Cafe apologises for notice about kids’ bad behaviour
The owner of a Bath cafe has apologised profusely after a staff member posted a notice telling people with unruly children to take their business elsewhere. Debbie Still, who recently opened the Walcot Cafe on Walcot Street, said she was horrified when she found out about the ill-judged and unauthorised actions of one of her staff. After a group of inadequately supervised children took fruit from a bowl and threw it around the cafe, the staff member took matters into their own hands, Mrs Still said. Keen to encourage customers to be considerate of one another, the worker posted a notice in the cafe above Walcot House saying: “You are entering a grown up zone.” The note went on to tell adults with children that if they weren’t able to control their kids they should go to another cafe. Mrs Still said the notice was removed as soon she found about it on Thursday, October 4. “It was only up for ten minutes,” the 53-year-old said. “I was very upset about it. “It shouldn’t have happened. I’ve got three children so I understand what it’s like being a mum.” Mrs Still said she understood the sentiment behind the staff member’s actions but that the response was completely inappropriate. The person responsible has been reprimanded, she said. Mrs Still has issued an unreserved apology and wants customers to know her cafe is not only child-friendly but dog-friendly. “We’ve created a nice, calm, really lovely space that we want everyone to enjoy, and we want customers to behave with consideration towards one another,” she said. It’s unclear who, if anyone, was offended by the short-lived notice. An eagle-eyed resident shared a photograph of the errant staff member’s typed words on Twitter, but news of an “adult friendly” cafe was met with enthusiasm rather than ire. @jimofthemanor said “people are losing their ish about it” but @ Poppycocktails wanted to know which cafe it was so she could try it. Dave Dixon @votedave responded: “It’ll be the one that all the adults in need of peace and quiet are flocking to.” The Bath resident identified the cafe in a later tweet and gave it the thumbs-up, saying: “It’s the new cafe above @Walcothousebath, I can highly recommend it. Food, drink and Wifi all awesome!” Bath mum @Emilylauravass said: “I have kids and not at all insulted. Sounds like heaven.” And @Kirstentelliott applauded the notice, saying: “Great advert for them. A cafe with no badly behaved kids. Hooray! We went to a restaurant in St Davids that said we couldn’t bring the dog, but she’s much better behaved than the horrendous kids they did allow in.” @Jonesyblog made the comment that: “There is no such thing as badly behaved kids, just bad parents.” Walcot Cafe opened on Saturday, September 29.