A FED-up dad says something needs to be done about 'foul-mouthed' teenagers that 'rule' Kendal's McDonald's.
Hayden Sorrenson visited the restaurant with his three-year-old and says they were forced to eat up and leave quickly due to the noise and profanity.
Mr Sorrenson said there were around six teenagers not eating and looking to get a 'reaction' from customers.
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He says from his experience this has been an ongoing issue at the branch on Stricklandgate.
"McDonald's is a place where you expect to be able to eat with your children in peace," Mr Sorrenson said.
"Where you expect your children to be able to play and feel safe from the outside world while they play and fill their bellies.
"That’s not the case in Kendal. The minute you walk in you’re greeted by teenagers - lots of teenagers - sat there not eating, not customers of the restaurant, just waiting for the next victim they can pray upon for a reaction.
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"Teenagers that most people wouldn’t dare look in the eye in case they become a interaction you don’t need - foul mouths, bad attitudes and no respect for anything or anyone.
"Unless you’re a customer, you shouldn’t be sat in McDonald’s. That rule applies for most restaurants - why not Kendal?
"Most of the McDonald’s in cities have security - once that’s put in place there will be no more teens ruling the restaurant."
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Cumbria police confirmed the teenagers were spoken to and that officers will continue to liaise with the restaurant.
A McDonald’s Spokesperson said: "We are committed to making our restaurants a safe and welcoming environment for everyone and have a zero-tolerance policy towards anti-social behaviour.
"Our restaurant teams work hard to ensure every customer who enters our restaurants has a positive experience. Once we were alerted to this behaviour, our restaurant team acted swiftly to resolve the situation.
"We’d like to apologise to any customer who was affected on this occasion."
Mr Sorrenson's said his bad experience began with a girl making 'stupid laughing noises' to her friends. The noise and profanity got so loud however that he and his family were unable to enjoy their food, he said.
The teenagers were approached by a McDonald’s staff member who told them go outside to quiet down, however they re-entered a short time later, said Mr Sorrenson.
After his three-year-old was subjected to continued profound language, Mr Sorrenson decided to leave the restaurant however he says the inappropriate behaviour did not stop there.
He said that four of the teenagers who went to vape outside continued to shout which echoed right through the town.
Some of their slurs were about male genitalia, and other 'rude disgusting words'.
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"My question is where’s the discipline?" Mr Sorrenson added: "Where are the parents and why are these kids allowed to rule a franchise restaurant in a small town like Kendal - why are things not being done to prevent this?
"McDonald’s has a child’s play area built in McDonald’s. It's a children’s restaurant so why when entering is it flooded with gobby disgusting foul-mouthed teenagers ? These kids think they’re untouchable and that is why they behave the way they do.
"Let the children in who deserve to be there and get the teenagers out who are there to make people’s lives and misery and wind up the public as well as McDonald’s staff. Something needs sorting fast."
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