Families Neglected by Restaurants - Stephensons

Out to Lunch say that only 1 of the 21 most popular restaurant chains provide children’s cutlery.

The latest Out to Lunch report from the Soil Association says that 40% of parents eat out with their children at least once a fortnight.

The September 2015 Greene King Leisure Tracker claims that parents spend £101 per month on eating out with their children in the UK. The average spend of people eating out without children is £85 per month.

Henry Stephenson, Managing Director of Stephensons Catering Equipment Suppliers, said, “Children’s cutlery is rarely available in restaurants and this can be irritating to young families. Many parents have to take their own set of children’s cutlery when they eat out.

“Investing in children’s cutlery is a relatively inexpensive detail that can make an establishment family friendly and open it up to a lucrative new audience. Families spend more in restaurants than those without kids, so accommodating for children is a worthwhile venture.

“As illustrated by airlines, meeting children’s needs is worthwhile. If children are happy, their parents will also be happy and meal times can be enjoyable experiences for everyone.”

Air France developed children’s cutlery that transforms into toy aircraft whilst Gulf Air offer a nanny service to cater for the needs of children onboard their flights.

Jennie Grimes, Marketing Manager for Hickory’s Smokehouse, said, “Adult cutlery is unwieldy for children and can make eating out less pleasurable.

“At Hickory’s Smokehouse we make it easy for parents by asking pre-booked tables how many sets of children’s cutlery they require and laying it out ready on their table.

“For family-friendly restaurants, paying attention to details like this is a must.”