Facebook fight puts heat on parents who refuse to buy food while out or discipline children

Hospitality owners have hit back at overbearing parents who use their facilities without ordering food or disciplining their children.

Adelaide restaurant and cafe owners have mounted a public fightback after becoming infuriated with families who believe it is "their right" to use their premises for free.

Parents also faced criticism for allowing unruly children to "run amok".

At least two owners have recently created a stir after their public criticisms prompted heated debate on social media and "went viral".

The industry's trade body has backed them, arguing hardworking people needed to be supported by customers who respect their establishments.

Michelle Campbell, the owner of the "family friendly" Five Little Figs, in Payneham, in Adelaide's east, took to Facebook this week after becoming irritated by some customers' actions which included bringing in - and consuming - outside food.

In her post, seen by more than 15,500 people, she wrote she had worked hard to create a "warm, inviting space" but she didn't expect to work for free.

She added: "We can only keep our doors open if our customers remember that this is a business, friendly as we are and that to survive customers need to purchase from our menu, which we have worked so hard to cater for all."

Ms Campbell, 42, who also operates children's cooking classes, said yesterday that while her business was specifically aimed at families "parenting still needs to happen".

Well behaved: Renee Vannetillo with son Alex at Five Little Figs Cafe in Payneham South.

The mother of one added: "We have had such awesome feedback and the fact that our target market is children we have to be on this 'care factor' more than other places. It's a safety and insurance problem.

"As for the BYO food that really needs to be kept under control. It's a food business."

Kelly Markos, who co-owns the Utopia @ Waterfall Gully restaurant with her husband Justin, agreed. Mrs Markos, a mother-of-two, said while they "loved children" parents needed to aware of their responsibilities.

"I feel very strongly about it. I think people don't understand that we are running a business and this is our livelihood,'' she said.

"We are a family friendly place but when you come to a restaurant you have to respect everyone around you and respect the business."

The couple, both 33, faced a similar experience in July after they posted on their social media page when a customer complained about having to pay a "cakeage" fee.

Thousands of people supported their stand but others attacked the $2.50 per person charge.

In their post, "liked" by more than a 1000 people, they lamented how a "small, hardworking business needs to justify itself".

They wrote: "But we ARE a business, and to continue doing what we love we cannot operate at a loss - and won't apologise for good and fair business practices."

Mrs Markos said they worked hard to ensure their four year-old son remained well behaved when he was at the restaurant.

Sally Neville, chief executive of the Restaurant and Catering South Australia, said customers still held misconceptions about hospitality businesses.

"It is not reasonable to expect to use a restaurant as a picnic space. You would not take a pillow to a hotel and expect a discount. People have made that assumption that restaurants have the ability to be generous," Ms Neville said.

Jane Piggeman, 33, operates the Little Lattes website which profiles family friendly places and said cafes were not free "playgrounds or parks".

The mother-of-two said: "These facilities are not there to shove your kids and ignore them. It is for them to have some fun and have entertainment and play happy."

Renee Vannetiello, 33, of St Agnes, was at Five Little Figs with her three year-old son, Alex yesterday and said it was "inappropriate" to use a cafe as an "indoor park".

"Our responsibility as parents is to teach our kids how to behave and interact in public. For adults and children to not respect a place is not just rude, it is insulting," she said.

"Nobody expects children to be perfect all the time but we have to try and help them."

Source: The Australian, 7 December 2013