I went to brunch with my husband and 10-week-old baby. We contacted Ghales ahead of time to see if we could reserve a table and to specify that we needed one with an additional area to accommodate the pram.

We were told we didn't need to book and could just walk in because it was quiet. When we got in to Ghales , I noted that there were tables in the centre accessible. There was additional space near the entrance and in the back, closer to the toilet. I mentioned to a member of staff again that we needed something with more space for the pram when we arrived. They said we could sit where there was no reserved sign or an empty table. Another family sat at the table near the entryway so if we had sat there, the family would have been unable to go away from their table because the side would be used for our pram. We opted not to sit down as they has a small child too.

I then went to the middle and located a table, but I moved it slightly away from the one next to it so we could put the pram there comfortably (I should mention that I have before visited Ghales before and seen a family sitting there with a pram). Despite the fact that we had been assured we could seat anywhere without a reserved sign and where empty , a member of staff informed me that I was not permitted to move the table (in quite a rude manner must I add).

I was not in a position to move the table, but I'm puzzled how a pram could fit between the tables, without moving them slightly. The staff member told me I could take a seat on the table near the toilet. I informed her that there was no room between the tables for the pram there either and putting the pram behind the table would hinder customers accessing the toilet. The staff member then started to move the table and claimed the pram would now fit.

My previous visits to Ghales have been positive, but I was very unhappy with my visit today. I didn't appreciate how I was spoken to when I moved the table, given that the workers and even customers could see we were struggling to locate a table that would fit the pram in for a while before we were told where to sit. However, I am equally frustrated that the staff worker eventually moved a table herself. I don't think Ghales is accommodating for prams, and I believe that if particular tables cannot be utilised or changed/moved slightly for a pram, this should be explicitly stated. It isn’t fun spending 10 minutes looking for a suitable table especially when you’re restricted where to sit when you’re out with a 10 week baby.

What would have happened if there was more than one family in the same predicament? It seems as though they would turn them away than accommodate them, which is all that we asked them to do.