone else by leaving buggy's in stupid places and not moving them out of the way when people try pass....thus in some instances forcing places to bring in this rule to protect themselfs.

Some parents just don't think when it comes to buggys, we've all seen examples of this during our day to day lives...one prime one is the "my buggy is indestructible and I can force myself to cross a busy road as its infront of me" mentality by some parents...crazy tbh, especially when more often then not there's a proper crossing point not a few meters away

kmart6

bcirl03 wrote: »

Name and shame.....

No shame if there is an actually health and safety aspect to it!

stovelid

I tend to steer clear of places that you can't fit the buggy into. And that includes most restaurants and cafes.

To be honest, a buggy can be an irritant to others and even a hazard in such places.

siobhank

OP do you think the policy is maybe to excluse noisy children or something? I reckon some places might be using the sneak health and safety excuse for that one. But some small places can't handle buggies etc in the aisle so I guess that's only fair.

Cabaal

In fairness the best way you can deal with such places is vote with your feet and euros for that matter,

Zulu

Just leave the buggy outside, like you are requested to.

It's not a "rights" issue. :rolleyes:

run_Forrest_run

Yeah OP, maybe chill a bit about the rights thing! I have one child and another one the way and yes, there are places that will not allow buggies. At first I was furious about it but over time I've come to realise:

1. If the place will not allow buggies then they don't want me or my custom so why would I want to eat in a place where I am not wanted?

2. Buggies are quite annoying for other patrons indeed, I can see that myself now.

3. I couldn't be bothered going into restaurants anymore with a child anyway, it's not worth the money or hassle!! Eat at home whilst plonking the buggy in the middle of the room:D

In relation to the health and safety reason, I feel this is just an excuse on behalf of such restaurants but no one can challenge it, because it's health and safety, a bit like 'Insurance reasons'...pathetic but true I'm afraid.

Dfens

candlelover wrote: »

I don't know if any of you in cork are listening to 96fm at the moment but they are talking about restaurants and pubs refusing buggies/prams due to health and safety, i tried googling it and i cant find anything on it, there are a few places in my locality which have been named as not allowing buggies and as a new mom i'm not sure what my rights are here.

anybody here have any clue what the regulations are? and has anyone here ever encountered this/ how did you handle it?

Yes, agree with a lot of the above posters comments about small premises, blocking access/egress etc. and also about voting with your feet by no frequenting these places. By any chance did you happen to ask to see their written policy on this, or ask if this policy also applies to wheelchair users ?

Ludo

You would think with the recession and all that, these places would be more than happy to get customers in regardless of whether they have a buggy or not. If the place is really busy, fair enough, but most places are not except at peak times. If they object to getting money paying customers in the door just coz they have a kid in a buggy with them, then they are shooting themselves in the foot as they are just costing themselves money. Anyone refused entry will almost certainly never go back to the establishment even when they don't have a kid with them.

stovelid

Most places that are awkward for buggies tend to be places that I steer clear of anyway as they are the kind of places that I dreaded encountering crying infants in before I had an infant myself.

The idea that your human rights are in some way being compromised because not everywhere is child-friendly is a little silly. Not everyone has kids, and buggies can be very cumbersome.

Leaving them outside (as suggested) isn't really an option.

bcirl03

If a simple buggy can cause 'health and safety' issues then they should not be open in the first place.

It's just an excuse in my opinion.

Name and shame so we can find out they are.

MagicMarker

Why bring a buggie, or baby for that matter, to a restaurant?

Do I even need to mention pubs? Bring your kid to the park ffs.

bcirl03

MagicMarker wrote: »

Why bring a buggie, or baby for that matter, to a restaurant?

Do I even need to mention pubs? Bring your kid to the park ffs.

Whilst I don’t agree with children in pubs, families are entitled to go out and socialise like others. Just because they have a buggy doesn’t mean they have to stay in like hermits or just go to parks. No harm in going to a restaurant for the evening with the family.

Ever been to the continent where they welcome families into restaurants?

How many kids do you have MagicMarker? My guess is zero.

MagicMarker

bcirl03 wrote: »

Whilst I don’t agree with children in pubs, families are entitled to go out and socialise like others. Just because they have a buggy doesn’t mean they have to stay in like hermits or just go to parks. No harm in going to a restaurant for the evening with the family.

Ever been to the continent where they welcome families into restaurants?

How many kids do you have MagicMarker? My guess is zero.

That's right, and I don't particularly want to have to climb over your buggies. If you're going out specifically to a restaurant, then just don't bring a buggie.

bcirl03

MagicMarker wrote: »

That's right, and I don't particularly want to have to climb over your buggies. If you're going out specifically to a restaurant, then just don't bring a buggie.

I'll bring what I like, get used to it - and enjoy your dinner for one.

The thread is about buggies not being allowed into establishments, you seem to be hell bent on turning this into an anti buggy \ family\ kiddie thread.

Just as well you have no kids.

Ludo

Ignore him...already reported for trolling. Let the mods deal with it.

bcirl03

Ludo wrote: »

Ignore him...already reported for trolling. Let the mods deal with it.

Thanks Ludo.

God help us if he ever has kids.

Zulu

bcirl03 wrote: »

I'll bring what I like, get used to it

Well, if the establishment doesn't welcome buggies, it's YOU that need to get used to it. I really don't see the problem: they take up loads of room and get in everyones way. Leave it outside as requested. Whats the problem?

and enjoy your dinner for one.

So, so arrogant. :rolleyes:

ntlbell

bcirl03 wrote: »

Whilst I don’t agree with children in pubs, families are entitled to go out and socialise like others. Just because they have a buggy doesn’t mean they have to stay in like hermits or just go to parks. No harm in going to a restaurant for the evening with the family.

Ever been to the continent where they welcome families into restaurants?

How many kids do you have MagicMarker? My guess is zero.

People who don't bring kids to restaurants, pub etc are also entitled to enjoy that meal in peace without screaming kids in their ear.

so there should be a happy medium, If I'm bringing my daughter with us we choose places that cater for kids and tends be more families.

If we're going out on our own we choose places that tend to be less family friendly as we want to enjoy the meal without the racket of kids.

surely everyone is entitled to be catered for?

Kimono-Girl

Zulu wrote: »

Well, if the establishment doesn't welcome buggies, it's YOU that need to get used to it. I really don't see the problem: they take up loads of room and get in everyones way. Leave it outside as requested. Whats the problem?
So, so arrogant. :rolleyes:

just to clarify a few points made here, i myself had not encountered any problems yet its just a few local places (i would be attending at some point) were mentioned as not allowing buggies due to health and safety, despite one being a hotel restaurant where i know space wouldn't be an issue, i was taken aback slightly as i wouldnt be one of those parents who would leave a screaming child just sit there and i would be very quick to move the buggy and apologise if it were in someones way half way through my dinner or not, although i have when out and about been doing my best to place it out of the way.

with a newborn it would be practically impossible to sit my daughter in a provided highchair and anyway i would worry about theft in leaving the buggy outside. i need the buggy to transport her. i just assumed that a buggy would be no more an inconvenience than a wheelchair and as was mentioned wheelchairs have to be allowed due to discrimination rights, i was wondering is it not discrimination against mothers and babies to refuse buggies?

i know people say vote with your feet but occasionally you have to frequent some places, i just never thought this was an issue! i was wondering if others had issues like this as its one parents are not warned about.

ntlbell

candlelover wrote: »

just to clarify a few points made here, i myself had not encountered any problems yet its just a few local places (i would be attending at some point) were mentioned as not allowing buggies due to health and safety, despite one being a hotel restaurant where i know space wouldn't be an issue, i was taken aback slightly as i wouldnt be one of those parents who would leave a screaming child just sit there and i would be very quick to move the buggy and apologise if it were in someones way half way through my dinner or not, although i have when out and about been doing my best to place it out of the way.

with a newborn it would be practically impossible to sit my daughter in a provided highchair and anyway i would worry about theft in leaving the buggy outside. i need the buggy to transport her. i just assumed that a buggy would be no more an inconvenience than a wheelchair and as was mentioned wheelchairs have to be allowed due to discrimination rights, i was wondering is it not discrimination against mothers and babies to refuse buggies?

i know people say vote with your feet but occasionally you have to frequent some places, i just never thought this was an issue! i was wondering if others had issues like this as its one parents are not warned about.

a lot of places use the aul health and safety issue when the crux of it is the regulars don't want kids in the place and for most it's the regulars who keep them in business. I know when I'm out for a pint I don't want them anywhere in sight and in a lot of locals what the regulars says goes, because at the end of the day, no regulars no business.

there's not a whole lot you can do about it really bar choosing to eat/drink in places that cater for kids.

BostonB

This is very simple.

If you don't like kids don't go to family friendly restaurants.
If you need a buggy go to a resturant that has the space for them.

How hard is that.

No point debating buggy use with people who have zero experience with using them.

The Big Red Button

candlelover wrote: »

i was taken aback slightly as i wouldnt be one of those parents who would leave a screaming child just sit there and i would be very quick to move the buggy and apologise if it were in someones way half way through my dinner or not, although i have when out and about been doing my best to place it out of the way.

Well it's great that you have consideration for other diners and for the staff, but there are plenty of parents that don't and are happy to leave the child screaming, ruining every other customer's meal. And the staff aren't going to know by the look of you whether you're one of "those" parents or not, so it's easier for them just to enforce a non-child-friendly policy (using H&S as an excuse.) I know I personally would far rather eat in an adults-only establishment, and plenty others would feel the same.

There are lots of child-friendly places, would you not rather give your hard-earned cash to one of those?

ntlbell

BostonB wrote: »

This is very simple.

You'd think so.

Zulu

I don't understand where all the "screaming kids" have come from. We are discussing buggies right?

I don't assume that buggy = screaming baby. I do however acknowledge that buggies take up a sizable amount of space. Generally speaking a table will fit chairs around it. When these chair are not in use, they get tucked in under the table out of the way. Tables do not generally accodomate for buggies. When the buggy is not in use, it doesn't get tucked away.

So the establishment don't allow them. Proper order. I get really pissed off when some inconsiderate parent happlessly abandons their oversized maclauren contraption in everyones way, so I can only imagine how the staff feel. Leave it outside. It's not in the way. Everyone is happy.

MagicMarker

bcirl03 wrote: »

I'll bring what I like, get used to it - and enjoy your dinner for one.

The thread is about buggies not being allowed into establishments, you seem to be hell bent on turning this into an anti buggy \ family\ kiddie thread.

Just as well you have no kids.

lol, how am I hell bent on anything after only two posts?

It seems I've touched a nerve. All I said was if you're going to a restaurant, don't bring a buggy. You're the one who's being personal here, it's uncalled for and rather petit, being a parent you should know better.

ntlbell

Zulu wrote: »

I don't understand where all the "screaming kids" have come from. We are discussing buggies right?

I don't assume that buggy = screaming baby. I do however acknowledge that buggies take up a sizable amount of space. Generally speaking a table will fit chairs around it. When these chair are not in use, they get tucked in under the table out of the way. Tables do not generally accodomate for buggies. When the buggy is not in use, it doesn't get tucked away.

So the establishment don't allow them. Proper order. I get really pissed off when some inconsiderate parent happlessly abandons their oversized maclauren contraption in everyones way, so I can only imagine how the staff feel. Leave it outside. It's not in the way. Everyone is happy.

The buggy is a front to make the place family unfriendly, they know you could come in without it but most people won't.

screaming kids/babies etc go hand in hand with buggies (usually)

it's a topic that gets done to death a week hardly goes by when some bright spark is on joe duffy ranting and raving about some place that wouldn't allow it

they don't want your business, so go elsewhere.

simu

During his buggy days, anytime I went to a restaurant with my son, I left the buggy at home or in the car. It's obvious that most restaurants don't have much room for buggies. I don't think that anti-buggy is anti-kids tbh.