"The food at this restaurant is great, and the waitresses are lovely and polite. I have always received excellent service there until tonight. I am a local resident and went with my wife, two teenagers, and a one-and-a-half-year-old child. The pub advertises as family-friendly, so if they don't want young children running around, they should seat families in a separate room. The waitress was actually a man in a flowery shirt, and he politely asked me to keep my child seated so she wouldn't disturb other diners. There were only two families in the restaurant, including us, and an elderly couple, so it wasn't crowded. This has been my go-to place for food, but after this experience, I may skip it for a while. I believe the staff should understand that parents sometimes need to keep their little ones entertained, especially when the children's play area is closed. I appreciate the waitress for making our visit comfortable, but it was a shame it was ruined by this incident. If the pub doesn't like children, they should consider rebranding as not family-friendly or designate a separate seating area for families. I paid £100 for a meal for my family of five, and I believe we should be able to enjoy our time there as well. To clarify, my child was not running around unsupervised - my 15-year-old was watching her to prevent any disturbances. I will also be contacting Bateman's directly about this issue. I didn't want to cause a scene with the manager or landlord, so I left without confrontation. It's unfortunate to see the restaurant empty of families, as it used to be a welcoming place for everyone. Service: 3 Location: 5."
