Cathy Marston, parent, Food24 wine editor and ex-restaurant owner, wrote a cracker of an article which has gleaned hundreds of comments.
She brings to point – children who don’t behave well at restaurants and more importantly, parents who allow their kids to do so.
Spur replied to Cathys article in the comments:
‘Dear Kathy Marston,
For the following reasons we disagree with your opinion expressed on Food24 today.
Since
1967 Spur Steak Ranches has always loved and welcomed kids, we have
never been “kid averse”. We welcome all the people of our highly diverse
country and we are proud to say that kids are amongst our most
important customers. Nothing gives us greater pleasure than making kids
laugh and have fun in a warm, welcoming and safe environment.
People
bring their kids to the Spur for a treat. There they all enjoy the
freedom to play whilst parents have the space and time to be with one
another. A treat that parents seldom get and that by the look of their
attendance at Spur they too enjoy and appreciate.
As for kids being
active and having fun, this behavior is welcomed and encouraged. All our
play areas encourage physical activity and free-play, allowing children
to express themselves in fun sociable ways. We do not encourage kids to
“run around like lunatics” but adventurous spirits are welcome.
It must be said that we do respect your opinion but feel it is not shared by the majority of South Africans.
Kind regards
Sacha du Plessis
Group Marketing Executive
Spur Corporation’
Whilst some people agree (this is their right), most of you don’t, South Africans love the Spur!
Please do remember as well that this is was opinion piece and to be taken with Cathy’s fantastic pinch of salt.
Just look at some of these comments:
From Facebook on News24:
Michelle Behringer Oh please, since when does the spur ruin kids, discipline and manners begin at home……
Nicole Wilson What a miserable person. If you don’t like little kids then stay at home! Spur rocks
Leonora Binedell Blame Spur …. Rubbish, it’s the lazy parents duty to teach there children manners.
Doreen Townsend van Zyl Blame the parents!!! I can take my 8 and 10 year old to any restaurant, knowing they will behave. Common decency and manners are all you need!
Cate Edgar It’s the parents responsibility to teach their children manners, not the staff at the Spur!
Jennifer van den Berg The Spur is one of the best places for my daughter, she loves the food & playing in a safe area. She’s doesn’t misbehave & is always happy & friendly with others. Bad mannered children come from a home where they get too much attention without discipline..
Greg M. Scholtz Spur, McDonalds, Wimpy, etc. If parents can’t control their children why is the restaurant to blame?
Jess Williams Spur is exactly what it states, a super family restaurant and certainly cannot be blamed for parents failures.
From Twitter:
Theresa Lozier @FinePlaces
@CathyMarston @food24 You’ve got guts for writing that, that’s all I can say! And where is @Spur_Cares on the matter?
Cathy Marston @FinePlaces @food24 @Spur_Cares probably realising quite rightly that the article is aimed at slack parents more than them!
Lucy Warner @LucyWarner
@liseewins @CathyMarston @food24 #Admissiontime – I & the 5 kids are Spur customers -but they can also behave at Harbour House & The Nellie!
Cathy Marston @CathyMarston
@LucyWarner @liseewins @food24 and all your kids behave well everywhere cos you make sure they do. Which was the point of the article. #sigh
From food24:
Samantha Le Roux – August 22, 2013 at 14:48
I don’t know how you can blame the Spur for children’s bad behavior. I have a 4 year old daughter that knows the difference between behaving at a fine dining restaurant and at Spur, and this is because I have taught her the difference, she still sits still and eats with her mouth closed no matter where she is because those are just good manners.
Andrea Tomasicchio – August 22, 2013 at 14:49
I must be honest we enjoy going to Spur because my husband and I can actually have a conversation while the children play and draw. My children are well behaved and the children around us are well behaved. So I don’t which Spur the writer goes to, but at the end of it, its the parents responsibility. If the children are out of line…call on management!
Kim Baguley – August 22, 2013 at 14:57
It is still a parents responsibility to control their kids regardless of whether they are home or out eating, our Spur in Belfast, Northern Ireland has a kids room that they can play in; when they aren’t in there playing our boys have to act like they are at home! Kids will be kids but parents should always be parents!!
Robert Cerff – August 22, 2013 at 12:42
Blaming the Spur… I believe you missed the point. It’s whole Spur experience – not the actual establishment.
Duits – August 22, 2013 at 11:48
It’s not Spur’s fault it’s lazy parenting, you teach your kid manners as well as table manners, but most parents today are just to bloody lazy to do anything about it.
Andrea Tomasicchio – August 22, 2013 at 14:49
I must be honest we enjoy going to Spur because my husband and I can actually have a conversation while the children play and draw. My children are well behaved and the children around us are well behaved. So I don’t which Spur the writer goes to, but at the end of it, its the parents responsibility. If the children are out of line…call on management!
These are but a few of the many comments left on the article. Please feel free to comment here or on the article, we welcome all fair opinion.
What do you think?