Parents slam cafe owner who banned young children from his coffee shop – but allows DOGS
The Chart Room in Brixham, Devon, opened a month ago but actively discourages parents with youngsters from eating and drinking there.
A CAFE owner who doesn't want children in his tearoom has been criticised by parents for banning kids but allowing dogs.
Bob Higginson runs the The Chart Room in Brixham, Devon, and wants his establishment to have a mature, nostalgic atmosphere that would be disrupted by children.
The Chart Room, which opened last month, sells high-end teas and coffees as well as homemade, cakes, pastries, and savoury dishes.
Bob set up the themed shop following a stint as a a waiter on board the QE2 ocean liner.
Local resident Wendy Moore said she planned to boycott the cafe.
She said: “What kind of town are we living in when dogs are allowed into an establishment and children are not? Who on Earth does Bob Higginson think he is?
"Would be ban disabled people from entering his premises? Or people of a particular race or colour or religion? I’ll bet my bottom dollar he wouldn’t.
“Or how about the elderly? Ban them as well, would he? No, he wouldn't – that would be ageism. So how come he thinks it’s OK to ban children of a certain age? This is blatant discrimination.
“Can you imagine this on the continent, in Italy say, where dogs are allowed but children not? Any such proprietor would be run out of town.
“I shall certainly be boycotting this place and I will be advising the many friends and relatives who come to visit us here to do the same.
"And I would call upon anyone living or visiting Brixham who do not put dogs before children to do the same.”
Bob said that he had received complaints about the policy but also several messages of support.
He said: "The coffee lounge has been going really well since it opened. It has increased footfall into the shop and I’m really pleased. It’s very popular and a lot of people have said they approve of the no children policy.
“Primarily we wanted to create a nice, relaxed atmosphere for our client base. My main demographic are older, more mature people who want peace and quiet. I wanted people to be able to come and discuss the old days and have a nostalgic chat without children running around and distracting them."
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