The Organic Kitchen describes itself as the “home of healthy artisan fine foods and drink”. Dishes include avocado on rye for £7.50 and children’s menu features quinoa and mushroom balls with organic baked beans for £5.Yeah, I know what you're thinking...
But it seems even the progressives are drawing a line in the sand for once:
Hilary Penning, who runs the Organic Kitchen in Buckhurst Hill, has a two-year-old son and is unrepentant about her decision, which she announced by posting a sign on the door.
She said: “There’s been far too many instances where mums come in with newborn babies and allow the children to cry and cry. Some parents have come in for up to two hours with their children crying.
“It’s been a hard and challenging decision but I think I made the right choice. I cannot allow people to come in expecting to have a great eating experience but have to leave because their lunch or breakfast has been ruined by inconsiderate parents allowing their children to run riot, which has happened quite a bit.”Naturally, this didn't go down well with her customers, who don't recognise themselves in this, because oh, no, it's never their children, is it?
Karen Sticher, 39, was one of the first to share the image of the sign on social media. Ms Sticher, chief executive of business management firm Elite Training and a mother of two, said: “It’s discrimination because anyone with an under-five is not allowed in.Yup! Because we can't judge people any more, we have to have a blanket ban.
“They are excluding people based on age. In this day and age I’m amazed they want to discriminate against people who just want to have a coffee.It’s not a fancy bar or restaurant, it’s a cafe and it’s right next to a school. It’s the only one open when the older children are dropped off and mums want a coffee. I want this business to be successful but I feel this is a poor decision.”Welcome to the world you and yours created. Don't like it much? Awwww. Poor you.
Ellie Hart-Spratt, 39, who has a daughter aged two, said: “I can see things from both sides. The stupid part was the way the ban was advertised with a sign. The big picture of the baby was awful. Even if the policy changes to allow young children, I think the way it has been done has annoyed so many people.
“There’s a lot of money in this area with mums and I do think the business will feel the effects of it.”Maybe. Maybe not.
Another mother, who gave her name only as Annabel, said: “It’s very disappointing. I take my daughter who is three there all the time but I won’t be able to any more.
“They’re really shooting themselves in the foot because there are three independent schools and two state schools in the street so there are definitely more customers with children than without.”We'll see. If you're right, it'll go bust. But what if you're wrong?
What if the new clientele, who flock to a cafe they know won't be overrun by screaming brats while yummy mummy Facebooks over a latte, actually make it a success?
One to watch.
8 comments:
These women are so funny. I yearn for coffee shops like that. And pubs. And restaurants. (and stores)
The law of unintended consequences writ large. Progressives have some would say good intentions but the rest of us would defer to the fact that good intentions rarely make for good outcomes. Progressive ideology would have us all respect the environment, reject materialism, be more caring and sharing, resist ambitions, allow the state to divest us of our responsibilities and self reliance, act collectively and be guided by them. The consequences of course are that we are now governed by what they purport to be a benign state incorporating an army of bureaucratic experts who work in our best interest which rarely is the case as we find out to our cost. It is more authoritarian than benign and work in their interests not ours. At the same time a system is established where the unscrupulous can can reap the greatest rewards and the least admonishment and the rest to suffer in silence or at least not to be heeded.
No argument from me. Coffee and convo with a friend without said convo being drowned out by a screaming brat allowed to "do its own thing".
I'm sorry, but I (and many others?)would prefer not to patronise a place with wailing infants. I hope the 'ban' works out well for the proprietor.
I'm sorry, but I draw the line at wailing infants and ill-behaved toddlers. I'd be very happy to patronise any establishment that barred them!
Surely this is the signal to open a cafe specifically for nursing mothers and those with toddlers?
If there is that much money in the sector and the brand leader has just indicated they wish to withdraw from that position, now is the time to go for it.
A sign like that on door or window would entice my brother, mother, me and friends to become patrons.
Children should be seen, not heard.
P
"These women are so funny. I yearn for coffee shops like that. And pubs. And restaurants. (and stores)"
And don't forget public transport!
"Surely this is the signal to open a cafe specifically for nursing mothers and those with toddlers? "
You'd think so, wouldn't you? How could it fail, if there's such a huge market!
"Children should be seen, not heard."
Most of the little sods around these days can be heard three streets away.
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