Locals are up in arms after being banned from bringing children to a popular cafe by owners who claim they “run around and make a mess”.
The defiant owner of a cafe that doesn’t allow kids under five has defended his decision.
Tony Flackett, who runs Harley’s Cafe and Coffee Bar along with his wife, Beverly, said their customers prefer the UK establishment — because it doesn’t put up with “screaming kids”.
But some locals living near the establishment in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, said they wouldn’t be visiting again after being turned away because of their children,
He added kids over five are fine, but “children at two or three start running around and screaming”.
A sign outside of the cafe states: “Sorry, no children under five.”
Tony explained the no-kids rule – which has been in place for 23-years – is because: “We don’t have the space for pushchairs all over the place, we’re not exactly a massive cafe.
“There are plenty of other cafes that let kids in, it’s not like they haven’t got anywhere to go.”
Music, movie and sports memorabilia fills the walls and ceilings at the coffee shop, which sells toasties, paninis, wraps, sandwiches, jacket potatoes and omelettes – among other delights.
He added: “We have a lot of valuable stuff in here and we don’t want them to start messing around with them.”
But locals grumbled at the rule, saying it was “so wrong”.
Haykeigh Bloor, who has a 21-month-old daughter, said she has not been in since her baby was born.
Emma Rayner said she had been turned away because she had her child with her in a pushchair.
And Rachel Whalley, who also claims she was turned away, said: “They don’t allow children which doesn’t help a mother who just needs a nice coffee.”
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