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| Colm Doherty with his daughter Cara |
A family took their daughter and her friends to a children's indoor activity center in order to celebrate her birthday.
However, the child friendly play center, was not very friendly when it came the time to sing happy birthday to the 8-year-old girl.
The staff of the Clowntown children's play center in London, called police when the father disobeyed their order to stop singing happy birthday to his daughter in the play area.
Colm Doherty said his group was not allowed to sing the song because they had not paid for a "birthday package", despite spending $450 on food, drinks and tickets for his daughter Cara’s eighth birthday. The staff attempted to intervene as a group brought out a birthday cake and started singing happy birthday.
Doherty, 47, asked the staff members not to ruin the party, which included 18 children, and reportedly promised that they will not eat the cake on the premises. Staff refused to allow them to continue with the celebration and they contacted police.
Clowntown staff said it was "against company policy for people to sing happy birthday on the premises without having booked a party room.
Officers reviewed the surveillance video of the birthday party, which took place outside the designated party room, at the Clowntown Center. Officer refused to take action against the birthday girl’s father, as the play center is specially designed for children to have a good time, and for parents to relax.
On their website, the center states: “Clowntown has a large area for moms and dads with a comfortable seating area, newspapers, magazines and free WiFi throughout. We also have fresh hot and cold food along with ice creams, freshly made popcorn, and hot and cold drinks, including our fantastic coffee.”
Doherty and his wife Marie, 49, said they had contacted Clowntown and inquired about making the birthday party for 18 children and six adults, but they were told there was no availability for the party room for that day. The family decided to visit the center anyway so the children can play in the play area.
After arriving, they realized two party rooms were not being used. The birthday girl’s father said he was in "shock and disbelief" by the actions of the center. The other six parents of the group were also furious.
Ian Slazenger, a Clowntown manager, claimed the group was offered a birthday package but chose not to take it. However, he admitted that the family spent more on entry fees and food than if they had used the birthday service, which costs between $10 to $20 per child.