Restaurant owner gives discounts to families with well-behaved children

A restauranteur in Italy has started giving discounts to customers whose children are well-behaved during their meals.

Antonio Ferrari knocks five per cent off the bill at his wine bar in Padua if children can sit quietly.

The idea came to him when five children behaved politely around a table of 11.

He offered the discount to the table and two other families and now it is a permanent deal.

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He said a third of parents do not know how to control their children in restaurants.

He said his wine bar, which offers meals to families on Sundays, used to be chaotic with children running around.

Long lunches are the norm in Italy, meaning children can often get restless.

However, Mr Ferrari said he had sympathy with parents.

He told the Corriere della Sera: “I imagine how difficult parenting is today.

“I acted instinctively, it was amazing to see how they interacted with each other in that table, with such composure.”

“The parents were more or less my age, they were in their 40s, while the children were aged between four and six. I didn’t know them well to congratulate them, it was their first time in my restaurant, so I opted for the discount.”

The family who were given the discount left a large £25 tip.

Mr Ferrari posted a picture on Facebook of his discount on a bill, with the caption, “It happens so rarely”.