Advertisement

Melbourne pub replaces children's playground with iPads

A pub in an affluent beachside suburb of Melbourne has come under fire after it chose to remove its children’s playground and install iPads to keep kids entertained instead.

The Sandringham Hotel, southeast of Melbourne’s CBD, removed the play area as part of recent renovations, but the decision has not been popular among parents.

Several iPads with an “open portal” were now available for children to use while parents socialised in a new-age bid to attract new customers, the Herald Sun reported.

“We’ve had people complaining about not having a kids’ area but things change,” manager Erson Carbajosa told the publication.

The Sandy has come under fire for its controversial removal of a playground. Source: Facebook/The Sandy (Sandringham Hotel)
The Sandy has come under fire for its controversial removal of a playground. Source: Facebook/The Sandy (Sandringham Hotel)

One customer said she was “disgusted” at the decision to install iPads as entertainment for kids, saying it was a “ridiculous option”.

“I didn’t let the kids use them while we were there, but there were kids using them and they were glued to it,” the mother, who opted not to be named, said.

While she commended the establishment on its “fantastic” refurbishment, she said technology was far more dangerous than a playground ever could be.

One mother was outraged her child had nowhere to play while she socialised at the pub. Source: Getty Images
One mother was outraged her child had nowhere to play while she socialised at the pub. Source: Getty Images

Mr Carbajosa said if parents were not comfortable with their children using the iPads, there was colouring in available for them to do.

David Curry from parent company ALH Group told Yahoo News Australia the 10 devices were not connected to the internet, therefore children were not in any danger.

“The iPads only have pre-loaded games - the children can’t access the internet or surf the web,” Mr Curry said.

He added compliments received by the company about its renovations far outweighed the backlash about the installation of iPads.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.