Adam Handling, a Michelin-starred chef and former MasterChef finalist, has criticised the behaviour of some guests at his Tartan Fox pub near Newquay, Cornwall, after fertilised eggs were smashed inside a chicken coop on the premises. The incident, which occurred during a busy Sunday lunch service, has prompted Handling to implement new security measures including additional CCTV cameras and motion sensors.
Handling, 37, described the parents of the children involved as “selfish” for allowing their offspring to damage the poultry enclosure, which houses around 48 chickens. The birds are hand-reared and typically roam freely around the three-acre site. According to Handling, children crawled through the entrance to the coop, smashing between 30 and 40 fertilised eggs. The aftermath left fragments of eggshell and yolk as far as half an acre away from the main dining area.
Although the exact perpetrators were not witnessed, Handling said that only a child or “an extremely small adult” could have accessed the coop. He shared video footage on social media explaining the decision to enhance security around the chicken area in order to monitor the animals remotely and prevent similar incidents in the future. Handling also confirmed that one bird had died and three others were injured as a result of the disturbance.
The chef expressed frustration over what he perceives as a decline in child discipline and parental supervision in public settings. He criticised some diners for allowing children to use mobile phones at the table and neglecting to control their behaviour, describing it as a sign of “lack of education and lack of parenting.” Handling noted that while the majority of guests behave respectfully, a small number exhibit poor manners that impact others’ experiences.
The Tartan Fox is one of six venues operated by Handling, including the Michelin-starred Frog restaurant in London. This is not the first occasion a high-profile restaurateur has publicly commented on customer conduct. Previous incidents include restaurateur Keith McNally banning entertainer James Corden over “obnoxious behaviour” in 2022 and chef Tom Kerridge acknowledging an increase in guest complaints related to heavy drinking.
Controversy around children’s behaviour in dining establishments continues to spark debate. Earlier this year, a mother challenged criticism she received from broadcaster Jan Leeming, who had complained online about a disruptive child at a country hotel. The mother defended her family’s conduct, calling the comments “unfair and frankly offensive.”
Handling’s latest remarks highlight ongoing tensions between family-friendly dining environments and the need to maintain decorum, underscoring the challenges faced by restaurant operators in balancing these interests.