No Tots Please: Dublin Restaurant Owner Defends Decision On Lunchtime Baby Ban

The owner of a Dublin restaurant has defended his decision of a lunchtime ban on babies.

Robbie Fox, owner of the upmarket Belluccis in Dublin 4, defended his stance on the matter citing health and safety reasons.

On yesterday’s Newstalk Lunchtime programme, Mr Fox said he was “sorry” but he’d had waitresses “falling over buggies”.

The lunchtime ban policy came to light when a young mother was refused a table at the Ballsbridge restaurant on the basis that she had a sleeping newborn with her.

Twenty-six-year-old Jennifer Kerrisk told the Daily Mail that she felt like she could have “burst into tears with embarrassment” when she was asked to leave.

Fox is entitled to refuse children as part of their health and safety policy.

Famed nightclub owner Robbie Fox said that the reason they do not allow babies in the venue between 12 and 2pm is that is it really busy and they have lost business due to complaints during those hours.

Adrian Cummins, a spokesperson for the Restaurants Association said that owners are entitled to refuse children as part of their health and safety policy.

Fox has offered a free meal to the mother and newborn refused entry – only after 2pm.