Not allowed to take birthday cake to daughters party?

miss_independent

ognum wrote: »

My niece got married at THe Savoy Hotel in London. She wanted her mother in law to make the cake. The hotel refused to have any food consumed on the premises that was not baked by a company or person without the correct public liability insurance in case of food poisoning etc.

Maybe this is the same.

The first I had heard of anything like this was at my 21st at the Hilton Park Lane, London. My family arranged (and paid) for the hotel to make my birthday cake with a specific design. When we arrived, the hotel had "lost" my cake. They ended up supplying another - quite a generic plain boring thing, with my name quickly iced on it. We had eaten a large meal and I didn't feel ready for cake and at any rate quite a lot would have been left. I asked if they could cut a slice off for each of my guests and put the rest into a box for me to take back to my room. They said I could only eat the cake in the restaurant and I couldn't take it away due to "Health and Safety" :mad:. I explained it was my birthday cake which we had paid for them to make, they had lost the original, and surely as we had bought it, it was now mine to do with as I wanted? No, it could only be consumed in the restaurant! I promised I wouldn't sue if I got ill etc etc but they told me that the uneaten cake would have to go in the bin. Madness.

Every birthday I have been to recently, the cake has been supplied by the family. The venue usually stores it in a fridge as others have said.

krustylouise

LEJC wrote: »

sadly its a sign of the times im afraid...its something ive come across more than once but usually its connected to school events rather than birthday parties.

Many companies now will insist on no homemade or sourced from only them because of things like allergies or even the potential of someone making a claim against them if a child was to fall ill as a result of eating something on their premises....sadly sometimes its to do with a clause in an insurance contract rather than their unwillingness to let you supply the cake of your daughters choice

You either have to accept this or take your buisness elsewhere..but you could perhaps still make the rainbow cake to share at another time...or for her to take to school if thats something they will allow.

Dd can't take the cake to school as her birthday is in the summer holidays unless we are really eager and celebrate it at school a month early (which isn't going to happen!)

Looks like ill be taking my hard earned money elsewhere!

peachyprice

fluffnutter wrote: »

I don't disagree with this, I'm just pointing out that it's not necessarily possible to be nut free, with the best will in the world. Your example was a nut crumb accidentally getting into the kitchen - this could happen in any number of ways, some which are beyond reasonable control.

That's why I think, legally, the restaurant might not be liable for a mistake like this. It depends. If they said a dish they prepared didn't have nuts in it, yet nuts were an integral ingredient, they'd be liable. If one of their dishes were contaminated and the source unidentifiable, then they probably wouldn't be liable. It boils down to whether the cake would constitute identifiable or unidentifiable contamination I guess.

I suppose saying no outside food is allowed completely removes that element of doubt though and in turn probably gets them a reduced insurance premium to boot.

Valli

krustylouise wrote: »

That's what I'm thinking. Personally I think it's unreasonable. If I had it at home and any child had a reaction would they sue me? Likely not, it is an unforseeable situation and if they had a known allergy they would make it known before watching their child eat something that may cause a reaction.

I personally think they are trying to squeeze more money out of me, and who can blame them after all they are a business but I don't think I'll be spending any money there, sadly.

It's a risk thing. If you invite people into your own home and provide food it's at their own risk.

If you book a meal/party at a venue then you 'add' to the food by bringing something in they cannot know what's in it; they have to abide by food hygieine regulations and they will fall foul of those food hygiene regs if you bring something in made by you - because the cafe has no control over your kitchen.

As an example I make jam, and I give jam away. A few people ahve suggested I sell my jam BUT I am fairly certain that (even though it's new) my kitchen would not pass an inspection, not least because I have two cats.

peachyprice

LEJC wrote: »

Dont assume that you would actually be allowed to light a candle either....or indeed use a sharp knife in order to cut the cake into slices....again sadly in the past I have been blighted by red tape that prevented both!!!!!!

Yep, my DD had a pamper party at a shop last year, no real candles were allowed.

krustylouise

Valli wrote: »

It's a risk thing. If you invite people into your own home and provide food it's at their own risk.

If you book a meal/party at a venue then you 'add' to the food by bringing something in they cannot know what's in it; they have to abide by food hygieine regulations and they will fall foul of those food hygiene regs if you bring something in made by you - because the cafe has no control over your kitchen.

As an example I make jam, and I give jam away. A few people ahve suggested I sell my jam BUT I am fairly certain that (even though it's new) my kitchen would not pass an inspection, not least because I have two cats.

But this is the first ever time I have heard of this in any food establishment, ever. I grew up in public houses and restaurants and NEVER EVER heard of this! It's ludicrous and I think it's personal opinion as to how much they really want your custom.

Would like to point out my friends daughter had it there.....and tool her own cake! I mentioned this to the woman who said the rules had suddenly changed!

LEJC

krustylouise wrote: »

Dd can't take the cake to school as her birthday is in the summer holidays unless we are really eager and celebrate it at school a month early (which isn't going to happen!)

Looks like ill be taking my hard earned money elsewhere!

My birthday always used to fall when school was closed...probably because it also falls on a traditional significant other day...but my mum used to send me back to school at the start of term with a cake to share with the class...

fluffnutter

peachyprice wrote: »

I suppose saying no outside food is allowed completely removes that element of doubt though and in turn probably gets them a reduced insurance premium to boot.

But all their food is 'outside' unless they farm and slaughter the meat, grow all the veg, churn the butter from cows they've milked themselves, etc. Nothing can be guaranteed 'nut free'. Anyway, we're labouring the point... or I am at least I suspect we're both right; we're talking about slightly different things.

VfM4meplse

miss_independent wrote: »

They said I could only eat the cake in the restaurant and I couldn't take it away due to "Health and Safety" :mad:. I explained it was my birthday cake which we had paid for them to make, they had lost the original, and surely as we had bought it, it was now mine to do with as I wanted? No, it could only be consumed in the restaurant! I promised I wouldn't sue if I got ill etc etc but they told me that the uneaten cake would have to go in the bin.

Actually, I think this is true. "Buffet" food cannot be doggy bagged up, although I think a la carte can be.

LEJC wrote: »

Dont assume that you would actually be allowed to light a candle either....or indeed use a sharp knife in order to cut the cake into slices....again sadly in the past I have been blighted by red tape that prevented both!!!!!!

Well that's the solution, isn't it, cancel all birthday celebrations pending risk mitigation.

(For the record, that was a sarcastic comment daisiegg).

sillygoose

What next? search patting down the kids on the way in?

"what's that in your pocket sunshine? put the Reese Peanut bar down on the hazard containment mat and step away now!"