Abigail Tomlinson

Review of The Wykeham Arms

This isn't a review of the food as we didn't/ coul...

This isn't a review of the food as we didn't/ couldn't stay to eat but a comment on their child policy. We were looking for somewhere for sunday lunch and the Wykeham Arms had been recommended. However, the notice on the door states no under 8s but 8s and over allowed in the restaurant until 5pm (it was 2.45pm). As our daughter is 8 and is well behaved when eating out we gave it a try. First barman said children weren't allowed but when we said daughter was 8 he consulted a colleague who patronisingly told us to walk round to the restaurant. Waitress there again told us no children allowed but when we told her she was 8 again she spoke to someone in the back and reappeared saying it was ok but could we wait in bar. By this time we were feeling incredibly uncomfortable and the final straw came when told they didn't do child portions so we left (ended up in Bishop on the Bridge which was delicious - go there if you have kids and even if you don't!). My issue isn't necessarily that they aren't child friendly - although their treatment of us made me sad for our daughter - it's that they operate a half way policy that doesn't work and that the staff clearly don't know about. Why bother allowing kids at all as they really don't welcome them.