A RESTAURANT in Gloucester which imposed a height restriction for children to be eligible for cheaper food has reversed its policy.

The Angel Chef, in the Peel Centre, hit the headlines last month after a row over its child policy where a family had to pay adult prices as their son was too tall.

But now bosses at the popular buffet said they are doing away with the height restriction and will be classing all under 16s as children.

To celebrate the launch of the new deal the restaurant is offering a free meal for four to the first 20 families who turn up on July 4 from 11.30am.

Angel Chef boss David Lyn said the new offer aimed to make it more affordable for families to eat out during the credit crunch.

He said: "It is across all the restaurants. With the current economic crisis it is expensive to eat out and Angel Chef has always been child orientated.

"We want to encourage families to come out and not be fleeced."

He admitted the change had been influenced by The Citizen's story.

On June 3 we reported how 10-year-old Ben Gardner, from Saintbridge, was charged full price for his Chinese meal because he was too tall for a child's meal.

Ben and dad Gareth had been eating out with Gareth's partner Mandy Street and her son Lewis, nine.

Mandy said she was pleased about the restaurant's change of heart.

She said: "It is good to hear that, it is good for families. We go there because it's cheap and we can eat together as a family."

Mr Lyn said the company had proved it still had a heart by turning around its attitude.

He said: "We may have lost track of what they essentially really

are, a big family feast restaurant with big choices of food and drink

– trying to provide families a chance to have a special restaurant

experience together.

"We hope the new policy will give families what they really want and have a place to go to, be able to

feast together and where they will feel welcome without having to pay the earth."

He said the company intended to encourage the family policy by charging the lower rate for anyone under the age of 16. No ID will be required and under

16's will be accepted solely by their parent's declaration.

Unaccompanied youngsters will always have to provide some form of

proof of their age – however they intend to be very flexible in the way they exercise the scheme.