One of the most contentious issues among people who are parents and adults who opt to remain childless is where kids ought to be allowed.
While some believe that children should be allowed anywhere that adults can go, others are insistent that some areas should remain kid-free spaces. Of course, not every parent believes that kids should go everywhere, and not every child-free adult thinks that kids should be banned from certain places — there are people from each group who fall into both camps.
There are plenty of stories about brides and grooms deciding to make their weddings kid-free. People tend to react to those types of situations either with outrage or with enthusiastic support.
Restaurant owner Bob Higginson experienced this firsthand when he announced his no-children policy.
Scroll through to read about the thinking behind Bob's so-called "kid ban" and to see his community's reaction!
Thumbnail Photos: SWNS / Devon Live // Flickr / Francisco Carbajal
[H/T: Bored Panda]
The Chart Room Coffee Lounge is a small cafe in the fishing town of Brixham in England.
The vintage travel-themed cafe has a sign on the door requesting that patrons who have kids under the age of 12 with them find somewhere else to go for their coffee.
The coffee shop, which opened earlier this summer, is owned by Bob Higginson. The Chart Room serves teas, coffees, and homemade cakes. It also offers patrons a step back in time to the days of luxury ocean liners in the early 20th century.
Bob was a former head waiter aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner in the 1970s.
Bob's explanation for his "no kids" policy — which is not technically an outright ban — is that the decor of the coffee lounge has many expensive and delicate items, many of which are for sale. These items can be easily broken by unruly kids.
Dogs (which the shop does explicitly allow) have never caused such issues, according to Bob.
"My main demographic are older, more mature people who want peace and quiet," Bob told SWNS.
"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."
In the results of a poll shared on the Chart Room's Facebook page, over 90% of respondents supported Bob's policy.
However, plenty of people weren't keen on it. In fact, some are even calling for a boycott.
Angry Brixham residents like Wendy Moore believe that Bob's policy is tantamount to discrimination.
Wendy 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 he ban disabled people from entering his premises? Or people of a particular race or color 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 posted a response of his own to the outcry, noting that he believes "this whole thing has been blown out of all proportion."
"I simply wanted to create a nice quiet zone where grownups could sit, relax, and enjoy the quiet atmosphere along with nice homemade food with First Class service," he explained. "However, I would like to say a very big thank you to everyone around the world who has shown their support, it has been an amazing voyage."
Bob also thanked the woman who shared a "vitriolic outburst on social media" regarding the policy, for bringing worldwide coverage to the coffee shop. He cheekily invited her for a complimentary tea, reminding her that they don't cater to kids under 12.
Do you agree with Wendy and the other people threatening to boycott Bob's coffee shop? Or do you think Bob has every right to make his cafe a no-kids zone?
Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to SHARE this story on Facebook!
