A woman expressed her surprise and feelings of being “unjustly treated” after learning that her disabled children were not allowed to eat in a restaurant.
Kate Sicolo, who resides in Truro, shared that she and her partner Emma visited a Whitbread Premier Inn restaurant in Paddington, London, alongside their two children.
The couple brought along pre-prepared meals for their children, based on their specific needs. However, Ms. Sicolo mentioned that staff informed her they were not permitted to consume those meals due to the establishment’s policy prohibiting outside food.
Whitbread has since issued an apology, stating that “an exception should have been made to accommodate the needs of the disabled children.”
Ms. Sicolo explained that their daughter requires tube feeding and has liquidized meals, while their son eats minced food because of his Down’s syndrome.
According to Ms. Sicolo, a staff member approached them to announce that the restaurant’s policy forbade outside food. Although the couple was told they could dine in, their children were not allowed to eat.
“We had to exit the restaurant since we couldn’t feed the kids,” she recounted.
After reaching out to the company, Ms. Sicolo was met with a reiteration of the policy and an offer of a £150 voucher for future dining, which she declined, as her family could not share meals there.
“We’re not seeking compensation,” she added.
She emphasized that the “policy affects not just my children,” but thousands of others who rely on tube feeding, asserting that everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy a meal out with their families.
In response, Whitbread acknowledged the importance of inclusion and expressed regret for the experience faced by Kate, Emma, and their children.
“Although our team was acting in good faith—safety concerns related to allergens typically restrict outside food consumption—it’s clear that exceptions should be made for guests with disabilities,” they stated.
The company assured that it would be updating its procedures to ensure that such exceptions are recognized in the future for guests with special needs.
