Ex-BBC Star Jan Leeming Slams Kent Hotel After Birthday Bash Ruined by Screaming Toddler
Birthday Lunch Descends into Chaos
Former BBC newsreader Jan Leeming, 84, was left fuming after a noisy child wrecked her friend’s birthday lunch at the swanky Pig at Bridge Place near Canterbury. What was meant to be a special treat turned into a nightmare as a toddler screamed and ran riot around the historic 17th-century venue.
Jan didn’t hold back. “One tot was a real menace, allowed to walk around and often screaming. Staff played with it!” she raged. She also noticed another child glued to a screen in a high chair as oblivious parents ignored the disturbance.
Jan Slams Parents and Staff: “Couldn’t They Afford a Babysitter?”
Anger boiled over as Jan criticised the parents for doing nothing. “If you can afford to eat at The Pig’s pricey menu, surely you can afford a babysitter,” she said. When she mentioned the problem to staff as she was paying up, Jan says she was treated like the troublemaker herself.
“Perhaps this shows my age,” Jan admitted.
Social Media Backs Jan’s Rant
Jan’s X (formerly Twitter) complaint struck a chord online, sparking a wave of support:
- “I’m with you 100% Jan… parents these days just DON’T discipline their children.”
- “Children under 12 should be banned from ale houses and restaurants.”
- “Modern Britain, but you’re right to complain.”
- “As a parent, I’d always take misbehaving kids outside until they quietened down.”
Jan responded pragmatically: “Don’t think they can legally ban children. Also, it would hurt trade. So we just have to like it, lump it, or don’t go again.”
The Pig at Bridge Fires Back
The family-friendly Pig at Bridge Place, part of the Home Grown Hotels chain with venues across the UK, defended its approach. A spokesperson told MailOnline:
“Everyone is welcome at The Pig at Bridge Place – and we go to great lengths to ensure all our guests (young and old) are looked after by our wonderful team.”
So while Jan’s birthday didn’t go as planned, The Pig’s stance is clear: noisy toddlers are just part of the package.
